Lawndale Drive to US 29 Section, 6 Miles, Under Construction-93.4% Complete as of May 15, 2022, Revised Completion Date-July 21, 2023⁴ [2 Mile section between Lawndale Dr and North Elm St opened on December 23, 2020]⁵

US 29 to US 70 Section, 5 Miles, Complete, Opened on December 7, 2017⁶  (except for ramps from I-785 North to US 29 South and I-785 South to US 29 North, completion date 12/28/18, open as of July 2019)⁷

US 70 to I-40 Section, 2 Miles, Complete, Opened in 2002

Though the contractor had until the end of 2018 to complete the US 70 to US 29 segment, the roadway was completed a year earlier than scheduled, except for ramp from I-785 North to US 29 South which is being constructed along with a flyover ramp from the future I-840 East roadway to US 29 (Future I-785) North that opened a year later in December 2019. Meanwhile the completion date for the US 29 to Lawndale Drive segment was moved from May to November 2022 in March 2019, and then to July 2023 in the summer of 2021.^4,8 Currently most of the alignment is graded and nearly all the bridges are complete or nearing completion. See the video section for the latest updates.

Exits on this Segment, Going West to East on I-840

Exit 8 (WB)  Lawndale Dr

Exit 10    N Elm St (EB)

Exit 11    Yanceyville St

Exit 14     (Future ) North Reidsville Danville VA (WB)

Exit 17    Huffine Mill Rd

Exit 18*    Burlington Greensboro

Exit 21A (EB)   West ( South) Greensboro

Exit 21B (EB)   East /  North Durham Raleigh

* Changed from 19 in Nov. 2017

Exit sign plans for this Segment:^{9, 10}

Signage at the ramp to Lawndale Drive on I-840 East

This exit mileage sign will be placed in I-840 East just beyond the Lawndale Drive exit, and will have I-795 added when it is routed north of the Loop.

Plans for overhead signage for exits between Lawndale Drive and US 29:¹¹

Signage southbound approaching US 29 (Future I-795 North) ramp:

Plans for 2-Mile advance sign for I-840 West/I-785 North at US 29, the first for when I-785 is designated north of the Loop, the second for when the highway opens in December 2017. Construction of future I-785 got a boost in August 2018 when NCDOT announced that a project that will improve US 29 to interstate standards from Hicone Road north to US 29 Business in Reidsville will be funded as a Regional Impact project in the upcoming 2020-2029 STIP document due out in January 2019. Construction probably won't start until 2028 at the earliest.¹²

Here's the signage at the exit ramp itself when I-785 is extended north of the Loop:

Signage planned for the US 70 on-ramps when the final stretch of I-840 is completed:

At the other end of the segment, here's the signage at the beginning of North I-840 which will be temporarily only signed as I-785 until the Loop is completed to Lawndale Drive:

Plans for signage approaching the Loop from I-40 West/I-85 South. Includes spaces for Future placement of I-840 shield and another I-73 marker, compare to actual signage installed in July 2017 in photos below.

In addition to signing I-840 along the eastern segment of the Loop when the final I-840 section is completed, NCDOT also will be removing the Business 85 designation through Greensboro. This End I-785/I-840 sign will replace the current auxiliary sign for Business 85 seen in the photos below:

Here's plans for signage at the interchanges. First US 29:

The first signs will not have I-840 listed.

Photos from this Segment

Photos taken from Google Maps Street View images from June and July 2021 along the construction zone, heading west to east:

North Elm Street

View of construction seen at current end of I-840 East.

Looking south along North Elm Street showing bridge abutments under construction. As of December 2021 the bridge supports over the roadway had been placed.

West I-840 trailblazer sits inside bridge construction safety barrier heading north on North Elm Street.

North Church Street

Looking east from completed bridge over Future I-840 showing partially graded roadbed.

View looking west from the new bridge back towards North Elm Street.

View of traffic on the new bridge and roadway construction along the north side.

Yanceyville Street

View looking west across newly constructed bridge towards Future I-885 roadway still being graded.

Looking east along the Future Loop with construction equipment lined up by future exit ramp.

Another look to the east closer to where the future westbound exit ramp will meet Yanceyville Street.

Looking south over the newly completed bridge, traffic, for now using only the west side of the bridge.

Lees Chapel Road

View heading south on Lees Chapel Road of bridge for Future I-840 being constructed over roadway.

