Major thoroughfare in Clayton reopens for Thursday morning commute
A segment of N.C. 42 near the railroad tracks and U.S. 70, near the Sheetz, reopened in Clayton Thursday morning just in time for the morning commute.
Road construction began Wednesday on the major thoroughfare – causing re-routed traffic, back-ups and overall headaches. The road was closed so Norfolk Southern Railway could make improvements to the railroad crossing.
The work was expected to begin Tuesday but was delayed by one day.
On Tuesday, the town sent out an apologetic email at 9 a.m. indicating that Norfolk Southern Railway unexpectedly moved the work to Wednesday. The closure will involve multiple detours and is expected to create traffic delays when it happens, and the town had advised drivers to plan ahead for changes.
"Unfortunately, we have no control over the railroad or their projects," said a Clayton spokesperson. "We have to rely on the communication they give us. Be assured we did confirm this closure multiple times ... all I can do is I offer my sincerest apologies to everyone."
"The traffic is a nightmare, just a nightmare," said Janet Trager, who owns the nearby In Style Grooming.
Caught between the detour and the worksite, normally heavy traffic passing Trager’s business has dropped to essentially nothing. Fortunately, she's only lost one appointment so far.
"She was an older woman. She did not want to deal with the traffic," said Trager.
Parents with students have also been impacted. The Johnston County School District has warned the closure could impact bus arrival times and carpool routes on Wednesday.
"It is really bad," said Karen Narron, a mother of two. "I take my boys to preschool in the morning. I go that way, I come back, get dressed and go back [that way] to work. It will impact me twice."
The Johnston County School District sent a message to parents that bus arrival times could be impacted and carpoolers should make sure to check out the alternative routes posted. Those delays could now occur Wednesday instead.
Detours will be set up around the project that will take drivers from Front Street, past several subdivisions, on to Robertson Street and then back on to U.S. 70.
"The good thing — it is for two days. As long as it is for two days. We heard timelines before that were longer," said Narron.
