In Craven County, N.C., work has begun on a $242 million project that will upgrade another segment of U.S. 70. Construction focuses on 6.5 mi. between Thurman Road and the Havelock Bypass and includes building three interchanges.
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"The intent is to improve regional mobility, assist economic development in primarily rural areas of eastern North Carolina and provide a closer interstate connection to the Port of Morehead City," said Brad McMannen, North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) resident engineer.
"It will also benefit military interconnectivity and make the corridor safer by reducing intersections. It will provide a corridor that will increase the efficiency between the military bases, MHC port, Global Transpark and the Triangle."
According to NCDOT, the project will eliminate conventional U.S. 70 intersections, such as those with stop signs and traffic signals. Along the route, Stately Pine Road, Fisher Avenue and Camp Kiro Road will be converted into interchanges.
Balfour Beatty Infrastructure Inc., the prime contractor, is also upgrading 5.1 mi. of U.S. 70 to interstate standards in the James City area, directly west of this new project closer to New Bern. Balfour Beatty was selected to complete the Havelock Bypass to the east of this new segment, which will become I-42 around Havelock. The Havelock Bypass will be a four-lane, median-divided highway that will provide a high-speed alternative to using U.S. 70 through Havelock, which is hampered by numerous traffic signals at intersecting side streets.
Design work on the Thurman Road segment began in early 2023. Field work started in November 2024, with construction expected to be completed by summer 2028.
Subcontractors on the project include Bullington Construction; Curtin Co.; Evergreen Clearing; Gosalia Concrete; Hendrix Barnhill Co.; Hunting Creek Construction; Sadler Landscaping; T&H Electrical; Delta Contracting; Barnhill Contracting; North State Trucking; and Stay Alert Safety Services.
As with most projects, motorists will have to adjust during construction.
"There will be lane closures periodically to perform work on or beside the roadway," said McMannen. "We will have a few temporary traffic shifts to move traffic while we construct the structures and walls."
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Clearing and grubbing, utility relocations and grading work is under way.
"The main challenge is working with utility companies to relocate their existing facilities, so project work can be performed," said McMannen.
Regarding site work, grading operations have been under way. The contractor is laying drainage pipe, cutting ditches and hauling in borrow material to build new roadway.
There will be building demolition required at some locations, as well as the need to remove existing asphalt roadway for road realignments. During excavation, crews anticipate roughly 1.4 million cu. yds. of borrow being hauled in and used on the project.
"We will also install four new concrete box culverts under U.S. 70. The work will require traffic shifts to build it in sections and not impact motorists."
As for unexpected issues, said McMannen, "There have been some delays with right-of-way acquisitions and utility relocations we had to deal with and resolve."
McMannen said nearby Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point military base has been good to work with.
"We are in contact with them often, so they can notify their personnel about upcoming work and traffic updates. They also let us know about upcoming events."
NCDOT photo
During grading operations, crews are using Caterpillar excavators, Caterpillar backhoes, Caterpillar motor graders, Caterpillar sheeps foot rollers and John Deere tractors. Aside from borrow material from a local pit, chief materials include aggregate stone from Martin Marietta and asphalt from Barnhill.
McMannen noted that weather can definitely have an impact on construction.
"We get rain that can affect the grading operations. During the winter weather months, cold temperatures can sometimes affect concrete pours and placement of asphalt."
After unavoidable interruptions, McMannen said it's gratifying to see construction under way on this important effort.
"It's nice to see work finally start. It's rewarding to watch a project from start to finish, which the public will enjoy, and that looks great and makes travel safer and more efficient. CEG
