Interstate 40 in North Carolina

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This article is about the section of Interstate 40 in North Carolina. For the entire route, see Interstate 40.
Interstate 40 marker
Interstate 40
I-40 highlighted in red
Route information
Maintained by NCDOT
Length423.55 mi[1] (681.64 km)
Existed1958[2]–present
Major junctions
West end I-40 at Tennessee state line
 
East end US 117 / NC 132 in Wilmington
Location
CountiesHaywood, Buncombe, McDowell, Burke, Catawba, Iredell, Davie, Forsyth, Guilford, Alamance, Orange, Durham, Wake, Johnston, Sampson, Duplin, Pender, New Hanover
Highway system
  • Interstate Highway System
← NC 39→ NC 41

Interstate 40 (I-40) is a part of the Interstate Highway System that runs from Barstow, California to Wilmington, North Carolina. In North Carolina, I-40 enters the state along the Pigeon River Gorge, from Tennessee. Crossing the entire state, it connects the cities of Asheville, Statesville, Winston-Salem, Greensboro, Burlington, Durham and Raleigh before ending along U.S. Highway 117/North Carolina Highway 132 (US 117/NC 132) in Wilmington. The landscapes traversed by I-40 include the Blue Ridge Mountains, foothills of western North Carolina, suburban communities, the urban core of several Piedmont cities, along with eastern North Carolina farmland. At a total of 423.55 miles (681.64 km), it is the longest interstate highway in North Carolina. There are five auxiliary Interstates in the state related to I-40, as well as one business loop which formerly ran through Winston-Salem. The route is labeled east–west for the entire route (as are all even-numbered Interstate highways), however the eastern portion (from Raleigh to Wilmington) follows a much more north–south alignment.

The freeway bears several names in addition to the I-40 designation. Throughout the state the freeway is known as the Blue Star Memorial Highway a name shared with multiple interstates across the state. From the Guilford-Alamance county line to one mile east of NC 54, in Graham, I-40/I-85 is known as the Sam Hunt Freeway. From Orange County to Raleigh I-40 is known as the Harriet Morehead Berry Freeway, the John Motley Morehead, III Freeway, and the Tom Bradshaw Freeway. I-40 is the James Harrington Freeway from US 70 to I-95. In Duplin County a section of I-40 is known as the Henry L. Stevens, Jr. Highway. From the Pender County-New Hanover County line to the eastern terminus of I-40, the freeway is known as the Michael Jordan Highway.

Interstate 40 was an original Interstate Highway planned in the Federal Aid Highway Act of 1956. In North Carolina the original highway was to run from the Tennessee state line to Greensboro where the freeway would end at Interstate 85. In 1958, the first section of completed interstate highway in the state was I-40 along the East–West Expressway in Winston-Salem. I-40 received two extension approvals; the first in 1969 to Interstate 95 (I-95), to be routed in or near Smithfield, and the second in 1984 to Wilmington. After 34 years since it first opened, the last section completed was the Winston-Salem Bypass in 1992. The highest point is at 2,786 feet (849 m), located at Swannanoa Gap, and the lowest point is at 15 feet (4.6 m), located at the Pender–New Hanover county line.

Route description[]

I-40 travels through several diverse regions in North Carolina, including the Great Smoky and Black mountains of Western North Carolina, the rural Foothills, the urban Piedmont, and the farmlands of Eastern North Carolina. All of I-40 is listed in the National Highway System, a network of roads important to the country's economy, defense and mobility.[3][4] I-40 is also designated as a Blue Star Memorial Highway throughout the state.

I-40 enters North Carolina along the north banks of the Pigeon River, at the foot of Snowbird Mountain. Winding in parallel with the river, I-40 goes through twin tunnels. When the tunnels opened in 1968 they were the first Interstate tunnels east of Mississippi River. I-40 then proceeds through the Pigeon River Gorge for the next 16 miles (26 km). Just south of exit 7, I-40 uses another tunnel, for eastbound traffic only, through Hurricane Mountain.[5] The westbound lanes use a rock cut through Hurricane Mountain. A short distance after the tunnel is the North Carolina Welcome Center. Immediately afterwards is Waterville Lake, where there are a few at-grade intersections in this location, used as service access for Walters Dam and the . I-40 continues toward Asheville. Interstate 40 then merges with US 74 (Great Smoky Mountains Expressway). I-40 and US 74 encounter the Interstate 26, Interstate 240 interchange, sometimes called Malfunction Junction,[6] in the southwestern part of the city. The interchange is the current western terminus of Interstate 240 and the historic terminus of Interstate 26. Interstate 40 then goes along the south side of Asheville, north of the Biltmore Estate towards Hickory.[7] I-240 and I-40 have another interchange before I-40 leaves the Asheville area. Shortly after it leaves the Asheville area, I-40 encounters a steep grade, Old Fort Mountain, with winding roads that poses a hazard to truck traffic. There are several runaway truck ramps on this part of the highway. This stretch is about six miles long. Interstate 40 goes south of Black Mountain and Marion, and north of Conover.[8] When I-40 enters Hickory it has a clover interchange with US 321. Interstate 40 then heads south of Hickory and crosses Catawba River.[9] I-40 enters Statesville north of the city. It has major interchanges with US 64 and US 21 before utilizing a clover interchange with Interstate 77. I-40 heads northeast towards Winston-Salem passing Mocksville and Clemmons. When Interstate 40 enters Winston-Salem it has another major interchange this time with the portion of US 421 known as Salem Parkway. US 421 heads north to go through downtown Winston-Salem while I-40 goes just south of the city.[10] Interstate 40 has another clover interchange with I-285/US 52/NC 8.[11] Interstate 74 exit off to the south while I-40 heads back northeast to meet up with US 421.[12] US 421 runs a concurrency with I-40 into Greensboro.[13][14][15]

