Interstate 95 in North Carolina

Interstate 95
Route information
Maintained by NCDOT
Length:	181.71 mi[1][2] (292.43 km)
Existed:	1958[3] – present
Major junctions
South end:	I-95 at the South Carolina state line
	I‑74 / US 74 near Lumberton US 13 / NC 295 in Eastover I‑40 near Benson I‑795 / US 264 near Wilson US 64 in Rocky Mount
North end:	I‑95 at the Virginia state line
Location
Counties:	Robeson, Cumberland, Harnett, Johnston, Wilson, Nash, Halifax, Northampton
Highway system
Interstate Highway System Main Auxiliary Suffixed Business Future North Carolina Highway System Interstate U.S. State Scenic ← NC 94 NC 96 →

Interstate 95 (I-95) is a major Interstate Highway, running along the East Coast of the United States from Florida to Maine. In North Carolina, I-95 runs diagonally across the eastern third of the state, from Rowland at the South Carolina border to Pleasant Hill at the Virginia border. From south to north, the route passes through or near the cities of Lumberton, Fayetteville, Wilson, Rocky Mount and Roanoke Rapids. The entire route is rural, forming the informal border between the Piedmont and Coastal Plain regions of the state. There are three auxiliary routes for I-95 in the state: Future I-295, a partially completed bypass of Fayetteville, I-495, a partially completed connector route between Rocky Mount and Raleigh that follows the current U.S. 64 freeway, and I-795, a spur route connecting I-95 to the city of Goldsboro.

Route description

Interstate 95 enters North Carolina at the South Carolina line, just north of the South of the Border attraction and just to the south of the town of Rowland. Traveling mostly northeast from the border, the road enters Lumberton where it interchanges with I-74. Frontage roads through Lumberton have extensive travel services, including restaurants, shops, and hotels. Leaving Lumberton, the route turns due north through a rural area of the state, past the small farming community of St. Pauls. I-95 serves as the eastern bypass of Fayetteville where Interstate 95 Business, an older alignment, connects I-95 to downtown Fayetteville.

I-95 interchanges with I-40 in Benson, North Carolina, U.S. 264 in Wilson, and U.S. 64 in Rocky Mount, three of the main east-west routes in the eastern part of the state. The last city it passes is Roanoke Rapids before leaving the state near the unincorporated community of Pleasant Hill at the Virginia border. For most of the route, I-95 is paralleled closely by U.S. 301.

Services

The North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) operate and maintain two welcome centers and six rest areas along I-95. Welcome centers, which have a travel information facility on site, are located at mile markers 5 (northbound) and 181 (southbound); rest areas are located at mile markers 47 (north and southbound), 99 (north and southbound) and 142 (north and southbound). Common at all locations are public restrooms, public telephones, vending machines, picnic area and barbecue grills.^[4]

The North Carolina Department of Public Safety (NCDPS) operate and maintain four truck inspection/weigh stations along I-95. The Robeson County stations are located on both north and southbound at mile marker 24, each has one fixed scale. The Halifax County stations are located on both north and southbound at mile marker 151, each has two fixed scales.^[5]

Dedicated and memorial names

Interstate 95 in North Carolina feature numerous dedicated or memorialized bridges, interchanges and stretches of freeway.

• Blue Star Memorial Highway: Official North Carolina honorary name of Interstate 95 throughout the state (approved on June 13, 1980).^[6][7][8]
• Dick Fleming Freeway: Official North Carolina name of Interstate 95 from exit 95, in Smithfield, to exit 97, in Selma, in Johnston County. He is honored as being a visionary businessman, who help spur businesses along the two exits and the establishment of Carolina Pottery Store in 1983, which later grew to become Carolina Premium Outlets (approved January, 2013; dedicated March 22, 2013).^[9]
• Hector MacLean Highway: Official North Carolina name of Interstate 95 within Lumberton city limits (approved on October 3, 1997).^[6]

History

I-95 Entering into NC from VA

Established in 1956, as part of the Federal Aid Highway Act of 1956, I-95 was routed along or near existing US 301 throughout the state of North Carolina. By 1961, two stretches of the interstate opened: from mile marker 56, in Fayetteville, to mile marker 107, near Kenly; the other a small bypass near Saint Pauls. In 1964, the Saint Pauls section extended further south into Lumberton; while another small stretch opened from US 158, in Roanoke Rapids, to the Virginia state line. In 1969, I-95 was extended further south from Roanoke Rapids to exit 145, in Gold Rock (later used for NC 4). In 1973, Interstate 95 was completed from Saint Pauls to the South Carolina state line.