Workers constructing east side of bridge for Future I-840 being built over Lees Chapel Road.

View of bridge under construction heading north on Lees Chapel Road.

Summit Avenue

View from temporary Summit Avenue roadway of new bridge construction underway. This bridge was completed by November and the temporary roadway was removed to allow a completion of grading of the Loop in this area (see latest video).

Looking west from Summit Avenue to the Future I-840 roadbed awaiting completion of the bridge to be excavated and graded.

Looking east from the temporary roadway at the new bridge under construction.

View looking north at the temporary detour around the new bridge construction.

US 29

The Future I-840 lanes await paving at the current end of the I-785 section of the Greensboro Loop looking west.

Earlier Photos

Photos from Strider taken on the newly opened section between Lawndale Drive and North Elm Street, December 24, 2020:

The new East I-840 reassurance marker, this part is also signed as an interstate even though new terminus may not be on the National Highway System.

Bridge over the newly opened roadway heading east, note landscaping work still incomplete.

Traffic exiting at new end of I-840 East and North Elm Street. Note exit signs have not been installed yet. Temporary orange signs and portable VMSs are being used in their place.

Traffic signals at the end of the ramp to North Elm Street.

Mile marker headed westbound after the on-ramp from North Elm Street.

The West I-840 reassurance marker headed towards Lawndale Drive.

Taken prior to the road opening on December 20:

Lane striping is proceeding along soon to be opened section.

Closeup of an I-840 East mile marker.

Looking west toward Lawndale Drive along the along the soon to be opened section.

NCDOT Traffic camera images showing progress completing the Loop east of the Lawndale Drive interchange in June 2020:

Photos of I-840 under construction between Lawndale Drive and North Elm Street from recently completed Lake Jeanette Road bridge by Strider, July 19, 2020

Looking toward North Elm Street:

Looking toward Lawndale Drive:

Photo of signage at future ramp to I-840 West, which currently takes you from US 29 North to US 29 South, by David Johnson, July 11, 2020:

Photos taken along segment from US 29 to US 70 by Site Contributors Strider, on December 7, 2017 shortly after road opened and, David Johnson on July 11, 2020:

First, along US 29 North approaching the partially open Greensboro Loop interchange:

The 1-Mile advance sign for the Greensboro Loop, blank space for future addition of an I-840 shield.

The overhead 1/2 mile advance signage, with space for East I-840 in the future.

The overhead signage at the ramp to I-785 South again with space for a East I-840 shield.

The ramp from I-785 North is seen merging onto US 29 North in the distance, the current US 29 is now interstate standard for about 1/4 mile north of the ramp.

Now heading toward the Greensboro Loop on US 29 South:

The 1-Mile advance approaching the upgraded Hicone Road interchange prior to the Greensboro Loop.

Variable message sign indicates to South US 29 drivers that newly opened ramp to I-785 South is 1 Mile ahead.

Approaching the open Greensboro Loop/I-785 South interchange with future ramp to northern Loop under construction.

Ramp bridge for US 29 South traffic from I-785 North still under construction after opening rest of I-785.

The one I-785 South exit sign up on US 29 South at time of opening of this section of the Greensboro Loop, blank space for future I-885 East sign.

The completed ramp from I-785 North to US 29 South as seen from current start of I-785 South.

Traveling the new ramp from US 29 South to I-785 South in late 2017, workers seen then working to complete ramp from I-785 North to US 29 South.

View looking south at the start of the new segment of I-785 prior to on-ramp from US 29 North.

The first mile marker, for I-785, to be replaced by I-840 versions when the Loop is complete.

The first South I-785 reassurance marker beyond the US 29 North on-ramp.

First destination mileage guide sign on I-785 South showing the distance to High Point and Charlotte via I-85 South.

First advance sign for Huffine Mill Road exit on I-785 South, along with shield-less, for now, mile marker which will be replaced by an I-840 shield in the future.

The one-mile advance sign for Huffine Mill Road prior to the West Buffalo Creek bridge on I-785 South.

This median interchange mileage sign stands 1/2 mile prior to the Huffine Mill Road exit on I-785 South.

Overhead signage at the Huffine Mill Road off-ramp includes the 1-Mile advance sign for US 70 on I-785/Greensboro Loop South.

US 70 exit signage seen in the distance at the on-ramp to I-785 South from Huffine Mill Road.

