Interstate 95 in North Carolina

Interstate 95 marker

Interstate 95
I-95 highlighted in red
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 SC state line
 
North end I-95 at the VA state line
Location
Counties Robeson, Cumberland, Harnett, Johnston, Wilson, Nash, Halifax, Northampton
Highway system
← NC 94NC 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 two auxiliary routes for I-95 in the state: Future I-295, a partially completed bypass of Fayetteville 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 Rocky Mount (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 includes widening sections of the interstate in Cumberland and Robeson counties between Exit 22 & Exit 40 and in Harnett & Johnston counties between Exit 71 & Exit 81 to eight lanes. Currently, funding is expected for the Cumberland and Robeson section after 2027 and construction scheduled for the Harnett & Johnston counties section in 2026.[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 Connected between I-40 and I-540; future to I-95 in Rocky Mount. Replaced by I-87.
Interstate 795 Wilson and Goldsboro Spur

Exit list

CountyLocationmi[2]kmExitDestinationsNotes
Robeson​0.000.00 I-95 south – FlorenceContinuation into South Carolina
1 US 301 / US 501 – Rowland, Laurinburg, DillonSigned as exits 1A (south) and 1B (north) southbound; exits 1 northbound and 1A southbound are in South Carolina
​2.33.72 NC 130 to NC 904 – Rowland, Fairmont
​7.211.67Raynham Road – McDonald, Raynham
​10.416.710 US 301 south – RaynhamSouth end of US 301 overlap
Lumberton13.020.913 I-74 / US 74 – Whiteville, Wilmington, Laurinburg, RockinghamSigned as exits 13A (east) and 13B (west); cloverleaf interchange with C/D lanes
13.722.014 US 74Permanently closed in 2007; replaced by exit 13
17.027.417 NC 72 / NC 711 – Lumberton, Pembroke, Red Springs
18.730.119Carthage Road
19.932.020 NC 211 to NC 41 – Lumberton, Red Springs, Fairmont
21.534.622 US 301 north – LumbertonNorth end of US 301 overlap
​25.040.225 US 301
St. Pauls31.450.531 NC 20 – St. Pauls, Raeford
33.053.133 US 301 to NC 71 – Parkton, St. Pauls
​ I-295Proposed interchange (unfunded)[21]
Cumberland​40.064.440 I-95 Bus. north to US 301 – Fayetteville, Fort Bragg
Hope Mills41.366.541 NC 59 north – Hope Mills
​43.970.744Snow Hill Road – Fayetteville Regional Airport
​46.074.046 NC 87 – Elizabethtown, FayettevilleSigned as exits 46A (south) and 46B (north); cloverleaf interchange with C/D lanes
Fayetteville49.078.949 NC 53 / NC 210 – Fayetteville
Vander51.683.052 NC 24 – Fayetteville, ClintonSigned as exits 52A (east) and 52B (west); cloverleaf interchange with C/D lanes
Eastover54.687.955Murphy Road
55.188.756 I-95 Bus. south to US 301 – Fayetteville, Fort Bragg
58.093.358 US 13 north / NC 295 south to US 401 – Newton Grove, Fort BraggSouthern terminus of US 13
​61.298.561Wade–Steadman Road – Wade
​65.3105.165 NC 82 – Godwin, Falcon
Harnett​69.5111.870Bud Hawkins Road
​70.8113.971Long Branch Road
Dunn72.4116.572Pope Road
73.0117.573 US 421 / NC 55 – Dunn, Clinton, Newton Grove
​75.0120.775Jonesboro Road
​76.9123.877Hodges Chapel Road
JohnstonBenson79.5127.979 NC 50 / NC 242 to NC 27 – Benson, Newton Grove
81.0130.481 I-40 – Wilmington, Raleigh, DurhamSigned southbound as exits 81A (west) and 81B (east)
Four Oaks87.6141.087Keen Road – Four Oaks
89.8144.590 US 701 south / NC 96 – Newton Grove
Smithfield93.1149.893Brogden Road – Smithfield
94.8152.695
US 70 Bus. – Smithfield, Goldsboro		To Carolina Premium Outlets
Selma96.9155.997 US 70 (NC 39) – Selma, Pine Level, Goldsboro
98.0157.798Pine Level–Selma Road – Selma
Micro101.4163.2101Pittman Road
102.5165.0102Main Street – Micro
Kenly104.6168.3105Bagley Road
106.0170.6106Truck Stop Road
107.2172.5107 US 301 – Kenly, WilsonTo Gov. Charles B. Aycock Birthplace and Tobacco Farm Life Museum
Wilson​116.4187.3116 NC 42 – Wilson, Clayton
Wilson119.4192.2119A I-795 south / US 264 east – Wilson, Greenville, GoldsboroSigned as exits 119A (east/south) and 119B (west)
Cloverleaf interchange with collector/distributor roadways
119B US 264 west – Raleigh
121.5195.5121
US 264 Alt. – Wilson, Sims
Nash​126.9204.2127 NC 97 – Rocky Mount–Wilson Regional Airport
​132.4213.1132 To NC 58 / Sandy Cross Road
Rocky MountSunset AvenueProposed interchange (unfunded).[22][23]
138.5222.9138 US 64 – Nashville, Raleigh, Rocky Mount, TarboroSigned as exits 138A (west) 138B (east)
To NC Aquarium and Cape Hatteras National Seashore
Cloverleaf interchange with collector/distributor roadways
Dortches140.8226.6141 NC 43 – Red Oak
Rocky Mount145.0233.4145 NC 4 / NC 48 to US 301 – Gold Rock, Rocky Mount
​149.8241.1150 NC 33 – Whitakers
Halifax​153.7247.4154 NC 481 – Enfield
​160.5258.3160 NC 561 – HalifaxTo Medoc Mountain State Park
​167.7269.9168 NC 903 – Halifax
Roanoke Rapids170.7274.7171 NC 125 – Roanoke Rapids
173.0278.4173 US 158 – Roanoke Rapids, Weldon
Northampton​175.8282.9176 NC 46 – Gaston, Garysburg
​180.0289.7180 NC 48 – Gaston
​181.7292.4 I-95 north – RichmondContinuation into Virginia
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi
  •       Closed/former
  •       Concurrency terminus
  •       Unopened

