Interstate 42

[LM117]

Seems the plan documents were pulled this time. I know they're fixing the I-42/Bypass 70 shield order, but I wouldn't think it would require that unless they're changing more. The last time I saw the signing plans, the shields were still in the wrong order.

Hell, I'm just hoping NCDOT is rethinking their asinine plan to shift "˜vanilla' 70 onto the bypass instead of signing it as US-70 Bypass and leaving "˜vanilla' 70 where it is like they did for Selma and Goldsboro. I would make the same complaint about Clayton, but that was built long before I-42 was thought of. Havelock, on the other hand...

[Roadsguy]

Seems the plan documents were pulled this time. I know they're fixing the I-42/Bypass 70 shield order, but I wouldn't think it would require that unless they're changing more. The last time I saw the signing plans, the shields were still in the wrong order.

Hell, I'm just hoping NCDOT is rethinking their asinine plan to shift "˜vanilla' 70 onto the bypass instead of signing it as US-70 Bypass and leaving "˜vanilla' 70 where it is like they did for Selma and Goldsboro. I would make the same complaint about Clayton, but that was built long before I-42 was thought of. Havelock, on the other hand...

Oh yeah, I forgot that they're not doing that...

[LM117]

https://www.ncdot.gov/news/press-releases/Pages/2019/2019-04-25-craven-county-highway-widening-shoulder.aspx

NEW BERN — As work continues to upgrade a Craven County highway to meet interstate standards, one lane will be closed temporarily to widen the highway's shoulder.

The N.C. Department of Transportation will close one lane of U.S. 70 West from mile marker 412, half of a mile east of N.C. 43, to Tuscarora Rhems Road. The lane closure will begin 6:30 a.m. April 29 and will last until the work is complete.

Crews will widen shoulders in 2.5-mile increments.

One lane will remain open and drivers are urged to slow down when approaching the work zone and while traveling through it.

The work is part of a larger project to bring U.S. 70 up to interstate standards. Crews are widening shoulders, as well as milling and repaving the highway, which will be renamed I-42. The project in its entirety is 32 miles long and costs $25.5 million.

[LM117]

A public meeting is being held on May 21 in Princeton to discuss the revised plan for upgrading US-70 to interstate standards between the Goldsboro Bypass and Pondfield Road just west of Princeton.

https://www.ncdot.gov/news/press-releases/Pages/2019/2019-05-14-open-house-us-70-johnston-wayne-counties.aspx

[sprjus4]

A public meeting is being held on May 21 in Princeton to discuss the revised plan for upgrading US-70 to interstate standards between the Goldsboro Bypass and Pondfield Road just west of Princeton.

https://www.ncdot.gov/news/press-releases/Pages/2019/2019-05-14-open-house-us-70-johnston-wayne-counties.aspx

Design plans can be seen on this site.

Some of the most notable features about this particular project -

• The regular interstate cross section, and NCDOT's most common design of having a 4 foot left shoulder and 10 foot right shoulder is not being used on this project. It will have an expanded section of a 10 foot left shoulder, and 12 foot right shoulder. On overpasses, the cross section will expand the left shoulder to 12 foot. (Odd, the 2016 Goldsboro Bypass that this project will tie into only uses the 4 foot left shoulder + 10 foot right shoulder design. Curious to why an expanded section is being used here.)
• A 75 MPH design speed is being used, which means the speed limit will be posted at 70 MPH.
• A 50 foot grass median will be used as opposed to a 46 foot, with one notable exception - around the Ebenezer Church Rd / Capps Bridge Rd interchange, the cross section will reduce to a 26 foot median consisting of a 12 foot left shoulder and jersey barrier. This is to reduce the footprint through this area as it's bounded by two churches on one side, and a cemetery on the other. The reduced cross section barely fits through the area alone. If it was any bigger, the church would have to be relocated, or the cemetery would be impacted. It will maintain a 75 MPH design speed, 70 MPH speed limit through this area.