Sunflowers along I-40

Interstate 40 enters the Greensboro area at the I-73/US 421/I-840 interchange. This interchange is the east end of the US 421 concurrency with I-40 and is also the planned western terminus of Interstate 840.[16] From there Interstate 40 heads through southwestern Greensboro. Interstate 40 passes and Four Seasons Town Centre before having another large interchange with US 220.[17] 1 mile after the interchange with US 220[18] US 29/US 70 all merge into I-40/US 220 for one large concurrency. The road is generally a six-lane freeway throughout.[19]

This 2.5-mile (4.0 km) corridor with concurrent routes ends in the east at the US 29/US 70/US 220/Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard junction. Both the beginning and ending interchanges of this corridor are quite unusual in design and are often operating at above full capacity, leading to frequent traffic jams and traffic incidents.[14][15][20]

I-40 through Greensboro officially bears the name Preddy Boulevard. The nickname "Death Valley" has been given to the area of Interstate 40 where Interstate 40 and Business Interstate 85 splits. The locals have given that area that name because of the high number of deaths due to car crashes in that area.[21][22] One major problem with the highway is that the US 29/US 70/US 220 southbound lanes merge from the right, and exit to the left. Thus, through traffic on I-40 west and US 29 south (a major route from Virginia to Charlotte) must all merge to the other side of the freeway. A study conducted by state traffic engineers from May 1, 2006 to April 30, 2008 (the period between the I-85 relocation and I-40's relocation) concluded that "the Death Valley area" had an accident rate "higher than average for urban interstates ... but the [route] was safe anyway."[23] There were no fatalities during the study period, but a large number of rear-end collisions.[14][15][23]

I-40/I-85 through Burlington

I-40 merges with I-85 east of Greensboro. I-40 and I-85 have a 31 miles (50 km) concurrency through Guilford, Alamance, and Orange Counties. The concurrency section uses I-85 exit numbers instead of I-40 exit numbers. The section goes south of Elon, Burlington, Graham, and Mebane. Interstate 40 breaks ways from Interstate 85 at exit 163, south of Hillsborough.[15][19]

After I-40 breaks away from I-85 it heads in a very southeasterly direction towards Chapel Hill. I-40 parallels NC 86 until NC 86 crosses I-40 at exit 266. I-40 is routed along northern Chapel Hill and then through southern Durham. I-40 enters the Research Triangle Park after an interchange with NC 147. The Interstate varies in width, from four-lane to eight-lane depending on the location. It serves as a major route between Raleigh, Cary and Durham (the other being US 70). After leaving the Research Triangle area Interstate 40 has an interchange with Interstate 540 near the Raleigh-Durham International Airport. Several Interstate 40 exits serve Raleigh-Durham including, Aviation Parkway, Airport Blvd, and Interstate 540. I-40 continues to head southeast towards Downtown Raleigh. Interstate 40 is routed north of Cary and south of Umstead State Park. At Wade Avenue Interstate 40 bears right to head south. US 1, US 64, Interstate 440, and I-40. I-40 then runs a concurrency with US 64 along the south side of Raleigh. The concurrency ends at an interchange with Interstate 87, Interstate 440, and US 64 (exit 301) where Interstate for bears to the south.[14][15]

Start of I-40 west at US 117 near Wilmington

Between Raleigh and Wilmington, I-40 follows a southerly routing while occasionally bearing to the southeast. At exit 306, the interstate begins a concurrency with US 70 which follows I-40 until the Clayton Bypass (exit 309). Interstate 40 continues south with exits at NC 42, NC 210, and NC 242. To the northeast of Benson, I-40 meets with I-95 at exit 328. For the duration of its routing in North Carolina, I-40 is primarily rural interstate, bypassing towns such as Warsaw and Wallace. Beginning near Faison I-40 begins to run parallel with US 117 which continues until its eastern terminus. I-40 meets with NC 24 at exit 364 near Warsaw. A rest area is located between the travel lanes of the interstate, with access from NC 24.[24] Beginning at exit 364, NC 24 runs concurrently with I-40 for 8.2 miles (13.2 km) until meeting up with NC 903 southwest of Kenansville. Approaching Wallace, I-40 passes the Duplin Winery in Duplin County and bypasses the town to the east. Continuing south, I-40 bypasses Burgaw to the east, and crosses the Northeast Cape Fear River east of Castle Hayne. Nearing Wilmington, I-40 has an interchange with I-140 and North Carolina Highway 140. The speed limit is reduced to 55 miles per hour (89 km/h) approximately 1 mile (1.6 km) from its eastern terminus. Exit 420 is the last exit on I-40 before its terminus on US 117/NC 132[14][15][25]

Dedicated and memorial names[]

