Fayetteville Outer Loop

History of the Fayetteville Outer Loop

A western bypass of Fayetteville has been in the planning stages for decades. The 36-mile Outer Loop route was planned both as a vehicle bypass of Fayetteville and as a direct interstate link to Fort Bragg for military and civilian transportation.¹ The completed freeway would run from I-95 at its current intersection with US 13 to the west and south of Fayetteville reconnecting with I-95 north of St. Pauls in Robeson County. The route was officially designated as Interstate 295 in 2019.

Construction on the Loop began in 2001. Currently, in December 2020, almost 24 miles are open to traffic. The latest section to open is from Cliffdale Road to Raeford Road (US 401) on August 19, 2020² less than a year from the section from the All-American Freeway to Cliffdale Road on November 26, 2019. NCDOT announced funding of $105 million for the project in September 2012 and the contract was put out to bid in August 2014. Work started on October 24, 2014. The segment has two interchanges with Reilly Road near a Fort Bragg gate at Canopy Lane in addition to that at Cliffdale Road and was originally to be completed in October 2018, then March 2019.³ The opening of the segment from US 401 to NC 211/ Murchison Road on August 16, 2016 closed what was two disconnected segments. The older eastern, and longest, segment, signed until 2014 as Future Interstate 295, consists of the first section of the Loop completed in June 2003, which ran three miles from US 401 (Ramsay Street) across the Cape Fear River to River Road⁴ and a second section, about 4 miles, connecting I-95 to River Road that was completed in July 2005. A western segment, 1 1/2 mile route designated NC 24/27, taking those routes from Bragg Blvd (where NC 24/27 intersects the Loop from the south) to Murchison Road (NC 210), opened in the summer of 2014. A 1/2 mile segment to continue the highway west to the All-American Freeway was finished on December 2, 2016. In late 2014, NCDOT replaced all the Future I-295 signage in the eastern section with NC 295 signs (see photos below) and the rest of the route when opened in 2016 was also signed as NC 295. NCDOT sought in 2019, and was granted by both AASHTO and the FHWA, permission to sign the completed section as I-295.⁵ In November 2019, an overhead sign along a new section opened between the All-American Freeway to Cliffdale Road had an I-295 shield, it is assumed that the rest of the Loop back to I-295 will have its signs changed from NC 295 to I-295 in the not too distant future (see route number section below for further discussion). Image from City of Fayetteville video showing I-295 sign:

The remaining segments west and south of Yadkin Road back to I-95 near St. Pauls were originally not funded, but in December 2014 it was announced that the latest NCDOT STIP would fund projects to complete the entire Loop, the first of these projects will start in 2016, the last in 2021, and the whole Loop could be complete by 2025.⁵ In December 2015 then NC Governor McCrory announced changes to the state budget that would allow more money to be dedicated to transportation projects. Under the plan, the last segments of the Outer Loop would be accelerated a year to start construction in 2020, the Loop would be completed by 2023 under the new timetable, which was approved by the NCDOT Board in January 2016.⁶ The latest project to start is the southern most segment from I-95 to Camden Road, west of Fayetteville, construction started in January 2018. The last segment to be constructed, from US 401 to Camden Road, was to be let in July 2020 with work scheduled to be completed by 2024, however the letting date was first pushed back to February 2021 in the fall of 2019, then due to financial constraints caused by the COVID-19 virus was dropped from the tentative 13-Month Letting list in April 2020.⁷ This probably means this project won't start until at least mid-2021 and that the entire Loop won't be finished now until at least 2025, the original date cited in 2014. Each of these projects are discussed in greater detail below the Photos and Sign Plan sections.

Here was the official NCDOT schedule for the projects to complete the I-295 Fayetteville Outer Loop between Fort Bragg and I-95 in Robeson County from the 2020-2029 STIP and later NCDOT press releases (The letting of the BB and BA segment have since been delayed). The completion dates for Segments AA and AB are now set for July 2022:

Here's the earlier official NCDOT schedule for the now completed section of the Fayetteville Outer Loop between Fort Bragg and I-95/US 13:⁷

Videos driving the new section of the Outer Loop

From US 401 to Cliffdale Drive (New 9/19/20)

Exits 34 to 28 Southbound

Exits 28 to 34 Northbound

Construction photos along the future sections of the Outer Loop (2019-)

Photos taken heading south from Cliffdale Road to US 401/Raeford Road on August 19, 2020 by David Johnson, First heading south:

Now turning around and heading back toward Cliffdale Road:

Previous Photos

Photos taken heading north from Cliffdale Road on June 26, 2020 by David Johnson:

Photos taken of southern I-295 interchange construction from I-95 North on June 19, 2020 by David Johnson:

Photos taken at the future southern I-95 interchange with I-295 on December 5, 2019 by DanTD:

Photos taken at the future southern I-95 interchange with I-295 in September 2019 by Adam Prince:

Photos along opened sections of the Outer Loop (2005-2016)

