By Mark Wineka
Salisbury Post
Westbound traffic on U.S. 70 between Kepley and Bear Poplar roads will be shifted to new pavement Saturday morning, according to the N.C. Department of Transportation.
The traffic shift, covering roughly 7 miles, could happen by mid-morning along this stretch of U.S. 70 that is being widened to four lanes with a median.
Westbound traffic will be moved to the farthest outside lane, as contractors turn their focus to the median and inside lanes, which will remain closed to traffic.
Eastbound traffic (heading toward Salisbury) will stay in the outside travel lane where it has been.
With the traffic shift, DOT engineers ask drivers to use designated median crossovers and employ extra caution at stop signs and traffic lights.
These “C” and “D” contracts on U.S. 70 could be finished by Labor Day, and work on the final “B” contract between Freightliner in Cleveland and the Rowan County line is supposed to start in late fall.
U.S. 70’s widening has been occurring in recent years between Statesville and Salisbury in five different segments, each with its own contract.
The “E” segment from Jake Alexander Boulevard near the Salisbury Mall to Kepley Road already has been completed.
Contact Mark Wineka at 704-797-4263 or mwineka @salisburypost.com.