One thing I don't like about the design is that while generally the frontage roads are continuous, there's one area east of Princeton the frontage road goes for over a mile, dead ends, but then 1,000 feet away, another frontage road picks back up. A proper design would have these connected, even if it doesn't serve any properties, it still creates a continuous frontage road system for local traffic so they don't have to enter Interstate 42.

Construction on the area around Princeton starts in 2025, and the rest of the corridor between Princeton and the Goldsboro Bypass starts in 2028.

[LM117]

A public meeting is being held on May 21 in Princeton to discuss the revised plan for upgrading US-70 to interstate standards between the Goldsboro Bypass and Pondfield Road just west of Princeton.

https://www.ncdot.gov/news/press-releases/Pages/2019/2019-05-14-open-house-us-70-johnston-wayne-counties.aspx

Comments from that meeting.

http://www.johnstoniannews.com/stories/dot-unveils-revised-interstate-42-plans-in-princeton,178533

[jcarte29]

A public meeting is being held on May 21 in Princeton to discuss the revised plan for upgrading US-70 to interstate standards between the Goldsboro Bypass and Pondfield Road just west of Princeton.

https://www.ncdot.gov/news/press-releases/Pages/2019/2019-05-14-open-house-us-70-johnston-wayne-counties.aspx

Comments from that meeting.

http://www.johnstoniannews.com/stories/dot-unveils-revised-interstate-42-plans-in-princeton,178533

If this has been asked before I am sorry, but could they go ahead and sign the Goldsboro By-Pass off of I-40 to Bus 70 exit?

[LM117]

A public meeting is being held on May 21 in Princeton to discuss the revised plan for upgrading US-70 to interstate standards between the Goldsboro Bypass and Pondfield Road just west of Princeton.

https://www.ncdot.gov/news/press-releases/Pages/2019/2019-05-14-open-house-us-70-johnston-wayne-counties.aspx

Comments from that meeting.

http://www.johnstoniannews.com/stories/dot-unveils-revised-interstate-42-plans-in-princeton,178533

If this has been asked before I am sorry, but could they go ahead and sign the Goldsboro By-Pass off of I-40 to Bus 70 exit?

Don't you mean the Clayton Bypass? If so, then I see no reason why they can't. It wouldn't be any different than them signing I-87 on the Knightdale Bypass. I'm surprised NCDOT hasn't tried to get permission to do so yet, especially given that I-42 will likely be completed long before I-87.

[jcarte29]

If this has been asked before I am sorry, but could they go ahead and sign the Goldsboro By-Pass off of I-40 to Bus 70 exit?

Don't you mean the Clayton Bypass? If so, then I see no reason why they can't. It wouldn't be any different than them signing I-87 on the Knightdale Bypass. I'm surprised NCDOT hasn't tried to get permission to do so yet, especially given that I-42 will likely be completed long before I-87.
[/quote]

Yes, thank you for correcting me lol.

[LM117]

Anybody know what the status of the Kinston Bypass is? NCDOT's project page says that they are going to choose their preferred alternative in February 2019. It's almost June and still no announcement.

[LM117]

https://www.ncdot.gov/news/press-releases/Pages/2019/2019-05-29-craven-county-ramps-closed-improvements.aspx

NEW BERN — As work continues to bring U.S. 70 in Craven County up to interstate standards, the N.C. Department of Transportation will close one exit ramp and one entrance ramp for 36 hours this week.

The eastbound entrance and exit ramps for N.C. 41 will be closed from 7 a.m. May 30 until 7 p.m. May 31.

To access N.C. 41 from U.S. 70 East, traffic will continue past the exit for about seven miles and exit at Tuscarora Rhems Road. At the stop sign, turn left and cross U.S. 70, returning to U.S. 70 west until the N.C. 41 exit.