The freeway bears several names in addition to the I-40 designation. Throughout the state the freeway is known as the Blue Star Memorial Highway a name shared with multiple interstates across the state.[26] From the Guilford-Alamance county line to one mile east of NC 54, in Graham, I-40/I-85 is known as the Sam Hunt Freeway. The freeway is known as the Harriet Morehead Berry Freeway through Orange County named for a leader in the good roads movement in North Carolina.[27] Between US 15/US 501 in Chapel Hill to NC 147 in Durham, I-40 is known as the John Motley Morehead III Freeway who was a noted philanthropist and graduate from the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill. I-40 is the Dan K. Moore Freeway from Research Triangle Park to the Tom Bradshaw Freeway. The section is named after Dan K. Moore who was the 66th Governor of North Carolina. From the Wade Avenue Extension to US 70 in Garner the freeway is known as the Tom Bradshaw Freeway, named after the 33rd Mayor of Raleigh. I-40 is the James Harrington Freeway from US 70 to I-95. In Johnston, south of I-95, and Sampson counties, I-40 is dedicated to Robert D. Warren, Sr., who was a former State Director of Driver's Licenses and State Senator from the area. In Duplin County a section of I-40 6.95 north of NC 24 west of Warsaw to 6.95 south of NC 24 is known as the Henry L. Stevens, Jr. Highway, who was a commander of the American Legion and a Superior Court judge.[28] From the Pender County-New Hanover County line to the eastern terminus of I-40, the freeway is known as the Michael Jordan Highway, named after the famous basketball player who grew up in Wilmington and was a graduate of the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill.[29][30] Interstate 40 has also been given the name Tobacco Road by college sports fans, because the freeway links up the four North Carolina schools in the ACC.[31]

History[]

Authorized by the Federal Aid Highway Act of 1956, North Carolina was originally allocated 714 miles (1,149 km) for their share of the Interstate Highway System; 219 miles (352 km) of which was subsequently allocated for a route from the Tennessee state line, through Asheville and Winston-Salem, to Greensboro. Designated as I-40, it became the first interstate in the state after opening on a completed three-mile-long (4.8 km) section in Winston-Salem, in 1958. For the next 32 years, I-40 was constructed and extended twice to its current routing from the Pigeon River Gorge to Wilmington.[2][32]

Beginnings[]

The first major overland transportation corridors in North Carolina were the Indian trading paths. One of these, the Rutherford's Trace, followed the path of modern I-40.[33] In 1921, the North Carolina Highway System was established, with NC 10, nicknamed the "Central Highway," designated on the route between Asheville and Greensboro. By the time US 70 was established, in 1926, and placed on concurrency on all of NC 10, nearly all of the route was either paved or oil-treated. After World War II, the federal government began planning on a new Interregional Highway system, as mandated by the Federal-Aid Highway Act of 1944, and released a proposed National System of Interstate Highways in 1947, which included a route that followed loosely to US 70, from the Tennessee state line to Greensboro.[34] After years of planning and the passing of the Federal Aid Highway Act of 1956, which established the route between Tennessee and Greensboro, AASHTO approved the I-40 designation in 1957.[35]

Interstate Highway era[]

In 1958, the first construction job in the country that was designated specifically for I-40 was in Haywood County, along the Pigeon River. That same year, the first two sections of I-40 opened: the first was the three-mile-long (4.8 km) East–West Expressway in Winston-Salem; the second was from US 421, in Kernersville, to US 29/US 70, in Greensboro. In both cases, these first freeways were constructed a couple of years prior, for US 158 and US 421 respectively, and did not benefit from the 1956 Act; as a result, in 1988 the state was able to convince the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) to build the Winston-Salem Bypass.[2][36][37] Between Ridgecrest and Old Fort, US 70 along Youngs Ridge was four-lane as of 1954; however, I-40 was not officially designated until 1982, after additional highway improvements including additional widening, runaway truck ramps and warning devices.[38][39]

In 1960, I-40 made three expansions: In Burke County, from Dysartsville Road (SR 1129) to Hildebran (connecting to US 64/US 70 along I-40 Access Road SE (SR 1890)); from NC 16, in Conover, to NC 90, in Statesville; and from NC 801, near Advance, to the US 158/US 421 split, east of Winston-Salem.[40][41] In 1961, I-40 extended west from Dysartsville Road to NC 226, near Marion. In Statesville, I-40 extended east along a completed widening project of US 64 Bypass, between NC 90 to US 64.[42] In 1962, I-40 extended west from NC 226, near Marion to link-up with US 70, near Old Fort. In 1963, the gap between Winston-Salem and Kernersville was completed.[43] In 1964, I-40 opened a 12-mile (19 km) segment from east of Clyde (using the freeway connector from US 19/US 23) to Wiggins Road (SR 1200).[44] In 1967, I-40 opened a 3.8-mile (6.1 km) segment through the Biltmore Estate, from NC 191 to US 25.[45] In 1968 and after ten years of construction, I-40 opened a 20-mile (32 km) segment from the Tennessee state line to US 276, in Cove Creek.[46][47] In November of same year, the North Carolina State Highway Commission submitted a request to the Bureau of Public Roads to extend I-40 east of Greensboro to Raleigh, via the Research Triangle Park (RTP). In 1969, both the Bureau and AASHTO approved the extension, allowing I-40 to continue east of Durham, through Raleigh to Smithfield.[2][48] Also in the same year, I-40 was extended west from NC 191 to connect with I-26 and end at US 19/US 23, in Enka.[49] In 1970, I-40 extended west from NC 801, near Advance, to US 64, near Mocksville.[50]