Another South I-785 reassurance marker precedes a US 70 exit 1/4 mile, instead of 1/2 mile, advance sign.

Overhead signage at the US 70 exit on I-785 South includes a 2-Mile Advance for the I-40/I-85 North exit and is accompanied by a rather small auxiliary sign for traffic to Greensboro and Burlington can use the US 70 exit.

View looking south toward I-40/I-85 from bridge over US 70.

The last South I-785 reassurance marker ahead of the 1-Mile Advance sign for the I-40/I-85 North exit.

An auxiliary sign for Business 85 for the I-40/I-85 North exits since that designation was taken from the previous overhead sign. The Business 85 designation is to be dropped from I-40 West when construction of the US 29 to Lawndale Drive section is complete, the sign will be replaced by and End I-785/I-840 sign at that time, see sign plans above.

Turning around and heading back north:

Another median exit mileage guide sign this one placed 1/2 mile prior to the US 70 exit. Given that this sign is before the 1-mile advance sign (photo below) for US 70, it appears there's a missing mile for both US 70 and Huffine Mill Road.

The newly replaced US 70 1-Mile advance sign with a new exit number, 18, probably due to the off-ramp being placed further north.

Overhead signs at the US 70 exit with the Huffine Mill Road sign now uncovered.

Looking north along the start of the new section of I-785 North toward Huffine Mill Road.

I-785 North expands to 3 lanes temporarily prior to the Huffine Mill Road exit.

Overhead sign gantry at Huffine Mill Road exit ramp. The blank space at left is for an advance sign for the future Cone Blvd. exit. Notice that Exit 17 is just beyond the Mile 18 marker.

After taking the Huffine Mill Road off-ramp:

View taken heading west on Huffine Mill Road showing guide signs and I-785 trailblazers in the distance.

A closer view of the trailblazers, getting back on I-785 North:

View looking north toward US 29 interchange.

The North I-785 reassurance marker, the last one in this direction, after the Huffine Mill Rd on-ramp.

The 2-Mile advance sign for the current end of I-785 North at US 29, just prior to crossing North Buffalo Creek.

The 1-Mile advance sign, the A and B exit tab is misleading as the southbound US 29 ramp (Exit 14A) is not open yet.

Orange barrels reappear approaching the US 29 interchange beyond the 15 Mile marker on I-785 North.

Overhead sign directs traffic off the soon to end Loop to the US 29 exit(s), the fore sign reads Exit 14B.

View at the current end of the Greensboro Loop. Traffic has to use US 29 North to access US 29 South until new exit ramp is completely built.

A new sign for the upgraded Hicone Road exit greets drivers merging onto US 29, or could we say I-785 North because...

There is an End I-785 sign after the exit sign along the C/D ramp from US 29 North. Work still continues in landscaping the ramp.

Turning around and now coming toward the new Loop interchange on US 29 North:

There is a 1-Mile Advance sign heading this direction with space for an I-840 shield in the future.

Overhead 3/4 and 1/2 mile advance signage for Loop exits on US 29 North, the To US 29 South is a temporary ramp that will be replaced with access to I-840 North when complete.

View from the ramp to I-785 South from US 29 North showing incomplete bridge that will carry traffic to US 29 South from the Loop.

Further up the US 29 North on-ramp approaching the merge with I-785 South lanes.

Change signage at the US 70 interchange:

North I-785 trailblazer on US 70 East heading under the Loop bridge.

Trailblazers at the on-ramp to I-785 North from US 70 in Greensboro.

Now heading east on US 70, the newly place Junction I-785 trailblazer, replacing a similar one for Future East I-840.

The To I-40/I-85 trailblazers still remain approaching the southbound Loop on-ramp on US 70 East.

The previous Future I-840 trailblazer has been removed here also, replaced by I-785 South.

Taken from US 70 interchange by site contributor, Strider on November 26, 2017:

New overhead signage that includes I-785 North (and drops US 70) on I-85 North approaching its merge with I-40 East.

This is the last updated sign to be put up for I-785, with its placement, all the signage on I-85 and I-40 surrounding the merge/split of the 2 routes has been updated.

Heading north of I-40 and I-85 brings new exit signs for the US 70 exit:

Besides the new sign, the exit has a new number, 18, replacing 19, possibly due to the exit ramp now being beyond the US 70 bridge instead of before. On the exit ramp, the current end of I-785 North:

An overhead speed advisory sign with the exit number included. Some ramp repaving may be needed before the next segment opens.

