NC

State governor Pat McCrory and transportation secretary Tony Tata have announced a new 25-year plan to enhance transportation in North Carolina, US.

The plan envisages solutions to various transportation problems in the coastal, eastern, central and western regions of the state and the government is seeking more than $1bn to fund the 21 projects planned to improve the region’s highway network.

McCrory said: "Transportation is the backbone of our state’s economy and investing in transportation solutions will help expand opportunities and create jobs.

"Transportation is the backbone of our state’s economy and investing in transportation solutions will help expand opportunities and create jobs."

"Companies want to invest where they know there is a strong vision for moving people and products and that is why we have made this strategic vision a priority."

In the eastern region, the government plans to improve the highway connection to Hampton Roads and the I-95 connections. In the west, it aims to upgrade interstate connections and highway connectivity from the mountains to the coast.

In the coastal region, highway connections will be improved, ageing bridges replaced and inlets stabilised. In the central, plans to relieve congestion on highways, expand mass transit options, enhance access to inland ports and improve connectivity to logistics hubs have been approved.

Tata said: "We must have a well-connected, well-maintained and well-funded transportation system in place for North Carolina to continue to thrive.

"This vision will provide a road map for long-term strategic investment that ensures we are making the most of our limited resources and proactively addressing the ever-growing demands on our state’s transportation infrastructure over the next quarter century."

Image: North Carolina governor Pat McCrory unveiling the 25-Year vision for transportation in the state. Photo: courtesy of the office of governor Pat McCrory.