In 1971, two gaps were completed: Wiggins Road (SR 1200) to US 19/US 23, in Enka; and US 64, in Statesville, to US 64, near Mocksville.[51] In July, NCSHC finalized a plan for I-40's routing east of Durham to Smithfield, with an estimated cost of $75 million.[52] In December, new freeway opened between Davis Drive (SR 1999), in the RTP, to US 1/US 64 (Raleigh Beltline), in Raleigh; I-40 was added along 7 miles (11 km) between Davis Drive and Harrison Avenue (SR 1654), while east of Harrison Avenue (future Wade Avenue) was signed "To I-40."[2][53][54] In 1972, I-40 extended east from US 25, in Asheville, to Porters Cove Road (SR 2838), in Oteen; the extension bypassed both US 25A and US 74, interchanges were built in 1999 and 1973 respectively.[55] In 1973, I-40 and the Durham Freeway (future NC 147) were connected, in the RTP.[56] In 1974, a gap was completed between US 276, in Cove Creek, to the freeway connector (future Great Smoky Mountains Expressway), near Clyde. I-40 also extended east from Porters Cove Road, in Oteen, to Patton Cove Road (SR 2740), in Swannanoa.[57] In 1976, a gap of I-40 was completed between Henry River Road (SR 1002), in Hildebran, and NC 16, in Conover.[58] In April 1978, after years of debate on where I-40 should be routed east of I-95, either Morehead City or Wilmington, NCDOT approved a corridor location between Raleigh and Wilmington. The discussions on its routing started since the initial extension in 1969 and arguments from several area groups why the routing should go to their port city. In the end, the routing approval to Wilmington came with a caveat to build new freeway in parallel to US 117 instead of a full upgrade of US 421 as several in the region supported.[2][59][60][61][62] In 1979, I-40 was extended east from Patton Cove Road, in Swannanoa, to US 70, in Ridgecrest.[63]

Barstow, California, distance sign, as seen from I-40 in Wilmington

In 1982, I-40 was designated, in concurrency with US 70, along Youngs Ridge, between Ridgecrest and Old Fort; this officially completed the original I-40 routing from Tennessee to Greensboro.[39] In 1984, I-40 was extended in Raleigh from Wade Avenue (exit 289), along the Tom Bradshaw Freeway, to the Cliff Benson Beltline (exit 301).[64] Also same year, AASHTO approved of designation of I-40 between Wallace and Wilmington, currently under construction at the time.[65][66] By 1985, construction began on a 22-mile (35 km) project, connecting the Durham Freeway, in the RTP, with I-85, west of Hillsborough, at an estimated cost of $103 million.[67] In 1985, I-40 was placed on new 19-mile (31 km) section between US 117 (exit 390), near Willard, and NC 210 (exit 408), near Rocky Point.[68] In 1986, I-40 was extended west from the Durham Freeway (exit 279) to NC 55 (exit 278), in the RTP; I-40 was also extended east to its current eastern terminus at US 117/NC 132 (exit 420), in Wilmington.[69] In 1987, I-40 was extended west from US 117 (exit 390), near Willard, to NC 41 (exit 385), near Tin City.[70] In 1988, I-40 was extended west to US 15/US 501 (exit 270), in Chapel Hill, and east to US 70 (exit 306), in Garner. In October, Gov. James G. Martin announced federal approval of $114.1 million for I-40 to be relocated around Winston-Salem.[71][72] In 1989, I-40 was extended west to I-85 (exit 259), west of Hillsborough, and east to I-95 (exit 328), in Benson.[2][73][74] By 1990, I-40 was extended west from NC 41 (exit 385), in Tin City, to US 117 (exit 369), near Warsaw.[75] On June 29, 1990, with a ribbon-cutting by Gov. James G. Martin, I-40 was connected between Raleigh and Wilmington, providing improved access with the Port of Wilmington with the rest of the state.[2] At around this time, a standard distance sign near the start of the westbound section of I-40 in Wilmington indicates the distance to Barstow, California, as 2,554 miles (4,110 km). In December, AASHTO approved the I-40 designation between Raleigh and Wallace; and in January 1991, NCDOT certified the designation.[76][77]

In or around 1992, the final gap of I-40 was completed when it was designated along existing I-85, from Greensboro to west of Hillsborough. In November, the 20.89-mile (33.62 km) Winston-Salem Bypass was completed and opened; featuring mostly new construction, with a short overlap of existing US 311 freeway. The former alignment, featuring the first sections of I-40 completed in the state, was designated as I-40 Business, with a complete concurrency with US 421. After 34 years, I-40 was officially completed in North Carolina.[78][79][80][81]

Since completion[]

In 1996, 35 miles (56 km) of I-40/I-85, through Alamance and Orange counties, were widened to eight lanes. At a cost of $175 million, the project began in 1989 and opened completed sections in phases.[82][83][84][85]

In December 2004, a 10.6-mile (17.1 km) widening project was completed from US 15/US 501 (exit 270), in Durham, to NC 147 (exit 279), in the RTP. The project expanded lanes from four to six-lanes.[86] In March 2005, construction crews returned for eight weeks to replace asphalt used in the widening project, which began to deteriorate not long after the lanes opened to the public.[87] However, the paving mistakes were more severe and NCDOT contracted Lane Construction Corp to replace all the bad concrete used in the botch widening project, at a cost of $21.7 million.[88][89]

In 2011, an 8-mile (13 km) widening project was completed between Harrison Avenue (exit 287) and Gorman Street (exit 295). At a cost of $49 million, the project expanded lanes from four to six-lanes.[90]

Pigeon River Gorge[]

