Future Interstate 685 Comes to North Carolina

Future Interstate 685 sign along US 421 near Sanford. (Tracy Snead)

North Carolina's newest Future Interstate is officially here. Future I-685 which will run from I-85 in Greensboro along US 421 to Sanford, and then on a yet to be determined route to I-95 in Eastern North Carolina.

The Future I-685 signs can be found along US 421 near Sanford.

The push for an Interstate along US 421 in North Carolina dates to the 1960s as one of the many requested Interstate corridors the state made when additional Interstate mileage was being granted. In the 2021 Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, the US 421 corridor from I-85 in Greensboro to I-95 in Dunn was named a "High Priority Corridor." As the highway gets upgraded to Interstate standards, the real Interstate shields can appear. But they may have to figure out where the future Interstate highway will end first.

You can follow along on I-685's progress at Bob Malme's Future Interstate Site.

Many thanks to Tracy Snead for the photo.

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