Prior to the US 70 exit ramp there is now a To US 220 North trailblazer, and at the exit ramp itself:

Both signs for the US 70 exit and covered over, for now, for Huffine Mill Road, in the distance.

Going the other way after the US 70 interchange:

A South I-785 reassurance marker (the only one so far). And beyond the I-85/I-40 interchange:

An End I-785 sign prior to the Loop merging with I-85 South.

Earlier photos by Strider from October 29, 2017:

Looking toward completed I-785 bridge over US 70 looking east prior to existing exit ramp to Greensboro Loop heading south.

A new South I-785 and covered I-840 East trailblazer sit behind the earlier Future I-840/To I-40/85 trailblazers put up at the interchange with US 70 East in 2003.

Looking north from open on-ramp to I-785 South to soon to open ramp to US 70 from Greensboro Loop.

Taken by Strider on I-785 North approaching current end at US 70:

In anticipation of increased traffic once the next segment opens, the open section between I-40/I-85 and US 70 received a new layer of pavement on October 2017.

Looking over concrete barrier on US 70 off-ramp toward new section of I-785/Greensboro Loop to open by Thanksgiving 2017.

Photos by Strider from nearly completed Huffine Mill Road interchange:

Looking across Huffine Mill Rd toward I-785 lanes with exit signage placed in the southbound lanes.

A North I-785 trailblazer covered over prior to opening of the new section of the Greensboro Loop in November 2017 (for uncovered versions, see sign plans above).

Looking south from the Huffine Mill interchange along the nearly complete (except of line painting) lanes of I-785, the on-ramp to I-785 South is to the right, the overhead sign gantry has an empty space for the Cone Blvd exit to be constructed in the future.

Looking north along the unopened lanes toward US 29 showing completed exit signing prior to the southbound off-ramp.

Looking south toward the US 70 interchange showing sign installation is complete, but grading work still in progress.

A zoomed in view looking in the same direction shows exit signing complete for US 70 exit which includes 2-mile advance sign for I-40/I-85 North exit at end of I-785 South.

New signage for I-785 on I-85 North, courtesy of site contributor, Tracy Hamm:

At the Youngs Mill Road exit:

And prior to I-40, the last exit sign at the ramp, seen in the background, had not been replaced at the time of the photograph:

PREVIOUS PHOTOS

New signage put up by NCDOT on I-85 South/I-40 West in July 2017. Photos by site contributor Strider:

Closer look at Arrow-per-Lane signage by Adam Prince:

Taken on April 15, 2017 by Site contributor Strider:

Taken by the Webmaster on March 30, 2017:

New exit support posts behind existing US 70 exit sign, new exit signs were placed along the route in mid-April 2017.

Traveling along the future exit ramp to US 70 now serving as the end of this segment of the Greensboro Loop heading north.

Looking over the barrier at the US 70 exit you can see the future I-785/I-840 Loop heading north with paving near completion.

Looking at the future I-785/I-840 Southbound Loop lanes you can see support posts being staged for future overhead signs.

View of future I-785/I-840 bridge over creek just south of the US 70 interchange.

Another Future I-840 sign along what will be the ramp from US 70 to the Loop Southbound. Despite new I-785 signs going up (see below), this sign still stands as of April 2017.

Sign for the end of I-785/I-840 as it existed from the opening of the southeastern segment of the route in 2005 (with a space for former Business I-40) until April 2017.  Here's what the new signs looks like courtesy of site contributor Strider:

The new signs drop Business 85 which is now only referred to on an auxiliary trailblazer:

  View taking ramp from Hicone Road showing new bridge over US 29 completed.

Entering US 29 South from new Hicone Road interchange on-ramp about to go under new bridge.

View of future US 29/I-785 interchange showing bridge largely completed and exit ramp areas being graded.

Traffic on US 29 South about to be shifted to new southbound lanes under Future I-785/Greensboro Loop East bridge.

US 29 South traffic heading under Future I-785/Greensboro Loop East Bridge with work starting on westbound bridge.

