Transportation Officials Mark Year of Progress and Recovery in Central N.C. by
FAYETTEVILLE – For the N.C. Department of Transportation, 2016 was a year filled with accomplishments and challenges. Crews in Divisions Six and Eight completed or kicked off several projects that satisfied objectives outlined in Governor Pat McCrory’s 25-Year Vision for transportation and rebuilt infrastructure damaged by floodwaters from historic storms. Division Six is comprised of Bladen, Columbus, Cumberland, Harnett and Robeson counties. Division Eight includes Chatham, Hoke, Lee, Montgomery, Moore, Randolph, Richmond and Scotland counties. “I am immensely proud of the progress we made to meet Governor McCrory’s goals of improving safety, enhancing mobility and reducing congestion,” Division Eight Engineer Brandon Jones said. “The division addressed many challenges throughout the year, from winter weather in January to Hurricane Matthew in October. We also broke ground on the U.S. 64 Asheboro Bypass and made significant headway on many other critical projects in the division.” Federal, state and local officials attended the ribbon-cutting for a new section of the Fayetteville Outer Loop in August. The $ 146 million project completed a direct interstate connection between Interstate 95 and Fort Bragg and linked Ramsey Street to Bragg Boulevard. The Fayetteville Outer Loop will improve vehicle capacity, relieve congestion along the I-295 corridor, connect Fort Bragg to the strategic I-95 corridor and enhance mobility options for the military. In December, officials opened another section from Bragg Boulevard to the All-American Freeway following more than four years of construction. Crews also completed the widening of Murchison Road, which will relieve congestion from the Outer Loop to north of N.C. 24/87/210 in Spring Lake. In June, state and local officials conducted a groundbreaking ceremony for the U.S. 64 Asheboro Bypass. The bypass is a 16.1-mile, four-lane highway that will ease congestion and improve safety on the U.S. 64 corridor. The highway will include interchanges at U.S. 64 on both ends of the project and at N.C. 49, I-73/74 (U.S. 220 Bypass), N.C. 42 and a new connection that runs directly to the entrance of the North Carolina Zoo. Transportation staff collaborated with local and Zoo officials to revise the design of the Zoo Connector to move traffic away from local homeowners. “The Asheboro Bypass is an integral part of the plan to upgrade the connection to Raleigh from Statesville and Charlotte on U.S. 64 and N.C. 49,” said Jones. “The project will provide high-speed regional mobility for businesses and residents, and improved access to the N.C. Zoo.” Transportation crews completed a diverging diamond interchange this year at exit 22 on I-95. The interchange allows two directions of traffic to temporarily cross to the left side of the road, efficiently moving high volumes of traffic without increasing the number of lanes or signals. This innovative design improves safety by eliminating the need for vehicles to cross opposing traffic to make a left turn when entering or exiting the interstate. Two Cape Fear River bridges were completed this year at Tar Heel Ferry Road and N.C. 11 in Bladen County. The new bridges replaced aging truss bridges, both of which were built to out-of-date design standards and had become increasingly expensive to maintain. Roads and highways were not the only transportation modes improved in the region in 2016. This summer, the state partnered with Campbell University to open a new pedestrian tunnel located under U.S. 421/N.C. 27. The tunnel makes it safer for pedestrians to navigate the university and the area around campus, including the football stadium. In November, the project received an award for engineering excellence from the North Carolina chapter of the American Council of Engineering Companies. The department’s rail division announced in November that it approved funding for a new truck/train transload facility and other track improvements in Hoke County as part of the state’s Freight Rail and Rail Crossing Safety Improvement program. The program, established by legislation signed into law by Governor McCrory in 2013, provides state funds to match private investment. The most significant challenge of 2016 was recovering from the damage wrought by Hurricane Matthew in October. Extensive flooding from the hurricane devastated parts of eastern and central North Carolina, closing I-95 in both directions along with roughly 600 primary and secondary routes statewide. “As soon as the floodwaters began to recede, our crews were out assessing the damage, removing debris, and making repairs,” said Jones. “I’m deeply proud of our hard-working employees and the dedication they demonstrate every day.” When Matthew hit, road crews were already busy repairing roads and bridges impacted by heavy storms that swept through the area the previous week. Some secondary roads that suffered severe washouts are still closed. “The division staff and our contractor partners continue to make progress on restoring our road network,” said Division Six Engineer Greg Burns. “The roads that remain closed require extensive repairs and in some cases, more complex construction. We are pressing hard to complete all sites by mid- to late-spring.” In addition to re-opening all flood-damaged routes, 2017 is likely to bring more good news for travelers in Division Six. The department is accelerating plans for the Fayetteville Outer Loop by developing a design-build contract for the Camden Road to I-95 section. The project should be awarded in late 2017, which is a year ahead of schedule. The entire Fayetteville Outer Loop should be complete by 2025. The state’s next 10-year plan for transportation is set to be released in January. The list of projects in Division Eight will feature a project on N.C. 24 to complete a four-lane connection between Charlotte and I-73/74. In Division Six, the list of projects is expected to include road-widening on key corridors in Cumberland County, as well as expanding the runway at Columbus County Airport. ***NCDOT***
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