NCDOT plans to rebuild I-95 interchanges in Johnston County, seeks feedback

The N.C. Department of Transportation plans to rebuild three Interstate 95 interchanges near Micro in Johnston County in the coming years and will present its plans at a public meeting Monday.

The three interchanges have outdated designs and bridges that are nearing the end of their lives and must be replaced, according to NCDOT.

Two of the interchanges, at Bagley Road and East Main Street, will be rebuilt much as they look today, except with longer and taller bridges and other changes to bring them up to current interstate standards.

But the third interchange, at Pittman Road, may be different. NCDOT will present two options to the public, including one with roundabouts at the exit and entrance ramps on either side of the bridge.

NCDOT is asking for the public’s help to decide which design to use. It will present them at an open house from 5 to 7 p.m. Monday, Oct. 24, at The Farm at 215 Batten Road in Selma. There will be no formal presentation, but people will be able to drop in any time to see the options, ask questions and submit their comments in writing.

People can also see the designs and make comments online at publicinput.com/i-95-interchanges-micro.

Other options include calling 512-580-8850 and using project code is 3661; emailing I-95-interchanges-micro@PublicInput.com; or mailing Chad Coggins, NCDOT project engineer, at P.O. Box 3165, Wilson, N.C., 27895.

All three of the new bridges over I-95 will be sized to accommodate more lanes passing underneath, though NCDOT has no plans to widen the highway here in the near future. The state has awarded six separate construction contracts worth $1.7 billion to widen 54 miles of I-95 south of the Interstate 40 interchange in Johnston County.

Construction at the Micro interchanges won’t begin soon. NCDOT plans to be acquiring property it needs in 2024 and start construction in 2026.