New/Future Interstate 42 in NC

Jump to Photos for Segment 1 (New 2/18/25)

Jump to Photos for Segment 3 (10/27/24)

Jump to Photos for Segment 7 (9/24/24)

Visit the Future I-42 Exit List (Updated 2/18/25)

First I-42 shield to appear on overhead signage, photo courtesy of John Maultsby, taken August 25:

NEW Google Maps Street View image of first I-42 shield seen on the Clayton Bypass, taken in December 2024:

(NEW-Go to New November Videos of the Goldsboro Bypass and Havelock Bypass by Benjamin Wolf (jcil4ever on AARoads Forum)

Interstate 42 is a 137 mile planned interstate route from I-40 south of Raleigh to Morehead City mostly along existing US 70. AASHTO gave approval to the number in May 2016, though originally NCDOT asked that the route be designated I-36, after the corridor was granted interstate status under the 2015 Fixing America's Surface Transportation (FAST) Highway Act. The first of three completed segments of I-42, the Goldsboro Bypass, is being signed as of September 2024, another, the Clayton Bypass will be signed in early 2025. Here's the corridor map as submitted in its AASHTO application:¹

This page will summarize the progress in building and signing the route from west to east. While I-42 is now being signed, the projected completion date for the entire route is 2032.² I've broken the route into 8 segments with a description of the progress of constructing I-42 in each. As of September 2024, 3 Segments are Complete:

Segment 1   (Updated 2/12/25)

US 70 Clayton Bypass

Road Type: Interstate Standard Freeway        Length: 10.0 Miles

Status: Complete [Except for I-42 Signage]

This segment could be signed as I-42 today as it is Interstate standard. NCDOT got approval from AASHTO at its Fall 2021 meeting for it to be signed as I-42 from I-40 to US 70 Business, conditioned on FHWA approval. The FHWA granted its approval in March 2022. According to a press release by NCDOT a timeline for the signing of I-42 was to be released later in 2022.³ However, 2022 ended without an announcement. I made an inquiry to NCDOT via their website in early 2023 and got this response about the potential timeline for signing the Clayton Bypass:

"Hi, we are working to include this upcoming signage change with what also will be needed as part of the ongoing I-40 widening from MM 300-312 and NC 540 project that will have a major interchange in this same vicinity. We are looking to finalize that signing contract later this year."⁴

Following up, I got another response with more details about the possible removal of US 70 from the Bypass:

"This is in reference to your contact us inquiry concerning the routing of US 70 and I-42 in Johnston, Wayne and Lenior Counties. We will begin the process of acquiring resolutions and completing AASHTO applications to gain permission to return US 70 onto it’s original route through Clayton. As with any project, engineering plans are needed for construction including signing modifications. The signing plans are currently in production."⁵

In October 2023 NCDOT held a public meeting in the Clayton area for a proposal to renumber NC 42 in most of Johnston County to NC 36 to reduce driver confusion.  This, and the removal of US 70 from the Bypass to its former route through Clayton (currently US 70 Business) was to take place before I-42 could be signed. This article indicated this now may be less than a year away, putting it into 2024.⁶ An April 2024 Johnstonian News article indicated that the signing of I-42, the redesignation of Business 70 and the renumbering of NC 36 was likely in the fall. It indicated the last needed approval by the Johnston County Commission would happen later in the month, noting that NCDOT had already approved the NC 36 plan. The Commission voted to rename the section of current NC 42 from Clayton to the Wake County line from just NC 42 to Veterans Blvd and Business 70 was renamed Clayton Blvd effective February 10, 2025.⁷ On February 7, NCDOT issued a Press Release stating the changes would begin on February 10 and take 3 months to complete. Here is a map of the proposal, note that only parts of NC 42 would be renumbered, not most of the route further east and west from I-42, and the part of the NC 36 route would use I-42 between the current NC 42 and Ranch Road exits:⁸

In its Fall 2023 meeting, the Special Committee on US Route Numbering of AASHTO approved the move of US 70 from the Clayton Bypass back to its original alignment through Clayton.⁸  Here is the map showing the new (old) route sent as part of the application:

Meanwhile, NCDOT announced on June 23, 2022 that the ramp from US 70 to I-40 East would permanently close on July 6 as part of the NC 540 Extension 'Turbine Interchange' project. This may also have something to do with the signing plans for I-42 being delayed as the detour route used NC 42 and might have caused confusion, the ramp was to be re-opened in September 2023, however this was pushed back to December 31 and did not open until the summer of 2024. Despite the new appearance of an I-42 shield on the Clayton Bypass and I-42 shields on I-40 West and at the end of NC 540 (see photos below), a video shot February 18, 2025 still shows US 70 on I-40 East exit signs, as shown also in this December 27 traffic camera image:

New I-42 shields started to appear on the Bypass the week of February 18. This included new NC 36 reassurance markers, but only supports for the new exit signs had been put up. Previously on June 21, new signage was placed at the future I-42 interchange ramp with I-40, with US 70 shields. As seen in the photo at the top of this page and below, the signs having recently been changed to include an I-42 shield. This hopefully meant that I-42 would be signed along the Bypass before the ramp is opened, but according to an NCDOT press release, this now will happen sometime after the start of 2025. Other signs on NC 540 have also been updated with I-42 and the exit sign seen below at the future end of I-42 at I-40 now has an 'Exit 1' tab indicating that new exit numbers will be coming with the I-42 shields. Photos of all these signs can be seen in the photo section below.

Photo of earlier version of signage put up in June courtesy of jcil4ever on AARoads Forum:

View of the new signage from the open ramp to the Clayton Bypass across I-40:

Meanwhile, despite the announcement of I-42 to be signed in early 2025, I-42 shields have now appeared on I-40 West approaching the Clayton Bypass exit, photo courtesy of AARoads Forum member, jcil4ever, taken Sept. 28, the signs headed east remain unchanged as of late October:

In November a new advance sign was placed for the I-40 exit heading west. This photo and others from this segment are in the Photos section below.

Drive the first 2 segments of I-42 on this new video by Benjamin Wolf posted on February 18, 2025:

Drive this Segment watching two New Videos from RoadwayWiz from Summer 2021:    Eastbound            Westbound

Segment 2    (Updated 2/12/25)

US 70 from End of Clayton Bypass to Beginning of US 70 Goldsboro Bypass (includes Bypass US 70 in Smithfield)

Road Type: 4-lane Divided Roadway with some Freeway Sections    Length: 22.5 Miles

Status: Needs Upgrade to Interstate Status

There are two funded projects and one feasibility study underway to upgrade this section of US 70:

The first is upgrading 5 miles of US 70 to Interstate Standards from US 70 Business to the Neuse River Bridge (W-5600) , NCDOT is replacing the US 70 intersections with Wilson Mills Road and Swift Creek Road with interchanges. Originally the plan was to award the contract in September 2020, however, due to COVID funding issues, the contract letting was postponed until March 2021 and work started on May 12. As of January 15, 2025 the project was listed as 94.5%, actually down .1% from December when it was listed as 94.6% finished.⁹ Though the delays are relatively small, they have added up so that while notices about the project on the NCDOT DriveNC traffic site indicated that all lane restrictions were to end on September 15, 2024, that wasas been changed as of late October to July 2025.¹⁰ The project is building a bridge over Wilson Mills Road while a bridge will carry Swift Creek Road over US 70. The interchange with Swift Creek Road was opened in the spring of 2024. The westbound exit to Wilson's Mills Road was opened in September. The eastbound side, including the new exit ramp, was opened the week of November 10, though no exit signage appeared until late in the year. The total cost for the 2 Wilson Mills interchanges is estimated at $77 million. The project was scheduled to be completed by the end of 2024, the new official completion date is March 14, 2025, though that is now earlier than the date suggested by the traffic site.

Here's a map of the project area:¹⁰

NCDOT advertised the W-5600 contract on January 16, 2021. Among the sign plans included those for the new exit signs for Swift Creek and Wilson Mills Road, along with the new signs for the Business 70 exit westbound.¹² The exit for Swift Creek Road opened in the spring of 2024 (see Section 2 photos below) with the exit number applied to a temporary exit sign.

Here's are photos by AARoads Forum contributor Benjamin Wolf (jcil4ever) showing progress completing the Wilson's Mills Road interchange in September 2024

September 23

Views from US 70 West approaching the nearly completed Wilson's Mills Road interchange:

Work continues in the median approaching the future Wilson's Mills Road exit.

Workers applying lane markings on the future westbound roadway over Wilson's Mills Road.

A closer look at the work at the future overpass over the Wilson's Mills Road exit, including a new US 70 mile marker.

At the traffic signals at the current US 70 intersection with Wilson's Mills Road. The future on-ramp to I-42/US 70 West is to the left.

