DOT briefs County leaders on Johnston road projects

Here’s a recap of in-progress and upcoming road projects in Johnston County. The N.C. Department of Transportation presented the list to County Commissioners on April 6. 

 

The N.C. Department of Transportation is building a new Interstate 95 interchange at U.S. 70 Business in Smithfield.

Interstate 95-U.S. 70 Business interchange, Smithfield

• Description: Replace the existing interchange and build a four-lane overpass that’s long enough to accommodate future I-95 widening.
  
  
• Status: Ongoing with anticipated completion in summer 2027.
  
  
• Cost: $44 million.
  
  
• Features: The interchange will include traffic signals at ramps, lighting, and sidewalks.

The Covered Bridge Road project includes new traffic signals at realigned South Murphrey Road and Castleberry Road.

 Covered Bridge Road

• Description: Widen Covered Bridge Road in Archer Lodge to three lanes from Helena Lane to Buffalo Road.
  
  
• Status: Construction begins fall 2026.
  
  
• Cost: $16 million.
  
  
• Details: Includes new traffic signals at realigned South Murphrey Road and Castleberry Road; utility relocations are underway.

“This cannot come soon enough,” said Commissioner Michelle Pace Davis, who lives in Archer Lodge.

Matt Clarke, the DOT engineer for Johnston County, agreed with Davis. “It is long overdue,” he said.

“It is actually advertised for construction,” Clarke said, “so we’re hopeful that we’ll be awarding this project later this month.” 

A proposed roundabout on Buffalo Road at U.S. 70 aims to improve traffic flow.

 Buffalo Road

• Description: Widen Buffalo Road to three lanes from U.S. 70 to Old Beulah Road near Selma.
  
  
• Status: Construction begins summer 2027.
  
  
• Cost: Estimated at $25 million.
  
  
• Key feature: Construction of a roundabout at the U.S. 70 interchange.
  
  

“The most significant improvements are close to the interchange,” Clarke said. “If you go through this area, especially in the late afternoon, it’s a real challenge to access or leave West Noble Street to go back to U.S. 70.”

Clarke said the DOT had briefed the oil terminal companies on the coming change. “They’re comfortable with the heavy trucks that’ll be using this,” he said. “It’ll be a large roundabout, and we expect it’ll really help traffic flow around the interchange.”

 

The DOT plans intersection improvements along N.C. 42 East, including a roundabout at N.C. 222.

 N.C. 42 modernization

• Description: Modernize N.C. 42 East from Buffalo Road to the Wilson County line at nine sites.
  
  
• Status: Construction begins spring 2028.
  
  
• Cost: Estimated at $27 million.
  
  
• Scope: Includes roundabouts at Lynch Road and Thanksgiving Fire Road, turn lanes at Creech Church Road and Glendale Road, and culvert upgrades at five locations.

Clarke pointed specifically to the N.C. 42 intersection with N.C. 222. “It’s a strange intersection now, so that roundabout will really help traffic move and bring a lot of safety,” he said. “There have been some fatalities at this intersection in the past.” 

The DOT plans to completely overhaul the Interstate 95 interchange at U.S. 701 and U.S. 301.

 Four Oaks interchange

• Description: Replace the I-95/U.S. 701 interchange.
  
  
• Status: Construction begins spring 2029.
  
  
• Cost: Estimated at $76 million.
  
  
• Details: The project will build roundabouts at the interstate ramps and at U.S. 301 and Devil’s Racetrack Road. The work will coincide with I-95 bridge replacements on U.S. 301 and I-95, including the bridges over the Neuse River and Black. Utility relocations are set to begin in early 2027.

“It’s a confusing interchange as it is,” Clarke said. “It may still look confusing, but we’re hopeful that with the roundabouts, it’ll  be a little easier to navigate, especially for travelers who are exiting the interstate.”

An overhaul of U.S. 301 between Booker Dairy Road in Smithfield and Ricks Road in Selma will prevent left turns into and out of some businesses.

 U.S. 301 access management

• Description: Improve U.S. 301 from Booker Dairy Road in Smithfield to Ricks Road in Selma.
  
  
• Status: Construction begins summer 2029.
  
  
• Cost: Estimated at $35 million.
  
  
• Details: Constructing a four-lane roadway with a raised median, including both traditional signalized and reduced-conflict intersections. Note: Reduced-conflict intersections allow only right turns out and right turns in.

An overhaul of I-95 interchanges in Micro and Kenly will include longer overpasses to accommodate an eventually wider interstate.

 Micro, Kenly interchange upgrades

• Description: Upgrade interchanges along I-95 at Pittman Road, Main Street, and Bagley Road.
  
  
• Status: Construction begins spring 2031.
  
  
• Cost: Estimated at $92 million.
  
  
• Scope: New overpasses will be built to accommodate future I-95 widening.

The DOT will widen Veterans Parkway, formerly N.C. 42 West, to four lanes with a raised median.

 N.C. 36 (Veterans Parkway)

• Description: Widen Veterans Parkway, the former N.C. 42 West, from N.C. 50 to U.S. 70 (Clayton Boulevard).
  
  
• Status: Construction begins summer 2031.
  
  
• Cost: Estimated at $200 million.
  
  
• Details: Building a four-lane roadway with a raised median and various reduced-conflict intersections.
  
  

An overhaul of U.S. 70 in Selma will prevent left turns into and out of some popular destinations, including Bojangles, though new service roads will make it easier to get to those spots.

Selma upgrades

• Description: Access management for U.S. 70 from U.S. 301 to I-95.
  
  
• Status: Construction begins spring 2033.
  
  
• Cost: Estimated at $25 million.
  
  
• Details: Includes a raised median and new access roads near Kentucky Fried Chicken and Bojangles.

Addison Gainey is another DOT engineer. “It’s so busy there,” he said of that stretch of U.S. 70. “It’s just very difficult for people to cross lanes of traffic. So it’ll be a huge safety improvement there and operational improvement.”

The new access roads should help KFC and Bojangles customers, Gainey said. “There’ll be new service roads behind those businesses to provide another way in and out since the median will be taking the left turn opportunities out of those businesses,” he said. 

At N.C. 210 and I-40, the DOT plans an interchange like the one at I-40 and Veterans Parkway, fomerly N.C. 42 West.

N.C. 210

• Description: Widen N.C. 210 from N.C. 50 to Raleigh Road.
  
  
• Status: Construction begins spring 2030.
  
  
• Cost: Estimated at $72 million.
  
  
• Features: Includes various reduced-conflict intersections and a diverging diamond interchange at Interstate 40.

Commissioner April Stephens said she regularly navigated the diverging diamond on Veterans Parkway at I-40. “I think we can all agree it was monstrous to begin with, but it is absolutely doing what it was meant to do,” she said. “It has alleviated so much traffic.”

“It was hard to get used to in the beginning,” Stephens added, “but I’m a big fan and excited to see that for McGee’s Crossroads.”

Cleveland Road

• Description: Widen Cleveland Road from I-40 to Barber Mill Road.
  
  
• Status: Construction begins 2035.
  
  
• Cost: Estimated at $101 million.
  
  
• Scope: Constructing a four-lane roadway with a raised median and various reduced-conflict intersections.
  
  

Other notable projects

• Multiuse paths: The DOT would like to build multiuse paths along the N.C. 210 and Cleveland Road sections. For that to happen, the County would have to agree to maintain them.
  
  
• Safety upgrades: Includes widening Swift Creek Road to three lanes near the Johnston County Airport.

Page last updated on:  April 13, 2026