For traffic wanting to get to U.S. 70 East, drivers will use the entrance ramp to U.S. 70 West, drive 8.5 miles and turn left at the crossover at Dover Road and continue to U.S. 70 East.

The work is part of a larger project to bring U.S. 70 up to interstate standards. Crews are widening shoulders, as well as milling and repaving the highway, which will be renamed I-42. The project in its entirety is 32 miles long and costs $25.5 million.

[sprjus4]

https://www.ncdot.gov/news/press-releases/Pages/2019/2019-05-29-craven-county-ramps-closed-improvements.aspx

NEW BERN — As work continues to bring U.S. 70 in Craven County up to interstate standards, the N.C. Department of Transportation will close one exit ramp and one entrance ramp for 36 hours this week.

The eastbound entrance and exit ramps for N.C. 41 will be closed from 7 a.m. May 30 until 7 p.m. May 31.

To access N.C. 41 from U.S. 70 East, traffic will continue past the exit for about seven miles and exit at Tuscarora Rhems Road. At the stop sign, turn left and cross U.S. 70, returning to U.S. 70 west until the N.C. 41 exit.

For traffic wanting to get to U.S. 70 East, drivers will use the entrance ramp to U.S. 70 West, drive 8.5 miles and turn left at the crossover at Dover Road and continue to U.S. 70 East.

The work is part of a larger project to bring U.S. 70 up to interstate standards. Crews are widening shoulders, as well as milling and repaving the highway, which will be renamed I-42. The project in its entirety is 32 miles long and costs $25.5 million.

The detour routes are so poor. Who would get on the freeway, drive for 10 minutes, then go back another 20 minutes? I'd rather just sneak over to Old US-70, which is the two-lane road parallel to the freeway. It does exist after all, why NCDOT chooses to ignore it is beyond me.

[bob7374]

NCDOT has reposted the plans for the US 70/Future I-42 Havelock Bypass now due to be let in July. It appears that, at least for the signing plans, no revisions have been made meaning the pull through signs still have future I-42 shields on the right and the exit numbers still duplicate those on US 70 in the New Bern area. Plans are available at:
https://xfer.services.ncdot.gov/dsplan/2019%20Highway%20Letting/07-16-19/Plans%20and%20Proposals/Craven_R1015_34360.3.GV4_C204177/

[LM117]

NCDOT has reposted the plans for the US 70/Future I-42 Havelock Bypass now due to be let in July. It appears that, at least for the signing plans, no revisions have been made meaning the pull through signs still have future I-42 shields on the right and the exit numbers still duplicate those on US 70 in the New Bern area. Plans are available at:
https://xfer.services.ncdot.gov/dsplan/2019%20Highway%20Letting/07-16-19/Plans%20and%20Proposals/Craven_R1015_34360.3.GV4_C204177/

...and they're still not going to sign it as US-70 Bypass, creating yet another useless concurrency in the state.

[LM117]

A public meeting is being held on June 18 in Havelock to discuss upgrading US-70 to interstate standards between Thurman Road in James City and the future Havelock Bypass.

https://www.ncdot.gov/news/press-releases/Pages/2019/2019-05-30-craven-county-highway-upgrades-public-meeting.aspx

[Roadsguy]

NCDOT has reposted the plans for the US 70/Future I-42 Havelock Bypass now due to be let in July. It appears that, at least for the signing plans, no revisions have been made meaning the pull through signs still have future I-42 shields on the right and the exit numbers still duplicate those on US 70 in the New Bern area. Plans are available at:
https://xfer.services.ncdot.gov/dsplan/2019%20Highway%20Letting/07-16-19/Plans%20and%20Proposals/Craven_R1015_34360.3.GV4_C204177/

The plans seem to be gone again. Completely gone too, unlike last time where it was simply the main project documents that were removed.