September 2

Work has nearly been completed creating the median barrier approaching the bridge over Wilson's Mills Road:

and that by early September some of the concrete barriers separating traffic from the construction had been removed:

The second project will upgrade US 70 to Interstate Standards in Princeton Area (R-5829AB) from US 70A to the Goldsboro Bypass as Design Build Projects. Part A to start in 2025, Part B in 2028.*

Here's a map of the project area:¹³

A Feasibility Study (FS-1604A) was published in August 2018 for determining how to upgrade the remaining section between the Neuse River Bridge and Smithfield. It split the segment into 4 sections and compared the cost of simply upgrading shoulders to a complete upgrade to interstate standards of the existing route. The upgrade option was the preferred alternative, though they suggested maybe simply upgrading shoulders could get the route signed as I-42 for Sections 1 and 2, that is from the end of the Clayton Bypass to Creech's Mill Road in Smithfield (includes I-95 interchange) . Here's a Link to the Report. Construction Date TBD. Here's a map of the study area:¹⁴

NEW-The only segment that gets a mention for possible funding in the list of potential 2026-2035 STIP projects is the segment from Turnage Road (SR 1915) to US 301, just to the west of I-95. The estimated cost is $133.1 million, but its statewide priority score is 66.84 out of 100, leaving it out of the final list of projects to be started before 2035 when the draft STIP was released at the end of January 2025.¹⁵

There are also several pavement upgrade projects for US 70 in Johnston County which may be part of I-42, depending on what final alignment is chosen, including a project C204333 (TIP No. I-6044) that will, as part of the project, reconstruct US 70 Bypass and other portions of US 70. Here is a map of the project area and 2 of the 4 work zones, work started in August 2019 and was scheduled to be completed in October 2020, the project no longer appeared on NCDOT's Construction Progress Report website as of November 2020:¹⁶

Segment 3   (Updated 12/27/24)

US 70 Goldsboro Bypass and US 70 to NC 903 in LaGrange

Road Type: Interstate Standard Freeway    Length: 21.6 Miles

Status: Complete [I-42 Signage added in September and October 2024]

Here's the First sign heading west onto the Bypass photo taken by Phillip Kessell on September 2.

Here's the first I-42 trailblazer spotted on the Goldsboro Bypass, from a NCDOT traffic camera image, the back of a new I-42 West trailblazer at the NC 581 interchange on September 17, 2024, see the Photo section for Segment 3 for additional photos:

Here's the new End West I-42 sign, courtesy of AARoads Forum's jcil4ever:

I-42 first appeared on a Google Map of the Goldsboro Bypass earlier, on April 30, 2024:

According to Jim Dunlop, a NCDOT sign engineer, an application was sent to AASHTO in the fall of 2021 regarding signing the Goldsboro Bypass as I-42.¹⁸ On February 13, 2022 the applications were finally posted on the AASHTO Special Committee on US Route Numbering website.¹⁹ The application for the Goldsboro Bypass was approved, along with the Clayton Bypass (Segment 1), pending approval also by the FHWA. Despite a Super 70 Commission Director reporting in his January/February 2019 message that the FHWA has approved signing the Goldsboro Bypass as I-42,²⁰ NCDOT sign engineer Dunlop indicated they had not done so as of the summer of 2021. It was announced again by the Super 70/I-42 Group at a meeting on March 16, 2022. This time NCDOT issued a press release indicating the approval of both the Goldsboro and Clayton Bypasses as I-42.¹ The press release indicated a timetable for the placement of I-42 signs would be released later in the year, however 2022 came and went without any further word on the signing of I-42. Nothing happened in 2023 either. An NCDOT spokesman indicated in the summer of 2024 that signage would go up by the end of the year. Is the third year the charm? Apparently, yes. A poster to the AARoads Forum spotted a new I-42 shield on August 30 at the eastern end of the Bypass on the new overhead sign at the US 70 exit (current Exit 370).²⁰ On Friday the (Sept.) 13th it was a lucky day for I-42. NCDOT issued a Press Release that I-42 signing would start on Monday Sept. 16. The signing would take place over several weeks and would involved installing over 80 mile markers, 82 metal signs and overlays of I-42 over US 70 for another 108. As of late October most, if not all reassurance markers had gone up as well as exit signs renumbered and I-42 mile markers had been placed along the Bypass. The press release also indicated signing of the Clayton Bypass as I-42 would take place 'early next year (see Segment 1).²¹

Unlike for the Clayton Bypass, there was no need for any route changes or renumbering since US 70 was never re-routed, only a Bypass US 70 designated. NCDOT simply sent an application to AASHTO about removing the Bypass designation that was approved at their May 19, 2022 meeting. This approval was confirmed in a January 31, 2023 email I received from NCDOT which specifically stated "Since the portion of what was US 70 Bypass is now approved as an Interstate, there is no need to have a concurrent route following the same pavement. Removal of the US Bypass route allows for simplification of the signs and messaging."⁵ The email, however, gave no date for when I-42 signs would go up. A check of traffic cameras along the Bypass throughout 2023 and most of 2024 still showed it signed as Bypass US 70:

In the distance you can somewhat make out a Bypass US 70 reassurance marker on the right.

And traffic camera images from January to August 2024 still showed US 70 mileage exit numbers along the Bypass, including at the I-795 exit:

This changed as of September, here's the same view on December 10:

An updated view of the new exit number, 39A for I-795 North.

And this East I-42 reassurance marker was shown by the camera at the NC 581 exit.

Link to video Driving the Goldsboro Bypass along US 70 Bypass West

Segment 4   (Updated 2/12/25)

Existing US 70 from NC 903 in LaGrange to the to be built Kinston 'Shallow' Bypass and along an upgraded US 70 to Dover

Road Type: Upgrade to Interstate Freeway (part to be built on new location)    Length: 21.1 Miles

Status: Construction was to start in 2020 (US 70 Freeway) and 2027 (Bypass), however due to COVID-19 related budget shortfalls, the projects now do not have an official start date. There was no mention of the project in the Draft 2026-2035 STIP released on January 31, 2025 meaning most likely any project will now not start until after 2035. These projects were listed as 'Not Funded' in the Final 2024-2033 State TIP released on June 6, 2023.²³

In June 2022 NCDOT has posted a website for the project that provides a '3D view' of the Kinston Bypass, despite no construction date being announced (see below). You can use the website to take a Virtual Tour of the Bypass.

In April 2018, NCDOT announced 12 possible alternative routes for the Kinston Bypass Project (R-2553) that will run from the end of the US 70 Goldsboro Bypass near LaGrange to the beginning of the US 70 freeway in Dover. Here was a map of the possible alternatives:²⁴

NCDOT held a public hearing in Kinston on August 31, 2019 allowing the public to weigh in on the possible routings. Many Lenoir County businesses and officials supported the 'Shallow Bypass' or Alternative 1SB which would have the Bypass follow existing US 70 for 14.6 of the 21.1 miles in this segment, the remainder would be on a new 6.5 mile bypass close to the existing US 70 and its businesses. NCDOT selected this as the Preferred Alternative in 2020.

Here's a map of the chosen alternative:

The pre-COVID timeline for the project was for right-of-way acquisition to start in 2023, presuming the environmental impact statement was approved in 2021. Construction would then have started in 2027. This has now been changed, the Final EIS is to be released in the winter of 2022, right-of-way acquisition now will start in 2026 with the construction date still to be determined. The western section of the bypass follows current U.S. 70 for approximately 7 miles to just east of NC 148 (C.F. Harvey Parkway). Interchanges would be located at Willie Measley/Jim Sutton roads, Albert Sugg/Barwick Station roads, and NC 148.  A new interchange east of NC 148 would provide access to the new shallow bypass section, which would be parallel existing U.S. 70 to the south for approximately 6.5 miles. Interchanges along the Bypass would be located at NC 11/NC 55, US 258 (South Queen Street), and at NC 58 (Trenton Highway). A new interchange east of Lenoir Community College would connect the shallow bypass back to existing U.S. 70. The bypass would then follow existing U.S. 70 to the end of the project near Dover, upgrading US 70 to a freeway with interchanges at Wyse Fork /Caswell Station Roads and Old U.S. 70 (West Kornegay Street) in Dover.²⁵ Meanwhile, a project that will resurface and upgrade 3.1 miles of the existing US 70 freeway to Interstate Standards from the Bear Creek Bridge at the end of the Goldsboro Bypass to Willie Measley Road east of LaGrange (Project I-6034) was to be let in September 2019, but in July 2019 that was pushed back to March 2020, the project then disappeared from the March 2020 Letting list in February, also a COVID related postponement.

