RALEIGH - North Carolina anticipates
receiving $147 million in federal funds to improve Interstate 95 and U.S. 70 in
eastern North Carolina, Governor Roy Cooper announced this week.
The N.C. Department of Transportation applied for an Infrastructure
for Rebuilding America (INFRA) grant to help North Carolina make needed roadway
improvements along Interstate 95, upgrade U.S. 70 to Interstate 42 between
Interstate 40 and the Port of Morehead City, and install 300 miles of fiber
optic cable along both highways to expand access to broadband and
telecommunication access.
INFRA grants are awarded by the U.S. Department of
Transportation.
“This is great news for eastern North Carolina and the future of
our entire state,” Cooper said. “Better transportation and communications
networks will improve North Carolinians’ access to jobs, educational
opportunities and health care, and give our military and businesses greater
access to our bases and ports.”
I-95 and U.S. 70/Future I-42 are important connections for the
movement of commerce and military transportation. They also serve as key
evacuation routes for eastern North Carolina and nearby states in cases of
hurricanes and other natural disasters.
The grant will help North Carolina:
- Widen up to 25 miles of I-95 and upgrade interchanges
- Convert U.S. 70 to interstate standards, enhancing freight
movement throughout the state
- Install miles of fiber cable network to bring broadband and
telecommunication service to many communities in eastern North Carolina
- Create interstate links between four military bases: Fort Bragg,
Seymour Johnson, Camp Lejeune and Cherry Point
- Improve connections between the Port of Morehead City and North
Carolina Global TransPark
- Improve travel safety and reliability in the two corridors
Read more about the project here.