Three construction projects east of the Triangle are causing delays on North Carolina roadways as crews work to improve traffic to accommodate growth in the small Johnston County town of Clayton.

North Carolina Department of Transportation crews are realigning intersections and median crossovers to make U.S. Route 70 through Clayton safer and to improve traffic flow. The project is expected to take two years to complete.

At the U.S. 70-Clayton bypass, where congestion stretches for miles, crews are working on an alternate route that will allow motorists to travel around downtown Clayton and its traffic lights. It is expected to take several more months before crews complete the project.

Crews are also installing rumble strips along Interstate 40, slowing down drivers. The rumble strip work should be done in a few weeks.

The DOT, road contractors and Clayton Mayor Jody McLeod say that in the end, the road work will mean safer, smoother rides for motorists.

"When you're the second-fastest growing small town in the state of North Carolina, you can anticipate this as part of the growth factor," McLeod said.