By the mid 1970s, I-95 had two gaps along its route: Fayetteville and Kenly-Gold Rock. In May 1978, two Interstate 95 Business loops were established, both overlapping US 301, to help connect through the gaps and make I-95 appear as one continuous route throughout the state. In November 1978, the first gap to be completed was the Kenly-Gold Rock section.^[10] The final section of Interstate 95 was completed in 1980, an easterly bypass of Fayetteville.^[11][12]

Tolls

The idea of tolling I-95 started in 2001 as a way to pay for improvements along the route. In 2003, state officials sought permission from the Federal Highway Administration for a plan that would cost $3 billion and put toll booths every thirty miles along the entire route. However, this was quickly killed by Governor Mike Easley, who did not support tolls.^[13]

In 2006, when the Virginia General Assembly passed the resolution calling for an interstate compact to build a toll highway, North Carolina was asked to join in on the compact of putting tolls along the entire length of Interstate 95 in both states.^[14] Again, this was stopped by Governor Mike Easley, who did not see the benefit in such a compact and reiterated his opposition of tolls along Interstate 95.^[12]

In 2010, North Carolina leaders revived talks on tolling Interstate 95, submitting a request to the Federal Highway Administration to toll the entire route. Approval would be considered after an environmental assessment and other conditions. Support has grown in a number of factors including the fact that the interstate is mostly rural and used predominantly by out-of-state drivers.^[12]

On January 20, 2012, NCDOT received final approval of the Environmental Assessment for improvements along I-95 in North Carolina. The following recommendations were made:

• Widen I-95 to eight lanes (four lanes in each direction) from exit 31 to exit 81;
• Widen the remaining sections of I-95 to six lanes (three lanes in each direction);
• Make necessary repairs to pavement;
• Raise and rebuild bridges;
• Improve interchanges; and
• Bring I-95 up to current safety standards for interstates.

It is estimated to cost $4.4 billion with recommendation that it should be paid through tolls. Construction would begin in two phases: Phase 1 (exit 31-exit 81) would begin in 2016 with tolls starting after completion; phase 2 would begin in 2019, which covers the remainder of the interstate.^[15][16][17] With a possible 2019 start date for the tolls, NCDOT plans to install nine overhead toll collection sensors every twenty miles with additional toll collection sensors at exits before tolls (to reduce drivers from jumping off and on at each toll); main toll stations will charge twenty miles each while exit tolls will charge ten miles each. Gaps along the route, where no toll collectors are located, will allow local traffic to utilize the interstate toll free. Though the toll rates have not been established, a NCDOT report suggest charging 19.2 cents per mile (11.9 ¢/km) for cars in the phase 1 section, with a much lower rate of 6.4 ¢/mi (4.0 ¢/km) on phase 2 sections; which would work out to be $19.20 from border to border (trucks with three axles or more will be charged more). Drivers that do not carry a toll transponder (i.e. North Carolina Quick Pass) will have their license numbers recorded by cameras and will be billed by mail, at a higher toll rate.^[18]

Future

NCDOT plans to widen I-95 from four to six lanes between mile markers 14 and 21, in Robeson County. However, it is currently flagged "Scheduled for Reprioritization," with no estimated cost or date established.^[19]

An improvement project along I-95 is in the development stage, between mile markers 56 and 81, in Cumberland and Johnston counties. Improvements include upgraded interchanges, raise and rebuild bridges, and widening of the interstate. The total estimated cost is $526 million, with date of construction starting on the first phase on October, 2017. However, it is currently flagged "Subject to Reprioritization."^[20]

Auxiliary routes in North Carolina

	Interstate	City	Type	Notes
	Interstate 95 Business	Fayetteville	Business loop	Expressway and boulevard grades.
	Interstate 95 Business	Wilson and Rocky Mount	Business loop	Boulevard grade. Decommissioned.
	Interstate 295	Fayetteville	Bypass	Future; completed segments designated as NC 295.
	Interstate 495	Raleigh	Connector	Bannered as future between Knightdale to Rocky Mount, along US 64.[21]
	Interstate 795	Wilson and Goldsboro	Spur

