New Bern's $2.2M NCDOT agreement a 'necessary evil' for U.S. 70 project
Why is the city of New Bern on the line for more than $2 million in costs associated with the North Carolina Department of Transportation’s U.S. 70 project in James City?
According to city staff, the price tag is simply the way business is done in North Carolina.
City Engineer Jordan Hughes explained that under state statute GS-136-27.1, city’s are required to enter into an agreement with NCDOT to contribute towards the costs for relocating city water and sewer infrastructure located along NCDOT right of ways.
More: Relocation of Water and Sewer Lines
Hughes said the cost is based on a city’s population. In New Bern’s case, that means paying out 25% of the estimated $10 million price tag for water and wastewater lines that need to be relocated to make way for the U.S. 70 upgrades that will transform the highway into the new I-42 interstate.
“The breakpoint is 50,000 population, so as long as we stay under 50,000 our percentage is 25%,” Hughes said. “It’s very weird that if you’re a county water or sewer provider or a water or sewer district you pay zero cost, it’s fully reimbursed by the DOT. But if you’re a municipality and you own water and wastewater systems they have a very nice (tiered payment) system that’s all outlined under general statute.”
Hughes described the payment as a “necessary evil” that, while costly, will also bring some benefits in the form of upgrades to the area’s aging water system. He said much of James City’s U.S. 70 infrastructure was put in place nearly 40 years ago during the early 1980s.
“So for 25% of the cost you’re getting brand new infrastructure and getting the chance to provide some upgrades,” he noted. “If I had a choice we would not do anything out there and we could spend the money elsewhere. But when you have your infrastructure in a DOT right of way that’s one of the caveats…if they ever need you to move it as part of their highway construction you’ve got to get it out of the way.”
Hughes said NCDOT has been working on its utility construction agreement with the city for about a year, a timeline that has worked in the city’s favor.
“The good news for us is they did the original estimate about a year ago of what the total cost was going to be and came up with a lump sum cost of that,” he explained. “We were able to negotiate with DOT to leave that cost estimate from 2021 in there for calculating our 25%...So we’re getting a very good price for the amount of work that is getting put in place.”
During their August 9 meeting, the New Bern Board of Aldermen approved the establishment of the $2.2 million NCDOT Water and Sewer Improvements Project Fund. The project will be funded with $900,000 from the city’s Water Capital Reserve, $761, 365 from the Sewer Capital Reserve, and $569,350 from the Sewer Fund.
Hughes said the city would be shelling out the $2.2 million at the conclusion of the highway construction, according to the agreement with NCDOT. With the amount of work involved, he said he didn’t expect the payment to come due for several years.
“They will send us an invoice at the conclusion of the work,” Hughes said.
U.S. 70 project will pick up speed this spring
The North Carolina Department of Transportation's U.S. 70 improvement project in James City is designed to improve traffic on a 5.1-mile stretch from east of Thurman Road to the Neuse River Bridge.
More: Traffic circles in James City: Construction 'ramping up' heading into spring
The project began in January 2021 and is expected to be completed by the end of 2024.
In addition to increasing the safety of commuters the project will also add a traffic circle at the Thurman Road exit.
The work will eliminate five existing traffic signals, at Williams Road, Airport Road, Grantham Road, Taberna Way, and Thurman Road, and will provide ramps to access side roads at those intersections.
According to NCDOT, during peak construction time residents can expect the following:
The traveling public will be separated from construction efforts in James City by way of service roads and other means.
Two lanes of traffic on U.S. 70 will be open during peak travel times throughout construction.
Daytime lane closures can be expected on weekends during non-holiday and non-summer months times.
At night time, lane closures and detours can also be expected.
Construction vehicles will enter and exit construction zones throughout the day.
Work done along service roads will be done utilizing flagging operations.
Access to local businesses and residences will still be available.
Temporary traffic signals will be installed along with reduced conflict intersections to provide access to streets on each side of U.S. 70 once the median is closed during Phase 3
Reporter Todd Wetherington can be reached by email at wwetherington@gannett.com. Please consider supporting local journalism by signing up for a digital subscription.
This article originally appeared on Sun Journal: New Bern's $2.2M NCDOT agreement 'necessary evil' for U.S. 70 project
