Establishment of I-495
NCDOT did not seem to be too interested these interstate proposals,
at least publicly, until March 2013 when they sent an application to
AASHTO's Special Committee on US Route Numbering asking for the I-495
designation for US 64 and, at the same time, put a map of the proposed
route on their Route Changes website.6 Within the
application packet was a copy of a letter to the FHWA (more below)
from NC Governor Pat McCrory seeking the same thing. AASHTO approved
the I-495 designation in May 2013 conditionally pending final approval
of the FHWA.7 FHWA approval was announced at RTA’s 12th Annual Meeting in Cary on December 12, 2013
by Governor McCrory and NCDOT Secretary Tony Tata.
NCDOT started the placement of I-495 signs during mid-April 2014.
Standard interstate shields were placed along the Bypass freeway
from I-440 to I-540, with North and South directional banners.
Green signs with Future 495 were installed on wooden posts along
the rest of the US 64 freeway to I-95, first eastbound, and then
back westward.8
Photo courtesy of
NCDOT.
Congressional Bill Results in New Designation
Despite the I-495 designation, NC officials and business groups like
the RTA still pursued an interstate designation for the entire US
64/US 17 Raleigh to Norfolk corridor. On December 15 2015, language
specifically calling for an interstate route for the corridor, and
along US 70 from Raleigh to Morehead City (Future I-42), was included
in the new transportation bill passed by Congress, the Fixing
America's Surface Transportation (FAST) Act. RTA and NCDOT immediately
started the process of getting an interstate number for the corridor.
RTA's suggested number, I-89, was applied for during the May 25, 2016
meeting of AASHTO's Special Committee on US Route Numbering.9
AASHTO agreed to approve the route, but only if it was numbered as
I-87. In November 2016, the FHWA and AASHTO approved NCDOT's request
that US 264 from US 64 in Zebulon to Greenville be designated an I-87
spur route, I-587.10 In February 2017 the FHWA Interstate
Route Log was updated to include I-87. In May 2017, the AASHTO Special
Committee on US Route Numbering approved NCDOT's request to delete the
I-495 routes in favor of I-87.11
Future
Construction
The US 64 freeway west of US 64 Business in Knightdale to
Williamston, nor US 17 from there to the Virginia border are currently
up to interstate standards. These parts of the I-87 route needs to be
upgraded before full interstate designation can be applied. The route
therefore, for the immediate future, will only be signed as I-87
section from I-40 along 2.9 miles of I-440 and along the Knightdale
Bypass for 11 miles to the US 64 Business exit (Rolesville Road exit
southbound). NCDOT did release a feasibility study (FS-1504A) about
upgrading US 64 from the current end of I-87 to its intersection with
US 17 in Williamston on August 16, 2017 breaking up the route into 8
segments.12 NCDOT estimated the upgrade of the 86.4 miles
of US 64 would cost between $267 and $369 million depending on what
modifications were made.They also published a feasibility study about
the US 17 portion in January 2018, 10 segments were evaluated with
costs ranging from $850 to $945 million depending on alternatives
chosen.13 Given that US 64 is already a freeway from
Raleigh to Williamston, upgrades to those segments should be easier to
make than those for US 17, which could take decades to build. Below,
based on the feasibility studies segments, are the proposed
construction plan, or plans, proposed to bring the route up to
interstate standards, the costs, whether the projects are funded, and
construction dates, if any. An unfunded project is unlikely to start
before 2033. In the fall of 2020, due to NCDOT budget problems related
both to extra costs due to hurricane related repairs, a court decision
regarding the need to make millions of dollars in payments to property
owners located at future highway sites, and budget shortfalls due to
the COVID-19 pandemic many future projects, including many involving
Future I-87, were delayed, see list below:
Segment
1
I-440, I-40 to US 64/264 Knightdale Bypass
Route Type: Interstate
Length: 2.9 Miles Status: Complete
This starting segment for I-87 was first signed in September 2017 and
was 'completed' when overhead signage with I-87 shields were put up in
May and June 2019 (see photos below). The exit numbers remained based
on I-440 mileage presumably because having Exits 1 and 2 on both sides
of the route would be confusing to motorists.
Drive north on this segment, and part of
the next with this RoadwayWiz
video from the Summer of 2021.
