U.S. 70 Commission developing strategy for Skinner's Bypass

The U.S. 70 Corridor Commission is creating a plan for Skinner's Bypass that is expected to alleviate safety and congestion issues while promoting economic development.

An initial version of the plan for the U.S. 70-N.C. 11/55 intersection was presented to the public Tuesday evening. Developed by consulting firm Kimley-Horn and Associates of Raleigh, it calls for building a bridge over either N.C 11/55 or U.S. 70 and building four access roads connecting the two highways.

The access road pattern, which Mike Rutkowski of Kimley-Horn called a "square loop concept," creates four quadrants of land at each corner of the intersection that encompass existing businesses and provide room for more development.

Ernie Everett, a local grading contractor who owns nine acres of land within one of the proposed quadrants, was one of 20-25 people who attended Tuesday night's meeting at The Gate in Kinston.

"I think it looks pretty good," Everett said of the plan. "I think it'll be an asset to Kinston; it'll surely be safer."

Bob Griffin, the former head of the Lenoir County Transportation Committee, said anything that could be done to improve the local U.S. 70 corridor "ought to be done."

"It just looks very creative to me," he said of the intersection plan after Tuesday's meeting. "I've never seen an intersection designed like this."

Allison Fluitt of Kimley-Horn is directly supervising the Skinner's Bypass project, one of several pilot projects the Corridor Commission and the N.C. Department of Transportation are working on along the U.S. 70 corridor.

Fluitt said Skinner's Bypass experiences the most accidents of any U.S. 70 intersection in Lenoir County. The left turn from N.C. 11/55 South to U.S. 70 West toward Goldsboro sees the highest use during morning and afternoon traffic peaks.

The four access roads will also allow drivers to get on either highway by going around the intersection.

"It will have a huge benefit in the grand scheme combined with a relatively low cost," she said.

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