Exit list

County	Location	mi[2]	km	Exit	Destinations	Notes
Robeson	​	0.00	0.00		I-95 south – Florence	Continuation into South Carolina
				1	US 301 / US 501 – Rowland, Laurinburg, Dillon	Signed as exits 1A (south) and 1B (north) southbound; exits 1 northbound and 1A southbound are in South Carolina
	​	2.3	3.7	2	NC 130 to NC 904 – Rowland, Fairmont
	​	7.2	11.6	7	Raynham Road – McDonald, Raynham
	​	10.4	16.7	10	US 301 south – Raynham	South end of US 301 overlap
	Lumberton	13.0	20.9	13	I‑74 / US 74 – Whiteville, Wilmington, Laurinburg, Rockingham	Signed as exits 13A (east) and 13B (west); cloverleaf interchange with C/D lanes
		13.7	22.0	14	US 74	Permanently closed in 2007; replaced by exit 13
		17.0	27.4	17	NC 72 / NC 711 – Lumberton, Pembroke, Red Springs
		18.7	30.1	19	Carthage Road
		19.9	32.0	20	NC 211 to NC 41 – Lumberton, Red Springs, Fairmont
		21.5	34.6	22	US 301 north – Lumberton	North end of US 301 overlap
	​	25.0	40.2	25	US 301
	St. Pauls	31.4	50.5	31	NC 20 – St. Pauls, Raeford
		33.0	53.1	33	US 301 to NC 71 – Parkton, St. Pauls
	​				I‑295	Proposed interchange (unfunded)[22]
Cumberland	​	40.0	64.4	40	I‑95 Bus. north to US 301 – Fayetteville, Fort Bragg
	Hope Mills	41.3	66.5	41	NC 59 north – Hope Mills
	​	43.9	70.7	44	Snow Hill Road – Fayetteville Regional Airport
	​	46.0	74.0	46	NC 87 – Elizabethtown, Fayetteville	Signed as exits 46A (south) and 46B (north); cloverleaf interchange with C/D lanes
	Fayetteville	49.0	78.9	49	NC 53 / NC 210 – Fayetteville
	Vander	51.6	83.0	52	NC 24 – Fayetteville, Clinton	Signed as exits 52A (east) and 52B (west); cloverleaf interchange with C/D lanes
	Eastover	54.6	87.9	55	Murphy Road
		55.1	88.7	56	I‑95 Bus. south to US 301 – Fayetteville, Fort Bragg
		58.0	93.3	58	US 13 north / NC 295 south to US 401 – Newton Grove, Fort Bragg
	​	61.2	98.5	61	Wade–Steadman Road – Wade
	​	65.3	105.1	65	NC 82 – Godwin, Falcon
Harnett	​	69.5	111.8	70	Bud Hawkins Road
	​	70.8	113.9	71	Long Branch Road
	Dunn	72.4	116.5	72	Pope Road
		73.0	117.5	73	US 421 / NC 55 – Dunn, Clinton, Newton Grove
	​	75.0	120.7	75	Jonesboro Road
	​	76.9	123.8	77	Hodges Chapel Road
Johnston	Benson	79.5	127.9	79	NC 50 / NC 242 to NC 27 – Benson, Newton Grove
		81.0	130.4	81	I‑40 – Wilmington, Raleigh, Durham	Signed southbound as exits 81A (west) and 81B (east)
	Four Oaks	87.6	141.0	87	Keen Road – Four Oaks
		89.8	144.5	90	US 701 south / NC 96 – Newton Grove
	Smithfield	93.1	149.8	93	Brogden Road – Smithfield
		94.8	152.6	95	US 70 Bus. – Smithfield, Goldsboro	To Carolina Premium Outlets
	Selma	96.9	155.9	97	US 70 (NC 39) – Selma, Pine Level, Goldsboro
		98.0	157.7	98	Pine Level–Selma Road – Selma
	Micro	101.4	163.2	101	Pittman Road
		102.5	165.0	102	Main Street – Micro
	Kenly	104.6	168.3	105	Bagley Road
		106.0	170.6	106	Truck Stop Road
		107.2	172.5	107	US 301 – Kenly, Wilson	To Gov. Charles B. Aycock Birthplace and Tobacco Farm Life Museum
Wilson	​	116.4	187.3	116	NC 42 – Wilson, Clayton
	Wilson	119.4	192.2	119A	I‑795 south / US 264 east – Wilson, Greenville, Goldsboro	Signed as exits 119A (east/south) and 119B (west) Cloverleaf interchange with collector/distributor roadways
				119B	US 264 west – Raleigh
		121.5	195.5	121	US 264 Alt. – Wilson, Sims
Nash	​	126.9	204.2	127	NC 97 – Rocky Mount–Wilson Regional Airport
	​	132.4	213.1	132	To NC 58 / Sandy Cross Road
	Rocky Mount				Sunset Avenue	Proposed interchange (unfunded).[23][24]
		138.5	222.9	138	US 64 – Nashville, Raleigh, Rocky Mount, Tarboro	Signed as exits 138A (west) 138B (east) To NC Aquarium and Cape Hatteras National Seashore Cloverleaf interchange with collector/distributor roadways
	Dortches	140.8	226.6	141	NC 43 – Red Oak
	Rocky Mount	145.0	233.4	145	NC 4 / NC 48 to US 301 – Gold Rock, Rocky Mount
	​	149.8	241.1	150	NC 33 – Whitakers
Halifax	​	153.7	247.4	154	NC 481 – Enfield
	​	160.5	258.3	160	NC 561 – Halifax	To Medoc Mountain State Park
	​	167.7	269.9	168	NC 903 – Halifax
	Roanoke Rapids	170.7	274.7	171	NC 125 – Roanoke Rapids
		173.0	278.4	173	US 158 – Roanoke Rapids, Weldon
Northampton	​	175.8	282.9	176	NC 46 – Gaston, Garysburg
	​	180.0	289.7	180	NC 48 – Gaston
	​	181.7	292.4		I‑95 north – Richmond	Continuation into Virginia
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi       Closed/former       Concurrency terminus       Unopened

See also

• Cape Fear River
• Lake Gaston
• Lumber River
• Neuse River
• Roanoke River

References

External links

Route map: Google

• Media related to Interstate 95 in North Carolina at Wikimedia Commons
• Driving95|I-95 Corridor Planning & Financial Study
• Internatate 95 North Carolina @ SoutheastRoads.com (AARoads)
• Exitlists.com (I-95)

Interstate 95
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