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Engineers at the state Department of Transportation are still trying to repair all the broken technology on the U.S. 70 Clayton Bypass – and DOT is still trying to engineer victory in an online vote for the nation’s most innovative transportation project.
Transportation Secretary Gene Conti urged his 12,000 employees Tuesday to stuff an online ballot box with their votes for the $123 million freeway in a competition with nine other projects picked by judges for three organizations including the AAA motor club, the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials, and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce:
“U.S. 70 Clayton Bypass in the running for national award - cast your vote today!"
That was the boldface headline on an e-mail Conti sent to all DOT employees at 3:14 p.m. Tuesday. Conti continued:
"The U.S. 70 Clayton Bypass project is one of 10 finalists in the running for the People’s Choice Award for America’s Best Transportation Project. The project with the most votes wins, so cast your vote today for the Clayton Bypass by clicking here: www.americastransportationaward.org/Voting.aspx.”
The Road Worrier reported Sept. 15 that the Clayton Bypass has made rush-hour congestion worse on Interstate 40 in Johnston County while it provided a fast, scenic drive on U.S. 70.
DOT officials were unaware that several high-tech features unique to the new freeway – heavily hyped in DOT’s campaign for national honors – have been broken for months.
Traffic cameras on the bypass and a parallel route, U.S. 70 Business, are out of commission.
Electronic message boards are supposed to display current travel-time estimates to help drivers choose the quicker route, but several of the signs are dark. One of them shows only the time for U.S. 70 Business.
“We are addressing the concerns that have been raised, particularly relating to the message boards,” Ted Vaden, a DOT deputy secretary, said Tuesday. “And we expect to have those fully operational quickly.”
Meanwhile, DOT’s election campaign extends beyond the walls of the state Highway Building. Vaden said DOT is urging state business and construction industry leaders, Clayton and Johnston County civic groups to help win a prize for the Clayton Bypass.
“We feel like there are a lot of people who benefit and appreciate the road, and so we want to make them aware of that competition,” Vaden said.
Bruce Siceloff reports on traffic and transportation. A News & Observer reporter and editor since 1976, he took over the 
