Thoroughfare opens ahead of schedule in Garner

The North Carolina Department of Transportation opened the Timber Drive Extension in Garner to traffic on Tuesday afternoon - nearly 10 months ahead of schedule.

Posted 8:16 p.m. Dec 13, 2011 — Updated 8:16 p.m. Dec 13, 2011

GARNER, N.C. — The North Carolina Department of Transportation opened the Timber Drive Extension in Garner to traffic on Tuesday afternoon – nearly 10 months ahead of schedule.

The $9.4 million divided four-lane highway connects N.C. Highway 50 and White Oak Road. State and local officials said it has been a top transportation priority for Garner and is expected to improve traffic flow into Garner and south Raleigh from Johnston County.

"This project is essential to the mobility of this community, which is growing rapidly and needs new infrastructure to keep up with increasing traffic demand," state Transportation Secretary Gene Conti said in a statement.

A bridge over Mahler's Creek on Timber Drive Extension was named for the late Don Rohrbaugh, who served five terms as Garner mayor and was instrumental in the construction of both Timber Drive and its extension.

Suggest A Correction