A former 12-year veteran on the N.C. Board of Transportation is being lauded for his commitment to improving transportation, promoting collaboration and innovation and helping communities.
The Sunset Avenue bridge over Wesleyan Boulevard in Rocky Mount was dedicated Thursday to Gus Tulloss, who served on the state transportation board from 2008 until his retirement last year.
About 100 people attended the dedication ceremony at Nash Community College, where NCDOT Secretary Eric Boyette and several other officials took turns recognizing Tulloss’ service.
“Gus was a strong voice for transportation for our state, and he was committed to long-range planning and fostering those important industry partnerships that make our projects better,” Boyette said.
Tulloss, a Rocky Mount insurance agent, served under four governors and five NCDOT secretaries.
“I am truly humbled to receive this amazing honor for this bridge dedication,” Tulloss said. “I’m also grateful that I could be part of a such a vital and professional organization, the North Carolina Department of Transportation, and to help make our transportation network better to benefit everyone.”
Impact on projects
The department last year completed widening a section of Wesleyan Boulevard to a total of six lanes. The project included replacing the Sunset Avenue bridge, now known as the “Gus H Tulloss Bridge.”
In addition, Tulloss helped promote other improvement projects, such as to Country Club Road and Winstead Avenue in Rocky Mount and the U.S. 70 Bypass around Goldsboro. He also worked with Rocky Mount officials to convert the Sunset Avenue bridge over Interstate 95 into an interchange that is now under construction.
The board chairman, Mike Fox, described Tulloss as the consummate board member who remained actively engaged in his community and passionate about the good work done by the department.
“He’s the model for the kind of person you want representing your community,” Fox said.
The Board of Transportation unanimously approved a resolution in May to dedicate the bridge to Tulloss, after receiving requests from the Rocky Mount City Council and the Rocky Mount Area Chamber of Commerce.
