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12:41 a.m. • 5-23-13

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Published: 2008-06-09 04:02:00
Updated: 2008-06-09 18:46:07

Bypass will speed trip east of Raleigh on U.S. 70, I-40


Bypass will speed trip east of Raleigh on US 70, I-40
Bypass will speed trip east of Raleigh on US 70, I-40
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A $123 million bypass that opened Monday in Johnston County is expected to relieve congestion and speed thousands of vehicles a day around the town of Clayton.

Department of Transportation spokeswoman Amanda Perry said the nearly 11-mile bypass is expected to carry 85,000 cars a day by 2025.

The road links Interstate 40 to U.S. 70 just west of Smithfield. Motorists who currently take U.S. 70 can expect to save about 15 minutes of travel time by using the new bypass.

"I go into the city or I go between here and Clayton all the time, so this should be wonderful," said driver Mickey Bast. "I'm very excited about this."

Construction began on the highway in June 2005 and it is opening a year ahead of schedule.

"DOT, sometimes we cuss you, but we're praising you today," Johnston County Commissioner Cookie Pope said.

"DOT is often criticized for delaying projects, and this is one of those chances we get to toot our own horn," said State Transportation Secretary Lyndo Tippett.

To help keep drivers informed, the bypass features the state’s first fully automated speed-detection system. Twenty-two speed sensors located throughout the project will allow Dynamic Message Signs to display real-time travel information, including estimated drive times.

"(Drivers) will be able to determine how long it's going to take them (to get to their destination), and if they want to take an alternate route, they can," DOT engineer Sherry Yow said.

Motorists on existing U.S. 70 will be aware of travel conditions ahead and have the opportunity to select their route accordingly.

Project staff also undertook numerous environmental stewardship efforts while designing and constructing the bypass due to its close proximity to the Swift Creek watershed. These features include a wildlife underpass, hazardous spill basins and various erosion control devices to help protect the area’s ecosystem.


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"Will you remember that when something goes wrong on a project or will it then become the road that DOT built?"

Well, I seem to remember plenty of people calling out the contractor on the I-40 widening for following the spec that the DOT had laid out in their design and conveniently forgot to update.

Leonardo: - I hate sprawl. - I work from my home. - My wife's office is 6 miles away with no highway travel.

And I hate sprawl. This bypass is folly. Why is anybody except NCDOT surprised that the traffic between US 70 and NC 42 is a mess? This is yet another breathtaking example of NCDOT's poor planning and obscene lack of foresight. And as always nobody will be held to task for it. Accountability is un-American.

HEY...Leonardo....we bought our house in the COUNTRY of Wake County near 40/42 BEFORE the sprawl as you call it came into play. Now, we cannot afford to move to North Raleigh where we work and where our son goes to preschool because of the economy. Sounds like you have no idea what you are talking about. Or perhaps you still live at home with mom and dad and they pay for your gas and car insurance.

"Toot your horn for what, you didn't build it, a contractor built it. S. T. Wooten I believe. But never is the contractor who takes the risk of building all of the infrastructure that we use ever mentioned."

Will you remember that when something goes wrong on a project or will it then become the road that DOT built?

I-40 was stop and go from exit 319 to 301 this morning. Makes no sense to me.

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