U.S. 70 Corridor Commission studying potential changes to Skinner's Bypass

Area drivers who are sick of congestion and accidents at Skinner's Bypass can take heart because transportation officials are hard at work on a palatable alternative.

The U.S. 70 Corridor Commission is conducting a feasibility study on possible changes to the intersection of N.C. 11/55 South and U.S. 70 East, also known as Skinner's Bypass.

Representatives of the commission, which is made up of state and local officials from counties and cities along U.S. 70 - plus private consultants - announced the study during their bi-monthly business meeting, held this week in Kinston.

Todd Delk, a project engineer with Commission partner Kimley-Horn and Associates, said the Skinner's Bypass study is one of four "pilot projects" designed to show how its overall concept of a "super" U.S. 70 freeway corridor could work.

"If we can show success stories at some locations, we can hopefully take those measures and apply them to other locations up and down the corridor," Delk said Thursday.

Staff members at Kimley-Horn, which is conducting the study, are currently gathering information on the intersection, such as traffic flow, and how any changes would affect surrounding ecosystems and buildings.

Delk said the Commission plans to hold public workshops on the study in late October or early November after staffers develop preliminary designs.

The desired end result is a design for the intersection that could be placed in the N.C. Department of Transportation's Transportation Improvement Program, making it eligible for funding, or in an area safety project.

Dwayne Alligood, operations engineer at the DOT's Division 2 office in Greenville, said "a number of crashes" have taken place at Skinner's Bypass. He also said there are some problems with traffic congestion.

Alligood said the DOT is providing information to Kimley-Horn about the intersection, such as crash data and traffic statistics.

"The purpose of the feasibility study is to see what kind of feasible modifications we can make to that intersection so we can more efficiently handle and more safely handle the traffic that comes through it," Alligood said.

Commission representatives also announced during the meeting that DOT officials have started conducting environmental studies for a proposed U.S. 70 bypass around Kinston. The DOT will eventually develop several design concepts for the public, Delk said.

David Anderson can be reached at (252) 559-1077 or danderson@freedomenc.com.