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U.S. 70 Improvements – Havelock Bypass to East of Thurman Road

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Project Overview
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​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​Property Acquisition

On behalf of NCDOT, a consultant, Mark Smith of The Right of Way Group, LLC, is working on property acquisition​ for this project. ​

The department has provided Smith a letter on NCDOT letterhead stating their group is acquiring property for this project.​

Planning and development are underway to upgrade U.S. 70 to interstate standards from the Havelock Bypass to east of Thurman Road in Craven County. ​​This project is one of several the N.C. Department of Transportation is working on to improve the U.S. 70 Corridor​, with the intent to:
 
  • Improve regional mobility 
  • Assist economic development in primarily rural areas of eastern North Carolina  
  • Provide a closer interstate connection to the Port of Morehead City 
  • Benefit military interconnectivity 
  • Make the corridor safer by reducing intersections
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 Project R-5777C in the N.C. Department of Transportation's ​State Transportation Improvement Program and is funded for $345 million. NCDOT is considering this Preferred Alternative. Cost estimates are shown below.

​​Estimated Cost by Alternative*


Cost Category​

​​Preferred Alternative

​Preliminary engineering 
​$7,500,000
​Utilities
​$20,500,000
​Property Acquisition
​$37,000,000
​Construction
​$280,000,000
Total
​$345,000,000​

*Estimated costs subject to change

6/12/2024 1:30 PM