Vecellio & Grogan recently was awarded a $146.1 million North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) contract to construct the Rockingham interstate bypass in Richmond County.
The goal of the 7.2-mile, four-lane bypass is to reduce local congestion by removing interstate traffic from local roads and highways and signalized intersections. It will connect U.S. 220 north of Rockingham to the U.S. 74 Bypass on the city’s west side and will become part of the future Interstate 73/74.
Work will begin this month and is expected to be completed in 2023.
As part of the project, new interchanges will be constructed at U.S. 220 near Sandy Ridge Church Road, Cartledge Creek Road, and U.S. 74/U.S. 74 Business, and grade separations will be located at Harrington Road and Old Charlotte Highway.
The U.S. 74 bypass will receive an upgraded to a 60-foot median and 12-foot travel lanes between the section west of Zion Church Road and the U.S. 74 Business interchange to include six lanes.
The Rockingham interstate bypass has been in the planning stages for more than 20 years. A feasibility study was published in 1996, a public hearing on two potential routes was held in 1999, the route was selected in 2002, and right of way acquisition began in 2009.