Drive south on part of this segment, from
the previous one with this RoadwayWiz
video also from the Summer of
2021.
Segment
2
US 64/264 Knightdale Bypass, I-440 to Rolesville Road
Route Type: Interstate Length: 11
Miles Status: Complete
This segment for I-87 was also first signed in September 2017 and was
'completed' when overhead signage with I-87 shields were put up in May
and June 2019 (see photos below). Prior to the I-87 designation, the
segment between I-440 and I-540 was signed as I-495 and that between
I-540 and US 64 Business in Wendell was designated Future I-495. These
signs remained up until the permanent overhead I-87 signs went up in
June 2019.
Drive north on this segment from the I-540
interchange with this RoadwayWiz
video also from the Summer of 2021.
Drive south on this segment from Wendell to
the I-540 interchange with this RoadwayWiz
video also from the Summer of 2021.
Segment
3 (Updated 6/12/23)
US 64/264 Freeway, Rolesville Road until US 64/US 264 Split in
Zebulon
Route Type: 4-Lane Freeway Length: 7.5
Miles Status: Not Interstate
Standard Upgrade Project Funded: No*
The US 64/264 freeway east of the Knightdale Bypass has a 70 MPH
speed limit but has shoulders not up to interstate standards. NCDOT
originally planned to widen US 64/264 from the current end of I-87 at
Business 64 to the split on US 64 and US 264 (Future I-587) (Project
I-6005) starting in 2025, however that date has now been pushed back
to 2029 in the 2020-2029 STIP then later to at least 2034 in the final
2024-2033 STIP released in June 2023.14, 15 It is assumed
interstate standard shoulders will be built as part of the
construction project. The feasibility Study (Study) also indicated the
NC 96 and US 264 interchanges would be modified as part of the that
project. Total estimated cost for the 6-lane project is $59.1 million.
After the feasibility study came out, the NCDOT 2020-2029 Draft STIP
included a project (I-6001) to upgrade Interstate 587, a planned spur
route to Greenville is to start where US 264 splits off.
*In October 2020, the NCDOT Board revised the 2020-2029 STIP "To
Assist in the Balancing of Funds" and moved Right-of-Way purchases
from FY 2025 to 2028 and construction costing $53.7 million from 2029
to 'Post Years' meaning the project was no longer funded. Funding then
was restored in the updated Draft 2024-2033 STIP released in August
2022, with the same start date, 2029, as before. The final STIP,
however released in June 2023, again removed funding except for
preliminary engineering work for the project meaning it now would not
start until after 2033.16
Segment 4 (Updated
6/12/23)
US 64 Freeway, US 264 exit in Zebulon to US 64 Alt./NC 231 exit in
Spring Hope
Route Type: 4-lane Freeway Length: 9.8
Miles Status: Not Interstate
Standard Upgrade Project Funded: No
US 64, after splitting off from US 264 is a 4-lane freeway with
shoulders and bridges not up to interstate standards. Besides widening
the shoulders to 12 feet, the Study recommends rebuilding 3 bridges,
including at Alt. US 64/NC 231 at a total cost of $27.1 million.
Currently not a funded project in the Final 2024-2033 STIP, thus not
scheduled for construction until after 2033.
Segment 5
(Updated
3/24/24)
US 64 Freeway, US 64 Alt/NC 231 exit in Spring Hope to NC 58 exit in
Nashville
Route Type: 4-lane Freeway Length: 11.9
Miles Status: Not Interstate
Standard Upgrade Project Funded: Some
US 64 in this segment is a substandard freeway. There is one
improvement project, part in this segment and part in Segment 6,
funded in the 2024-2033 STIP. NCDOT posted a press release on August
9, 2023 indicating a ten mile pavement rehabilitation project (I-6045)
from SR 1306 (Old Franklin Road) Exit 452 to Old Carriage Road at Exit
463 was awarded for $14.4 million to Wilson based contractor S.T.
Wooten Corp. While shoulder rehabilitation is a part of this contract
there was no mention of any interstate standard shoulder widening.16
Work began in January 2024. According to the NCDOT
Construction Project Report, work is 6.5% complete as of the end of
February 2024.17 According to the Study, this segment, in
addition to needing shoulders widened to 12 feet, requires the
widening of the dual bridges over the Tar River and replacing the SR
1144 (Pine Street) bridge, along with the US 64 Alt Bridge in
Nashville. Bridges with low vertical clearances at SR 1148 (Big Woods
Road) will remain with pavement milling to achieve increased height.
