Highway 55

Originating at Durham and ending at Oriental along Pamlico Sound, NC 55 travels 195.13 miles across eastern North Carolina. Within the Research Triangle region, NC 55 heads south from U.S. 501 Business near I-85 around Downtown Durham to Research Triangle Park (RTP) and western reaches of Cary. Continuing through Apex and Holly Springs, NC 55 leaves Wake County through the town of Fuquay-Varina.

NC 55 turns east alongside U.S. 421 from Erwin to Dunn and I-95. The state route advances east along a rural course to Newton Grove, Mount Olive and Lenoir County. Combining with NC 11 for 8.37 miles, NC 55 angles northeast through the city of Kinston.

Paralleling the Neuse River, NC 55 runs southeast to New Bern, where it joins U.S. 17 and U.S. 70/Future I-42 across the Trent River south of Downtown. NC 55 branches east from U.S. 17 beyond The Neuse River Bridge to Grantsboro and Bayboro in Pamlico County. The route concludes at the Oriental Road (SR 1308) bridge spanning Greens Creek Broad within the town of Oriental.

East

Continuing south from the split diamond interchange with I-85/U.S. 15-70 along NC 55 (Avondale Drive) eastbound in Durham.
05/31/21

Reassurance marker posted along NC 55 (Avondale Drive) eastbound at Nancy Street, 0.17 miles south of the exchange with Interstate 85.
05/31/21

A folded diamond interchange (Exit 278) joins NC 55 with Interstate 40 west of a parallel CSX Railroad line.
12/16/22

12/16/22

12/16/22

NC 55 separates from U.S. 17 north at a trumpet interchange within the town of Bridgeton.
12/30/17

NC 55 travels 14 miles east from Bridgeton to the Pamlico County seat of Bayboro.
12/30/17

SR 1600 along Broad Creek Road spurs 7.07 miles south to Fairfield Harbour and Rowland Point along the Neuse River. SR 1600 follows Half Moon Road northwest to Dickerson.
12/30/17

A distance sign at Broad Creek Road lists Camps Vandemere (20), Seafarer (21, Sea Gull (23), Don Lee (24) and Caroline (25).
12/30/17

12/30/17

12/30/17

NC 55 spans Upper Broad Creek into Pamlico County.
12/30/17

NC 55 continues eight miles from Olympia to Grantsboro and 12 miles to Bayboro. This distance sign was replaced by 2018.
12/30/17

West

Olympia Road (SR 1126) south at NC 55 in the community of Olympia. NC 55 west crosses into Craven County nearby. Grantsboro is seven miles to the east.
12/30/17

Reassurance marker posted after Olympia Road (SR 1126) westbound at Olympia.
12/30/17

Crossing Upper Broad Creek, NC 55 west enters Craven County.
12/30/17

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12/30/17

NC 55 meets U.S. 17 one mile southwest of the traffic light with Half Moon Road north and Broad Creek Road (SR 1600) south.
12/30/17

SR 1600 forms a 9.17 mile long arc along Half Moon Road from Vanceboro Road north of Dickerson to Fairfield Harbor along Broad Creek Road south of NC 55.
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12/30/17

U.S. 17 meets NC 55 south of the Bridgeton street grid.
12/30/17

Heading north, U.S. 17 joins New Bern with Washington and Williamston.
12/30/17

12/30/17

NC 55 curves south onto U.S. 17 at a trumpet interchange.
12/30/17

U.S. 17 south / NC 55 west combine across The Neuse River Bridge to an elevated exchange with U.S. 70/Future I-42 at New Bern.
12/30/17

Confirming marker posted west of NC 903 at Husseys Crossroads.
08/28/21

NC 55 enters Wayne County 0.59 miles west of NC 903.
08/28/21

Curving northward, NC 55 continues into the town of Seven Springs.
08/28/21

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08/28/21

Heading southwest along NC 55 between Mark Herring Road (SR 1746) and the West Prong of Cox Creek.
08/28/21

NC 111 crosses paths with NC 55 at Hines Crossroads.
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NC 55 west at Camp Jubilee Road (SR 1948).
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08/28/21

