Project Map
Project Map
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Project Fast Facts
- Status: Projects Under Development
- County: Lenoir, Jones, and Craven
- Type of Project: 4-Lane Divided Freeway on New Location
- STIP Number: R-2553
- Estimated Cost: $181,000,000
- Property Acquisition Start: 2020
The North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) is preparing environmental and engineering studies for the proposed Kinston Bypass Project, which is programmed in the 2012-2020 State Transportation Improvement Program (STIP) as project number R-2553. The STIP is a preliminary list of projects that NCDOT proposes to undertake, which also includes project cost and schedule estimates.
The Kinston Bypass project is proposed as a four-lane, median divided freeway with full control of access on new location in Lenoir County and in the western portions of Craven and Jones Counties.
Full control of access means the proposed roadway will not include any traffic signals or driveway connections; rather access to the proposed roadway will only be allowed at interchanges.
Click here to see a map of the Project Vicinity, Study Area, and Detailed Study Alternatives.
NCDOT is currently developing designs for the Detailed Study Alternatives, which will include interchanges at the main roads, overpasses at the minor roads, and major service roads to provide access to properties adjacent to the Detailed Study Alternatives. Once the designs have been prepared, multiple technical studies will be prepared to identify the direct and indirect effects each Detailed Study Alternative will have on the human and natural environment. The outcome of these studies will be summarized in the State Draft Environmental Impact Statement, which will be used to help determine the preferred alternative for the project.
Once the Detailed Study Alternative designs and the State Draft Environmental Impact Statement (State DEIS) have been prepared, both will be available for review by the public and local, state and federal agencies. NCDOT will then hold the Corridor Public Hearing, which will allow the public to ask questions about the project, include a formal presentation and allow the public an opportunity to give formal statements or comments on the project.Currently, the State DEIS is scheduled to be available in early 2014, with the Corridor Public Hearing to be held in mid 2014.
Traffic congestion, capacity deficiencies, and through-traffic delays exist along US 70 between LaGrange and Dover. Within Lenoir County and western portions of Craven and Jones Counties, access to and from US 70 and US 70 Bypass mostly consists of driveways for homes and businesses, as well as intersections controlled with stop signs and traffic signals. High traffic volumes combined with no control of access and closely-spaced intersections often result in stop and go conditions during daily rush hours.
The purpose of the project is to improve regional mobility, connectivity, and capacity for US 70 between LaGrange and Dover in a manner that meets the intent of the North Carolina Strategic Highway Corridors (SHC) Plan. For more information on the NCDOT Strategic Highway Corridors Initiative, click here.
In addition to being programmed in the STIP, the Kinston Bypass Project is also included in the City of
Kinston Comprehensive Transportation Plan (CTP Map). Additionally, US 70 from Raleigh to Morehead City, which is designated as a Strategic Highway Corridor, plays a critical role in regional and statewide mobility. As a Strategic Highway Corridor, this portion of US 70 would be classified as a freeway.
Note: While both the STIP and CTP show the Kinston Bypass project to the south of Kinston, routes to the north and south of Kinston, as well as upgrading existing US 70 and US 70 Bypass are being considered as possible options.
The Kinston Bypass Project is a state-funded project and will be developed in accordance with the State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA). In order to fulfill the SEPA requirements, a State Environmental Impact Statement (State DEIS) will be prepared to evaluate impacts to the natural and human environments. The project will also follow the Interagency Merger Process in an effort to streamline the project development and permitting processes by providing a forum for agency representatives (known as the Merger Process Team) to discuss and reach concurrence on milestones throughout various stages of the project. The purpose of the Interagency Merger Process is to allow for a collaborative decision-making process to avoid, minimize, or mitigate for impacts to the human and natural environment while meeting the safety and mobility of the traveling public and the purpose of and need for the project.
For more information on SEPA, the Project Schedule, the Study Process and the Interagency Merger Process, please see the links below:
- May 2012 NCDOT holds the third round of public workshops to present alternatives selected for detailed study. For a summary of comments received at the workshops, please click here.
- September 2011 NCDOT holds the second round of public workshops requesting public input on potential alternatives for the project. For a summary of comments received at the workshops, please click here.
- February 2010 NCDOT holds the first round of Public Workshops requesting public input on needs for the project. For a summary of the comments received at the workshops, please click here.
- May 2009 NCDOT restarts project.
- October 2007 Kinston Bypass project is listed on the City of Kinston Comprehensive Transportation Plan (updated in 2011).
- October 1993 Kinston Bypass project is listed on the Kinston Urban Area Thoroughfare Plan.
- 1990’s Kinston Bypass project is started but later placed on hold due to other local and NCDOT Division 2 priorities.
The following information was presented at the third round of Public Workshops held in May 2012:
The following information was presented at the second round of Public Workshops held in September 2012:
The following information was presented at the first round of Public Workshops held in February 2010:
Project Hotline: 1-800-233-6315 (English & Spanish)
Chris Werner, PE, URS Corporation
NCDOT consultant
Mark Pierce, PE
NCDOT Project Development and Analysis Unit
- Email: Contact Us
- Phone: (919) 707-6035
- Address: 1548 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, NC 27699-1548
Resources for Local Property Owners
In many cases, it is inevitable that a certain amount of private property must be acquired. The displacement of homes and businesses is minimized to the extent practicable. The following brochures will answer questions about this process.