Estimated cost is $46 million. These are currently not funded
projects, therefore construction cannot start until after 2033.
Segment 6 (Updated 3/24/24)
US 64 Freeway, NC 58 Exit in Nashville to I-95 in Rocky Mount
Route Type: 4-lane Freeway Length: 5.2
Miles Status: Not Interstate Standard
Upgrade Projects Funded: Some
A project listed in the 2020-2029 STIP was to upgrade US 64 to
Interstate Standards (U-6149) from NC 58 in Nash County to beyond I-95
to the Thomas Road overpass east of Rocky Mount, a total of 15.1
miles, but, was not planned to start until after 2029, meaning the
project is unfunded, though right of way purchases were to start in
2029.18 This disappeared in the latest STIP. As discussed
in Segment 5, there is a pavement rehabilitation project (I-6045) from
SR 1306 (Old Franklin Road) in Nash County to I-95. This project was
to be let on January 21, 2020 but was never advertised and later was
deleted from the Letting List in February 2020. It reappeared in the
2024-2033 Final STIP document published in June 2023, only this time
between Old Franklin Road and Old Carriage Road (1 mile short of I-95)
with a 2023 construction date.19 NCDOT's August 9, 2023
press release said work could start in the fall and the contractor
would have 2 years to complete the project.16 As mentioned
in Segment 5, work finally started in January 2024. Shoulder
rehabilitation is a part of the contract, though there was no mention
of shoulder widening. The rest of the segment is covered by the other
pavement rehabilitation, project (I-6046) from Old Carriage Road (SR
1603) to beyond I-95 at Kingsboro Road (SR 1225), to be discussed in
Segment 7.
It is unclear whether widening the rest is to only take place here or
throughout the entire project corridor. Shoulders are interstate
standard the last mile of this segment from Red Oak Road to I-95. The
Study also discusses three different alternatives for the current
median, keep it at current width (36 feet), widen it to 42 feet, or,
with the use of a median barrier, reduce it to 26 feet. It also
recommended that the remaining bridges could simply be widened. The
cost estimate range from $32.9 to $45.3 million depending on which
median option is chosen.This project was not funded in the latest STIP
Segment 7 (Updated 3/24/24)
I-95 in Rocky Mount to US 64 Alt./US 64 Bus./NC 43 South exit at
eastern city limits of Rocky Mount
Route Type: 4-6 lane Freeway Length: 7.5
Miles Status: Partially Interstate
Standard Upgrade Projects Funded: Some
Most of this segment was also part of the unfunded project listed in
the 2020-2029 STIP to upgrade US 64 to Interstate Standards (U-6149)
from NC 58 in Nash County to beyond I-95 to the Thomas Road overpass
east of Rocky Mount (except for the portion between the Thomas Road
overpass and the US 64 Alt./US 64 Bus./NC 43 exit). There are several
funded pavement and bridge rehabilitation projects for US 64 in Nash
and Edgecombe Counties planned for this segment, I-6046 from I-95 to
SR 1225 (Kingsboro Road), underway and discussed under Segment 6, and
I-6041 from SR 1225 to NC 33, that was to start in 2020, but were
delayed 3 years and finally advertised in May 2023.20 (This
project was later due to start in FY 2022, but then delayed
temporarily to 2025 by STIP modifications in October 2020, along with
Projects 6041A that will rehabilitate the bridges over US 64 in the
area.21) Shoulder widening may be part of these contracts,
though the shoulder is interstate standard from I-95 to Business 64 at
Mile 467. According to NCDOT's Construction Progress Report, work on
I-6046 was 68.7% complete at the end of February 2024.22 It
appears at least some shoulder widening is a part of this project, as
seen in this traffic camera image from Kingsboro Road on August 26,
2023:
It appears though that this was due to some supplemental funds added
to the contract, that only cover the segment around Kingsdale Road.
Regardless, further upgrade work besides shoulders would be needed.
The Study recommends two alternatives, one that would keep the current
65 MPH speed limit, the other with projects that would allow this
segment to match the speed limit, 70 MPH, in the surrounding segments.
