It's that time again. My review of the past year regarding your favorite North Carolina interstates. 2025 was a milestone year for several routes and a reality check for others. As is tradition, I'll start with I-73/I-74 and move on from there.
The year started out well for this interstate, the Rockingham Bypass was completed in January. Extending the route to US 74, along with I-74 from their previous end at US 220.
The start of the Rockingham Bypass at the US 220 South exit.
Despite what NCDOT stated in the press release about the opening of the Bypass, it was never signed as US 220 or Future I-73/I-74, just as I-73 and I-74.
South I-73/East I-74 reassurance marker sign after the US 220 exit.
The Bypass extended I-73/I-74 for 6 miles and included an exit at Cartledge Creek Road.
The exit sign for Cartledge Creek Road on I-73 South/I-74 East.
The new end for I-73 would be at US 74, NCDOT deciding not to continue it along its planned route further east near the NC 38 exit.
The End I-73 sign prior to the exit ramp to US 74 West.
This marks, for probably a while, the end of new road construction regarding I-73 in North Carolina. Whether it goes further is largely up to South Carolina and Virginia. The only Future I-73 related contract in the NCDOT 2026-2035 STIP, reconstructing the exit ramps and bridge along US 220 at the US 311/NC 135 interchange in Rockingham County, was let on December 16 and will bring the area around the exit up to interstate standards, but not the rest of US 220, which may have to wait awhile.
Construction plan showing widened 10 foot shoulders under the rebuilt bridge on US 220.
Unlike I-73, I-74 was extended beyond the new Rockingham Bypass in January. It was signed along with US 74 eastward until the end of the freeway in Hamlet.
East I-74/US 74 reassurance marker sign after the I-73/I-74 and Business US 74 exit.
While the exit signs were updated, the exit numbers were not, even for the stretch that is not planned to be part of I-73 east of NC 38, apparently only a partial switch was seen as too confusing.
The new 1 Mile advance sign for the NC 381 exit in Hamlet.
The new end for this segment of I-74 is at the Business 74 exit at the end of the Bypass.
The latest 2026-2035 STIP had mixed news for building the rest of I-74 east of Hamlet. The project that would have upgraded US 74 between the Rockingham and Laurinburg Bypasses starting in 2031 had its funding canceled. A funded pavement rehabilitation project for US 74 from Lumberton to US 76 that will widen the shoulders to interstate standards had an additional segment added for Robeson County to the Scotland County line. This could conceivably allow for the signing of I-74 an additional few miles further west from the Alternate/Business 74 exit in Alma to NC 71, it is already signed that way at the ramp on NC 71 South (it is To East I-74 in the other direction).
Street View image of an East I-74 trailblazer along NC 71 South in Maxton. (Sorry for the sun glare).
Work continued in southern Robeson County on building the new interchange with NC 72/NC 130. Work appeared largely completed on the new ramps based on Google Maps Street View images from November.
A paved on-ramp and completed bridge seen in Street View images from US 74 East.
Work is nearly 75% complete and the project is currently planned to be finished at the end of 2026. Construction is also wrapping up in Columbus County on creating an interstate standard section around Lake Waccamaw. The interchange opened in the fall of 2024 but signing work continued into 2025.
The Lake Waccamaw exit sign on US 74/76 West.
In October, public hearings were held on a renewed push to build the possible Future I-74 Carolina Bays Parkway extension from South Carolina into North Carolina to meet US 17. NCDOT though only provided reissued maps that it used in meetings held back in 2020. While SCDOT indicated it could find funding to start the project by 2029, NCDOT would not commit to a start date. Even if built, it may be inevitable now that I-74 is routed to Wilmington instead and that the Extension gets another route number.
On the other end of the I-74 corridor, work on the Winston-Salem Beltway portion of Future I-74 continued. Signficant progress was made in building the interchange with I-40, including 'signs' of things to come.
Partially uncovered future exit sign for I-74 on I-40 West in Beltway interchange work zone.
Progress was most obvious in building the many flyover ramps over I-40.
Several I-74 interchange related flyover ramps converge about I-40 heading west.
Work also progressed at the southern end with new sign structures going up for current and future I-74 exits between Union Cross Road and the future Beltway interchange.
Covered up signage for future NC 192 West and I-40 interchanges on I-74 West.
A new ramp was opened that will carry future NC 192 traffic over the future Beltway, more progress on those lanes is needed.
Current I-74 traffic using future NC 192 West exit ramp over future Northern Beltway lanes.
Work also started in renumbering the exits along current I-74 West between the Beltway and I-40 to their NC 192 numbers.
New signage on current I-74 West with NC 192 exit numbers for Ridgewood Road and I-40.
Latest reports were that Beltway construction was ahead of schedule and would open by the end of 2026. In preparation, NCDOT began the transition of the US 52 freeway to I-74 by changing exit numbers over the summer to ones based on I-74 mileposts.
The renumbered 1/4 (more like 1/2) Mile advance sign for Westinghouse Road, exit was 120, now 39.