Crews clearing the westbound lanes from the 2012 rockslide

The first section of I-40 in North Carolina is the section that travels through the Pigeon River Gorge in Haywood County. Known locally as simply "The Gorge", this part of I-40 cuts a path from the Tennessee state line to Waynesville. This section of the interstate is curvy and tends to become a bit narrow in some places when compared to other portions of the highway. Because much of the road was cut through mountainside and along the river, concrete retaining walls have been built on both sides of the road and in the median, cutting down on the width of the breakdown lanes. Coupled with speeding vehicles, the thick fog that tends to plague the area, winter weather, and little room to maneuver in case of accident, this area has become notorious for its severe and many times fatal accidents. It is reported that a person is 20 times as likely to die on I-40 in Haywood County than they would be to win the Powerball lottery, which equals to be twice the average of any other Interstate Highway in North Carolina.[91]

Even some minor accidents have been known to tie up traffic in this area, because there is little room to move accidents off or to the side of the road with the terrain. Speeding semi trucks have been a problem in the gorge and have subsequently led to many accidents. In 2002 and 2003, two state troopers were killed in two separate accidents by speeding trucks that drifted off the road and hit their police car conducting a traffic stop. This led the North Carolina Highway Patrol to crack down on speeding tractor trailers and speeders in general through the area.

This portion of the highway is also notorious for rockslides and rocks falling onto the highway. The main cause is an engineering flaw, in that sections of the highway have been built on the north side of the Pigeon River, where the rock strata foliate towards the highway.

In 1985, a severe rockslide buried the westbound entrance to one of two tunnels that carry the highway through the gorge. Repair of the slide area and the tunnel required shifting westbound traffic to the eastbound tunnel, while eastbound traffic was diverted onto a temporary viaduct around the tunnels.[citation needed] In July 1997, a rockslide near the Tennessee state line closed the entire road for nearly three months.[92]

In 2009, a large rockslide at mile marker 2.6 along I-40 near the Tennessee State Line shut down the freeway for several weeks. While the slide only caused minor injuries, it shut down Interstate 40 in both directions.[93][94][95][96][97]

Greensboro relocation[]

See also: Greensboro Urban Loop
The six routes of Death Valley in 2007

In February 2008, I-40 was relocated onto the Greensboro Western Urban Loop, marking the first change to I-40 since the Winston-Salem Bypass opened in 1992. At a cost of $122 million, it was constructed by Archer Western Contractors of Atlanta and took four years to complete. NCDOT Secretary Lyndo Tippett said that "the opening of the Greensboro Western Urban Loop is a major step in improving the mobility of the Triad region" and that "the highway will provide better access for motorists in and around Greensboro, as well as those traveling between the eastern and western areas of our state." The new routing was placed in concurrency with I-73, while its former alignment became an extension of I-40 Bus.[98]

The glowing sentiment the NCDOT Secretary gave on the new I-40 routing was unfortunately not reciprocated. NCDOT received many complaints by local residents and motorists on the confusion between "Blue" 40 and "Green" 40. Greensboro residents also had concerns with the resulting increased traffic and noise. On September 12, 2008, seven months after the initial switch and in agreement with Greensboro DOT and FHWA, to reroute I-40 to its original route through the city, decommission I-40 Bus., and leave I-73 and I-85 as the only interstates signed along the loop. Exit numbers on the western segment of the loop were to be replaced with I-73 exit numbers; while exit numbers along I-40 Bus. would be changed over to I-40 exit numbers.[99] At a cost around $300 thousand, all signage was replaced by July 1, 2009.[100][101] In November 2009, US 421 was rerouted onto the Urban Loop, replacing most of I-40's brief alignment around Greensboro.[102][103]

The current alignment of I-40 is four miles (6 km) shorter than the 2008 Urban Loop routing, and is the quicker route for any vehicle consistently traveling at the posted speed limits.[23]

Statesville interchange rebuild[]

In Statesville, the I-40/I-77 interchange (exit 152), originally built in the late 1960s, is currently being upgraded to increase capacity and improve safety. The initial estimated cost for the entire project is $251 million with construction started in March, 2012.[104][105] The first phase, completed in the summer of 2019, involved the widening of I-40 from four to six lanes. The second phase, begun in 2020, involves a similar widening of I-77 and the reconstruction of the interchange into a partial turbine interchange. There is no anticipated completion date for the project as of September 2020.[106]

Fortify project[]

Begun in 2013, an extensive project known as "Fortify" (a play on the route number "40") overhauled I-40 along the southern edge of Raleigh, from the I-40/U.S. 1/U.S. 64 interchange (Exit 293) near Cary Crossroads through the I-40/I-440 split (Exit 301) in Southeast Raleigh, including the easternmost 2 miles of I-440 as well. The project necessitated a complete tear down and rebuild of the roadway, widening of the roadway, rehabilitation and widening of bridges and overpasses along the entire route, and extension and widening of several highly congested exit and entrance ramps.[107]

The project was divided into two phases, the first (completed in the summer of 2015) was a rebuilding and repaving of I-40 and I-440 from I-40 Exit 301 to I-440 exit 14. The second phase, completed in late 2018, was the more extensive rebuild of I-40 from Exit 293 to Exit 301.[107]

Southeast Raleigh – Clayton widening[]

