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

Kevin Bowen was introduced Friday morning as the new Division 4 engineer at the division’s Wilson headquarters. 

A Wilson native and N.C. State University graduate, Bowen has worked full time for the NCDOT since 1995. His most recent post was overseeing the construction office for Division 3, which is based in the Wilmington area.

“I’m excited to return home to the division where I spent 17 years in construction,” Bowen said. “This team takes pride in serving the public, solving transportation challenges, improving traffic safety and delivering important projects and services for our region. I am very humbled to join the talented and dedicated folks that work in this division.”

Bowen succeeds Ronnie Keeter, who was the Division 4 engineer from 2017 until his recent promotion to be the department’s eastern deputy chief engineer. Tim Little, the department’s chief engineer, introduced Bowen to staff today.

Bowen, who is a professional engineer, will oversee more than 400 employees in a division that maintains more than 13,000 miles of roadway across a six-county region east of Raleigh.

“I’m delighted to have him on board,” said Gus Tulloss, the Division 4 representative on the N.C. Board of Transportation. “He brings to our division a wealth of experience and a strong record of leadership.”

The main functions 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.