If you’ve gone down US 70 through James City recently looking for signs of the US 70 project, you have not been able to see many.
There are a few: the McDonalds and service station ensemble is empty. Brices Creek Bible Church is boarded up and awaiting a wrecking ball and its future life as an exit ramp. A few signs are announcing future locations for other businesses-to-become-exit-access.
But otherwise, all seems quiet. But don’t worry, work is about to begin.
US 70 is destined to become Interstate I-42 connecting Morehead City and Raleigh with a 151-mile band free of intersections and traffic lights. The work is being done in bits and pieces over several years, replacing those intersections with exits that often include roundabouts and allowing beach runs or dashes to the culture of the big cities to be a 70-mph breeze.