Begun in fall 2018 after the completion of the Fortify project to widen I-40 through South Raleigh, the section of I-40 between the I-40/I-440 split (Exit 301) and NC 42 (Exit 312) is being widened. As part of the widening project, many of the overpasses along the route are being reconstructed, both to accommodate the wider road underneath, and to expand capacity of the roads passing overhead. An onramp was removed at Exit 303 (US 70) in November 2019 in order to accommodate the wider roadway. Traffic that normally used a free-flowing loop ramp is now routed through a left-turn traffic light to access the other onramp. Exit 312 (NC 42) is being rebuilt entirely as a diverging diamond interchange, and an additional ramp is being built at that exit to provide access to Cleveland Road. Additionally, the interchange at Exit 309 for US 70 (Clayton Bypass) is being expanded to also including the future NC 540/Triangle Expressway. The project is expected to be complete by 2022.[108] In December, 2020 a new overhead flyover ramp between I-440 East and I-40 East was opened, replacing the older ramp to allow for the wider freeway underneath.[109]

Future[]

A widening project along Interstate 40 is in development stage, between mile markers 259 and 279, in Orange and Durham counties. After some initial delays due to noise concerns through populated areas and two public comment meetings, the project is currently in the right-of-way acquisition phase, and construction is scheduled to begin around 2022, however the Department of Transportation has suspended engineering activities for the project.[110]

Auxiliary routes[]

Interstate City Type Notes
Business Loop 40.svg Interstate 40 Business Winston-Salem Business loop Freeway grade throughout the route; decommissioned, replaced by US 421.
Business Loop 40.svg Interstate 40 Business Raleigh Business loop Unsigned, freeway grade throughout the route; decommissioned, replaced by I-440.
I-140.svg Interstate 140 Wilmington Spur
I-240.svg Interstate 240 Asheville Business loop
I-440.svg Interstate 440 Raleigh Beltway
I-540.svg Interstate 540 Raleigh Spur/Beltway Designated along the Northern Wake Freeway.
I-840.svg Interstate 840 Greensboro Beltway Partially completed northern bypass, under construction.

Exit list[]

