Interstate 42 (E)

[Life in Paradise]

I still cringe every time I see I 40 take the south turn to Wilmington and think that NC has received approval for I-87 from Norfolk/Virginia Beach to Raleigh. An east/west interstate runs south for over 100 miles just to get to the Atlantic, where as another interstate comes from the Atlantic and travels over 100 miles mostly east/west and is numbered north/south.   
 

Methinks you wouldn't like the routings of I-26 or I-85, either. But they've been so well-established for decades that there'd be no use in changing them now.

I'm not crazy about I-26 either after they extended it to the Virginia line.  I-85, I'm not as bad with as a diagonal main trunk line, except I would have continued it down to Mobile and terminated I-65 in Montgomery (initial intereste plan) and then with all the population gains, run it down near Dothan and Tallahasee down the Florida Gulf Coast to Tampa.

[wdcrft63]

I still cringe every time I see I 40 take the south turn to Wilmington and think that NC has received approval for I-87 from Norfolk/Virginia Beach to Raleigh. An east/west interstate runs south for over 100 miles just to get to the Atlantic, where as another interstate comes from the Atlantic and travels over 100 miles mostly east/west and is numbered north/south.   
 

Methinks you wouldn't like the routings of I-26 or I-85, either. But they've been so well-established for decades that there'd be no use in changing them now.

I'm not crazy about I-26 either after they extended it to the Virginia line.  I-85, I'm not as bad with as a diagonal main trunk line, except I would have continued it down to Mobile and terminated I-65 in Montgomery (initial intereste plan) and then with all the population gains, run it down near Dothan and Tallahasee down the Florida Gulf Coast to Tampa.

I agree, but outside of Highway Nerdistan no one cares. People in Asheville certainly have strong opinions about NCDOT's plans for I-26 but they don't include any complaints about the number.

BTW I agree that the lack of an interstate leading SE from Montgomery into Florida is one of the most glaring gaps in the system. Unfortunately Alabama doesn't seem to have any interest in building it.

[epzik8]

I still cringe every time I see I 40 take the south turn to Wilmington

I do looking at a map, but when I drive it between there and Faison (117 split to Goldsboro and 795) it never crosses my mind.

[froggie]

BTW I agree that the lack of an interstate leading SE from Montgomery into Florida is one of the most glaring gaps in the system. Unfortunately Alabama doesn't seem to have any interest in building it.

Alabama doesn't have a good track record at finding funding (or paying for it themselves) for the Interstate proposals it already has (i.e. "I-85 Extension", West Alabama, Birmingham Northern Loop), let alone new Interstate proposals...

[jcil4ever]

Noticed these signs went up within the last few weeks, trying to warn people of the increased construction in James City and to detour through Maysville.

This one is heading East just before Tuscarora Rhems Rd:


And this is immediately before the US-17 South exit:

[Dirt Roads]

Noticed these signs went up within the last few weeks, trying to warn people of the increased construction in James City and to detour through Maysville.

Unless you are heading to Fort Macon or the eastern section of Atlantic Beach, the fastest route from Raleigh to the Bogue Banks (ergo, Crystal Coast) already is to use US-70 -to- US-17 -to- NC-58 via Maysville (as posted above).  I-42 construction along US-70 between Pine Level and Goldsboro is still relatively harmless during the Spring and Summer months.

On the other hand, it only takes 5 minutes or so longer to take I-40 -to- NC-24 -to- NC-58 via Jacksonville and Swansboro.  This route has lots of extra places open at night on the east end of the trip than driving across Jones County.

[bob7374]

This article I just found from early April indicates NCDOT is planning to sign I-42, at least along the Clayton Bypass, after restoring US 70 through Clayton and renumbering NC 42 to NC 36 in Johnston County, in the fall:
https://restorationnewsmedia.com/articles/local-news-johnstonian/roads-will-get-new-numbers-names-too/

[jcil4ever]

Unless you are heading to Fort Macon or the eastern section of Atlantic Beach, the fastest route from Raleigh to the Bogue Banks (ergo, Crystal Coast) already is to use US-70 -to- US-17 -to- NC-58 via Maysville (as posted above).  I-42 construction along US-70 between Pine Level and Goldsboro is still relatively harmless during the Spring and Summer months.

On the other hand, it only takes 5 minutes or so longer to take I-40 -to- NC-24 -to- NC-58 via Jacksonville and Swansboro.  This route has lots of extra places open at night on the east end of the trip than driving across Jones County.

Apparently, NCDOT agrees with you that folks should know better!

They only have two small signs like this on US-17S at Maysville for the alternate route, though maybe this is more because the speed limit is 60 instead of 70.


On the other hand, there is a big sign just before 17 meets 70 (apologies for the terrible photo):

[jcil4ever]

Overpass opens for traffic in Havelock, as part of new Havelock Bypass

[jcil4ever]

I drove from Raleigh to New Bern on US-70 today and noticed a few small updates:

It doesn't look like NCDOT is going to use the opening of NC-540 to also sign I-42. You can see US-70 still signed in the unfinished turbine interchange. I'm guessing the missing shields will be I-40 and US-70 (west).


The bridge over Wilson Mills Rd. looks to be nearly ready for use! That'll make the first stop light the one in Princeton!

[The Ghostbuster]

That's a pity. I guess we'll have to wait even longer for Interstate 42 to be signposted.