VIDEOS

December 2020 Greensboro Urban Loop Construction Tour by Gregarious Drivers of Greensboro, NC 12/27/20

Real Time Drive videos from RoadwayWiz taken during the summer of 2021:

1. Exits 14 to 21 South/Eastbound

2. Interstates 785 & 840 North/Westbound

3. Interstate 840 Exits 10 to 3 Westbound

4. Interstate 840 Exits 3 to 10 Eastbound

Aerial videos of Loop construction the by Heliflyer from 2017 to 2022, most recent listed first:

1. I-785/US 29 to N. Elm Street - March 22, 2022

2. I-785/US 29 to Yanceyville Street - Dec. 7, 2021

3. Yanceyville Street to N. Elm Street - Dec. 7, 2021 (*-Link fixed)

4. I-785/US 29 to Yanceyville Street - October 18, 2021

5. Yanceyville Street to N. Elm Street - October 18, 2021

6. I-785/US 29 to Yanceyville Street - August 27, 2021

7. Yanceyville Street to N. Elm Street - August 27, 2021

8. Yanceyville Street to N. Elm Street - April 7, 2021

9. I-785/US 29 to Yanceyville Street - April 7, 2021

10. I-785/US 29 to Yanceyville Street - January 28, 2021

11. Yanceyville Street to N. Elm Street - January 28, 2021

12. N. Elm Street to Lawndale Drive, just prior to section opening, December 22, 2020

13. I-785/US 29 to Yanceyville Street - December 9, 2020

14. Yanceyville Street to N. Elm Street - December 9, 2020

15. N. Elm Street to Lawndale Drive - December 9, 2020

16. US 29 to Lees Chapel Road - November 5, 2020

17. Yanceyville Street to North Elm Street - November 5, 2020

18. North Elm Street to Lawndale Drive - November 5, 2020

19. Yanceyville Street to North Elm Street - Sept. 3, 2020

20. North Elm Street to Lawndale Drive - Sept. 3, 2020

21. Lake Jeannete Road to Lawndale Drive- August 4, 2020

22. Yanceyville Street to North Elm Street - July 7, 2020

23. North Elm Street to Lawndale Drive - June 5, 2020

24. Yanceyville Street to North Elm Street - May 6, 2020

25. Summary of US 29 interchange construction - 2017-2020

26. Construction from North Elm Street to Lawndale Drive - April 16, 2020

27. Summary of Loop interchange with Battleground Avenue construction, 2017-2020 - April 15, 2020

28. I-785/US 29 interchange west to Summit Avenue - March 22, 2020

29. Lawndale Avenue to North Elm Street - February 14, 2020

30. US 220/Battleground Avenue to Lawndale Drive - February 13, 2020

31. I-840 Construction from I-795/US 29 to Lee's Chapel Road - January 8, 2020

32. US 220/Battleground Avenue Area - August 2019

33. Lawndale Avenue/Cotswold Avenue - August 2019

34. View from I-785 to Lee's Chapel Road - August 2019

35. View from Lee's Chapel Road to Yanceyville Street - August 2019

36. View from Yanceyville Street to North Elm Street - August 2019

37. View from North Elm Street to Lawndale Avenue - August 2019

38. View from Battleground Avenue towards Lawndale Drive - June 2019

39. View Between Lawnsdale Avenue and Cotswold Avenue- June 2019

40. View between North Elm Street and Lake Jeanette Road- June 2019

41. View between North Elm Street and Yanceyville Road- June 2019

42. View from North Church Street to Lawndale Drive- May 2019

43. View of construction of Future I-840 east of Lawndale Drive-April 2019

44. View over US 29 interchange construction, showing construction of future flyover ramp from I-840 East to US 29 North, March 2019

45. East of US 220/Battleground Avenue-March 2019

46. Vicinity of Lawndale Drive to Cotswold Avenue-March 2019

47. East of US 220/Battleground Avenue-December 2018

48. Vicinity of Lawndale Drive-December 2018

49. View over US 29 interchange construction, showing final construction of ramp to US 29 South, December 2018

50. View over US 220/Battleground Ave and to the east, August 2018

51. View of Lawndale Avenue area construction, August 2018

52. View over US 29 interchange construction at US 29 (Future I-785), August 2018

53. Taken of the I-785/US 29 interchange, April 2018

54. Taken of the Lawndale Drive interchange area, April 2018

55. Taken of the I-785/US 29 interchange, Jan. 2018

56. Eastern Segment of the Greensboro Loop, 

57. Earlier video of the Battleground Ave interchange