Some exit numbers were easier to change than other, such as for Pinnacle that went from 129 to 29.
The exit sign for Pinnacle, though it appears heading straight would also work.
The new numbers go in the reverse direction of the previous ones and range from 18 to 41.
The new I-74 exit number is above the I-74 sign, so it exits itself, for now.
But NCDOT decided not to change the US 52 exit number heading south, for now.
New overhead sign with old and new exit numbers, US 52 should be 41.
Not all the signs depicted in the Beltway project plans ended up being placed. This included the Future I-74 signs that were supposed to go up after each exit. Instead there were a few text Future I-74 corridor signs after each county line.
A Future I-74 Corridor sign on US 52 North after entering Surry County.
It also did not include the planned placement of I-74 mileposts along I-77 between Mt. Airy and the Virginia line and the renumbering of the I-74 exit. This is probably for the best. There were no projects to upgrade US 52 to interstate standards in the 2026-2035 STIP. Perhaps being the one missing piece of I-74 between Virginia and Rockingham, once the completed eastern section of the Winston-Salem Beltway is signed as I-74, will incentivize NCDOT to accelerate work to improve US 52.
As for other New and Future Interstates...
Construction continued on preliminary work for the I-26 Connector project along I-40 to improve that roadway prior to that project starting. Right of way acquisition started in December. Actual start of construction on the connector is not scheduled until 2028.
Lane closure seen on Google Maps Street View image approaching I-26 interchange on I-40 East.
The second segment to be signed as I-42, the Clayton Bypass, received its shields starting in March, a few months after the Goldsboro Bypass. The signing continued through May due to delays from work related to completion of the NC 540 Triangle Expressway extension to I-40.
The new I-42 East 1 1/2 Miles advance sign next to the 1 3/4 Miles advance for NC 540 on I-40 East.
I-42 signing was also complicated due to NCDOT's decision to renumber NC 42 to NC 36 in the area. The routing put a portion of that route on I-42.
Reassurance markers for West I-42 and NC 36 along the Clayton Bypass.
The exit signs were upgraded and renumbered as well to show the new NC 36 designation for Veterans Parkway and Ranch Road.
The new 1 1/2 Miles advance sign for now NC 36 East/Ranch Road.
In December two other I-42 related projects were completed. The upgrade of US 70 in the Wilson's Mills area of Johnston County which finally received its 70 MPH speed limit signs.
New Speed Limit 70 sign on US 70 West after the Neuse River Bridge.
A newspaper article in September indicated NCDOT was lobbying for this section to receive I-42 signs to continued the route from the Clayton Bypass, however, it may not be allowed to happen until US 70 is upgraded all the way to (or currently over) I-95.
No more construction barrels approaching the Wilson's Mills Road exit on US 70 West.
At the other end of the corridor, the Havelock Bypass opened on December 19.
New overhead signs await the opening of the Havelock Bypass on US 70 West.
While the overhead signs have a space for future I-42 shields, the Bypass itself features Future I-42 signs.
A Future I-42 sign after the Lake Road exit on US 70 West.
The exit numbers had been fixed from those listed in the project plans which duplicated US 70 milepost numbers from west of New Bern. The correct numbers run from 429 to 437.
Overhead signage at the northern end of the Havelock Bypass.
View looking over future I-42 bridge being constructed over Grantham Road in James City.
US 70 traffic is being routed along the future frontage roads and exit ramps around the sites of the interchanges. Work also started in earnest along the section between James City and the Bypass.
Clearing work nearly completed on US 70 just west of the start of the Havelock Bypass.
Work on these projects has been moving slowly and probably won't be completed until 2027 at the earliest. There was also no change in the unfunded status of the Kinston Bypass. I-42 cannot be signed beyond Goldsboro until that project is completed.
Recently widened right shoulder along US 64 East (Future I-87 North) in Nashville.
Work also concluded earlier in the year repaving and widening the shoulders of US 64 to the east of Rocky Mount from prior to Kingsboro Road to the US 258 exit.
Traffic camera view of completed widening approaching the US 258 exit.
No other I-87 related projects were included in the current STIP. Perhaps NCDOT will try to get permission to add I-87 signs along US 64/264 when the pavement rehab project is completed, especially if they are going to do that regarding I-587, see below.
NCDOT published its sign plans for the southern half of the under construction Hampstead Bypass in May 2025. The plans revealed that I-140 will be extended east to US 17 when the Bypass is completed around 2030 replacing the NC 140 designation.
Sign plans for the ramp at the southern end of the Hampstead Bypass at I-140.
As noted in the plans, a Bypass US 17 route will be created (this was originally to be designated NC 417) that will start at the new eastern end of I-140 at US 17 and travel 3 miles west before being routed north. There are still rumors that I-140 may be routed up the Bypass as well.
