More funds requested for U.S. 17

An advocates' group wants the state to restore $19.325 million for widening U.S. 17 through Jones County.

The money was included in North Carolina's 2007 Transportation Improvement Plan but is not designated for that project in the 2009 plan. A letter from the Highway 17 Association went to N.C. Board of Transportation members Marvin Blount III and Cam McRae on Tuesday asking the state board to restore the money to the project. At least $72 million would still be needed.

Members of the Down East Rural Planning Organization also directed the organization's staff to draft a resolution of support for the effort to put the money back into the 2009-2015 state plan.

The letter from association director Marc Finlayson said "this delay in funding exacerbates an already difficult project" and would push it forward even for right-of-way acquisition to 2011 at the earliest.

The delays are causing "the citizens of Jones County great distress," Finlayson said. "The Jones County segments of this project have been programmed to one extent or another for at least two decades but can't seem to move forward." He said residents "are justifiably frustrated with the lack of progress and tell me that this most recent setback is another indication that this project may not ever get built."

"Many of us around the table have been fighting this battle a long time," said Bob Mattocks, an RPO and former state transportation board member, recalling former Gov. Jim Hunt's intent to have the job finished while he was governor.

Sections of U.S. 17 north of Craven County and south of Jones County have seen work toward four lanes in the last several years, including major bridge work in Beaufort County in progress now.

"If we get everything else except Jones done, it will still hurt New Bern, Jacksonville, everywhere else," Mattocks said.

He speculated that if this money is not restored, soon further delays could come since there is now discussion about changing the equity formula that designates state highway money in a way that would favor more metropolitan areas.

Finlayson said Sen. Elizabeth Dole is introducing legislation for $2 million to do work on one U.S. 17 project in Onslow County.

Finlayson said Dole is looking for support from other legislators for that project in the effort to four-lane all of U.S. 17 through North Carolina. The total project at 2008 prices needs $215 million to complete.