The North Carolina Department of Transportation’s highway division responsible for Edgecombe, Halifax, Johnston, Nash, Wayne and Wilson counties has a new leader.

Keith Eason was introduced today as the new Division 4 engineer during a meeting of the state board of transportation. 

He will oversee about 400 NCDOT employees in a division that maintains more than 13,000 miles of roadway across the six-county region east of Raleigh.

“I am humbled and delighted to join such a talented team in Division 4,” Eason said. “The Division 4 employees are dedicated to serving the public, and they work hard to make our transportation network better and safer.”

Eason is a lifelong Johnston County resident who has been with the NCDOT for more than 28 years. He most recently served as the Division 3 maintenance engineer based in Castle Hayne. He started his new position last week.

Eason succeeds Kevin Bowen, who became the Division 4 engineer in 2019. Bowen was promoted this fall to become the department’s eastern deputy chief engineer, a position that oversees half of the department’s 14 highway divisions.

Chief Engineer Chris Peoples said Eason brings a wealth of experience and knowledge to the Wilson-based Division 4.

“Keith is really well-rounded in all facets of what we do and how we serve our local partners and communities in transportation,” Peoples said.

The main responsibilities of a highway division include developing transportation projects, building them and maintaining them after they are completed. 

The divisions also oversee traffic-related services, the resurfacing of roads, the issuing of driveway permits for new developments and roadside mowing and litter pickup.