North Carolina anticipates receiving $147 million in federal funds to improve Interstate 95 and U.S. 70 in eastern North Carolina, Governor Roy Cooper announced today.
The North Carolina Department of Transportation applied for an Infrastructure For Rebuilding America (INFRA) grant to help North Carolina make needed roadway improvements along Interstate 95, upgrade U.S. 70 to Interstate 42 between Interstate 40 and the Port of Morehead City, and install 300 miles of fiber optic cable along both highways to expand access to broadband and telecommunication access. INFRA grants are awarded by the U.S. Department of Transportation.
“This is great news for eastern North Carolina and the future of our entire state,” said Governor Roy Cooper. “Better transportation and communications networks will improve North Carolinians’ access to jobs, educational opportunities and health care, and give our military and businesses greater access to our bases and port.”
I-95 and U.S. 70/Future I-42 are important connections for the movement of commerce and military transportation. They also serve as key evacuation routes for eastern North Carolina and nearby states in cases of hurricanes and other natural disasters.
The grant will help North Carolina:
- Widen up to 25 miles of I-95 and upgrade interchanges;
- Convert U.S. 70 to interstate standards, enhancing freight movement throughout the state;
- Install miles of fiber cable network to bring broadband and telecommunication service to many communities in eastern North Carolina;
- Create interstate links between four military bases: Fort Bragg, Seymour Johnson, Camp Lejeune and Cherry Point;
- Improve connections between the Port of Morehead City and Global TransPark; and
- Improve travel safety and reliability in the two corridors.
Read more about the project from NCDOT HERE.
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