StarNewsOnline.com: The Voice of Southeastern North Carolina:
"East of I-40, the bypass toward Porters Neck is still largely just dirt.
A steady stream of dump trucks, graders and water trucks to keep the dust down run along the unpaved path that’s been carved through wetlands and pine forests.
But with the link not scheduled to open until mid-2006, Mr. Currie said he’s not concerned about the primitive look of the highway.
“I think they’re doing fine right now,” he said.
That section of the bypass, however, might be the first leg to carry traffic.
Near Porters Neck Road, crews are close to wrapping up work on the overpass that swings over the future loop highway.
Soon the bridge could carry all U.S. 17 traffic, freeing up the contractor to tie Market Street into the bypass.
Mr. Blair said the traffic shift could happen as soon as July."
17 ByPass Update
