The Vernon Avenue resurfacing project is set to move forward with a significant timeline update. According to Jordan W. Davenport, P.E., Assistant Division 2 Maintenance Engineer at the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT), the resurfacing project is scheduled to be let this fall. The project will be available to the contractor starting March 15, 2025, with a completion window of 18 months from the start date.

In conjunction with this project, Steve Miller, Lenoir County Public Services Director for the City of Kinston, clarified that the City is only responsible for utility pipe repairs. These repairs are expected to be completed by August 2024. Following the completion of the utility work, the full street paving will be scheduled and performed by the NCDOT.

This update follows a previous announcement in January 2023 by Kinston City Manager Rhonda Barwick, detailing the ongoing sewer utility improvements on Vernon Avenue. The work, carried out by the City's contractor Herring Rivenbark, involves both point repairs and pipe lining work. The project, estimated at $2.3 million and funded by ARPA and Sewer Fund dollars, is expected to be completed by August 2024. After the utility work, the resurfacing of Vernon Avenue will proceed as planned by NCDOT.