Such a complete rehab like this just seems like a depressing setback if shoulder widening is excluded. So much needs to be done, any upgrades need to get rolling on this road. 42 def seems to be the priority. Be nice to at least get this out to 95.
It definitely is disappointing… all of the pavement rehabilitation projects that have taken place along fully controlled-access portions of US-70, US-64, US-264, and US-17 over the last 10 years should have included full paved shoulder widening to 10 ft. It would cost slightly more upfront, but it would bring significant portions up to interstate standards. If all of the recent US-64 pavement projects included proper widening, I-87 could be signed for a good portion east and west of I-95 once projects wrap up in the next few years.
US-64 in general, between Raleigh and Tarboro, would be relatively easy to bring up to the most basic interstate standards (minimum upgrades), and would allow nearly 90 miles of I-87 to exist (although upgrades near Nashville may require bridge replacements) between I-40 and US-17 in Williamston. The rest would be fully dependent on US-17 upgrades at that point, and may get the ball rolling. Mainly just connecting the freeway bypass segments with upgrades to the divided highway portions or new alignments.