Future Interstate 42

Interstate 42 is the planned designation for freeway upgrades along the U.S. 70 corridor from Raleigh to Morehead City in eastern North Carolina. The 137 mile route will be a catalyst for economic development, connecting with state port facilities at Morehead City and the Global Trans Park at Kinston. I-42 will also better connect Seymour Johnson Air Force Base at Goldsboro with Cherry Point Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS).¹

The American Association of State and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) approved the establishment of Interstate 42 on May 25, 2016. North Carolina previously requested Interstate 36 for the 136.6 mile long corridor. Completed just two days later, the Goldsboro Bypass is a 21.7 mile long freeway constructed along the Future I-42 corridor. Designated as U.S. 70 Bypass and split into three sections, the first 3.9 miles opened in December 2011. The western 5.9 miles were finished in October 2015 followed by a 11.9 mile section to the east in 2016.²

Portions of U.S. 70 are already built to Interstate standards including the Clayton Bypass spurring east from I-40 and U.S. 70 Bypass around the north side of Goldsboro. East of Kinston, construction underway through 2020 upgraded a 32 mile stretch of freeway between Dover and New Bern to Interstate standards.¹

The James City Project by New Bern airport converts a 4.5 mile section of U.S. 70 into a limited access highway. Eliminating five signalized intersections, work starts in March 2021 and runs through late 2023. Further east a new bypass will be built by early 2024 around Havelock for I-42.¹

The last section scheduled for construction along Future I-42 is a bypass to the south of Kinston. The bulk of construction for this leg is scheduled to begin in 2029.¹ I-42 is anticipated to be fully complete in 2032.

East

Ramps from I-40 to the Clayton Bypass converge at the Johnston County line.
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Future I-42 corridor signs were installed at the west end of the Clayton Bypass in Fall 2016.
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Interstate 42 will eventually meet NC 42 to the southwest of Clayton.
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NC 42 travels west from U.S. 70 to the town of Fuquay-Varina and east along Lombard Street to U.S. 70 Business in the town of Clayton.
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East

U.S. 70 Bypass (Future I-42) enters a folded diamond interchange (Exit 350) with U.S. 117 just east of the exchange with Interstate 795.
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U.S. 117 leads south from U.S. 70 Bypass into the city of Goldsboro.
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U.S. 117 was previously upgraded to a freeway between Goldsboro and Wilson. The limited access route was renumbered I-795 in November 2007 and U.S. 117 realigned back onto its original alignment to the east.
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Heading north from Goldsboro, U.S. 117 travels toward Wayne Executive Jetport (GWW) and the town of Pikeville.
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East

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West

U.S. 70 Bypass meets Interstate 795 at a cloverstack interchange (Exit 355) on the north side of Goldsboro.
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U.S. 70 Bypass (Future I-42) spans a Norfolk Southern Railroad line between U.S. 117 and Interstate 795.
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Joining Goldsboro with Wilson, Interstate 795 travels 23 miles north from Exit 355B to the exchange connecting U.S. 264/Future I-587 with I-95.
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West

Leading away from the exchange with U.S. 70 Business near Powhatan along the Clayton Bypass.
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U.S. 70 meets Ranch Road (SR 1560) at a diamond interchange (Exit 323).
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NC 42 runs southwest from U.S. 70 Business in Clayton to U.S. 70 / Future I-42 at Exit 320.
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U.S. 70 (Clayton Bypass) crosses Austin Pond west of NC 42.
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U.S. 70 combines with I-40 west at a trumpet interchange (Exit 318).
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Exit 318 is the loop ramp connecting U.S. 70 west with I-40 east to I-95 near Benson.
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Future I-42 corridor signs at I-40 originally displayed Interstate.
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Construction through 2023 rebuilds the exchange at I-40 and the west end of Future I-42 with ramps for the Southeast Extension of the Triangle Expressway (NC 540).
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References:

• "Highways connect eastern North Carolina to the future." Reflector (Greenville, SC), March 29, 2020.
• NCDOT: US 70 Corridor Improvements - Project Highlights. North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT), project web page.

Connect with:

Interstate 40

Interstate 95

Interstate 795

U.S. 13

U.S. 70

U.S. 117

Page Updated Friday December 09, 2022.