NEW BERN – Two highway ramps in Craven County will be closed this week as state transportation crews work to bring the highway up to interstate standards.
On Tuesday, between 6:30 a.m. and 7 p.m., the entrance ramp from Clarks Road to U.S. 70 East and the exit ramp from U.S. 70 East to U.S. 17 will be closed. The ramps will close again during the same times on Wednesday.
N.C. Department of Transportation crews will pave the ramps. The construction is part of the project to bring U.S. 70 up to interstate standards between Raleigh and Morehead City. Crews are widening shoulders and milling and repaving the highway, which will be renamed Interstate 42. The project in Craven County is 32 miles long and costs $25.5 million.
Detours
During construction, Clarks Road traffic needing U.S. 70 East should get on U.S. 70 West and travel about 2.5 miles to the exit for Tuscarora Rhems Road. Drivers will turn left at the stop sign at the top of the ramp, go over the bridge, and make another left to get onto U.S. 70 East.
For drivers on U.S. 70 East needing to get on U.S. 17, stay on U.S. 70 East for about 1 mile to Exit 411 (N.C. 43). Drivers will turn left at the top of the ramp, go over the bridge, turn left onto U.S. 70 West and drive about 1 mile to Exit 410A (U.S. 17 South).