King Street section closes for repairs

A section of King Street between Queen and Herritage Streets will be closed for the next two-and-a half weeks, when N.C. Department of Transportation workers begin repairing a storm drain today.

Keith Green, assistant district engineer with the DOT's District 3 office in Kinston, said Friday that King's intersections with Herritage and Queen will remain open during construction, which is scheduled to end May 30.

Green explained that DOT is responsible for the street itself, which is a state road, and the storm drains underneath. Inspectors determined recently that the storm drain is decaying and needs repairs.

The designated segment of King Street runs past the Lenoir County Department of Social Services office. Green said the contractor has been instructed to make provisions to ensure access to areas such as the DSS office.

Vehicle traffic will be detoured around the work site, which will be active during the day. Trucks heading south along N.C. 11 will be directed east along Vernon Avenue to the U.S. 70 bypass, which will take them back to N.C. 11 South.

Northbound trucks should head east on U.S. 70, then turn at N.C. 58 North to go into the city. Cars heading in either direction will be detoured along the same route.

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