As indicated above, NCDOT released the scores for possible projects to be chosen for the 2026-2035 STIP in May 2024. Several I-42 projects for this segment were on the list. They include the upgrade of US 70 to interstate standards from LaGrange to Albert Suggs Road (SR 1522), Project No. R-2553A at an estimated cost of $140.7 million, and the upgrade of US 70 to interstate standards from Albert Suggs Road to NC 148/C.F. Harvey Parkway, No. R-2553B at a cost of $65.5 million. They also include three projects related to the Kinston Bypass: An upgraded US 70 from NC 148 to the NC 11/55, Project No. R-2553-CA at a cost of $220.3 million, construction of a new freeway from NC 11/55 to US 258, R-2553-CB costing $56.4 million and the remainder of the Bypass from US 258 back to US 70, No. R-2553-CC at a cost of $154.7 million. The Statewide Quantitative Scores for these projects range from 46.97 out of 100 for the eastern section of the Bypass to 64.4 for the western most section near LaGrange. None of these scores are particularly high enough on their own, but it may be that some of the projects, particularly the US 70 upgrades, could be chosen to start in the early 2030s.¹⁵

Visit NCDOT's Kinston Bypass Project website.

Segment 5  (Updated 8/2/21)  

US 70 Freeway from Dover to New Bern

Road Type: Freeway        Length: 26.1 Miles

Status: Needed Upgrade to Interstate Status, Complete of as March 2021 [Except for I-42 Signage]

NCDOT awarded a contract in the Spring of 2019 to repave and widen US 70 to interstate standards along the existing freeway between Dover and the Neuse River Bridge in New Bern. Work was completed in the spring of 2021. July 2020 Google Maps Street View images show that all of the US 70 shoulder work has been completed, work is now proceeding on upgrading exit and entrance ramps, the last to be completed were in the New Bern area.

Here's a map of the project location:²⁶

Signing of the section as I-42 cannot occur until the Kinston Bypass and related construction to the east are completed.

See the completion of shoulder widening in Photos section below.

Segment 6   (Updated 2/6/25)  

US 70 Neuse River Bridge to Havelock Bypass

Road Type: 4-lane Divided Roadway    Length: 13.7 Miles

Status: Needs Upgrade/New Construction to Interstate Freeway

A 2-Part Project: First is from Neuse River Bridge to Thurman Road, (U-5713/R-5777AB, 5.1 Miles). Start of Construction-2019 Completion was originally set for September 2023, however earlier in that year the estimated date was moved to December 2024 (Design/Build Project was awarded in September 2019) and work started on October 22, 2019. As of December 22, 2024, more than five years later, work is just almost 1/2 complete at 48.2%.²⁷ Part of contract that is creating interchange at Thurman Road already under construction along with another interchange with Glen Burnie Road. An NCDOT press release on November 29, 2023 indicated work had been completed on 1 roundabout at the future Grantham Road exit, while another one was near completion. Two-way frontage roads served by roundabouts had been completed and will be used as temporary roadways once work starts on building the interchange. The two direction frontage road design was supported by residents over one-way roads, according to NCDOT engineer Jim Dunlop, because they allowed easier access to current US 70 businesses. The roundabouts were not originally supported, however NCDOT engineers convinced residents they would produce fewer land takings for the project.²⁸ For images of progress from March 2024, see Segment 6 photos. Other work at the north end of the project had not yet begun as of July 2023, however the November press release indicated that similar work is proceeding at different times along the length of the work zone. Work at the four other intersections (Williams Road, Airport Road, Taberna Way, and Thurman Road) continued into 2024. Despite it being less that 1/2 complete at the end of 2024, construction is still scheduled to be complete in July 2025.²⁹

Map of Project Corridor:³⁰

Second is Thurman Road to Havelock Bypass (R-5777C, 8.6 Miles) including construction of service roads. The Letting date for the contract was delayed in February 2020 from June to November 2020 due to design issues and was then put on hold for 2 years more due to funding issues. The project was let as a Design-Build contract on January 17, 2023, delayed from August 16, 2022. On February 1, 2023 NCDOT posted a press release indicating the $242 million contract had been awarded and that after plans are designed and approved, construction could start in early 2024.³¹ Construction would then take an additional 4 years, to June 2028, the project is listed as of December 31, 2024 as 17.1% complete, an increase of only 3% in 7 months, obviously progress will have to pick up to meet the 2028 date.³² According to the press release, the interstate standard freeway will have exits at Statley Pine Road, Fisher Avenue and Camp Kiro Road.

There was also a separate project to create the Slocum Gate Interchange along US 70 at Cherry Point MCAS - this was completed in March 2020 but is located east of the future start of the Havelock Bypass.

Visit NCDOT's US 70 Improvements in James City website.

Segment 7   (Updated 2/6/25)  

US 70 Havelock Bypass

Road Type: Unbuilt Freeway        Length: 10.1 Miles

Status: Construction Started on August 30, 2019. Project to be completed by May 2025.

Bypass Location Map:³¹

On August 1, 2019, NCDOT awarded the $167.2 million contract to build the Bypass to Balfour Beatty Infrastructure, Inc. of Wilmington, NC. Work started on August 30, 2019 and as of January 22, 2025 was over 4/5 complete at 85.1% (only a slight increase from 84.8% in October 2024). Work started in February 2023 to tie in the western end of the Bypass to the existing US 70 roadway causing temporary closure of several roads.³³ The original completion date was May 13, 2024, though the NCDOT project site was updated in June 2024 to indicate the new opening date is now April 19, 2025.³⁴ This confirms an April 10, 2024 a report on the WCTI website indicated NCDOT had delayed the opening to the spring of 2025 citing delays due to weather.³⁵ The start of work was also delayed by a change in design plans, the original ramps at the northern end of the Bypass had been designed for a 60 MPH speed, instead of the 70 MPH speed for the Bypass and the future freeway from James City. The redesign increased the cost of the project, estimated in early 2024 now as $221.25 million.³⁶ On June 20, 2024 the US 70 East ramp over the future eastern end of the Bypass was opened, the news article that reported it now says the Bypass itself will now not open until the fall of 2025.³⁷ In November the alignment of US 70 East at the western end of the Bypass was put in its final configuration (see January video by Benjamin Wolf in video link).

Visit NCDOT's Havelock Bypass Project Website.

Segment 8 (Updated 7/21/24)

US 70 from end of Havelock Bypass to Morehead City

Road Type: Mostly 4-lane divided        Length: Approx. 11 Miles

Status: Need Upgrade to Interstate Freeway

There is some uncertainty as to the building of the last I-42 segment. There were no projects beyond the Havelock Bypass listed in the 2024-2033 STIP released in June 2023. Some doubt I-42 will make it through the city to the bridge due to the difficulty in constructing an interstate through an urban area. There have been proposals though to create other possible routes around it however. In 2020 Craven County released its Comprehensive Transportation Plan (adopted in 2023).³⁹ It suggested that I-42 use the proposed Northern Carteret Bypass (map below) that would meet US 70 at the eastern end of the Havelock Bypass [see Map in Segment 7] and largely parallel NC 101 to Beaufort, northeast of Morehead City. A feasibility study for the Bypass was published in 1999 with additional alternatives studied in 2009. Despite it being given a STIP number, R-4431, and supported in the Carteret County Comprehensive Traffic Plan in 2013 (a new report is pending), the project has not been funded since being dropped from the 2012-2020 NCDOT STIP due to a low prioritization score.⁴⁰

A news report by a public radio station in Morehead City in February 2023 indicated that due to the probable difficulty of building an interstate highway through the city of Newport along US 70, the NC 101 corridor could be used, this would take the path of I-42 more to the north east, ending it in Beaufort as well. Morehead City bound traffic could then take US 70 West from the end of the interstate.⁴¹ This proposal was discussed in the article by a planner for the East Carolina Council, not by NCDOT, therefore it is unknown whether it is seriously being considered by the state agency. Unless funded, it could not be constructed for at least another 10 years.

In the Quantitative scores for potential 2026-2035 STIP funded projects published in May 2024, both projects were included, meaning NCDOT is now considering the North Carteret Bypass option. The original proposal is described as: Upgrade Existing US 70 from Havelock Bypass (currently under construction) to McCabe Rd outside of Morehead City to interstate standards. The upgrade would bring future Interstate 42 into Carteret County and as close to the Port of Morehead City along the existing route as possible. Portions of the roadway will require service roads to be constructed, particularly through Newport." The project is cataloged as H230309 on the score spreadsheet, but does not have an official project number. The estimated cost is $1.32 Billion(!) and its state mobility score is 57.61. The other entry is described as: "Upgrade portions of US 70 and NC 101 to interstate standards and build new interstate between the two north of Newport in Carteret County." Again there is no official project number, the spreadsheet listing is H230310. It is estimated to cost a slightly cheaper $1.15 Billion, but it has a state mobility score of 71.87, meaning a greater likelihood of being funded.¹⁵ Given the cost of either project though it is unlikely to start construction for awhile.

One project that was funded, rebuilding the Newport River Bridge from a 2-lane to 4-lane structure was to start in 2022, however it was then removed from the STIP and did not reappear in the Final 2024-2033 released in June 2023. Map showing the proposed location:³⁷

Photos

Segment 1 (NEW 2/18/25)

Photos taken along the Clayton Bypass headed west by Benjamin Wolf on February 18, 2025:

New West I-42 reassurance marker after US 70 exit.