Other projects in upgrading US 64 would involve creating auxiliary
lanes between I-95 and the Winstead Avenue exit, replacing the
eastbound bridge over Stony Creek and widening the westbound bridge
and bridges for SR 1616 (Country Club Road) and SR 1243 (Leggett Road)
to accommodate the auxiliary lanes. Loop ramps for Exits 467 (Bus.
64), 468A (US 301 Bypass), 468B (NC 43/48), 469 (US 301 Business) and
470 (NC 97) would also have to be rebuilt as part of the upgrade
project. The 65 MPH alternative is estimated to cost $27.3 Million,
while the 70 MPH version would be $32.9. These projects are likely not
to start until after 2033.
Segment 8 (Updated 3/24/24)
US 64 from eastern Rocky Mount City Limits to western Tarboro City
Limits
Route Type: 4-lane Freeway Length: 11.1
Miles Status: Not Interstate
Standard Upgrade Projects Funded: Some
US 64 in this segment is a 4-lane freeway whose shoulders and bridges
are not up to interstate standards. The two funded pavement
rehabilitation projects for US 64 cited in Segment 7 continue in this
segment too and I-6046 underway from I-95 to SR 1225 (Kingsboro Road),
and I-6041 from SR 1225 to NC 33. Work on this project started in
September 2023 and as of the end of 2023 was 5.6% complete. Work is to
be completed in July 2025.23 Shoulder widening at least
from Mile 470 to Kinsgsboro Road was completed in June 2023, see
photos for this segment, and may be part of the rest of the contracts.
The Study recommends, besides widening the shoulders, that the US 64
East bridge over the CSX railroad tracks and both bridge over SR 1208
(Howard Avenue) be widened. Total cost is estimated at $27.2 million.
This project is unfunded, thus not do to start until after 2033.
Segment 9 (Updated
6/12/23)
US 64 from western Tarboro City Limits to Edgecombe/Martin County
Line
Route Type: 4-lane Freeway Length: 13.4
Miles Status: Interstate Standard*
Upgrade Project Funded: Yes
While most of the shoulders in this segment are already interstate
standard (east of US 64 Alt, Exit 486), this segment will still need
some upgrades to be able to be signed as I-87. Funded pavement
rehabilitation project I-6041, cited in Segment 8, covers the first
2.4 miles of this segment. Project I-6042 covers the final 11 miles
from NC 33 to the Martin County line, this part of US 64 is Interstate
Standard. Both projects were to start in 2022, but later originally
delayed in the the October 2020 STIP modifications to 2025.24
In April 2022, however they were added back to the 13-month tentative
letting list for May 2023.25 These projects were advertised
as of April 18, 2023. Based on the plans issued for Project I-6041
shoulder widening may be a part of it:
Further upgrade work is needed however. The Study recommends, besides
shoulder widening of the eastbound bridge over the CSX railroad,
replacing the US 64 Alt./US 258 South bridge over US 64 as well as
both bridges over the Tar River. In addition to the US 64 bridge
replacement, the study recommends revamping the interchange (Exit 485)
as well as widening the interchanges at Exits 486 (US 64 Alt East/US
258 North), 487 (Kingsboro Road), 488 (Shiloh Farm Road), 491 (SR
1524/Chinquapin Road), 494 (NC 42) and 496 (US 13/NC 11). Total cost
is estimated at $45.4 million. These projects are unfunded in the June
2023 Final 2024-2033 STIP and therefore will not be constructed at
present until after 2033.
*Shoulders are interstate standard, except those to the west of the
Tar River bridges which will have to be widened.
Segment 10 (Updated
6/13/23)
US 13/64 from Edgecombe/Martin County Line to US 17 in Williamston
Route Type: Interstate Standard Freeway Length:
18.4 Miles Status: Complete (signage could be
updated)
The US 13/64 freeway from the Edgecombe/Martin County Line was built
to interstate standards. The feasibility study only recommends
possible signage updates and the addition of an ITS system costing
$2.2 million. They also suggest the possible reconstruction of the NC
125 (Prison Camp Road) interchange which would add another $2.5
million to the total. A divisional contract (DA00512, TIP No. I-6028C)
was let on January 19, 2022 to resurface 7.3 miles in Martin County
from NC 125 to the US 17 intersection, work was to start on March 20,
2023 and be completed by the end of December 2023. Work was recently
completed on another pavement rehabilitation contract (I-6028B) that
did similar work from US 64 Alternate to NC 125.
