DOT Clearing The Way For U.S. 64 Bypass

The Department of Transportation said the tree clearing between the beltline and New Hope Road is the start of work on the U.S. 64 Knightdale Bypass.

The bypass, which will run 9 miles from the beltline to U.S. 64 Business outside Wendell, will not have stop light and will have a 70 mile per hour speed limit.

Families and businesses have moved away from the Knightdale-to-Raleigh corridor because, at times, traffic does not move.

"It's going be just a relief to a lot of folks out on 64 that make that commute into Raleigh and back out of Raleigh everyday," DOT engineer Steve Leonard said.

The DOT said when drivers see the construction, just keep the traffic jams in mind, because easing the congestion on the highway is the ultimate goal.

The DOT expects the $170 million bypass will be finished by August of 2005.