Supports await new NC 36 East sign on I-42 West.

The new West I-42/ NC 36 reassurance marker after the current Ranch Road exit.

The new West I-42 Mile 7.5 marker near the current Ranch Road exit.

The new West I-42 0.5 mile marker, there were still several US 70 mile markers up at the time this was taken.

The new End I-42 sign at the western end of the Clayton Bypass.

Screen grab images from Google Maps Street View taken in December 2024 along I-40 West:

The Clayton Bypass 1/2 Mile advance sign with a premature I-42 shield

Screen grab images from Google Maps Street View taken in November 2024 along US 70 West:

The new ground mounted 1/2 mile advance for the I-40/NC 540 turbine interchange on still US 70 West, but with an I-42 exit number.

Photo taken by Benjamin Wolf heading west on the Clayton Bypass in November 2024:

The new sign for the I-40 East/Toll NC 540 West exit also with the I-42 milepost based exit number seen on the overhead signs at the interchange. The other exits on the Clayton Bypass will have to wait until I-42 is completely signed (see photo below). This will probably happen after Feb. 10, 2025.

Photos taken by AARoads Forum member snowc on NC 540 East on October 18, 2024 showing I-42 related signage:

The first I-42 shield seen on NC 540/Triangle Expressway East is at the NC 50 exit, the 2 Miles advance sign for the "Turbine Interchange" at I-40.

The next I-42 shield is on the 1 Mile advance sign approaching the current end of NC 540 East.

EARLIER in 2024:

Photos taken by Seth Purvis on September 28, 2024 along newly opened NC 540/Triangle Expressway approaching I-40/I-42:

First of two overhead signs with I-40 and I-42 shields approaching the current end of NC 540/Triangle Expressway.

Overhead signs with I-40 and I-42 shields at ramp for I-40 East. The left sign labeled 'To I-40 West' since it reaches the end of I-42 East first.

I-42 East pull through sign at ramp heading for I-40 West.

Here's a traffic camera photo taken of the same sign seen in the first photo above:

Photo taken by Benjamin Wolf (AARoads member jcil4ever) on September 23, 2024:

New Exit 1 gore sign for I-40 East/Toll NC 540 West with lanes beyond being striped for September 25 opening of ramp.

New I-42 exit signage taken by David Johnson on 9/2/24 prior to the road's opening:

Recently placed 1 Mile advance sign for the I-40/I-42 "Turbine Interchange" on the soon to open NC 540 East Triangle Expressway.

Closer view of the overhead signage. This may be somewhat confusing since NCDOT does not plan to sign I-42 along the Clayton Bypass until early 2025.

And a photo of another new sign at west end of Clayton Bypass showing an I-42 exit number:

The reference to NC 540 should have been covered over since the ramp did not open until September 25.

EARLIER 2024 PHOTOS

Screen grabs from Buckeye Drones video taken over NC 540 construction in the vicinity of the Future I-42/I-40 Turbine interchange in early July 2024 showing new signs with US 70 shields, that were later replaced with I-42 shields:

View looking east at nearly completed NC 50 interchange showing recently installed overhead signage at the bottom. The advance sign for the Future I-42 East/I-40 interchange has I-40 and US 70 shields.

The next advance sign for the Future I-42 East/I-40 interchange after the NC 50 exit.

The exit sign at the Turbine interchange, plus a look at the complete interchange:

The ramp from Future I-42 West to I-40 East appears almost complete.

Previous Photos from 5/11/24

Photos taken approaching I-40/Future NC 540 interchange on US 70 West, taken by Adam Prince on May 1, 2024:

Support gantry for an overhead VMS not yet installed approaching the I-40 interchange.

Now approaching the I-40 interchange, all previous exit related signage in the area has been removed. The new turbine ramp for US 70 East heading under nearly completed NC 540 related ramp in the distance.

New US 70 (Future I-42) West lane approaching the turbine ramps of the I-40/Future NC 540 interchange. I guess any future traffic jams will be brought to you by Johnson Lexus.

The first of two future overhead sign gantries for US 70 (Future I-42) West traffic on the turbine ramps at the I-40/Future NC 540 interchange. Little change seen from last fall, see photos below.

At the second of the future overhead signs along the turbine ramps in the I-40/Future NC 540 interchange. Signs for the split of ramps between traffic heading for I-40 West and those continuing around to NC 540 West or I-40 East.

View of the incomplete future ramp to NC 540 West/Triangle Expressway and I-40 East. The ramp was to open last fall but not much new construction can be seen between image taken last fall (below) and this one in May.

EARLIER PHOTOS

Google Maps Street View images taking the new Turbine Interchange ramp from I-40 East to I-42 East, September 2023:

The overhead exit sign for the US 70 (Future I-42) East exit from I-40 East in Garner.

Ramp heading under new bridge built as part of NC 540 Triangle Expressway extension project.

The start of the new US 70 (Future I-42) East exit ramp, the old ramp went to the left.

View from the new ramp heading towards the future ramp to Toll NC 540 West.

Triangle Expressway style supports for the future overhead signs for split of the US 70 (Future I-42) East and Toll NC 540 West. The blocked off lane to the left is the future ramp from I-42 East, still under construction.

The overhead exit sign for the US 70 (Future I-42) East exit from I-40 East in Garner.

The US 70 (Future I-42) East ramp heading under the bridges for Toll NC 540 still under construction.

Looking back along the Future I-42 East ramp towards the NC 540 bridges under construction.

The US 70 (Future I-42) East ramp heading past the future turbine ramp to I-40 East.

Now approaching the new bridge over I-40.

Crossing the new bridge over I-40.

The ramp now approaching the new bridge over the ramp that will carry NC 540 Toll traffic to I-40 West.

Heading under the I-40 ramp bridge, traffic from NC 540 will merge in from the left.

Now approaching the new ramp from I-40 West to the Clayton Bypass.

The ramp reduced to 2 lanes after the merge with the I-40 West ramp.

Google Maps Street View images along US 70 West Clayton Bypass and I-40, September 2023

Recently placed Triangle Expressway overhead sign supports for signs at the future split of I-40 East and West ramps at the end of I-42 West.

The future I-40 East turbine ramp from I-42 West under construction as seen across from I-40 West.

The turbine ramp bridge from I-42 West under construction as seen along I-40 West.

Traffic camera images of new Clayton Bypass signage on I-40, September to October 2023:

It will be simple to change this new 2 Miles advance sign for the Clayton Bypass by replacing the US 70 shield with one for I-42.

Changes to the overhead signage at the current US 70 West/US 70 Business East exit ramp will be more complicated. Do they simply remove the East US 70 and East Business 70 references or replace the new signs entirely? Do the put up a 'To I-42' overlay on the pull through sign?

Google Maps Street View images of new signage along I-40 East in June to September 2023:

The new overhead exit sign for US 70 East/Clayton Bypass, to be changed to I-42 within the next year.

The new overhead 1 1/4 Miles advance sign for NC 42 within the NC 540 construction zone, NCDOT plans to change the number to NC 36 prior to I-42 being signed.

EARLIER PHOTOS

Google Maps Street View images from May 2023 on US 70 (Future I-42) West:

A Detour East I-40 trailblazer stands next to the NC 42 exit sign indicating traffic needs to exit there due to closed ramp at the end of the Bypass.

A covered 1 Mile advance sign for the I-40 East exit ramp, currently closed due to NC 540/Triangle Expressway construction.

The covered over 1/2 Mile advance sign for I-40 East approaching the west end of the Bypass.

A new ramp is under construction for access to I-40 West to allow for the building of the NC 540 Triangle Expressway "turbine" interchanges at the western end of the Bypass.

The covered over exit sign for East I-40 at the current ramp to I-40 West (US 70 to be rerouted on current Business 70) at the end of the Bypass.

Earlier Photos

Taken along trip along the Clayton Bypass heading east, and approaching on I-40 East, on October 16, 2022:

The 1 mile advance sign for the Clayton Bypass (Future I-42 East) exit, this sign would be replaced by an overhead version as part of the I-40 widening project later in the month:

The new sign does not have any room for an additional I-42 shield, calling into question whether the planned signing of the Clayton Bypass as an interstate will happen anytime soon, perhaps by the end of 2023.

The gantry for the new 1 mile advance sign in the process of being put up.

The existing sign for the Clayton Bypass (Future I-42 East) exit, this was also replaced by an overhead version later in the month.

Heading up the ramp to the Clayton Bypass (Future I-42 East). Construction in the distance as part of the extension of NC 540/Triangle Expressway toll road which has temporarily removed access from US 70 West to I-40 East.