Segment 11 (Updated
6/13/23)
US 13/17 from US 64 Exit in Williamston to Roanoke River Bridge
Route Type: 4-Lane Highway Length: 1.4
Miles Status: Not Interstate Standard
Upgrade Project Funded: No
I-87 is to continue along US 17 which runs concurrently with US 13
after the US 64 exit after which the highway becomes a 4-lane arterial
roadway with businesses and side streets through Williamston. There
are no projects to upgrade this segment to an interstate in the
2024-2033 STIP. The US 17 Feasibility Study (Study) suggests 3
alternatives. The first is an upgrade of the existing highway, the US
13/17 interchange with US 64 would be upgraded to a partial
cloverleaf. Extensive ROW purchases would be required to create
service roads parallel to US 13/17. The existing Roanoke River bridge
would be used and a design exemption sought from the FHWA due to its
narrow shoulders. The second suggested alternative would be a new
freeway built to the east of US 13/17. The freeway would tie back into
the existing route just south of the Roanoke River Bridge which would
be retained, again with a design exemption sought for the insufficient
shoulders. The third would include the new freeway from the second
alternative but continue it across the Roanoke River on a new bridge
meeting the existing US 13/17 just north of the bridge. The costs
range from $75.3 million for the first alternative to $76 million for
the third (the cost of a new bridge is offset by the reduced the cost
for much fewer ROW purchases).
Segment 12 (Updated
6/13/23)
US 13/17 from Roanoke River Bridge to Pleasant Oak Road
Route Type: 4-Lane Highway Length: 8.5
Miles Status: Not Interstate
Standard Upgrade Project Funded: No
US 13/17 in this segment is a 4-lane divided roadway with several
intersections. No project is funded in the Final 2024-2033 STIP
published in June 2023. The Study has only one suggested alternative
for the upgrading the current US 13/17 highway. Exits would be
constructed for Outlaw Farm Road and George Leggett Road. The
intersection with Willoughby Lane would be grade separated. A series
of service roads would be created to tie businesses into the
surrounding road network. Total cost is projected at $87.8 million.
Segment 13 (Updated
6/13/23)
US 13/17 from Pleasant Oak Road to Beginning of Windsor
Bypass
Route Type: 4-Lane Highway Length: 4.5
Miles Status: Not Interstate Standard Upgrade
Project Funded: No
The needed upgrades are currently not funded in the 2024-2033 STIP
for this part of US 13/17. The Study has 2 alternatives for the
segment: Upgrade the existing US 13/17 highway to interstate standards
with the road being widened along the northbound side which would
require taking properties. The existing southbound lanes would become
a service road and a new service road would be built next to the
northbound lanes. An interstate standard exit would be constructed for
the split of US 13 from US 17 at the Windsor Bypass while grade
separations would occur elsewhere. The second alternative is to build
a new freeway to the west of existing US 13/17 with an interchange
built north of Roquist Creek to provide access to current US 13/17.
The freeway would tie back to the existing alignment at the Windsor
Bypass. This alternative requires construction through wetlands as
well as farmlands. The costs range from $60.7 million for the new
freeway to $67.5 million for upgrading the existing road, the major
expense being for right-of-way purchases estimated at $23.4 million.
Segment 14 (Updated
6/13/23)
US 17 Windsor Bypass
Route Type: 4-lane Freeway Length: 6.8
Miles Status: Not Interstate
Standard Upgrade Project Funded: No
The US 17 Windsor Bypass is a 4-lane freeway that only needs a few
modifications to become an interstate. While no project is listed to
do this in the 2024-2033 STIP, the Study recommends widening the
shoulders to 12 feet and minor modifications to the existing King
Street and Wakelon Road exits. Costs are projected at $43.6 million.
