Project Interactive Area Map

Project Description and Highlights

The N.C. Department of Transportation, Highway Division 4 plans to widen N.C. 242 from Tarheel Road to I-40 in Johnston County.

The purpose of this project is to improve safety and capacity along N.C. 242 by widening the roadway to meet current NCDOT design standards.  The proposed Right-of-Way (ROW) is 150-foot minimum, and minimal ROW acquisition is anticipated. A roundabout will replace the four-way stop intersection of N.C. 242 and Tarheel Road. A roundabout is also proposed to replace the intersection of Federal Road Extension and N.C. 242 off the I-40 exit. The total length of the project is 0.76 miles. An onsite detour is anticipated to be used during the construction phase of the project.

The project is part of the 2026-2035 State Transportation Improvement Plan (STIP) and is only funded for preliminary engineering at this time. 

Project Update:

The public meeting for this project was held November 13, 2025. Thank you to all who attended, and to all who participated in providing input on this project. 

NCDOT responses to the feedback received during the public comment period can be found here: https://publicinput.com/Customer/File/Full/1b90d77a-d55c-428e-aa8f-3dc7d2ed5d0e

​Project Map

To view or download project map click here or on the map below

 

Typical Sections



Typical Sections


Project Funding

 

Costs*

Right-of-Way Acquisition

       $   1.50 Million  

Utility Relocation

       $ 0.74 Million  

Construction Cost

       $ 20.80 Million  

Total Cost

       $ 23.04 Million  

* Costs are preliminary and subject to change

Costs shown are rounded

Project Timeline

Milestone

Date*

Right-of-Way Certification

TBD

Construction

TBD

 

 

 

 

* Schedule is preliminary and subject to change

Project Comments:

NCDOT accepts comments throughout all phases of project development.  

All comments will be taken into consideration, and carry equal weight, regardless of submittal method.

Comments for consideration during the current phase of project development,

were to be submitted by December 5, 2025

 

NCDOT's responses to input from this comment period can be found here.


The public is encouraged to leave comments using this webpage, email, or phone number:

or mailed to the project contacts at the addresses listed below.

Email: 242_Widening@publicinput.com  

Phone Number: 984-205-6615 and enter project code 12144 to leave a message

Question title

Would you like to be added to the project mailing list?

Question title

Please provide any comments or questions to the proposed project.

Closed for Comments

Project Contact Information

 James "Jake" Green, PE, PLS

NCDOT Highway Division 4

Project Engineer

P.O. Box 3165

Wilson, NC 27895

Project Contact Information

 Michelle Lopez, AICP, GISP

STV

Consultant Project Manager

400 Hillsborough St., St. 430

Raleigh, NC 27603

Title VI Feedback

To ensure we’re hearing from a broad set of voices, would you be willing to share (completely anonymously) some information about yourself?

If so, please click here: https://publicinput.com/NCDOT-Title-VI-Form

RESOURCES FOR PROPERTY OWNERS 


Although the N.C. Department of Transportation works to minimize the number of homes and businesses displaced by a road project, it is inevitable, in many cases, that a certain amount of private property is needed. The following information explains right of way acquisition and answers questions about the process.  

     
Right-of-Way Brochure Single Page Layout      Folleto del Proceso de Adquisición de Bienes Raíces
Right-of-Way Frequently Asked Questions

Right of way Acquisition Process Videos

English                                                                     Spanish

  

Date last updated: 03/03/2026