The first Future I-42 sign at the beginning of the Clayton Bypass, compare this with photo taken below of same sign in 2017:

Notice that both 'Begin' and 'Interstate' have been removed, as well as the word 'Interstate' in the shield itself. Done presumably at the FHWA's request, since only actual interstate routes can have the official shield. Of course, the FHWA has now approved the signing of the Bypass as I-42 and the official shields are to be put up soon.

The first exit on Future I-42/US 70 East is for NC 42 in Clayton. What confusion will this cause? Traffic on US 70 West heading for I-40 East must use this exit due to the closure of the ramp at I-40. This may be why the signing of the Bypass as I-42 has been delayed. Perhaps NCDOT thought directing people to follow NC 42 from I-42 to I-40 would cause to many problems. A new ramp will open later this year.

The next exit, 3 miles further east, is for Ranch Road.

The last is for Business 70, another 3 miles further east.

Heading west on the Bypass in March 2017:

The End Future I-42 sign is after the (Entering) Wake County sign at the western end of the US 70 Clayton Bypass. This sign was taken down after work started on the NC 540 Triangle Expressway in 2022.

Segment 2 (NEW 5/10/24)

Photos of Johnston County construction along US 70 West by Adam Prince, taken on May 1, 2024:

Entering the construction zone on US 70 West after the Neuse River bridge. Work continuing along shoulders approaching intersection with Wilson's Mills Road.

Two-way frontage road alongside US 70 West to the right appears completed, but not entirely open.

Closer to Wilson's Mills Road, the former median turn-around has been closed while shoulder work continues.

VMS indicating left lane closure approaching Wilson's Mills Road.

US 70 traffic shifting to future exit ramp to Wilson's Mills Road while Future I-42 bridge construction work continues.

Approaching Wilson's Mills Road intersection along future I-42 ramps.

The nearly completed freeway bridge from the Wilson's Mills Road intersection.

Not much in new construction seen after the Wilson's Mills Road intersection heading towards Swift Creek Road.

Some new shoulder construction is seen rounding the curve before Swift Creek Road.

Apparently they have opened the new Swift Creek Road exit heading west, the sign appears to be temporary being in the future right shoulder of the freeway.

The gore sign for the Swift Creek Road interchange, the eastbound exit not open yet, with US 70 milepost number, it is unknown how long it may be before it gets an I-42 number.

Closeup of the completed Swift Creek Road bridge, work is apparently still proceeding in the median between here and the Strickland Road intersection.

The VMS sign after Strickland Road indicating the ramp from US 70 West to I-40 East is still closed on the Clayton Bypass. Has this message been up for nearly a year? US 70 in this location was restricted to 1 lane in each direction.

Work on the future I-42 median continues between Strickland Road and the start of the Clayton Bypass.

It appears the 2-lane frontage road along US 70 West approaching the Clayton Bypass is complete.

The cross traffic sign for Sadisco Road still stands, despite the intersection now being closed right before the start of the Clayton Bypass.

EARLIER PHOTOS

Driving East through Johnston County work zone, photos by David Johnson, 1/19/24:

View at the start of the US 70 work zone beyond the Business 70 exit at the eastern end of the Clayton Bypass.

Approaching the still open Uzzie Industrial Drive intersection, completed section of frontage road beyond which is now used for access to the NCDOT maintenance yard.

View of the Swift Creek Road bridge with deck now under construction in Wilson's Mills.

Approaching the site of the future Wilson Mill's Road exit over completed I-42 East roadbed.

US 70 traffic using future Wilson's Mills Road exit ramp to get around I-42 bridge construction.

View of the future I-42/US 70 roadway and bridge over Wilson's Mills Road to the left in the interchange construction zone.

Closer look along the future Wilson's Mills Road exit ramp at current intersection with traffic lights.

Median construction underway beyond the current intersection with Wilson's Mills Road.

Google Maps Street View images driving US 70 West through Johnston County work zone, September 2023

The start of the work zone westbound is about 1/2 mile west of the Neuse River bridge where the project is supposed to begin, the left intersection with Turnage Road is now permanently closed.

The start of the future frontage road beyond the still open intersection with Bear Farm Road in Wilson's Mills.

The westbound frontage road continues beyond the next intersection.

A westbound portable VMS about the NCDOT facility at the next left. This intersection was later closed in October, access now is by the new frontage road along the eastbound roadway starting from Wilson's Mills Road.

The frontage road will stop here at the next intersection with Bear Farm Road, allowing remaining businesses access from local roads.

Portable VMS warning drivers of the approaching traffic signal at Wilson's Mills Road, bridge construction for the interchange on the left.

US 70 East traffic moves to the right around future I-42 lanes heading for the Wilson's Mills Road bridge.

A closer view of the future I-42 roadway approaching the future Wilson's Mills Road bridge.

Approaching the traffic signal at Wilson's Mills Road, bridge construction continues on the left.

A view of Wilson's Mills Road heading through the bridge construction for future I-42.

Work on the future I-42 roadbed continues beyond Wilson's Mills Road, the dirt roadbed formally the US 70 East lanes, now on the other side of the bridge construction.

Now approaching construction related to the future Swift Creek Road interchange around the corner.

Approaching the future on-ramp to Swift Creek Road on US 70 West.

Grading of the future on-ramp to Swift Creek Road continues.

The bridge support for the future Swift Creek Road bridge is up in the median.

Looking across the median at the support and bridge construction for Swift Creek Road on US 70 East.

The roadway looks mostly completed to interstate standards after Swift Creek Road.

The nearly completed roadway continues towards the Strickland Road intersection.

US 70 approaches the Strickland Road intersection, little construction has taken place here, there will be no interchange here.

The near interstate standard roadway reappears after Strickland Road along with an activated permanent VMS.

A new frontage road joins the westbound roadway approaching the Uzzle/Uzzle Industrial Road intersection, still open.

A closer look at the still open intersection with frontage road continuing to the right.

A temporary barrier has been placed to separate the US 70 West roadway from the frontage road being constructed to the right.

A permanent barrier is also being constructed further west.

The permanent barrier ends but the frontage road continues towards the Sadisco Road intersection ahead.

Current 1/2 mile advance sign for US 70 Business East (soon to be plain US 70) near the end of the project work zone.

The median opening exists at the Sadisco Road intersection though the entrances have been closed in both directions at the western end of the work zone.

NCDOT Photo of Swift Creek Road bridge construction, October 2023

Looking north at newly placed girders for the future Swift Creek Road bridge over US 70. Included in press release about the closure of direct access from US 70 to the NCDOT maintenance yard on October 27. Access will now be from one of the new frontage roads built for the upgrade of US 70 to I-42.

Construction Project images from Google Maps Street View taken in April and May 2023:

Business US 70 to Strickland Road

Work still under way to grade and pave widened roadway just east of the Business 70 exit at the end of the Clayton Bypass.

Drainage work still underway along the future east roadway, while grading continues on the westbound lanes.

Work continues approaching Uzzle Industrial Drive.

View of the East US 70 intersection with Uzzle Industrial Drive, no sign of grade separation work at present.

The future I-42 East lanes are partially paved with the rest graded.

The graded section turns into a future temporary roadway for eastbound traffic to get around bridge construction at Strickland Road.

The current intersection with Strickland Road, the highway reduces to 1 lane just before the traffic signals.

Strickland Road to Wilson's Mills Road

US 70 East traffic using the future I-42 East shoulder following Strickland Road.

Traffic gets shifted on the Future I-42 East roadway to the right lane approaching Swift Creek Road.

Now looking west on US 70 after Swift Creek Road showing eastbound work underway on the future interchange.

A pile of dirt is all that is left for the former US 70 West intersection with Swift Creek Road, a detour is now set up. Traffic has not been able to use the intersection since March.

The future exit ramp from US 70 (I-42) West to Swift Creek Road.

Widening work along US 70 West prior to the future Swift Creek Road exit.

Construction along US 70 West between Wilson's Mills Road and Swift Creek Road, less work here than both to the east and west.

Construction in the median for the future I-42 roadway bridge over Wilson's Mills Road.

Contractors busy adding fill to future I-42 approach to Wilson's Mills road bridge as seen from US 70 West.

View of the Wilson's Mills Road bridge structure from the current intersection with US 70.

Wilson's Mills Road to Neuse River Bridge

Construction in median east of Wilson's Mills Road for future I-42 roadway.

Construction work mostly along US 70 West between Wilson's Mills Road and the end of the project at the Neuse River bridge.

Closer look of construction along US 70 West at the eastern end of the improvement project.

These buildings along US 70 West at Bear Farm Road appear to be in the way of the future freeway.

Little construction seen heading along US 70 East approaching the Johnston County Correctional Institution and the Neuse River Bridge.

Earlier Photos

Construction Project Photos. Latest taken heading east on October 16, 2022:

Start of the construction zone on US 70 East after the Business 70 exit.

Concrete barrier separating future I-42 East lanes from current East US 70 traffic.

Graded future I-42 East lanes continue along US 70 East.