Segment 15 (Updated
6/13/23)
East End of Windsor Bypass to Chowan River
Route Type: 4-lane Highway Length: 4.8
Miles Status: Not Interstate
Standard Upgrade Project Funded: No
US 17 continues from the western end of the Windsor Bypass to the
Chowan River bridge as a 4-lane expressway. No funding is listed in
the Final 2024-2033 STIP for upgrading this segment. The Study
suggests 2 alternatives. The first, upgrading the existing highway,
would redo the interchange at the end of the Windsor Bypass to create
a service road that would parallel US 17 until a proposed exit at
Jamestown Road. Additional service roads would be built on either side
of the highway ending just before the Chowan River bridge. Access to
NC 45 would only be through the service roads. An additional exit
would be built for Bal Gra Road. The second alternative would build a
new freeway to the east/south of the existing US 17. Diamond
interchanges would be built at NC 45 and Bal Gra Road, the Jamestown
Road intersection would become a grade separation. Service roads would
be built to the north of Bal Gra Road to the Chowan River. The cost of
alternative 1 would be $132.9 million compared to $118.3 million for
the second alternative. Again most of the differences in cost are due
to additional ROW purchases required for the first alternative ($43.4
vs. $16.9 million).
Segment 16 (Updated
6/13/23)
Chowan River Bridge to northern end of Edenton Bypass
Route Type: 4-lane Highway/Freeway Length: 11.6
Miles Status: Not Interstate
Standard Upgrade Projects Funded: Yes
US 17 in this segment is a mix of a 4-lane expressway and access
controlled freeway, the Edenton Bypass. There is a pavement
rehabilitation project funded along US 17 for Chowan County (I-6027)
which was to start in 2022, but that was delayed to 2025 in the
2020-2029 STIP27 and in the Final 2024-2033 STIP was
delayed again to 2029, it is unclear whether this will involve
shoulder widening.28 For the freeway portion, the Study
simply recommends widening of the road's shoulders. The existing
Chowan River Bridge would be retained. For the 4-lane portion the
study recommends upgrading the route to include service roads which
would include using the existing southbound lanes as a service road in
the vicinity of Thick Neck Road. A diamond interchange is recommended
for the current intersection with Davenport Lane. Total costs are
estimated at $87.5 million.
Segment 17 (Updated
6/13/23)
North end of Edenton Bypass to southern end of Elizabeth City Bypass
Route Type: 4-lane Highway Length: 19.0
Miles Status: Not Interstate
Standard Upgrade Project Funded: Some (Only for Part
of Hertford Bypass)*
US 17 between the Edenton Bypass and Elizabeth City Bypass is a
4-lane expressway with an existing Bypass around Hertford. The
2024-2033 STIP includes 3 projects (R-5869A-C) to upgrade
intersections along the Hertford Bypass. The Bypass work includes the
upgrade of the Harvey Point Road SR 11336 (R-5869A) and New Hope
Road/SR 1300 intersections (R-5869B) to interchanges. The October 2020
STIP revisions delayed these projects for 1 year from 2028 to 2029,
however the latest STIP accelerates them back to 2028. However the
project to upgrade US 17 from Edenton Road to Wiggins Road (R-5869C)
is now unfunded.29 There is also a pavement rehabilitation
project planned along 5.8 miles of US 17 in Perquimans County (I-6030)
which was to start in 2022, but has been delayed in the 2024-2033 STIP
to 2025, it is unclear whether this will involve shoulder widening.30
The Study recommends 2 possible alternatives for the remainder of the
segment. The first upgrades the existing highway to interstate
standards requiring grade separations and the building of service
roads north of a Davenport Road interchange. The service road along
the southbound side would stop at a proposed diamond interchange at
Bear Swamp Road, picking up again after the exit. A partial
interchange would be constructed at Edenton Road while a half
cloverleaf exit would be built at Church Street. The existing bridge
would be used to cross the Perquimans River followed by a partial
cloverleaf exit at Creek Drive. A partial cloverleaf interchange is
proposed for Woodland Church Road with service roads constructed on
both sides of US 17 to the north of the exit. The existing Okisko Road
exit would be modified with minor ramp improvements. The second
alternative follows the first until Wiggins Road where a partial
cloverleaf interchange would be built. A new freeway would then be
built to the north of the existing highway with a diamond interchange
proposed for Chapanoke Road. A service road would be built to the west
of the new freeway with it meeting the existing US 17 south of Okisko
Road where that exit would be modified as in the first alternative.
Costs are project to be $193.5 million for the first and $217.7 for
the second. The highest cost for any Future I-87 segment.The I-6030
project was put on NCDOT's Suspended list in September 2019.
