Construction is underway to improve traffic on a 5.1-mile stretch of U.S. 70 from east of Thurman Road to the Neuse River Bridge in James City. 

The project will convert the conventional intersections, which include traffic signals, at Williams, Airport, Grantham and Thurman roads and Taberna Way in James City into interchanges by taking U.S. 70 over these cross streets and providing access via ramps. These five intersections will become new highway exits for the future Interstate 42.​

This is a design-build project, which means the contractor is teamed up with a design firm to assist in the design of the project. This method allows innovation and a reduced schedule since the designer and contractor are working hand-in-hand, and while construction is under way on some sections of the highway, design work is continuing for other sections. 

The project is among several to improve the U.S. 70 Corridor – one of the primary east-west corridors across eastern North Carolina.

U.S. 70 provides an important connection between the port at Morehead City, military bases in Havelock and Goldsboro, and the Global TransPark in Kinston. NCDOT has identified the corridor as one of three in which improvements would assist economic development in the primarily rural areas of eastern North Carolina.

In addition, the 2015 Fixing America's Surface Transportation Act​ designated U.S. 70 from I-40 in Garner to the port at Morehead City as a high-priority corridor and future interstate (later signed as Interstate 42). The interstate designation will benefit military interconnectivity, aid in economic development, create jobs, and stimulate growth in travel and tourism.  

Project Funding

This project is listed as Projects U-5713, R-5777A and R-5777B in the N.C. Department of Transportation's State Transportation Improvement Program and is funded for $322 million.

*Estimated costs subject to change