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New budget speeding up transportation projects in North Carolina

Posted at 2:13 PM, Dec 08, 2015
and last updated 2015-12-08 17:50:42-05

Dare County, N.C. (WTKR) - The North Carolina Board of Transportation has been presented with a list of new and rescheduled transportation projects for Northeastern North Carolina.

Included are nine new and accelerated highway projects; 16 new and accelerated aviation projects, including land purchases, runway and taxiway construction; and two ferry projects, including a new River-Class ferry and a new tug.

The amendments to the transportation plan were made possible thanks to Governor Pat McCrory's 2016 budget. It includes more funding for transportation through the elimination of the transfer from Highway Fund to General Fund and through other fee and rate changes. Altogether, there is an additional $1.6 billion for transportation construction over the next 10 years.

The projects will be voted on for approval in January as part of the 2016-2025 State Transportation Improvement Program (STIP) - NCDOT's 10-year construction plan.

The roadway projects include:

  • Widen U.S. 158 in Dare County from U.S. 64 and N.C. 12, north to the Wright Memorial Bridge. Right of way scheduled for FY 25 with construction unfunded. This project will be subject to reprioritization in the next STIP; however, the funding allows for the planning process to begin;
  • Improve the intersection of N.C. 12 and U.S. 158 in Dare County. Right of way scheduled for FY 24 with construction unfunded. This project will be subject to reprioritization in the next STIP; however, the funding allows for the planning process to begin;
  • Modernize U.S. 258 in Northampton County from the Halifax County Line to the Rich Square Town Limits. Construction scheduled for FY 20; and
  • Widen and resurface New Hope Road in Perquimans County from Union Hall Road to Woodland Church Road. Construction moved up from FY 19 to FY 18.

The bridge projects include:

  • Bridge rehabilitation - Eastbound Wright Memorial Bridge on U.S. 158 at the Dare and Currituck County line;
  • Bridge rehabilitation - Alligator River Bridge on U.S. 64 at the Dare and Tyrrell County line;
  • Bridge rehabilitation - Virginia Dare Bridge on U.S. 64 in Dare County;
  • Bridge rehabilitation - U.S. 264 bridge over the Intracoastal Waterway in Hyde County; and
  • Bridge rehabilitation - N.C. 45/N.C. 308 bridge over the Roanoke River in Bertie County.

The aviation projects include: 

  • Runway extension - Tri-County Airport
  • Land acquisitions - Dare County Regional Airport
  • Runway extension - Dare County Regional Airport
  • Land acquisition - Martin County Airport
  • Terminal upgrade - Tri-County Airport
  • Taxilane construction - Martin County Airport
  • Storage construction - Currituck County Regional Airport
  • Hangar construction - Currituck County Regional Airport
  • Taxiway construction - Tri-County Airport

Click here to see a complete list of new and rescheduled highway, non-highway and bridge projects.