[roadman65]

Hey we had to wait forever for I-95 to be completed. So don't rant about this. It's called progress.

[The Ghostbuster]

I'm not sure if anyone has noticed, but Google Maps has completely removed the Interstate 42 markers from the US 70 corridor, an admission they jumped the gun on marking it. I can't figure Google Maps out at all, and I doubt anyone else can either.

[bob7374]

I'm not sure if anyone has noticed, but Google Maps has completely removed the Interstate 42 markers from the US 70 corridor, an admission they jumped the gun on marking it. I can't figure Google Maps out at all, and I doubt anyone else can either.

You would have thought they would wait until the route was actually signed. 

[Sapphuby]

I'm not sure if anyone has noticed, but Google Maps has completely removed the Interstate 42 markers from the US 70 corridor, an admission they jumped the gun on marking it. I can't figure Google Maps out at all, and I doubt anyone else can either.

Funny enough it was also marked on portions that weren't even approved for it and through James City. They love marking interstates too early, which I also saw for I-69 south of Indy.

[ElishaGOtis]

I'm not sure if anyone has noticed, but Google Maps has completely removed the Interstate 42 markers from the US 70 corridor, an admission they jumped the gun on marking it. I can't figure Google Maps out at all, and I doubt anyone else can either.

Funny enough it was also marked on portions that weren't even approved for it and through James City. They love marking interstates too early, which I also saw for I-69 south of Indy.

I-69 was also marked on US-41 on the local road through Henderson, KY AND along the Twin Bridges.

Even more strange, about 14 years ago, I-66 was indicated on Western KY Pkwy and the Cumberland Pkwy.

On a similar note, I-74 is still currently indicated on quite a few sections of US-74 despite not being signed as such. Some aren't even freeways, but I think that's been fixed.

[vdeane]

Even more strange, about 14 years ago, I-66 was indicated on Western KY Pkwy and the Cumberland Pkwy.

How is that more strange?  Google jumps the gun on marking future interstates all the time, and extending I-66 was a real proposal a decade or two ago.  What's more strange is that time they labeled a bunch of roads as "Québec Route 366" (I think... don't exactly recall the specific number).

[74/171FAN]

Even more strange, about 14 years ago, I-66 was indicated on Western KY Pkwy and the Cumberland Pkwy.

How is that more strange?  Google jumps the gun on marking future interstates all the time, and extending I-66 was a real proposal a decade or two ago.  What's more strange is that time they labeled a bunch of roads as "Québec Route 366" (I think... don't exactly recall the specific number).

Wait, they did not believe that ethanman turned VA 28 to I-366? 

[ElishaGOtis]

Even more strange, about 14 years ago, I-66 was indicated on Western KY Pkwy and the Cumberland Pkwy.

How is that more strange?  Google jumps the gun on marking future interstates all the time, and extending I-66 was a real proposal a decade or two ago.  What's more strange is that time they labeled a bunch of roads as "Québec Route 366" (I think... don't exactly recall the specific number).

Wait, they did not believe that ethanman turned VA 28 to I-366? 

Who wants to tell them that VA-28 is now a full Freeway from I-66 to points north?

[bob7374]

I drove from Raleigh to New Bern on US-70 today and noticed a few small updates:

It doesn't look like NCDOT is going to use the opening of NC-540 to also sign I-42. You can see US-70 still signed in the unfinished turbine interchange. I'm guessing the missing shields will be I-40 and US-70 (west).


The bridge over Wilson Mills Rd. looks to be nearly ready for use! That'll make the first stop light the one in Princeton!

Based on the photo below, courtesy of John Maultsby, first posted on the FB SE Roads, the signage on the turbine ramp has changed, and now includes an I-42 shield (and a new control city, Goldsboro). Hopefully this means NCDOT is planning to sign the route before the now delayed opening in September of the NC 540 extension.

[jcil4ever]

Based on a photo seen on the FB SE Roads, the left sign seen above has been changed and now includes an I-42 shield (and a new control city, Goldsboro). It appears NCDOT is planning to sign the route before the now delayed opening in September of the NC 540 extension. [Will post the photo here if get permission].

Yes! I drove through the turbine last night and thought I saw that, too, but wasn't 100% sure.

[Henry]

Based on a photo seen on the FB SE Roads, the left sign seen above has been changed and now includes an I-42 shield (and a new control city, Goldsboro). It appears NCDOT is planning to sign the route before the now delayed opening in September of the NC 540 extension.

Yes! I drove through the turbine last night and thought I saw that, too, but wasn't 100% sure.
[/quote]
And so begins the creation of I-42; who wants to bet that it will get done before I-87 does? Given how much further it's progressed, it certainly looks to go that way.

[LM117]

I wonder when they're gonna sign I-42 in Goldsboro.

[bob7374]

I wonder when they're gonna sign I-42 in Goldsboro.

Interestingly, someone posted on the Tar Heel Roads FB group today that they thought they saw an I-42 shield heading west at the eastern end of the Goldsboro Bypass on Monday (8/26). They could not get a photo at the time though. Hopefully they will next time, if true. I saw no signs (sorry) of any I-42 shields looking at the traffic cameras along the Bypass earlier today.

[ssummers72]

I received an email from NCDOT Division 4 regarding the signing of I-42, they hope to make these sign changes in Wayne County by the end of this year, and in Johnston County in Feb. 2025.