[bob7374]

NCDOT has reposted the plans for the US 70/Future I-42 Havelock Bypass now due to be let in July. It appears that, at least for the signing plans, no revisions have been made meaning the pull through signs still have future I-42 shields on the right and the exit numbers still duplicate those on US 70 in the New Bern area. Plans are available at:
https://xfer.services.ncdot.gov/dsplan/2019%20Highway%20Letting/07-16-19/Plans%20and%20Proposals/Craven_R1015_34360.3.GV4_C204177/

The plans seem to be gone again. Completely gone too, unlike last time where it was simply the main project documents that were removed.

Is it wishful thinking that they were removed because they accidentally put up the old plans and will bring the link back when the new ones are uploaded? The letting is still listed, so it doesn't appear they've postponed it again.

[sprjus4]

NCDOT has reposted the plans for the US 70/Future I-42 Havelock Bypass now due to be let in July. It appears that, at least for the signing plans, no revisions have been made meaning the pull through signs still have future I-42 shields on the right and the exit numbers still duplicate those on US 70 in the New Bern area. Plans are available at:
https://xfer.services.ncdot.gov/dsplan/2019%20Highway%20Letting/07-16-19/Plans%20and%20Proposals/Craven_R1015_34360.3.GV4_C204177/

The plans seem to be gone again. Completely gone too, unlike last time where it was simply the main project documents that were removed.

Is it wishful thinking that they were removed because they accidentally put up the old plans and will bring the link back when the new ones are uploaded? The letting is still listed, so it doesn't appear they've postponed it again.

One could only hope. And hopefully the update those "Speed Limit 55" signs to "Speed Limit 65" or "Speed Limit 70".

[bob7374]

A public meeting is being held on June 18 in Havelock to discuss upgrading US-70 to interstate standards between Thurman Road in James City and the future Havelock Bypass.

https://www.ncdot.gov/news/press-releases/Pages/2019/2019-05-30-craven-county-highway-upgrades-public-meeting.aspx

The latest NCDOT 12-month tentative letting list has this contract as a design-build project to be let on July 16, 2020.

[LM117]

NCDOT has awarded a contract to resurface US-70 between the Neuse River in Johnston County and the Wayne County line.

https://www.ncdot.gov/news/press-releases/Pages/2019/2019-05-31-us-70-repaving-johnston-county.aspx

[LM117]

https://www.ncdot.gov/news/press-releases/Pages/2019/2019-06-07-tuscarora-rhems-us-70-ramp-closure.aspx

NEW BERN — Work on upgrading U.S. 70 to interstate status (future I-42) in Craven County will require the closure of the ramp from eastbound U.S. 70 to Tuscarora Rhems Road for two days early next week, weather permitting.

The closure is scheduled to go into effect at 6:30 a.m. on Monday, June 10, and end by 7 p.m. on Tuesday, June 11.

Drivers who need to access Tuscarora Rhems Road off U.S. 70 East will instead be directed to go an additional 2.6 miles and exit at Clark Road. They should turn left at the stop sign, cross over U.S. 70, then turn left for the ramp for U.S. 70 West. They can then exit onto Tuscarora Rhems Road.

Motorists need to pay extra attention when approaching the ramp closure and follow the detour signs. They should anticipate needing extra time to travel through the area because of the 5.2-mile detour.

[LM117]

A public meeting is being held on June 18 in Havelock to discuss upgrading US-70 to interstate standards between Thurman Road in James City and the future Havelock Bypass.

https://www.ncdot.gov/news/press-releases/Pages/2019/2019-05-30-craven-county-highway-upgrades-public-meeting.aspx

Some remarks from that meeting. More importantly is this tidbit:

https://www.witn.com/content/news/Community-feedback-on-Highway-70-project-between-James-City-and-Havelock-511496571.html

NCDOT plans to have another public meeting on the project in spring 2020 and aims to have an environmental study done by summer of that year. It's likely construction on this section of U.S. 70 won't begin until 2023.