See also

References

  1. ↑ Federal Highway Administration Route Log and Finder List, Main Routes of the Dwight D. Eisenhower National System Of Interstate and Defense Highways as of October 31, 2002
  2. 1 2 Google (February 13, 2012). "Interstate 95 in North Carolina" (Map). Google Maps. Google. Retrieved February 13, 2012.
  3. ↑ "I-95 Fact Sheet" (PDF). North Carolina Department of Transportation. June 21, 2008. Archived from the original on June 21, 2008. Retrieved June 20, 2014.
  4. ↑ "NCDOT: North Carolina Rest Areas System". North Carolina Department of Transportation. Retrieved December 29, 2014.
  5. ↑ "NCDPS - Weigh Stations". North Carolina Department of Public Safety. Retrieved December 29, 2014.
  6. 1 2 "North Carolina Memorial Highways and other Named Facilities" (PDF). Retrieved October 7, 2012.
  7. ↑ "NCDOT: NC Blue Star Memorial Marker Locations". Retrieved October 7, 2012.
  8. ↑ "The Blue Star Memorial Marker Program Directory" (PDF). Retrieved October 10, 2012.
  9. ↑ Staff (March 22, 2013). "NCDOT Names Section of I-95 in Johnston County as Dick Fleming Freeway". Raleigh, NC: North Carolina Department of Transportation. Retrieved March 31, 2013.
  10. ↑ "Opening of I-95 Set For Monday". Spring Hope Enterprise. November 16, 1978. Retrieved February 26, 2015.
  11. ↑ "NCRoads.com: I-95". Retrieved January 21, 2012.
  12. 1 2 3 Siceloff, Bruce (June 13, 2010). "Talk of I-95 tolls revives". The News & Observer. Raleigh, NC. Retrieved January 21, 2012.
  13. ↑ "Interstate-Guide: Interstate 95". Retrieved January 21, 2012.
  14. ↑ "SJ 184 Interstate Route 95". Archived from the original on May 24, 2011. Retrieved January 21, 2012.
  15. ↑ Staff (January 20, 2012). "Environmental Assessment Approved for I-95 Improvements". NCDOT. Retrieved January 21, 2012.
  16. ↑ The Associated Press (January 21, 2012). "NC report recommends tolls on Interstate 95". The News & Observer. Raleigh, NC. Retrieved January 21, 2012.
  17. ↑ Dorsey, Steve (January 21, 2012). "NC DOT considers making I-95 a toll road". Durham, NC: WTVD-TV. Retrieved January 21, 2012.
  18. ↑ Siceloff, Bruce (February 12, 2012). "Plan fights evasion of I-95 toll in North Carolina". The News & Observer. Raleigh, NC. Retrieved February 13, 2012.
  19. ↑ "NCDOT: Project I-3806". Retrieved January 21, 2012.
  20. ↑ webmaster. "NCDOT News Release: Fourteen New Projects for Division 6 in Updated Draft Transportation Plan". apps.ncdot.gov. Retrieved 2018-03-15.
  21. ↑ Staff. "NCDOT Project U-2519". North Carolina Department of Transportation. Retrieved February 14, 2012.
  22. ↑ Staff. "City of Rocky Mount TIP Status Report" (PDF). City of Rocky Mount. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2012-03-24. Retrieved February 14, 2012.
  23. ↑ Staff. "NCDOT Project U-5026". North Carolina Department of Transportation. Retrieved February 14, 2012.

Route map:

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Interstate 95
Previous state:
South Carolina		 North Carolina Next state:
Virginia
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