EDENTON – More than 1,700 projects are included in the N.C. Department of Transportation’s final draft of its 2020-2029 Statewide 10-Year Transportation Plan, which was released this week. The draft STIP includes projects across all transportation modes and in every county in the state.
The complete draft STIP list can be found on the NCDOT website.
In Division 1, which includes Bertie, Camden, Chowan, Currituck, Dare, Gates, Hertford, Hyde, Martin, Northampton, Pasquotank, Perquimans, Tyrrell and Washington counties, there are 66 projects. Among the improvements planned are:
- In Northampton County, widening U.S. 158 between I-95 and St. John’s Church Road, construction is anticipated to start late this year.
- In Dare County, safety and operational improvements on the entire length of Colington Road from U.S. 158 until the road’s end. Construction is anticipated to begin in fall 2020.
- In Martin & Beaufort counties, widening U.S. 17 from north of N.C.171 to south of Williamston, construction is anticipated to begin in 2021.
“We are happy to be able to proceed with several key projects on major corridors across northeastern North Carolina,” said Division One Engineer Jerry Jennings. “In addition, this draft STIP includes many projects that will upgrade and modernize locally important roads.”
The department's 10-year transportation plan is updated every two years. Projects scheduled in the first six years of the plan are considered committed and are not re-evaluated when a new plan is developed. Projects in the final four years of each plan are prioritized again based on technical data, as well as input from local officials and residents.
The overall statewide list includes 1,319 highway projects, 86 aviation, 234 bike and pedestrian, six ferry, 23 public transit and 50 rail projects selected on statewide, regional and division levels. The projects were prioritized based on technical data as well as input from local officials and residents.
Included in the plan are more than 200 projects worth about $2.5 billion that are scheduled to be awarded in 2020.
The draft plan includes 385 changes in highway projects from the initial draft STIP. Some are new projects, while others have had schedule adjustments.
The Board of Transportation is expected to consider final approval of the draft plan at its September meeting.
More information about the STIP and how transportation projects are funded is available on the
NCDOT website.