Photos taken in August 2016 by Rob Adams:

Previously Taken Photographs 2005-2010

History of I-295 Route Number

NCDOT originally petitioned to have this roadway designated as I-195. The odd-number designation as an interstate spur route probably was chosen (at least as a temporary designation) because a funding source was not secured at the time to construct the entire 35-mile loop. The I-195 designation, however, was rejected by AASHTO in June 2003. Later in that year funds were secured to start planning to extend the route further south, making it a true loop back to I-95.⁹ NCDOT then decided the route should be called I-295 and this number subsequently appeared on several NCDOT publications.* AASHTO followed the FHWA's lead and approved the I-295 number designation at the May 6, 2005 meeting of the organization's Special Committee on U.S. Route Numbering (USRN).¹⁰

Though the Interstate 295 number was now official, NCDOT first signed the road as Future I-295. This was probably due to design aspects of the highway that do not meet interstate standards (such as the narrow shoulders on the Cape Fear River bridge (noted in the photo above) and the US 13 interchange (see photo below) which does not at present allow freeway to freeway access from I-95 North, nor as of 2020, allow traffic to take a left turn onto the Loop from I-95 North, traffic must take a right and turn around at the next intersection. The upcoming I-95 widening project in the area includes a reconstruction of the interchange to include a new ramp from I-95 North which will take traffic over US 13 and then to the current I-295 North flyover ramp where I-295 south traffic would take another ramp back over I-95 to meet the current I-95 South ramp, from the I-95 project documents in May 2020 (a considerable alteration from a former flyover ramp design from I-95 North to I-295 South):

Despite this, NCDOT insisted that when the route was completed to US 401, it would be signed as I-295. However, in May 2014 NCDOT released plans for the final contract needed to complete the loop to the All-American freeway. Apparently, the FHWA, either due to the design aspects, or because funding was incomplete to build the entire 34 mile loop, indicated they could not approve the interstate designation. The sign plans now had the route signed as NC 295, even where earlier plans had shown I-295 signs (see below). By the end of 2014 NCDOT had changed all Future 295 signage between I-95 and US 401 to NC 295, including on the exit sign on I-95.¹¹ NCDOT had plans, however, to post Future I-295 signs alongside the NC 295 signs on the Loop when the route to the All American Freeway was completed, perhaps indicating the NCDOT belief that the FHWA decision will change later on. However, those signed were never posted as shown in the photos above.¹²

NCDOT Asks for I-295, Again

In September 2018, the AASHTO USRN published applications for its upcoming Fall Meeting in October. Among the 3 from NCDOT were two asking that the existing NC 295 from I-95 to the All American Freeway be signed as I-295 and for the rest of the route, currently under construction, to be designated as Future I-295.¹³ The I-295 application mentions the previous approval of the Future I-295 designation, that the route is up to Interstate Standards, and provides an important link between Fort Bragg and I-95. The Interstate Standards reference is questionable, as cited above due to both the bridge over the Cape Fear River and the interchange with I-95 that includes stop signs and left turns, and now a redesigned ramp from I-95 North which makes traffic heading for NC 295 South to take a right on US 13 then make a U-Turn. The application also implies that AASHTO never asked that the previous Future I-295 signs be removed, meaning it was either the FHWA of NCDOT itself. On September 20, AASHTO approved the application, no concurrence by the FHWA required (the NCDOT application stated the FHWA had given a favorable opinion on the addition of the route to the interstate system back in 2003). In May 2019, the FHWA added I-295 to its official Auxiliary Interstate Route log.¹⁴ In November 2019, NCDOT put up I-295 shields along the I-95 to All-American Freeway section after the section to Cliffdale Road.¹⁵ On April 21, 2020, NCDOT posted a route change memorandum indicating NC 295 was officially to be signed along the Loop south of Cliffdale Road, indicating the approval came way back in August 2019. The document included a map implying the remainder north to I-95 is signed I-295, but it is unknown whether though the interstate shields have gone up on this section of the Loop, a press release issued in June 2020 stated NC 295 ran from Cliffdale Road to I-95.¹⁶ On April 21, 2020, NCDOT officially released a route change ordinance document stating that NC 295 ran from the All-American Freeway south to Cliffdale Road.¹⁷ However, when the section opened between Cliffdale Road and Raeford Road/US 401 in August 2020, NCDOT signed the route as I-295 and stated the earlier section between the All-American Freeway and Cliffdale Road would be signed as I-295 as well. The remaining NC 295 signs were to be replaced by I-295 shields 'eventually' at an unknown future date.²

* Though several other route numbers appear for the Loop on other documents. The official 2005 state highway map listed it as NC 13. NCDOT called the route the 'NC 24 extension' on its contract listing for the US 301 to I-95 section in previous TIP documents.

