Crews began removing trees and digging up the grounds for the creation of the new Clayton bypass, a four-lane divided highway that will take drivers from U.S. Highway 70 near Wilsons Mills to Interstate 40 in Wake County.
The 10 miles of road will have four major interchanges located at Interstate 40, N.C. Highway 42, Ranch Road and the U.S. 70/U.S. 70 Business split. The current U.S. 70 will become part of U.S. 70 Business once the project is complete.
One thing that held the project up were environmental concerns about the tiny dwarf wedge mussel in nearby Swift Creek, but the protection area around the creek was expanded.
The project is expected to cost $123.5 million, the N.C. Department of Transportation said. Work is expected to be complete in June 2009.
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