These future lanes are not as far along.

More concrete barrier separating future I-42 East lanes from current East US 70 traffic.

Site of future bridge carrying Uzzie Industrial Drive over I-42/US 70.

More concrete barrier along with a variable Speed Limit sign.

Approaching the intersection at Strickland Road.

Site of future Strickland Road bridge over I-42/US 70 and start of work on temporary detour roadway.

Temporary traffic signals, not yet activated, have been set up at Strickland Road for US 70 traffic.

The concrete barrier returns after Strickland Road separating less advanced future I-42 East lanes from current US 70 East traffic.

The barrier continues along US 70 East.

The construction area along US 70 East widens approaching the future interchange with Swift Creek Road.

Some of the landscaping around the future bridge at Swift Creek Road already in place.

Approaching the traffic lights at Swift Creek Road.

Some of the future I-42 lanes, and shoulder and guardrail, are already in place after the Swift Creek Road intersection.

The completed shoulder and guardrail for Future I-42 East continuing.

Approaching the traffic lights at Swift Creek Road.

The guardrail ends approaching Wilson's Mills Road.

More future I-42 lanes in place approaching the site of the Wilson's Mills Road interchange.

A variable Construction Zone Speed Limit sign shows 60 MPH ahead of the Wilson's Mills Road intersection.

Approaching the current traffic light at the Wilson's Mills Road intersection.

The traffic signals whose days are numbered at the Wilson's Mills Road intersection.

Freshly paved, perhaps future I-42 East lanes after the Wilson's Mills Road intersection.

Freshly paved US 70 East lanes are joined by a possible future frontage road heading toward the east end of the construction zone in Smithfield.

The future frontage road continues along the US 70 East lanes.

Another concrete barrier appears between US 70 lanes and the future frontage road.

The concrete barrier picks up again after the Turnage Road intersection heading further east.

The barrier ends just before the end of the construction zone in near the Johnston Correctional Institution.

Approaching the prison entrance at the end of the future I-42 construction zone in Smithfield.

Taken at the Wilson Mills Road intersection by David Johnson on April 17, 2022:

Bridge being constructed as seen from US 70 West.

Google Maps Street View images taken in September and October 2021:

Heading west toward Wilson Mills Road on US 70, clearing for future interchange underway.

The section between Wilson's Mills Road and Swift Creek Road has been repaved, shoulder are not interstate standard yet, but clearing to the right of the shoulder would allow for quick further widening in the future.

The current intersection between US 70 West and Swift Creek Road, little construction can be seen at the other future interchange site.

Sign Photos - Taken October 16, 2022:

The first advance sign for the Buffalo Road exit on US 70 East after the Neuse River bridge.

The next sign is an advance for the US 70 exit at the beginning of the US 70 Bypass around Smithfield prior to the Buffalo Road exit.

The Buffalo Road exit sign at the beginning of the Bypass Freeway (Future I-42).

The US 70 East exit overhead at the beginning of the US 70 Bypass (Future I-42) around Smithfield, currently, Future I-42 traffic would have to leave the freeway to access I-95, but this may change.

Signage I-42 traffic would currently have to follow to get to I-95 on US 70 East.

Segment 3

Signage along the Bypass started going up the week of September 16 and was mostly completed a month later. Here are screen grabs from a video shot by jcil4ever on October 25 showing the renumbered exits and new I-42 shields:

The first sign to have an I-42 shield, now with West I-42 reassurance marker behind it, but unchanged exit number for US 70 West exit.

The first sign to have an I-42 shield, now with West I-42 reassurance marker behind it, but unchanged exit number for US 70 West exit.

The exit sign for Parkstown Road with new exit number, though based on the new I-42 mile markers this is actually at mile 48.

The renumbered exit sign for US 13 with I-42 mileage, though this is also 1 off from the mile marker which indicated its Mile 45.

The renumbered signs at the exit for US 117, these, and the rest westbound, match the new mile markers.

The renumbered exit sign for I-795 North, and gore sign in distance, both beyond the Mile 39.5 marker.

The renumbered exit sign for NC 581, the last exit on the Bypass in this direction. Turning around and heading east....

The exit sign for US 70 East at the start of I-42 East, apparently the exit number won't be changed here for now.

The renumbered exit sign for South I-795 headed east, no overhead sign in this direction.

The renumbered sign for US 117, not sharing a gantry in this direction.

The final renumbered exit sign headed east for US 70 West.

The End East I-42 sign just before merging with the ramp carrying US 70 East.

EARLIER PHOTOS

The back of the first East I-42 reassurance marker appears in this traffic camera image taken September 26:

The trailblazer at the NC 581 exit had been updated by the beginning of October:

NCDOT traffic camera image along NC 581 looking east.

Here are some photos taken by AARoads Forum member jcil4ever in the days since:

One of the two I-42 Mile 42 markers, this one heading west on the Goldboro Bypass.

This West I-42 reassurance marker appeared late in September next to the already standing To I-795 sign.

Newly renumbered gore sign with I-42 mileage for I-795 North exit, on I-42 West, notice tab on I-795 South exit sign has not been changed.

Newly renumbered 1/2 mile advance sign with I-42 mileage for NC 581 exit.

Overlay with new I-42 mileage number for gore sign for Wayne Memorial Drive exit, numbered 42.

This sign was put up before any other I-42 signs were placed on the Bypass.

Here are some Google Maps Street View images traveling west along the US 70 Bypass taken in the summer and fall of 2021:

A Future I-42 sign near the start of the Bypass heading west. This sign still remains after the I-42 signage was put up.

The 1 Mile advance sign for the Parktown Road exit, will the exit numbers be changed when I-42 is signed?

The 1/2 Mile advance sign for the US 13 exit, notice Street View already has this part of the Bypass listed as I-42.

The gore sign for the US 13 exit off of the Bypass.

The 1 Mile advance sign for the Wayne Memorial Drive exit.

A combination green auxiliary and blue Hospital Services sign for the Wayne Memorial Drive exit, still on "I-42."

The 1 Mile advance sign for the US 117 exit, behind a Mile 357.5 marker that will be changed when it becomes I-42.

A post-interchange distance sign prior to the US 117 exit, showing the near 20 mile distance US 70 will have to be upgraded between the end of the Goldsboro Bypass and I-95.

The overhead sign for the US 117 exit shares its cantilever support with the 1 mile advance for I-795.

The overhead exit sign for the I-795 North exit, the first ramp of the soon meeting between 2 interstates.

The ground mounted exit sign for the I-795 South exit, eventually that interstate to end at I-40.

The 1 Mile advance sign for the NC 581 exit.

The future temporary end of I-42 West at the merge with US 70 West at the end of the Goldsboro Bypass. Heading east...

The 1/2 Mile advance sign for the US 70 East exit at the start of the Future I-42 Goldsboro Bypass.

Segment 5

Images taken in December 2022 by Google Maps Street View cameras (New 3/19/23):

The Future I-42 sign at the start of the now interstate standard freeway west of New Bern.

Typical view heading west along US 70 on interstate standard freeway toward Kinston.

(Taken by Adam Prince in July 2021)

One of the several Future I-42 signs placed along US 70 at county lines, here crossing into Craven County, to the right of the now interstate standard right shoulder headed east.

View of Interstate standard shoulders now completed along US 70 in Craven County.

Exit sign for NC 41 near Cove City, next to now interstate standard right shoulder, currently no exit number.

The sign for the next exit for SR 1224, besides the interstate standard right shoulder.

The sign for Craven Community College exit, also still without exit number.

The 3/4 mile advance for what will be the last exit sign without a number, Business 70, the blank space for US 17 South.

The exit sign for the Clarks Road exit, with exit number, next to the widened right shoulder of Future I-42 East.

The overhead exit sign for the NC 43 exit on US 17 North/US 70 East approaching New Bern.

Overhead signage for the East Front Street exit on US 17 North/US 70 East over the water in New Bern.

Exit signage for US 17, on its way north to eventually becoming part of Future I-87 and NC 55 East, notice that all the exit numbers in the New Bern area currently overlap those listed for the Havelock Bypass (see sign plans below), hopefully this will be corrected before that highway opens.

Want to contribute photos for this site? Feel free to email me at rmalme7374 at gmail.com.

Segment 6 (New 4/16/24)

Images from Google Maps Street View taken during March 2024 showing James City construction along US 70 East:

US 70 traffic sits behind traffic light at western end of James City construction zone, showing little progress at this end of the project.

Pile of dirt has sat long enough to have grass growing in it at the US 70 intersection with Williams Road.

Some progress seen along the opposite side of the road at the next traffic light.

Some work seen on the right along the future frontage road approaching the intersection with Airport Road.

More noticeable frontage road construction seen after the Airport Road intersection and future interchange.

Construction showing more progress approaching future interchange with Grantham Road.

Frontage road work continues along US 70 East approaching Grantham Road.

