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Because it’s a major freight corridor and hurricane evacuation route, plus there are two military bases. It’s connection to I-40 also allows it to double as a cross-country interstate for trucks. Easy candidate for an interstate.
On the local level, towns/cities wanted it to become an interstate in order to use it as a marketing tool to lure businesses, since some won’t consider an area without a nearby interstate. It’s one (out of many) reasons why the Global TransPark in Kinston never took off and why Greenville fought like hell to get US-264 designated a future interstate (I-587).
Yeah, I get all that, but it's a spur route. It doesn't come close to leaving the state, so why a two-digit interstate number? It's a misnomer.
Yeah, I get all that, but it's a spur route. It doesn't come close to leaving the state, so why a two-digit interstate number? It's a misnomer.
My guess is either NCDOT was worried that AASHTO wouldn’t approve a 3-di since it’s nearly 150 miles long, or NCDOT felt like the route was important enough to carry it’s own 2-di number. Two prime examples are I-37 and I-45 in Texas.
My guess is either NCDOT was worried that AASHTO wouldn’t approve a 3-di since it’s nearly 150 miles long, or NCDOT felt like the route was important enough to carry it’s own 2-di number. Two prime examples are I-37 and I-45 in Texas.
Or closer to NC, I-16 between Macon and Savannah... just 167 miles. The longest 3-digit interstate is 130 miles, I-476 in Pennsylvania. Longer ones have been proposed, such as a complete circle for I-840/TN 840 around Nashville, but they've not been built.
Quote:
Originally Posted by LM117
It’s one (out of many) reasons why the Global TransPark in Kinston never took off and why Greenville fought like hell to get US-264 designated a future interstate (I-587).
Powers-at-be in Sanford are probably still disappointed that they didn't succeed in getting US 1 redesignated I-140.
Yeah, I get all that, but it's a spur route. It doesn't come close to leaving the state, so why a two-digit interstate number? It's a misnomer.
As are 4 in Florida, 12 in Louisiana, 17 and 19 in Arizona, 27 in Texas, and 96 in Michigan, plus probably some others I'm forgetting in addition to these below.
Also, I-97 in Maryland is only 17 miles or so long. There are a few ways they could fix that, but I doubt they would.
Quote:
Originally Posted by LM117
My guess is either NCDOT was worried that AASHTO wouldn’t approve a 3-di since it’s nearly 150 miles long, or NCDOT felt like the route was important enough to carry it’s own 2-di number. Two prime examples are I-37 and I-45 in Texas.
Quote:
Originally Posted by wizard-xyzzy
Or closer to NC, I-16 between Macon and Savannah... just 167 miles. The longest 3-digit interstate is 130 miles, I-476 in Pennsylvania. Longer ones have been proposed, such as a complete circle for I-840/TN 840 around Nashville, but they've not been built.
Powers-at-be in Sanford are probably still disappointed that they didn't succeed in getting US 1 redesignated I-140.
US 1 to Sanford would be a fun extension of I-87 if someone (i.e. besides me ) really cared enough about these sorts of things.
I agree about US 1 to Sanford eventually becoming an extension of I-87. I also expect the NCDOT wants to extend I-42 through the US 64 to Asheboro corridor.
I also expect the NCDOT wants to extend I-42 through the US 64 to Asheboro corridor.
That's going to be a lot of work because of all the work needed to make it a freeway on its way out of Raleigh, and all the earth they will have to move (blasting? you betcha) to fix visibility at every hill top between Raleigh and Asheboro (exclusive of the Pittsboro Bypass, of course.) Unlike US1, US64 is absolutely nowhere near interstate quality, and unlike say US70 in Johnston and Wayne, it is quite hilly.
I don’t think I-42 needs to go any further than I-40. As mentioned above, it would require much more work than in ENC due to the terrain and would undoubtedly be more costly. Not worth it, IMO. Spot improvements to US-64 should suffice.
I seriously doubt NCDOT ever considered extending I-42 further west. US-70 would never have become Future I-42 anyway if it wasn’t for heavy lobbying by the US-70 Corridor Commission. NCDOT normally doesn’t seek future interstate designations unless there’s a big push at the local level. I-587 exists only because Greenville pushed for it.
Any window for an I-42 in central NC was closed as soon as NCDOT decided to four-lane US 64 west of the Haw River and to build the Pittsboro bypass. Before then, an argument could have been made that instead of widening US 64, convert US 501 Sanford-Carthage and NC 27 Carthage-Mint Hill to limited access, ending at I-485 on the east side of Charlotte. Such a road could have offloaded I-85 and could also have lessened pressure on US 74 in terms of travel between Charlotte and the NC coast.
But NCDOT did what it did. No doubt there were politicians in Chatham and Randolph Counties screaming to four-lane 64.
For those that might be interested in attending, the next meeting of the US-70 Corridor Commission is January 31 in Smithfield. NCDOT Secretary Jim Trogdon will be the guest speaker. Exact meeting location can be found on the home page:
Interesting. I didn't know there were that many interstate highways contained to one state.
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) really cared enough about these sorts of things.