CountyLocationmikmExitDestinationsNotes
Haywood​0.00.0 I-40 west – KnoxvilleContinuation into Tennessee
​6.710.87Cold Springs Creek Road – Harmon Den
​14.823.815Fines Creek Road
Cove Creek20.533.020 US 276 south – Waynesville, Maggie Valley
​24.238.924 NC 209 – Lake Junaluska, Hot Springs
​27.343.927 US 19 / US 23 / US 74 west – Clyde, WaynesvilleWest end of US 74 overlap
Canton31.250.231 NC 215 – Canton
33.253.433Newfound Road – Canton
Buncombe​37.460.237Wiggins Road – Candler, East Canton
Asheville44.371.344 US 19 / US 23 / US 74A east – West Asheville, Enka, Candler
45.973.946A I-26 / US 74 east – Hendersonville, SpartanburgEast end of US 74 overlap; no eastbound entrance; westbound left exit
46B
 Future I-26 west / I-240 east – Asheville, Johnson City		No westbound exit; eastbound left exit
46.775.247 NC 191 – West AshevilleTo Farmers Market
50.280.850 US 25 – South Asheville, Biltmore HouseSigned as exits 50A (south) and 50B (north) westbound
51.382.651 US 25A – Asheville
52.885.053A US 74A east / Blue Ridge Parkway – Bat Cave
53B I-240 / US 74A west – East Asheville
55.188.755
 To US 70 – East Asheville		To VA Hospital
​58.894.659Patton Cove Road – Swannanoa
Black Mountain63.8102.764 NC 9 – Black Mountain, Montreat
64.8104.365 US 70 west – Black MountainWest end of US 70 overlap; westbound exit and eastbound entrance
​65.7105.766Dunsmore Avenue – Ridgecrest
McDowellOld Fort71.4114.972 US 70 east – Old FortTo Mount Mitchell; East end of US 70 overlap; eastbound exit and westbound entrance
72.4116.573Catawaba Avenue – Old Fort
74.8120.475Parker Padgett Road
Marion81.2130.781Sugar Hill Road – Marion
83.4134.283Ashworth Road
84.6136.285 US 221 – Marion, Rutherfordton
86.3138.986 NC 226 – Marion, Shelby
​89.8144.590Harmony Grove Road – Nebo, Lake James
Burke​94.1151.494Dysartsville Road
​95.8154.296Kathy Road
Glen Alpine97.5156.998Causby Road – Glen Alpine
99.5160.1100Jamestown Road / Dixie Boulevard – Glen Alpine
Morganton102.9165.6103 US 64 – Morganton, Rutherfordton
104.1167.5104Enola Road
105.1169.1105 NC 18 – Morganton, Shelby
​106.2170.9106Bethel Road
​107.4172.8107 NC 114 – Drexel
Valdese110.7178.2111Abees Grove Church Road / Milestone Avenue – Valdese
111.4179.3112Mineral Springs Mountain Road – Valdese
Rutherford College112.3180.7113Rutherford College Road / Malcom Boulevard – Connelly Springs, Rutherford College
Icard116.2187.0116Old NC 10 – Icard
Hildebran117.9189.7118Old NC 10
118.8191.2119Henry River Road / Center Street – Henry River, HildebranSigned as exits 119A (Henry River) and 119B (Hildebran) eastbound
CatawbaLong View120.6194.112133rd Street – Long View
Hickory122.8197.6123A
 US 321 south to NC 127 – Lincolnton, Gastonia		Cloverleaf interchange with Collector/distributor roadways
123B
 US 321 north to US 70 – Hickory, Lenoir, Boone		To Appalachian State University and Hickory Regional Airport
125.1201.3125Lenoir Rhyne Boulevard – HickoryTo Lenoir-Rhyne University
126.2203.1126
 To US 70 – Hickory, Newton
Conover128.1206.2128Fairgrove Church RoadTo Hickory Motor Speedway
130.2209.5130Old US 70
131.1211.0131 NC 16Permanently closed by 2008.
131.6211.8132 NC 16 – Newton, Conover, Taylorsville
132.6213.4133Rock Barn Road
Claremont134.3216.1135Oxford Street – Claremont
Catawba138.1222.3138 NC 10 west (Oxford School Road) – Catawba
Iredell​140.4226.0141Sharon School Road
​144.0231.7144Old Mountain Road – West Iredell
​145.4234.0146Stamey Farm Road
Statesville147.7237.7148 US 64 / NC 90 – West Statesville, Taylorsville
149.5240.6150 NC 115 – Downtown Statesville, North Wilkesboro
151.2243.3151 US 21 – East Statesville, Harmony
152.0244.6152 I-77 – Charlotte, WythevilleSigned as exits 152A (south) and 152B (north)
152.9246.1153 US 64 – StatesvillePermanently closed as of October 1, 2012; was an eastbound exit and westbound entrance[111][112]
153.7247.4154 US 64 (Old Mocksville Road)
​161.8260.4162 US 64
DavieMocksville167.8270.0168 US 64 – Mocksville
169.5272.8170 US 601 – Mocksville, Yadkinville
​173.5279.2174Farmington Road
​179.8289.4180 NC 801 – Bermuda Run, TanglewoodSigned as exits 180A (south) and 180B (north) Westbound
ForsythClemmons182.1293.1182Harper Road – Tanglewood, Bermuda Run
183.5295.3184Lewisville–Clemmons Road – Lewisville, Clemmons
Winston-Salem187.7302.1188 US 421 (Salem Parkway) – Downtown Winston-Salem, Yadkinville, WilkesboroNo access from US 421 south to I-40 west
188.6303.5189 US 158 (Stratford Road)
189.3304.6190Hanes Mall BoulevardWestbound exit and eastbound entrance
191.3307.9192 NC 150 (Peters Creek Parkway) – Downtown Winston-Salem
192.5309.8193CSilas Creek Parkway, South Main StreetWestbound exit and eastbound entrance
193.2310.9193A I-285 / US 52 / NC 8 south – Lexington
193B US 52 / NC 8 north – Mount Airy
194.3312.7195 NC 109 / Clemmonsville Road – Thomasville
195.9315.3196 I-74 east – High Point
​ I-74 (Winston-Salem Beltway)Future interchange (unfunded)[113][114]
Kernersville200.7323.0201Union Cross RoadDiverging diamond interchange
203.5327.5203 NC 66 / Regional Road – Kernersville, High Point
GuilfordColfax206.4332.2206 US 421 north (Salem Parkway) – Kernersville, Downtown Winston-SalemNorth end of US 421 overlap; westbound exit and eastbound entrance
Greensboro207.4333.8208Sandy Ridge Road
209.7337.5210 NC 68 – High Point, Piedmont Triad International Airport
210.7339.1211Gallimore Dairy RoadSP Diamond Interchange
212.1341.3212A
 I-73 / US 421 south to I-85 – Asheboro		Eastbound left exit; south end of US 421 overlap; I-85 signed eastbound
212B I-73 north / I-840 east – PTI-GSO Airport, Martinsville
213.0342.8213Guilford College Road
213.8344.1214Wendover AvenueSigned as exits 214A (west) and 214B (east) eastbound
215.3346.5216Patterson StreetEastbound exit and westbound entrance
216.8348.9217Gate City Boulevard, Koury Boulevard
218.2351.2218 US 220 south / Freeman Mill Road – AsheboroWest end of US 220 overlap; signed as exits 218A (US 220) and 218B (Freeman Mill Road)
219.0352.4219 US 29 south / US 70 west – CharlotteSouth end of US 29 and west end of US 70 overlap
219.3352.9220Randleman Road
219.9353.9221South Elm-Eugene Street – Downtown Greensboro
221.0355.7222Martin Luther King Jr. Drive
221.1355.8223 US 29 north / US 70 east / US 220 north – ReidsvilleNorth end of US 29/US 220 and east end of US 70 overlap; northbound exit and southbound entrance
223.3359.4224Gate City Boulevard, Lee StreetTo Bennett College, UNC Greensboro, A&T University and Greensboro College
225.7363.2226McConnell Road
226.5364.5227 I-85 south / I-785 north – Danville, CharlotteSouth end of I-85 overlap; hidden west I-840
I-40 overlaps with Interstate 85 (exits 131 to 163)
OrangeHillsborough258.3415.7259 I-85 north – DurhamNorth end of I-85 overlap
260.8419.7261Old NC Highway 86 – Hillsborough
262.9423.1263New Hope Church Road
265.8427.8266 NC 86 – Chapel Hill, Hillsborough
DurhamChapel Hill269.9434.4270 US 15 / US 501 – Chapel Hill, Durham
272.7438.9273 NC 54 – Chapel Hill, DurhamSigned as exits 273A (west) and 273B (east) westbound
Durham274.2441.3274 NC 751 – Jordan Lake
275.6443.5276Fayetteville Road  – Southpoint, North Carolina Central UniversitySP Diamond Interchange
277.8447.1278
 NC 55 to NC 54 – Apex
Research Triangle Park279.1449.2279A
 NC 147 Toll south (Triangle Expressway) – Morrisville
279B NC 147 north (Durham Freeway) – Downtown Durham
280.1450.8280Davis Drive
Durham280.8451.9281Miami Boulevard
281.4452.9282Page Road
282.3454.3283