Site of the future Grantham Road exit ramp, roundabouts for interchange traffic being constructed further to the right.

Frontage road work continues along US 70 East (Future I-42) after Grantham Road.

Work along both sides of US 70 near the eastern end of the project work zone.

More frontage road construction along US 70 East near Taberna Way.

Work along both sides of US 70 approaching Thurman Road.

The US 70 intersection with Thurman Road which is be the last interchange built for the James City project.

While the roadbed has been rebuilt, construction has only recently started on the future frontage road along  US 70 East after Thurman Road.

The current end for the frontage road along US 70 East near the eastern end of the project work zone.

The end of the James City project work zone on US 70 East, despite work starting on the design-build contract between here and the Havelock Bypass, no construction was evident in the March Street View images.

Older Photos

Images from Google Maps Street View taken during August 2023 showing James City construction along US 70:

Paving of both US 70 East (right) and West (left) lanes has occurred along with shoulder widening and the building of an adjacent frontage road.

Paving of the shoulders has not commenced further east where construction an adjacent frontage road continues at a still open intersection midway through the construction zone. August Street View images at the north end of the project show no progress with upgrading an existing railroad crossing and several signalized intersections.

Earlier Images from Google Maps Street View taken during December 2022 showing James City construction:

Widening of the shoulders along US 70 West as part of project converting highway to Interstate standard freeway.

One of several service roads being built to serve local businesses currently along US 70 West.

Another service road under construction US 70 West further east.

One of several areas cleared along US 70 West for drainage work.

Piles of pipes and other construction equipment at the end of the current work zone at Thurman Road.

Segment 7 (New 9/24/24)

Taken by AARoads Forum member jcil4ever, September 2024:

View of construction at the western end of the Havelock Bypass.

Section of the Bypass nearing completion looking west from Lake Road Bridge.

View of new alignment of US 70 East heading towards bridge at the eastern end of the Bypass.

More photos can be found at the original post on the AARoads Forum.

EARLIER IN 2024

Screen images from Google Maps Street View coverage of US 70 of the future western end of the Havelock Bypass from March 2024 (there are new Street View images along US 70 until NC 101 in Havelock):

The first new Street View images indicates probably why opening of the Bypass has been delayed until 2025, the future on-ramp from US 70 East is only partially graded.

A closer look at the future on-ramp from US 70 East to the Bypass.

Construction equipment along US 70 East in the Bypass construction zone.

More on-ramps for the Bypass partially graded as seen from US 70 East.

Approaching the future on-ramp to US 70 East from the westbound Bypass.

View of a pair of bridges near the end of the Bypass still not complete.

A closer look at the approaching merge of the future Bypass west ramp to US 70 East.

Closeup of the future Bypass ramp merging with US 70 East, also only partially graded.

Approaching the end of the Bypass work zone, 1/2 mile from the new exit ramp to the Cherry Point Marine Corps Air Station access road (there apparently is no current plan to tie this access road to the Bypass).

Another view of the northern end of the Bypass from US 70 West showing more construction needed.

Older Photos

NCDOT images of Havelock Bypass construction taken during the summer of 2023:

Railroad bridge under construction over future Havelock Bypass lanes.

Future Havelock Bypass lanes initially paved at eastern end of construction zone.

Future Havelock Bypass lanes as seen from future US 70 East bridge at eastern end of project.

View from future Havelock Bypass of US 70 bridges nearly complete.

Images from Google Maps Street View taken during the August 2023 of Havelock Bypass construction along US 70 East:

Work continues in constructing the on-ramp and bridges at the western end of the Havelock Bypass.

Looking back from US 70 towards the ramp bridges being constructed at the western end of the Havelock Bypass.

Work continuing on the bridge that will take the Havelock Bypass (Future I-42) lanes over the future alignment of US 70 East.

Looking back at future alignment of US 70 going under the Havelock Bypass on left, current lanes on the right.

Merging of future US 70 East lanes with current lanes at the end of the western Havelock Bypass construction zone.

At the other end of the Bypass...

Construction of future US 70 East lanes continues at the eastern end of Havelock Bypass.

Closer view of grading of future US 70 East lanes heading over bridge over future Havelock Bypass lanes.

Looking back along current US 70 East toward future lanes being graded.

Dirt piles remain along US 70 East approaching the future ramp from the eastern end of Havelock Bypass.

Future site where the Havelock Bypass will merge into US 70 East.

Earlier images from Google Maps Street View taken during the December 2022 of Havelock Bypass construction:

The start of the Bypass as seen from US 70 East.

A closer look at the future ramp structure being build as part of the Bypass. Meanwhile, at the other end:

The future US 70 East lanes at the eastern end of the Bypass.

The future US 70 East bridge under construction over the eastern end of the Bypass.

The future merge of the I-42 Bypass with US 70 East.

Earlier Street View images from July 2022:

View from US 70 East lanes showing beginning of Havelock Bypass.

Trucks and construction vehicles parked at the beginning of Havelock Bypass.

View from US 70 East showing future I-42 East Havelock Bypass lanes being constructed.

Future I-42 Havelock Bypass roadway paralleling current US 70 East.

View from US 70 West at the other end of the Havelock Bypass as it will merge back with the original roadway.

Additional Bypass construction seen from US 70 West lanes.

Videos

Video at the taken in January 2025 by Benjamin Wolf (jcil4ever on AARoads Forum).

Short video at the western end of the Havelock Bypass taken in November 2024 by Benjamin Wolf (jcil4ever on AARoads Forum).

Take a Drive along the Goldsboro Bypass after it was signed as I-42 in October 2024, video by jcil4ever.

Short video at the western end of the Havelock Bypass taken in October 2024 by jcil4ever.

Sign Plans

Exit sign plans for Havelock Bypass (unknown why numbers nearly duplicate existing numbers near New Bern):⁴²

Here's an I-42 Shirt advertised on the Internet (no endorsement):

Notes

*Project funding has been suspended by NCDOT due to agency's budget issues. NCDOT is working with state legislature to find alternative sources of revenue. It is unknown when, or if, construction will be started on this project.

1. NCDOT. Future I-36 Corridor Map. Downloaded from: https://connect.ncdot.gov/resources/safety/Route%20Changes/I-42%20Proposed%20Corridor%20Map%20160308.pdf, July 8.

2. WITN. 2020. "Work underway for I-42 from Morehead City to Raleigh."  Downloaded from: https://www.witn.com/content/news/-Work-underway-for-I-42-from-Morehead-City-to-Raleigh-567281991.html, Feb. 6.

3. NCDOT. 2022. "Interstate 42 Coming to Eastern N.C. Corridor." Press Release. March 16. Downloaded from: https://www.ncdot.gov/news/press-releases/Pages/2022/2022-03-16-i-42-coming-us-70-corridor.aspx, March 16.

4. NCDOT. 2023. Response to personal inquiry as to timeline for I-42 signing, January 10.

5. NCDOT. 2023. Response from Renee B. Roach, PE, CPM, State Signing and Delineation Engineer, Mobility and Safety Division, Signing and Delineation Unit to inquiry to NCDOT regarding the signing of I-42, January 31.

6. Stradling, Richard. 2023. Will ’40/42’ be a thing of the past? NCDOT plans to rename NC 42 in Johnston County. July 21. Downloaded from: https://www.newsobserver.com/news/local/article277460313.html, July 23, 2023.

7. Bolejack, Scott. 2024. "Roads will get new numbers — names too." Johnstonian News. April 4. Downloaded from: https://restorationnewsmedia.com/articles/local-news-johnstonian/roads-will-get-new-numbers-names-too/, May 18.

8. AASHTO. 2023. Special Committee on US Route Numbering. Fall Meeting Report to the Council on Highways and Streets, p. 3.  Downloaded from: https://transportation.org/route/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2023/12/Final_Report_USRN_Fall_2023_R_1.pdf, Dec. 4, 2023.

9. NCDOT. 2024. Construction Progress Report, Contract C204359, TIP No. W-5600. Information as of November 22. Downloaded from: https://apps.ncdot.gov/traffictravel/progloc/ProgLocSearch.aspx, December 27, 2024.

10. Bolejack, Scott. 2020. Change Coming Soon to US 70. Johnstonian News. March 2. Downloaded from: http://www.johnstoniannews.com/stories/change-coming-soon-to-us-70,202776, March 7.

11. NCDOT. 2019. NC Board of Transportation, US 70 Work Group, US 70 Corridor Workshop, Division 4. April, p. 2. Downloaded from: http://www.super70corridor.com/wp-content/uploads/April-2019-US-70-Workshop-Division-4.pdf, July 10.

12. NCDOT. 2021. Signing Plans, Part 2. Contract C204359. January 16. Downloaded from: https://xfer.services.ncdot.gov/dsplan/2021%20Highway%20Letting/03-16-21/Plans%20and%20Proposals/Johnston%20C204359/Standard%20PDF%20Files/, Jan. 23, 2021.