The future segment of this interstate from I-40 to I-74 made news when one of three Future I-285 projects along US 52 recommended for funding in 2025 was included in the 2026-2035 STIP. Contract HP-0027 would upgrade of US 52 to interstate standards between the Salem Parkway (US 421/US 158) to Akron Drive. Unfortunately, it only received funds for preliminary engineering only which means, as of now, it could not start until 2035. Unrelated directly to the future interstate, but useful for its future signing, was the replacement of the Hanes Mill Road bridge as part of a widening project for that roadway. The new 4-lane interstate standard bridge was opened to traffic in November.
US 52 traffic camera view from December of completed new Hanes Mill Road bridge behind what was left of the old version, now mostly demolished.
The last segment of the Fayetteville Outer Loop opened to traffic on November 25 from US 401/Raeford Road to Camden Road. The southern segments route markers were changed from NC 295 to I-295 at that time.
Overhead signage at the former end of I-295 South at US 401.
Overhead signage on I-95 had already been changed to I-295 prior to the last segment's completion.
The arrow-per-lane exit sign for the Fayetteville Loop with I-295 shield in early November.
As had a couple of the I-295 trailblazers and reassurance marker near Camden Road.
Recently placed South I-295 reassurance marker.
NCDOT continued to promote the Loop as a 39-mile interstate when it opened even though the exits run from 1 to 34. When I commented about this on the NCDOT Facebook page they indicated this includes mileage of the ramps built for the project as well as the interstate itself. There is though a 1 mile marker on I-295 South prior to the I-95 South ramp which suggests the 34 mile total already includes that ramp, however.
The new overhead exit sign for I-295 South on I-95 North.
Rebuilding the interchange also includes placing a partial roundabout for traffic coming from or to US 13 from I-95 South. That ramp had earlier been separated from the one going to I-295 South.
Partially closed roundabout being built for traffic to access US 13 North at the ramp from I-95 South.
The only news about I-587 in 2025 regarded signage. NCDOT spent several months, from late 2024 to early 2025, replacing the white directional banners they had originally put on top of I-587 shields, with the standard blue ones. Apparently they did not have enough of these when I-587 was first signed.
I-587 and I-795 trailblazers, now with blue directional banners, in Wilson.
They also finally updated the signage along I-95 South to include I-587 shields.
I-587 shields are now on C/D ramp signage on I-95 South.
Meanwhile, the project to upgrade US 264 to interstate standards (H191794) between US 64 and I-95 was not funded in the 2026-2035 STIP. However, as hinted above, there is a pavement rehabilitation contract that is to be let in March 2026. This covers current US 264 from US 64 to the Wilson County line. NCDOT indicated in 2022, when the first I-587 signs went up east of I-95, that work that would allow the rest of US 264 to be signed would start in a couple years. If this is the contract they were referring to, and I-587 is signed after, it might bode well for I-87 to be signed to Zebulon as well.
There were no future projects listed for I-685 in the 2026-2035 STIP. The current construction of interchanges in the Julian area to serve the Toyota Battery Plant in the Randolph County Megasite business development continued. The Julian Airport exit was opened in 2024 when that project was to be completed, though it's still listed as 65% done on NCDOT's Construction Progress Report.
Street View image of Julian Airport Road (and Dogwood Lane) exit sign in October.
Work on the two additional interchanges at Starmount Road for US 421 North and for Shiloh Road on US 421 South were supposed to be completed in May, however work continued to the end of the year with NCDOT indicating the interchanges would now open on January 5.
Street View image of Starmount Road exit sign on US 421 North in October. Traffic being detoured to the completed exit ramp to allow for bridge construction.
There was no news during the year whether a final decision had been made on where the southern end of the route would be, turn east to I-95 in Dunn or continue south to I-295 in Fayetteville.
The one interstate that had its planned upgrade project accelerated in the 2026-2035 STIP was I-785. The project that will improve 6 miles of US 29 to interstate standards from the Greensboro Loop to NC 150 was moved up from 2031 to 2030 with a cost now estimated at $137.4 million. Unfortunately, the second project to complete the upgrading 4 miles further north to Reidsville remained unfunded. So, unless they decide to put up I-785 shields up to NC 150 when that project is finished, there will no extension of the interstate for at least another 10 years.
The new STIP was not good news for the planned I-795 extension from Goldsboro to I-40. The Final STIP released in July had only funds for preliminary engineering for two of the planned four I-795 projects: Improvements along US 117 from South of Genoa Road to south of Arrington Bridge Road (N.C. 581) and south of Arrington Bridge Road (N.C. 581) to current I-795. The others were unfunded, meaning there's little chance of extending this interstate further until after 2035.
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I would like to thank those who provided information and/or shared their photos and videos of the various interstates. This would include James Carter, Daniel Findley, David Gallo, John Maultsby, Mileage Mike, Mark David Moore, Alex Nitzman, Adam Prince, Strider, and Benjamin Wolf. Thanks also to Google Maps for updating their images along NC Interstates. Finally, thanks to all those who have visited my sites over the past year.
Feel free to visit the I-73/I-74 and Future Interstates sites at Malme Roads.
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