[bob7374]

NCDOT has reposted the plans for the US 70/Future I-42 Havelock Bypass now due to be let in July. It appears that, at least for the signing plans, no revisions have been made meaning the pull through signs still have future I-42 shields on the right and the exit numbers still duplicate those on US 70 in the New Bern area. Plans are available at:
https://xfer.services.ncdot.gov/dsplan/2019%20Highway%20Letting/07-16-19/Plans%20and%20Proposals/Craven_R1015_34360.3.GV4_C204177/

The plans seem to be gone again. Completely gone too, unlike last time where it was simply the main project documents that were removed.

Is it wishful thinking that they were removed because they accidentally put up the old plans and will bring the link back when the new ones are uploaded? The letting is still listed, so it doesn't appear they've postponed it again.

Apparently so, all the plans have been restored to the website with a June 25 date, but the sign plans are the same as before with the same issues as listed above:
https://xfer.services.ncdot.gov/dsplan/2019%20Highway%20Letting/07-16-19/Plans%20and%20Proposals/Craven_R1015_34360.3.GV4_C204177/Standard%20PDF%20Files/

I am tempted to contact the project engineer, especially about the exit numbers, but don't know what reaction I'd get.

[sprjus4]

NCDOT has reposted the plans for the US 70/Future I-42 Havelock Bypass now due to be let in July. It appears that, at least for the signing plans, no revisions have been made meaning the pull through signs still have future I-42 shields on the right and the exit numbers still duplicate those on US 70 in the New Bern area. Plans are available at:
https://xfer.services.ncdot.gov/dsplan/2019%20Highway%20Letting/07-16-19/Plans%20and%20Proposals/Craven_R1015_34360.3.GV4_C204177/

The plans seem to be gone again. Completely gone too, unlike last time where it was simply the main project documents that were removed.

Is it wishful thinking that they were removed because they accidentally put up the old plans and will bring the link back when the new ones are uploaded? The letting is still listed, so it doesn't appear they've postponed it again.

Apparently so, all the plans have been restored to the website with a June 25 date, but the sign plans are the same as before with the same issues as listed above:
https://xfer.services.ncdot.gov/dsplan/2019%20Highway%20Letting/07-16-19/Plans%20and%20Proposals/Craven_R1015_34360.3.GV4_C204177/Standard%20PDF%20Files/

I am tempted to contact the project engineer, especially about the exit numbers, but don't know what reaction I'd get.

Still also reads "Speed Limit 55" , and judging by the rural environment and the proposed design speed of 70 mph, it's likely going to be 65 mph or 70 mph.

As for contacting the project engineer, I say go for it. All of your claims are legitimate. I may do it as well just to have more than one person questioning it, which may help if any change is to happen.

[LM117]

NCDOT has reposted the plans for the US 70/Future I-42 Havelock Bypass now due to be let in July. It appears that, at least for the signing plans, no revisions have been made meaning the pull through signs still have future I-42 shields on the right and the exit numbers still duplicate those on US 70 in the New Bern area. Plans are available at:
https://xfer.services.ncdot.gov/dsplan/2019%20Highway%20Letting/07-16-19/Plans%20and%20Proposals/Craven_R1015_34360.3.GV4_C204177/

The plans seem to be gone again. Completely gone too, unlike last time where it was simply the main project documents that were removed.

Is it wishful thinking that they were removed because they accidentally put up the old plans and will bring the link back when the new ones are uploaded? The letting is still listed, so it doesn't appear they've postponed it again.

Apparently so, all the plans have been restored to the website with a June 25 date, but the sign plans are the same as before with the same issues as listed above:
https://xfer.services.ncdot.gov/dsplan/2019%20Highway%20Letting/07-16-19/Plans%20and%20Proposals/Craven_R1015_34360.3.GV4_C204177/Standard%20PDF%20Files/

I am tempted to contact the project engineer, especially about the exit numbers, but don't know what reaction I'd get.

Looks like NCDOT is hellbent on creating a needless I-42/US-70 overlap.