NC 55 meets the north end of NC 403 at Williams.
08/28/21

The town of Faison lies along NC 403 west 11.39 miles at U.S. 117.
08/28/21

Pineview Cemetery Road (SR 1745) parallels NC 55 back to the northeast from the intersection with NC 403.
08/28/21

NC 55 parts ways with U.S. 401 south / NC 42 west at Ennis Street in Fuqua-Varina.
12/16/22

Beyond an at-grade crossing with Norfolk Southern Railroad tracks, NC 55 turns west from Ellis Street onto Broad Street.
12/16/22

Angling northwest, NC 55 converges with Wake Chapel Road (SR 1108) at the succeeding traffic light.
12/16/22

12/16/22

Continuing northwest, NC 55 next intersects Judd Parkway. Judd Parkway is an arterial beltway around Fuquay-Varina.
12/16/22

12/16/22

Old Powell Road (SR 1111) loops 2.19 miles southwest from James Slaughter Road (SR 1399) across NC 55 to Wilbon Road (SR 1110).
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12/16/22

NC 55 (G.B. Alford Highway) enters the town of Holly Springs beyond the Alston Ridge development.
12/16/22

12/16/22

NC 55 shifts onto Main Street to the Holly Springs town center while NC 55 Bypass continues G.B. Alford Highway to the west.
12/16/22

NC 55 Bypass is a controlled access arterial extending 4.41 miles to the north to southern Apex.
12/16/22

12/16/22

North

The first confirming marker for NC 55 Bypass stands just north of NC 55 (Main Street) and Ralph Stephens Road (SR 1114).
12/16/22

Avent Ferry Road (SR 1115) meets NC 55 Bypass at a J-turn intersection.
12/16/22

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12/16/22

Green Oaks Parkway east and Ballentine Street west come together at a J-turn intersection with NC 55 Bypass.
12/16/22

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12/16/22

Holly Springs Road (SR 1152) leads 0.84 miles east from NC 55 Bypass to NC 55 (Main Street) in Holly Springs.
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12/16/22

The signal at Vinewood Place serves Holly Springs Towne Center.
12/16/22

12/16/22

Bennet Knoll Parkway runs north of Holly Springs Towne Center west to Old Holly Springs Apex Road (SR 1153).
12/16/22

Sportsmanship Way stems east from NC 55 Bypass to Ting Park and NC 55 (Main Street) at Anchor Creek Way.
12/16/22

12/16/22

12/16/22

NC 55 Bypass advances north along the South Wake Landfill to a parclo interchange with NC 540 (Triangle Expressway).
12/16/22

The Triangle Expressway or TriEx travels north along NC 540 to the Western Wake Expressway for Raleigh Durham International Airport (RDU).
12/16/22

Construction started in November 2019 extends the TriEx east from NC 55 Bypass to I-40 and I-42 south of Garner.
12/16/22

Construction for NC 540 east from NC 55 Bypass is anticipated for completion in Spring 2024.
12/16/22

NC 540 (TriEx) opened north from NC 55 Bypass to Apex and Morrisville in December 2012.
12/16/22

North

NC 55 north at the westbound entrance ramp for I-40 in south Durham.
01/17/19

Vintage shield assembly preceding the split diamond interchange joining NC 55 (Avondale Drive) west with I-85/U.S. 15-70 in Durham.
05/31/21

NC 55 concludes 0.31 miles north from the ramps with Interstate 85 at U.S. 501 Business (N Roxboro Street).
05/31/21

I-85 and U.S. 15 overlap northeast across Falls Lake and then part ways on separate courses to Oxford.
05/31/21

U.S. 70 east separates with I-85/U.S. 15 north at the succeeding exit for I-885 (East End Connector) toward Raleigh.
05/31/21

Connect with:

Interstate 40

Interstate 85

Interstate 95

Interstate 540 / Toll NC 540

U.S. 1

U.S. 13

U.S. 17

U.S. 64

U.S. 70

U.S. 117

U.S. 401

U.S. 421

Highway 82

Highway 147 - Durham Freeway

Page Updated Tuesday January 31, 2023.