To the End of US 70, Part 1: Camp Lejeune to Beaufort, NC.

I had some time to kill today, so I decided to do something new and do some roadgeeking. My goal was to check out the eastern terminus of US 70 in Atlantic, NC, by way of NC 172 and NC 24. Here's what transpired. 

We begin on NC 172 north, just outside Camp Lejeune. The property of the base is to the left.

Most of NC 172 looks like this. Field training areas to the left, homes to the right. Despite the number of homes and side streets, there is very little traffic here.

This is the northern terminus of NC 172 at NC 24. Straight ahead is the town of Hubert. Going left takes you back to Jacksonville, and eventually Fayetteville and Charlotte. We'll go right, toward Swansboro, Bogue, and Morehead City.

NC 24 is four lanes divided with a speed limit of 55 mph all the way to Swansboro.

Approaching and driving through Swansboro (population 1540).

NC 24 crosses over two branches of the White Oak River (there is an island in the middle) and enters Carteret County. 

NC 24 intersects NC 58 at this intersection in the city of Cape Carteret. It's summer in the Crystal Coast, so heavy traffic is a way of life.

West of Cape Carteret and Bogue, NC 24 resumes its rural chracter.

Welcome to Morehead City. NC 24 will end just ahead. 

NC 24's 278-mile journey ends at this intersection with US 70. Going west will take you to Havelock and New Bern. We'll go east along the Atlantic coast.

My road-photography skills are improving. Instead of missing sign and shield pictures, I get them in the far-right hand side of the frame. Every little bit helps, I guess.

Water is never far from US 70 in the last leg of its journey. 

A railroad line joins US 70 from Morehead City to the state port at the Newport River.

Stud puffin.

US 70 meets the bridge to Atlantic Beach. 

US 70 slights left to accommodate the road to the state port on the Newport River. There, this derpy US 70 shield is posted.

Scary, narrow, and high bridge over the Newport River.

At the foot of the scary, narrow, and high bridge. The road to Radio Island is in the background. Four-laning resumes briefly. Also note the nearly-invisible "Beaufort Fire District" sign on the right. 

Welcome to Beaufort, the county seat of Carteret County. The NCDOT website mentions forthcoming "improvements" for US 70 through here, including a replacement for the Gallants Channel bridge and construction of a "four-lane facility, part on new location," due to begin construction in 2012 at a cost of $95 million.

Some cool old span-wire signs for the NC 101 junction. NC 101 runs 22.23 miles between Havelock and Beaufort, acting as a shortcut between the two cities. 

More conventional signage. NC 101 not a spur to NC 1?

Even accidental pictures are improving. 

Thirty miles to go. We'll have a quick intermission here. Stay tuned!