NCDOT - If you’ve driven along the U.S. 70 Improvement project in James City, then you’ve seen that our crews have been busy this spring!
The final efforts for stage one of construction are wrapping up, as the demolition of structures is completed, and the relocation of public utilities, such as power, gas, fiber, water and sewer is well underway. Much of the work for the new infrastructure on the project is for items that the traveling public will never see – such as new water and sewer lines, known as “wet utilities”. These new wet utilities constructed for the project will include 90,000 linear feet of new water lines and 50,000 linear feet of new sewer lines.
The project work will replace existing, under-capacity infrastructure, including storm drain pipes and boxes, to ensure that stormwater coming onto the U.S. 70 road surface will not run off onto the properties and cause impacts. Many of the lane closures and detours that have occurred on the project in recent months are due to replacing large, underground pipes. In all, 750 drainage boxes and 81,000 linear feet of storm drain pipe will be constructed as part of the project! The construction of new stormwater basins has already been completed along U.S. 70 East at Williams Road, Airport Road, and Grantham Road. These basins will hold extra water when needed during large storms to make sure the system isn’t overburdened.
Work in stage two of construction is also well underway. Clearing for new service roads has been completed, and some of these new service roads have already been constructed – including curb and gutter and pavement. Work on new service roads and upgrades to existing service roads will continue until the completion of stage two. During stage three, the new service roads will be opened to traffic, and work will begin to widen existing U.S. 70 as well as begin new ramp construction.
Want to learn more about the project or have a question? You can visit our website to read past newsletters, watch videos about the construction process, and sign-up to receive updates by email and text: NCDOT.GOV/JAMESCITY.
You can also email us at US70-JamesCity@publicinput.com or call and leave us a message at 1-855-925-2801 and enter code 7872.