Future I-685 from Carolina Core website Future I-685 - Central Carolina Freeway

First Proposed:  2017
Route Approved:  2022 (by AASHTO) 2023, (by FHWA)

First Future Signs Placed along US 421:  May 2024
To be signed as I-685:  ??

The Route: US 421 from I-85 in Greensboro to I-95 in either Dunn or  (via NC 87 at Sanford and I-295) Fayetteville, ~ 90 miles


ROUTE HISTORY

First proposed by economic developer, Jed McMillan on behalf of the Piedmont Triad Partnership (PTP) to the NCDOT Board on August 3, 2017 in Greensboro to attract more businesses to the region. His new interstate freeway would travel an upgraded US 421 between Greensboro and Fayetteville connecting 4 business 'megasites' (the Aerospace Center at the PTI Airport in Greensboro, the Greensboro-Randolph County project near Liberty, the Chatham Advanced Manufacturing site in Siler City, and the Moncure Megasite on US 1 in Chatham County). The NCDOT Board took no position on the proposal at the time, nor did the Board Chair Mike Fox. Though he did comment that parts of US 421 would not be too hard to upgrade to an Interstate.1 In 2018, in an effort to attract more partners in areas throughout central North Carolina, the PTP rebranded itself as the Carolina Core and launched efforts to convince government and business leaders along the US 421 corridor between Greensboro and Fayetteville to lobby NCDOT about designating the highway an interstate. As of 2024 19 counties are using the Carolina Core name to market economic opportunities and the group has gotten over $20 billion in planned capital investments.2 Here's a map of the Carolina Core region from the group's website, notice the emphasis on US 421 all the way to Winston-Salem, they are also lobbying for US 421 between I-40 in Winston-Salem and I-77 become another interstate, I-777, they hope to have legislation for that route in Congress in 2025:

Image of NC Core business marketing region and emphasis on US 421 (Future I-685), NC Carolina Core, 2024

On September 25, 2019, the Greensboro Urban Area Metropolitan Planning Organization (GUAMPO) approved a resolution in support of giving US 421 interstate designation and bringing it up to interstate standards from Greensboro either to Dunn or Fayetteville, using the NC 87 corridor south of Sanford. The resolution notes that US 421 connects I-95 with I-40 and would provide a “valuable alternate route for military and freight traffic” between the 2 cities as well as “additional evacuation routes and relief and recovery routes to the region.” The resolution noted that the NCDOT Board of Transportation had already passed its own resolution in support of upgrading US 421 between I-40 and I-95 to an interstate. Other MPOs along the corridor approved similar measures between 2019 and 2021.3

The infrastructure bill signed into law by President Biden in November 2021 contained, among its many provisions, text added by NC Senators Richard Burr and Thom Tillis making US 421 from I-85 in Greensboro to I-95 in Dunn a 'High Priority Corridor.' This would be the first step in asking for a Future Interstate designation along the route, or part of the route.4 The supporters of this corridor chose I-685 as its proposed number in early 2022. In its Spring 2022 meeting, AASHTO approved the Future I-685 designation, pending FHWA concurrence. FHWA concurrence was not publicized but was apparently granted in late 2022 or 2023.

PLACING OF FUTURE I-685 SIGNS IN 2024

On May 20, 2024 NC officials and members of the Carolina Core organization gathered at the newly completed bridge over US 421 (see photos below) near the Future Toyota plant in Julian and displayed Future I-685 signs that will be put up along US 421 between Greensboro. There was no announcement as to when improvement projects would start to enable the future route to become an actual interstate. Here's one of the signs displayed:5

Image of new Future I-685 sign being displayed at NC Core event on 
                                                                            US 421 in Julian, May 2024

CORRIDOR DESCRIPTION

Here's a map of the potential corridor published by the Triangle Area Rural Planning Organization (TARPO), a voluntary association of local governments in Chatham, Lee, Moore, and Orange Counties, on November 18, 2021. Notice the indecision as to whether the route should follow US 421 all the way to I-95 or head south to Fayetteville via NC 87, though an article on the May 20 sign unveiling discussing the difficulties of upgrading parts of US 421 south of Sanford seem to indicate the US 421 route to Dunn:

Image of map of planned I-685 corridor from TARPO transportation planning organization, November 2021

A later alternative map published in 2024, source currently unknown, possibly by NCDOT or a newspaper, showed 3 possible alternative corridors for I-685 south/east of Sanford:

Image of map of I-685 south of Sanford alternative, possible by NCDOT, 2024

Alternative A would follow the US 421 corridor to Dunn with portions, especially the segment linking to I-95 on a new alignment.

Alternative B would initially follow the NC 87 corridor then on a new alignment between Swann and I-295 near Spring Lake, then using I-295 to access I-95.

Alternative C would mostly follow the NC 87 corridor to I-295 near Fort Liberty (formerly Fort Bragg), then using I-295 to access I-95.

