CRAVEN COUNTY, N.C. (WITN) – Traffic is free flowing again on US 70 heading to the Cherry Point Air Show on Saturday.
Drivers were at a standstill for several hours as they made their way to the event.
Cherry Point Commanding Officer Col. Brendan Burks gave a statement about the heavy traffic and hopes that people will try to attend Sunday.
“We apologize for the heavy traffic delays and are continuing to work with our local and state partners to refine traffic flows and reduce delays ahead of tomorrow’s show,” Burks said.
We’re told that premium seating ticket holders who were unable to attend because of traffic impacts, your tickets will be honored Sunday.
“We recommend that you get here early. Gates will open earlier, starting at 7:30 a.m. and plan for an unusually high volume of traffic in the area. General public should use Cunningham and Marylou Gates off of NC Highway 101. Also, guests with issued parking passes can aid traffic flow by prominently displaying the credentials so they are easily visible to sentries and parking control attendants,” Burks said.
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Thousands of people spent their Saturday morning and afternoon inching down U.S. 70 hoping to get to the 2024 Cherry Point Air Show.
Cherry Point and U.S. 70 have been experiencing heavy traffic, where people are reporting being stuck in traffic for several hours. GPS monitors are even saying 1-2 hours to drive less than 2 miles.
Some tried to avoid the highway congestion with a different route.
“I knew 70 was blocked up so I drove around through Pollocksville to Maysville and came up a 9-mile road,” James City resident Richard Johnson said.
However, some people were still hit with a 3-hour drive.
“I don’t know if that was the right way but I know last time it took a long time too so just tryna play it smart,” Johnson said.
Others like Diana Malloy were caught in the traffic while simply trying to get home.
“I ran right into it,” Malloy said. “I was on the 9-mile road for over an hour and a half, just getting off.”
Craven County Emergency Services Director Stanley Kite said that there were accidents along the highway, leading to more delays.