 I-540 east / NC 540 west to NC 540 Toll / US 1 north / US 64 east / US 70 – North Raleigh		Signed westbound as exits 283A (East I-540) and 283B (West NC 540)
WakeMorrisville283.5456.2284Airport Boulevard – RDU International AirportSigned eastbound as exits 284A (west) and 284B (east); under conversion into Diverging diamond interchange.[115]
Cary284.7458.2285Aviation Parkway  – Morrisville, RDU International AirportSigned westbound as exits 285A (south) and 285B (north)
287.0461.9287Harrison Avenue – Cary
Raleigh288.6464.5289

 To I-440 / US 1 north / Wade Avenue – Downtown Raleigh		To PNC Arena, Carter–Finley Stadium, State Fairgrounds, NCSU Veterinary College, and NC Museum of Art
290.5467.5290 NC 54 – Cary
291.4469.0291Cary Towne Boulevard – Cary
292.6470.9293A US 1 south / US 64 west – Cary, AsheboroWest end of US 64 overlap
293B I-440 east / US 1 north – Raleigh, Wake ForestCloverleaf interchange with Collector/distributor roadways
295.0474.8295Gorman Street
297.1478.1297Lake Wheeler Road
298.0479.6298 US 70 / US 401 / NC 50 (S. Saunders Street) – Raleigh Downtown, GarnerSigned as exits 298A (east/south) and 298B (west/north), to be converted into a Diverging diamond interchange
298.8480.9299Hammond Road, Person Street
300.3483.3300Rock Quarry RoadSigned as exits 300A (south) and 300B (north) westbound
301.1484.6301 I-87 north / I-440 west / US 64 east – KnightdaleEast end of US 64 overlap; Eastbound exit is a left exit
​303.5488.4303Jones Sausage Road
Garner305.6491.8306
 US 70 west / US 70 Bus. east – Garner, Clayton		West end of US 70 overlap; signed as exits 306A (west) and 306B (east) westbound
309.6498.3309 US 70 east – Smithfield, GoldsboroEast end of US 70 overlap

 NC 540 Toll (Triangle Expressway)		Future interchange (under construction)[116]
Johnston​311.8501.8312 NC 42 – Clayton, Fuquay-VarinaTo be converted into Diverging diamond interchange as part of the widening[117]
​312.4502.8Cleveland RoadFuture interchange (under construction)[118]
​318.6512.7319 NC 210 – Smithfield, Angier
Benson325.4523.7325
 NC 242 south to US 301 – Benson
327.8527.5328 I-95 – Benson, Fayetteville, Rocky Mount, SmithfieldSigned as exits 328A (south) and 328B (north)
​333.6536.9334 NC 96 – Meadow
SampsonNewton Grove341.0548.8341
 NC 50 / NC 55 to US 13 – Newton Grove
343.3552.5343
 US 701 to US 13 – Clinton, Newton Grove		to Bentonville Battlefield
​348.0560.1348Suttontown Road
​355.4572.0355 NC 403 – Faison
DuplinWarsaw364.5586.6364

 NC 24 west / NC 24 Bus. east to NC 50 – Warsaw, Clinton		West end of NC 24 overlap
369.6594.8369 US 117 – Warsaw
​372.9600.1373 NC 24 east / NC 903 – Magnolia, Kenansville, BeulavilleEast end of NC 24 overlap
Rose Hill380.0611.6380Charity Road – Rose Hill
​384.1618.1384 NC 11 – Wallace, Greenevers
​385.4620.2385 NC 41 – Wallace, Beulaville
Pender​390.2628.0390 US 117 – Wallace
Burgaw398.5641.3398 NC 53 – Burgaw, Jacksonville
Rocky Point408.1656.8408 NC 210 – Rocky PointTo Moores Creek National Battlefield
New HanoverCastle Hayne414.5667.1414Holly Shelter Road – Castle Hayne
Murraysville416.9670.9416 I-140 west / NC 140 – Shallotte, Myrtle Beach, Topsail Island, JacksonvilleSigned as exits 416A (west) and 416B (east)
Wilmington419.9675.8420 US 117 / NC 132 north / Gordon Road – Castle HayneSigned as exits 420A (Gordon Road) and 420B (US 117/NC 132) westbound
423.6681.7— US 117 / NC 132 south – State Port, Carolina BeachContinuation as US 117/NC 132
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi
  •       Closed/former
  •       Concurrency terminus
  •       Incomplete access
  •       Tolled
  •       Unopened

References[]

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  98. ^ "NCDOT to open I-40/73 Greensboro Western Urban Loop Thursday" (Press release). Raleigh: North Carolina Department of Transportation. February 19, 2008. Archived from the original on April 19, 2016. Retrieved April 8, 2016.
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  116. ^ "NCDOT: Complete 540".
  117. ^ https://www.newsobserver.com/news/local/article220732030.html
  118. ^ https://www.ncdot.gov/projects/i40-nc42/Pages/default.aspx

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Interstate 40
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