13. NCDOT. 2019. NC Board of Transportation, US 70 Work Group, US 70 Corridor Workshop, Division 4. April, p. 4. Downloaded from: http://www.super70corridor.com/wp-content/uploads/April-2019-US-70-Workshop-Division-4.pdf, July 10.

14. NCDOT. 2019. NC Board of Transportation, US 70 Work Group, US 70 Corridor Workshop, Division 4. April, p. 6. Downloaded from: http://www.super70corridor.com/wp-content/uploads/April-2019-US-70-Workshop-Division-4.pdf, July 10.

15. NCDOT. 2024. P7 Quantitative Scores for All 2026-2035 STIP projects. Downloaded from:https://connect.ncdot.gov/projects/planning/Prioritization%20Data/Prioritization%207.0%20(P7)/Results/P7%20Quantitative%20Scores%20-%20All%20Projects%205-24-24_For%20Transmittal.xlsx, May 29.

16. NCDOT. Construction Plans. Contract C204333. Location: US 70 (Future I-42) from SR 1003 (Buffalo Road) to Wayne County Line, pp. 2 and 5. Downloaded from: https://xfer.services.ncdot.gov/dsplan/2019%20Highway%20Letting/05-21-19/Plans%20and%20Proposals/JOHNSTON_I-6044_4799.3.1_C204333/Sketch%20Map.pdf, August.

17. US 70 Corridor Commission. 2019. Director's Update. January/February, p. 4. Downloaded from: http://www.super70corridor.com/wp-content/uploads/Jan_Feb_2019-Directors-Report.pdf, July 10.

18. Dunlop, Jim. 2021. Posting on AARoads Forum, Southeast Region, October 8. Downloaded from: https://www.aaroads.com/forum/index.php?topic=19189.425, October 9.

19. AASHTO. 2022. Special Committee on US Route Numbering, 2021 Fall Meeting Final Report, p. 3/5. Downloaded from: https://route.transportation.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/50/2022/02/Final-Report-USRN-Application-Results-Fall-2021.pdf, Feb. 14, 2022.

20. Nerdom. 2024. Post #1251 on Interstate 42 (E) thread on AARoads Forum, Southeast Region. Downloaded from: https://www.aaroads.com/forum/index.php?topic=18287.msg2940726#msg2940726, August 31, 2024.

21. NCDOT. 2024. "Interstate 42 Coming to the U.S. 70 ‘Goldsboro’ Bypass." Press Release. September 13. Downloaded from: https://www.ncdot.gov/news/press-releases/Pages/2024/2024-09-13-i-42-goldsboro-bypass.aspx, Sept. 13, 2024.

22. NCDOT. 2019. NC Board of Transportation, US 70 Work Group, US 70 Corridor Workshop, Division 2. April, p. 6. Downloaded from: http://www.super70corridor.com/wp-content/uploads/April-2019-US-70-Workshop-Division-2.pdf, July 10.

23. NCDOT 2023. State Transportation Improvement Program, Final, June 2023. June 6. Division 2, p. 15. Downloaded from: https://www.ncdot.gov/initiatives-policies/Transportation/stip/Pages/about.aspx, June 7.

24. NCDOT. 2020. "Route Selected for Future Kinston Bypass." Press Release. February 20. Downloaded from: https://www.ncdot.gov/news/press-releases/Pages/2020/2020-02-20-kinston-bypass-route-selected.aspx, February 20.

25. NCDOT. 2019. NC Board of Transportation, US 70 Work Group, US 70 Corridor Workshop, Division 2. April, p. 7. Downloaded from: http://www.super70corridor.com/wp-content/uploads/April-2019-US-70-Workshop-Division-2.pdf, July 10.

26. NCDOT. 2019. Five Miles of Craven County Highway to be Upgraded. Press Release. September 25. Downloaded from: https://www.ncdot.gov/news/press-releases/Pages/2019/2019-09-25-craven-county-highway-upgrade-contract.aspx, September 27.

27. NCDOT. 2024. Construction Progress Report, Contract No. C 204225, TIP Nos. R-5777A, R-5777B, U-5713. Information as of November 22. Downloaded from: https://apps.ncdot.gov/traffictravel/progloc/ProgLocSearch.aspx, December 27, 2024.

28. NCDOT. "Update for Construction on U.S. 70 Improvements in James City." Press Release. Nov. 29. Downloaded from: https://www.ncdot.gov/news/press-releases/Pages/2023/2023-11-29-craven-county-james-city-update.aspx, Dec. 6, 2023.

29. JDunlop. 2024. Comment to I-42 Thread in AARoads Forum, April 22, 2024. Downloaded from: https://www.aaroads.com/forum/index.php?topic=18287.msg2920472 #msg2920472, April 22, 2024.

30. NCDOT. 2019. NC Board of Transportation, US 70 Work Group, US 70 Corridor Workshop, Division 2. April, p. 9. Downloaded from: http://www.super70corridor.com/wp-content/uploads/April-2019-US-70-Workshop-Division-2.pdf, July 10.

31. NCDOT. 2023. "More of U.S. 70 in Craven County Will Be Upgraded." Press Release. February 1. Downloaded from: https://www.ncdot.gov/news/press-releases/Pages/2023/2023-02-01-us-70-upgrade-craven-county.aspx, Feb. 1, 2023.

32. NCDOT. 2024. Construction Project Report, Contract No. C 204695, TIP No. R-5777C.  Information as of November 22. Downloaded from: https://apps.ncdot.gov/traffictravel/progloc/ProgLocSearch.aspx, December 27, 2024.

33. Craven County. 2023. Craven County Comprehensive Transportation Plan, Highway Map, Inset B, p. 10. Downloaded from: https://eccog.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/CravenCo_Full-Report_April-6-2020.pdf, February 1, 2024.

34. NCDOT. 2024. Construction Project Report, Contract No. C 204177, TIP No. R-1015.  Information as of November 30. Downloaded from: https://apps.ncdot.gov/traffictravel/progloc/ProgLocSearch.aspx, December 27, 2024.

35. WCTI.com. 2024. "Havelock bypass construction delayed, city remains optimistic for spring 2025 opening." April 10. Downloaded from: https://wcti12.com/news/local/havelock-bypass-construction-delayed-city-remains-optimistic-for-spring-2025-opening#, April 15, 2024.

36. Olson, Eric. 2024. "Portion of North Carolina's I-42 Reaches Last Year of Work." Construction Equipment Guide, Southeast Edition. January 8. Downloaded from: https://www.constructionequipmentguide.com/portion-of-north-carolinas-i-42-reaches-last-year-of-work/63526, December 27, 2024.

37. Valentin, Caramia. 2024. "Overpass opens for traffic in Havelock, as part of new Havelock Bypass." June 21. Downloaded from:https://www.newbernsj.com/news/overpass-opens-for-traffic-in-havelock-as-part-of-new-havelock-bypass/article_5f49e18d-6f77-5352-b53a-23d32a14d045.html, June 22, 2024.

38. NCDOT. 2023. "U.S. 70 in Craven County Requires Temporary Lane Closures." Press Release. February 17. Downloaded from: https://www.ncdot.gov/news/press-releases/Pages/2023/2023-02-17-lane-closures-craven-county.aspx, Feb. 19, 2023.

39. NCDOT. 2019. NC Board of Transportation, US 70 Work Group, US 70 Corridor Workshop, Division 2. April, p. 19. Downloaded from: http://www.super70corridor.com/wp-content/uploads/April-2019-US-70-Workshop-Division-2.pdf, July 10.

40. Craven County. 2020. Craven County Comprehensive Transportation Plan. p. 2-12. Downloaded from: https://eccog.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/CravenCo_Full-Report_April-6-2020.pdf, Jan. 4, 2024.

41. Carteret County. 2014. Carteret County Comprehensive Transportation Plan, Sept., p. 2-21. Downloaded from: https://eccog.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Carteret-Co-CTP-Report-FINAL.pdf, Jan. 4, 2024.

42. Shaffer, Ryan. 2023. "What's next for the Hwy-70 upgrades in Craven, Carteret Counties?" News report for Public Radio of Eastern North Carolina. February 24. Downloaded from: https://www.publicradioeast.org/pre-news/2023-02-24/whats-next-for-the-hwy-70-upgrades-in-craven-carteret-counties, July 23, 2023.

43. Plans from: Signing Plan, Craven and Carteret Counties, Location: US 70 Havelock Bypass from South of Carteret/Craven County Line to South of SR 1176 (Carolina Pines Blvd.), NCDOT TIP R-1015, November 20, 2018. Available at: https://xfer.services.ncdot.gov/dsplan/2019%20Highway%20Letting/02-19-19/Plans%20and%20Proposals/Craven_R-1015_C204177/Standard%20PDF%20Files/250%20Signing%20Plans.pdf

Site created: July 10, 2019

Site Updated: February 1, 2025

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