It is unknown whether any of these alternatives are 'official' or if any studies about their costs and benefits have been funded.

Alternative C would require little new road construction but would require upgrades of the existing NC 87 roadway. If I-685 is signed along a portion of I-295 it would make it the third two 3-digit interstate concurrency in North Carolina (I-785/I-840, I-587/I-795). There is only 1 other one in the rest of the country, I-680/I-271 in Cleveland.

CURRENT CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS

There are currently 2 projects underway related to Future I-685. The building of the Julian Airport/Toyota Battery Plant, Project C204702, as of November 30, 2024 was 69.2% complete, however the revised completion date of August 14, 2024 still has not been changed.6 The interchange opened southbound in July along with the northbound on-ramp, the northbound off-ramp was finished by the end of the summer (see photos below). The conversion of the Shiloh Road and Starmount Road intersections with US 421 in Liberty, Division Project HE-0004, as of November 30, 2024 is 62% complete. According to the NCDOT Real Time Traffic site the Shiloh Road exit may be completed by April 2025. The official completion date for the project is December 11, 2025.7 There are no other funded projects in the current 2024-2033 STIP to improve US 421, or other possible routes, to interstate standards. The new Draft 2026-2035 STIP due out in January 2025 perhaps will have others. A Future Interstate designation typically allows for 30 years time before the interstate must be completed.


PHOTOS



Google Maps Street View images of Julian Airport Road interchange construction, July 2024:



Image of 1/2 Mile advance sign for new Julian Airport Road exit on US 421 (Future I-685) South, Google Maps Street View, July 2024

The new 1/2 Mile advance sign on US 421 South, the 1 Mile advance had not be put up at this time, instead a portable VMS was used to indicate the approaching exit.

Image of auxiliary sign for Toyota Plant for new Julian Airport Road exit on US 421 (Future I-685) South, Google Maps Street View, July 2024

After the new 1/2 Mile advance sign there is an auxiliary sign for Toyota, presumably for the battery plant, and not a new town with that name.

Image of newly opened exit ramp for Julian Airport Road on US 421 (Future I-685) South, Google Maps Street View, July 2024

There was still construction going on at the newly opened exit ramp headed south.

Image of newly opened on-ramp from new Julian Airport Road on US 421 (Future I-685) South, Google Maps Street View, July 2024

Approaching the Julian Airport exit on-ramp which is prior to the bridge.

Image of newly opened bridge for Julian Airport Road exit on US 421 (Future I-685) South, Google Maps Street View, July 2024

A closer look at the new bridge over US 421.

Image of new US 421 South reassurance marker after ramp for Julian Airport Road on US 421 (Future 
        I-685) South, Google Maps Street View, July 2024

A new US 421 South reassurance marker after the exit, the interstate standard shoulders continue about 1/2 mile heading south. Turning around...

Image of still under construction exit ramp for Julian Airport Road on US 421 (Future I-685) North, 
        Google Maps Street View, July 2024

The Airport Road exit ramp was still under construction headed north in July.

Image of newly opened exit ramp from Julian Airport Road to US 421 (Future I-685) North, Google 
        Maps Street View, July 2024

Looking back towards the northbound on-ramp which apparently was open.

Here's one of the official Future I-685 signs put up along US 421 in Sanford, photo by Tracy Snead:

Image of recently placed Future I-685 sign on US 421 South in Sanford, by Thomas Snead, June 2024

This new I-685 sign was spotted on the Salem Parkway near Macy Grove Road on May 25, not along the proposed path of I-685, and was taken down a

couple days later, photo by Eddie Beiles:

Image of new Future I-685 sign spotted on US 421/Salem Parkway not on proposed path of 
        interstate, photo by Eddie Beiles, May 2024

Google Maps Street View images along US 421 near Julian from September 2023:



Image of new bridge being built for new exit to serve Toyota plant from US 421 North in Julien, 
          Google Maps Street View, September 2023

View of new bridge being built for new exit to access Toyota Battery plant in Julian as seen from US 421 North.

Image of new sign advertising NC Crossroads business corridor on US 421 South in Julien, 
          Google Maps Street View, September 2023

Sign advertising NC Carolina Crossroads/NC Core Megasite along US 421 South prior to the new exit for the Toyota Battery plant.

Image of new off-ramp being built for new exit to serve Toyota plant from US 421 South in Julien, 
          Google Maps Street View, September 2023

US 421 South approaching the new ramp to access the Toyota Battery plant still under construction.

Image of new bridge being built for new exit to serve Toyota plant from US 421 South in Julien, 
          Google Maps Street View, September 2023

View of future off-ramp for new exit to access Toyota Battery seen prior to the bridge on US 421 South.

Image of new bridge being built for new exit to serve Toyota plant from US 421 South in Julien, 
          Google Maps Street View, September 2023

View of new interstate standard bridge being built for the Toyota Battery plant from US 421 South. The bridge was completed in May 2024.