Chad Kimes has been appointed as the N.C. Department of Transportation's Division 3 engineer, according to a news release.

Kimes previously served the division as deputy engineer. He started his new role last week, replacing Karen Collette, who retired this month.

Collette, who began her career with NCDOT in June 1990, was the agency's first and only female division engineer, according to the release. She led many major transportation projects in the region, including the completion of Interstate 140, the Brunswick County Causeway and the new Surf City Bridge.

The Division 3 engineer manages planning, project development, maintenance activities and construction projects in Brunswick, Duplin, New Hanover, Onslow, Pender and Sampson counties, stated the release.

Kimes has also had a long history with NCDOT. He began working at the agency in 1989 while attending the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. He became a full-time employee in 1994.

Kimes has held various NCDOT positions over the course of his career, including deputy engineer, project engineer, county maintenance engineer, district engineer, resident engineer, division operation engineer and division construction engineer, stated the release.

“I am grateful to continue my career at NCDOT and hope to make needed improvements to the transportation system in our region,” Kimes said.