Interstate 440 (North Carolina)

Interstate 440 (abbreviated I-440) in North Carolina, also known as the Raleigh Beltline and the Cliff Benson Beltline, is a 16.4-mile (26.4-km) partial beltway that nearly encircles central Raleigh.^[1] Prior to August 2002, it was a complete loop and shared a concurrency with its parent, Interstate 40 along the loop's southern segment (Tom Bradshaw Freeway). I-440 was labeled with "Inner" and "Outer" lanes, making it one of the few Interstate Highways in the United States not primarily labeled with compass directions (e.g. east/west). It has now been truncated to avoid confusion, especially with the I-540 "Outer Loop" and is being relabeled with an east–west orientation.

Route description

I-440 is labeled as an east–west highway which forms a partial loop around the north of downtown Raleigh. Both the eastern and western terminus are at I-40. Exit numbers follow the standard Interstate pattern, increasing from west to east. At the western terminus, the mainline of the road continues on as the U.S. 1/64 expressway through Cary. Other major junctions include the Raleigh-Chapel Hill Expressway at exit 4, U.S. 70 at exit 7, U.S. 1/401 at exit 11, and U.S. 64/264 at exit 14. I-440 shares its route with U.S. 1 between exit 1 and exit 11, and with U.S. 64 between exit 14 and exit 16.^[2]

Prior to 2002, the route also followed I-40 south of downtown Raleigh and was labeled "inner" and "outer" rather than using the standard cardinal directions. With the opening of a second loop around Raleigh, I-440 was truncated to its current length, and its designation changed to the standard east/west labeling to avoid confusion with the new road. Signage has been slow to change on parts of the road, and in some places still reflects the old routing and designation. By 2009, many, but not all, of the signs had been changed.

Nearby points of interest

• RBC Center via Wade Avenue (exit 4)
• Carter-Finley Stadium via Wade Avenue (exit 4)
• North Carolina State Fairgrounds via NC 54/Hillsborough Street (exit 3)
• Meredith College via NC 54/Hillsborough Street (exit 3)
• North Carolina State University via Western Boulevard (exit 2A)
• Crabtree Valley Mall via US 70/NC 50/Glenwood Avenue (exit 7)
• North Hills via Six Forks Road (exit 8B)
• The Time Warner Cable Music Pavilion at Walnut Creek via Poole Road (exit 15)

Volume and capacity

Between US1-64 (Exit 1A) and Wade Ave. (Exit 4) west of Downtown Raleigh, I-440 has four travel lanes. As of 2005, average annual daily traffic volume varies between 78,000 vpd and 90,000 vpd on this section.

Between Wade Ave. (Exit 4) and Capital Blvd. (Exit 11) north of Downtown Raleigh, I-440 has between six and eight travel lanes. As of 2005, average annual traffic volume varies between 112,000 vpd and 138,000 vpd on this section.

Between Capital Blvd (Exit 11) and I-40 (Exit 16) east of Downtown Raleigh, I-440 has between six and eight travel lanes. As of 2005, average annual traffic volume varies between 88,000 vpd and 108,000 vpd on this section.

History

Truncation and removal of Inner/Outer labels

In 2002, the North Carolina Department of Transportation decided to replace the inner/outer labeling with an east–west orientation and remove I-440 along its concurrency with I-40. This decision was primarily made to prevent confusion with the I-540 Outer Loop around Wake County.^[3] The FHWA route log has been updated to show the shortened distance.^[1] By 2009 many, but not all, signs reflecting the old routing and designation have been removed or updated. Signs are being changed as they are replaced; new signs placed on US 1 do not show I-440 on the southern segment and show I-440 with east/west compass directions.

Interstate 40 Business

Prior to 1991, the northern part of the beltline was designated, but unsigned, as Business Interstate 40 while the southern part remained Interstate 40. Later, the I-440 designation was approved and signed along the entire loop.^[4]

Exit list

Exits are numbered by mile marker, beginning at Exit 1 in the southwest and continuing east.^[5] With the truncation of I-440 and assignment of east/west direction, exits are now numbered west to east.

All exits are in Wake County.

References