Interstate 295 / Highway 295

The Fayetteville Outer Loop arcs westward from I-95 and the south end of U.S. 13 at Eastover along the north side of Fayetteville to Fort Bragg. The freeway connects with the main entrance to Fort Bragg via All American Freeway (SR 1007) and with NC 24/87 and NC 210 north to the town of Spring Lake and Pope Army Airfield. Interstate 295 turns south ahead of a temporary end point at U.S. 401 (Raeford Road).

I-295 was redesignated as North Carolina Highway 295 in 2014. However Section CB, from the All American Freeway southwest to Cliffdale Road, and Section CA from Cliffdale Road to U.S. 401 (Exit 12), were both signed with Interstate 295 markers. This change was the result of the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) allowing the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) to post the Fayetteville Outer Loop as I-295.⁵

A July resolution adopted by the N.C. Board of Transportation named NC 295 west from I-95 to Raeford Road (U.S. 401) as the "The Airborne and Special Operations Highway." A dedication ceremony for the naming took place at the Airborne Special Operations Museum on August 16, 2014.¹

Interstate 295 North Carolina Guides

• North
• South

Interstate 295 opened initially along the 7.5 mile route between U.S. 401 (Ramsay Street) and River Road in 2003. Completion of the freeway east to I-95 occurred by 2005. Until 2014, markers without the word Interstate were posted for the route.

A 1.7 mile long section from Murchison Road to Bragg Boulevard (NC 24/NC 87) opened to traffic on August 4, 2014.¹ Construction to August 11, 2016 joined that separate stretch with the remainder of the NC 295 freeway east from U.S. 401.² A short extension opened west to the All American Freeway (SR 1007) on December 2, 2016.³

The succeeding segment (Section CB) along the Fayetteville Outer Loop opened to traffic on November 26, 2019. The seven mile long section extends southwest from the All American Freeway (SR 1007) to Cliffdale Road (SR 1400).⁴ Opening of Section CB was previously anticipated for October 2018.²

Remaining construction for the Fayetteville Outer Loop between Cliffdale Road and I-95 south of Hope Hills is as follows:

• Cliffdale Road south to U.S. 401 (Raeford Road)

An $100.6 million design-build contract for the 3.1 mile long Section CA was awarded by the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) in June 2016. Construction commenced on the Lake Rim Runoff bridge taking Old Raeford Road across Bones Creek in August 2017. That span was completed in December 2017. NC 295 south from Cliffdale Road to U.S. 401 (Raeford Road) opened to traffic on August 19, 2020, three months ahead of schedule.⁵ Work on the remaining roadway south to near Century Circle was scheduled for completion in Summer 2022.

• U.S. 401 (Raeford Road) south to Camden Road

Design work for Section B was underway in 2018. A contract was scheduled to be awarded by NCDOT in January 2019. Three years of delays due to funding issues pushed this date back to July 2022, when a $151.8 million contract was awarded. Construction got underway in August 2022 with completion anticipated for Summer 2026.⁶

• Camden Road south to Interstate 95

NCDOT awarded a $129.7 million design-build contract for Section A in December 2017. Construction got underway in Spring 2019. A two mile section of I-295 opened to traffic on November 21, 2022 between Parkton Road / Exit 2 and Black Bridge Road / Exit 4 southwest of Hope Hills. The remainder is scheduled for completion by Summer 2024.⁶

scenes

Leeper Road (SR 1717) north at the two mile segment of I-295 opened to traffic on November 21, 2022 north from Parkton Road / Exit 2 to Black Bridge Road / Exit 4. 12/28/22

A dumbbell interchange joins Leeper Road north / Parkton Road south with Interstate 295 at Exit 2. 12/28/22

Leeper Road (SR 1717) and Parkton Road (SR 1118) were slightly realigned to span I-295 north of Horsepen Branch. 12/28/22

I-295 north enters Cumberland County just beyond the exchange with Parkton Road en route to Black Bridge Road (SR 1115). 12/28/22

The northbound entrance ramp for Interstate 295 from Parkton Road (SR 1118). 12/28/22

Parkton Road south at the roundabout with the future entrance ramp for I-295 to Interstate 95. 12/28/22

Black Bridge Road east at the entrance ramp for Interstate 295 south to Parkton Road at Exit 2. 12/28/22

Black Bridge Road west at the roundabout with the ramps along I-295 south at Exit 4. 12/28/22

River Road (SR 1714) north at the loop ramp for I-295 south to Fort Bragg. 05/31/21

River Road (SR 1714) arcs west from Wade to a folded diamond interchange (Exit 30) with Interstate 295. 05/31/21

Photo Credits:

05/31/21, 12/28/22 by AARoads

Connect with:
Interstate 95
U.S. 13
U.S. 401
Highway 24
Highway 87
All American Freeway / Owen Drive

Page Updated 01-15-2023.