Details on Construction of Completed Segments

Before the budget problems cropped up construction of the next section from US 401 to the Bragg Blvd. was scheduled to start in late 2008. With the passage of the economic stimulus bill in February 2009, NCDOT got $385 million for highway construction, the project was then split up into three contracts: X-0002BC, X-0002CA, and X-0002CB. Only one of which qualified as a 'shovel-ready' project and could start using the stimulus funds. Construction was started on a 1.5 mile (2.5 km) section from west of Bragg Blvd. to Murchison Road in July 2009. This section is separated from the completed section east of US 421 by 3 miles and was completed in 2013.¹ This project did not include, however, final paving, structures, and signing which were let in a separate contract in October 2012. Work started in January 2013 and the segment was opened on Monday, August 4, 2016.⁴

The next part of the project was at the western end, 1/2 mile from Bragg Blvd. to the All-American Freeway, started in the fall of 2009. This project, like that between US 401 and NC 210, was meant only to build the highway to a graded surface. Paving of this part of the highway and the building of the remainder east from Murchison Road to connect to US 401 was put off until this project was completed in March 2014.¹⁸ The paving contract (C203361) was let on June 17, 2014, with work starting on August 25, 2014. Work was completed in December 2016.¹⁹ Work also started on a small (about 1.2 mile or 1.9 km) segment of the Loop (Contract C202829) west of the All American Freeway in November 2011. This segment will extend the Loop to just east of Yadkin Road and, was completed by December 2015, since there was no interchange on the south end of this project, it was not opened until the Cliffdale Road segments was completed to the south.²⁰

Signage Plans

Here are some of the signs that have been posted, or were planned to be posted, along the future length of the Fayetteville Outer Loop. With the approval of the I-295 designation, the I-295 shields that were dropped from the plans below have reappeared:

Current and Future Construction

Until late 2011 construction on the rest of the Loop, even with a continued significant proportion ($258 million, 19% for current construction) of highway trust fund moneys available,⁴ was to be a decade or more away.²¹ However, in the fall of 2011 the NC government announced its intention of funding construction of additional priority highways, which would include I-295.  One of two segments under construction in mid-2020, from Cliffdale Road to US 401 was started under a design-build contract awarded to Barnhill Contracting Co. in August 2016, work included replacement of an existing bridge over Bones Creek. NCDOT indicated in June 2019 that the route will be open by the fall of 2020,²¹ but work ground to a halt during the second half of 2019. Work resumed in early 2020 and was completed 3 months ahead of schedule in August 2020. Meanwhile, NCDOT announced the $129.7 million contract to build the segment from Camden Road to I-95 in December 2017. Work started on January 2,  2018 and is planned to be completed by June 2022, it will include an interchange at Parkton Road. As of the end of October 2020, the project was over 1/2 finished at 50.4% complete.²² Drivers on I-95 started to notice in late summer 2019 a conveyor belt being built over the roadway. This will carry dirt being excavated for the I-295 interchange across to the east side of the interstate where it will be carried elsewhere, preventing over 100,000 truck trips that would have been needed to do the same job.²³ (A photo can be found here). The remaining segment, from US 401/Raeford Road to Camden Road, as indicated in the table at the top of the page, was to be let in January 2019, however, due to litigation over Right-of-Way issues this was delayed until May. In December 2018, NCDOT decided to split the contract with the northern segment (TIP U-2519BB) between US 401 and Strickland Road to be let in May 2019 and the remainder between Strickland Road and Camden Road (TIP U-2519BA) to be let in October 2019, dubbing it a 'strategic letting'.²⁴ However, in April 2019, the projects disappeared completely from the 12-Month Tentative Letting List, no reason given.²⁵ The project later appeared in the August 2019 to July 2020 list for July 2020. This delay pushed back the original NCDOT timeline, which would probably have meant completion by the end of 2023. As indicated above, this project was suspended due to COVID-19 related financial issues in the spring of 2020. The press release about the opening of the Cliffdale Road to Raeford Road section indicated the project is now to be let in August 2022.²

The plans for the US 401 to Murchison Road section indicated the route will become full I-295 upon the project's completion and also listed exit numbers that will be placed at all interchanges from the vicinity of Bragg Blvd back to I-95. The new 2014 project plans indicated the route will be signed as NC 295 and slightly altered the exit numbers. Exit numbers appeared on the segment between Bragg Blvd. and Murchison Road by December 2015. The remaining exit numbers were installed after the segment from US 401 to Murchison Road opened on August 11, 2016.

The Exit number plan, including the now opened section to Cliffdale Road.¹² Completed Sections as of August 2020:

Exit 34           Interstate 95

Exit 30           River Road

Exit 28           US 401

Exits 25A-B   McArthur Rd

Exit 23           NC 210 Murchison Rd

Exit 21C        NC 24 NC 27 Bragg Blvd

Exit 21A-B    All-American Freeway

Exit 18          Canopy Ln to Reilly Rd

Exit 15          Cliffdale Rd

Exit 12         US 401/Raeford Road

Exit 6*           Camden Road

Exit ?            Parkton Road

Exit 1            Interstate 95

*Unofficial, based on distances from project documents.