Segment 18 (Updated
6/18/23)
US 17 Elizabeth City Bypass
Route Type: 4-lane Freeway Length: 10.2
Miles Status: Not Interstate
Standard Upgrade Project Funded: Yes
The US 17 Elizabeth City Bypass was built in 2002, but not to
Interstate Standards. There was a funded pavement rehabilitation
project in the 2020-2029 STIP (I-6029) to improve 9.9 miles of US 17
in Pasquotank County from the Perquimans County line to the northern
end of the Bypass. The project cost $11.9 million, was let on October
15, 2019 and work started on March 31, 2020.31 The project
was completed by 2022, however shoulder widening to interstate
standards was not a part of this project (see segment photos below).
Besides shoulder widening though, the Study proposes additional
right-of-way purchases needed to upgrade the freeway to an interstate.
Costs are estimated at $36.4 million.
Segment 19 (Updated
6/13/23)
US 17 from North End of Elizabeth City Bypass to Dismal Swamp State
Park
Route Type: 4-lane Highway Length: 8.1
Miles Status: Not Interstate
Standard Upgrade Project Funded: No
A planned upgrade along US 17 from the end of the Elizabeth City
Bypass to the Virginia border was dropped from the 2020-2029 STIP and
not restored since. There is a funded pavement rehabilitation project
for this segment in the 2024-2033 STIP, I-6026, which would cover this
segment from the Pasquotank County border northward to Virginia at a
cost of $8.4 million, now to start in 2025, but more work would be
needed to bring this segment up to interstate standards.29 The
Study breaks this section into 2 segments. For this segment, from the
end of the Elizabeth City Bypass to Dismal State Park, it recommends 1
alternative along the existing US 17 highway with a half cloverleaf
interchange at US 158 and another at Northside Road to allow local
traffic to enter the interstate. Total costs are estimated at $70.8
million. Elizabeth City officials are working with NCDOT to determine
the final alignment of the interstate and have discussed projects
including adding bike lanes along the route as part of a proposed Main
to Florida bike trail called the East Coast Greenway. The Elizabeth
City Council endorsed the bike route plan in December 2018 in hopes it
might help speed the securing of a final alignment of I-87 through the
area.32
Segment 20 (Updated
6/13/23)
US 17 from Dismal Swamp State Park to Virginia Border
Route Type: 4-lane Highway Length: 4.6 Miles
Status: Not Interstate Standard Upgrade
Project Funded: Yes
As with the previous segment, the remaining length of US 17 north to
the Virginia Border had funds for an upgrade project removed from the
2020-2029 STIP and not restored since. The pavement rehabilitation
project, I-6026, from Segment 18 would cover this segment as well, but
more work would be needed to bring this segment up to interstate
standards. The Study recommends 2 alternatives. The first alternative
is to upgrade US 17 to interstate standards using the existing bridge
over the Dismal Swamp. A service road would be provided to the east of
US 17 for local business access. At the current intersection with
McPherson Road the US 17 alignment would shift east and a partial
cloverleaf interchange would be built to allow access to the Dismal
Swamp Canal Welcome Center, the current US 17 would become a connector
to the Welcome Center. The service road would continue north to the
Virginia border. The second alternative is more complicated. It would
involve the same alignment with a new interchange at McPherson Road as
the first alternative but the service road would be built further east
to intersect local residential streets. It would also involve
building, at the McPherson Road interchange, a 7-mile connector road
traveling east between US 17 and NC 168 that would be routed through
farm, forest and swamp lands. The estimated cost for the first
alternative is $75.8 million while it is $125 million for the second.
While the NC 168 connector is not part of the approved route for I-87,
some have suggested the interstate use it so it can access the VA 168
toll freeway to Chesapeake. Both the Elizabeth City-Pasquotank County
Economic Development Commission and Pasquotank County Board of
Commissioners adopted resolutions against the second alternative.25
NCDOT has 30 years from the future interstate designation to make the
necessary upgrades. Therefore, it could be a long time before the entire
route can be signed a full interstate. Also how receptive Virginia is
to building its section might determine the length of construction for
US 17. Both studies have no timetable for construction but uses
forecasts of 2040 traffic counts in the Level of Service estimates for
each alternative.30
First
Proposed: 2012
