North Carolina Highway 42

North Carolina Highway 42 is a primary state highway in the U.S. state of North Carolina and a semi-urban traffic artery connecting Asheboro, Sanford, Clayton, Wilson and Ahoskie as well as many small- to medium-sized towns throughout Central and Eastern North Carolina. The highway is primarily rural, avoiding larger cities such as Raleigh. NC 42 begins at I-73/I-74/US 220 on the western side of Asheboro. From there the highway runs southeast toward Sanford. Running through the heart of Sanford, NC 42 intersects several major highways such as US 1 and US 421. Leaving Sanford the highway runs along the southern side of the Triangle Area, while servicing the smaller towns of Fuquay-Varina and Clayton. Further east the highway intersects both I-95 and US 264, shortly before entering central Wilson. Leaving Wilson the highway continues to the northeast, and intersects US 258 near Crisp. North of intersecting US 64, NC 42 begins a concurrency with NC 11 from Hassell to western Ahoskie. Nearing Ahoskie the highway turns to the east and runs south of the center of the town. NC 42 follows concurrently with US 13 southeast to Powellsville. Nearing its eastern terminus the highway turns east along its own routing until reaching NC 45 in Colerain where the highway ends. NC 42 is the third longest state highway in the U.S. state of North Carolina.
NC 42 was established as an original state highway running from NC 133 north of Wilson to NC 12 in Pinetops. Between 1934 and 1935 NC 42 was extended twice, first to NC 23 south of Emit, and then to US 15A west of McCullers. The western terminus of the highway was moved in 1948 to US 15A in Fuquay-Varina, placing NC 42 on its modern routing south of Raleigh. Four years later, NC 42's eastern terminus was extended to US 64 in Conetoe. In 1960 the highway was extended to US 421 east of Sanford. However, in 1963 NC 42 was routed concurrently with US 421 through Sanford before following its own routing to NC 22. The highway then followed NC 22 to the northwest, and replaced NC 902 between Coleridge and Asheboro. The same year, NC 42 was extended along new routing through Hassell, ending at NC 125 south of Hamilton. The last major change to NC 42 was in 1976, when the highway was routed along NC 11 and US 13 through Ahoskie and then replaced NC 350 to NC 45 in Colerain.

Route description

Asheboro to Sanford

The western terminus of NC 42 is located at I-73, I-74, and US 220 in Western Asheboro. The ramps for the interchange are located in the median of I-73, I-74, and US 220, meaning NC 42 begins in the center of the freeway. NC 42 begins by travelling east along Salisbury Street toward downtown. At the interchange, NC 42 is a four-lane highway, yet narrows to two-lanes west of McIntyre Street. NC 42 briefly parallels, and later crosses a railroad operated by Norfolk Southern. NC 42 intersects US 220 Business in the central business area of Asheboro. From the intersection, NC 42 travels east through a residential area of Asheboro. At a three-way junction, NC 42 bears to the southeast towards US 64 Business. NC 42 intersects US 64 Business at Dixie Drive, in a commercialized area of Asheboro. Travelling southeast, NC 42 runs adjacent to several residential neighborhoods on the outskirts of the city. NC 42 meets US 64 Bypass at a partial cloverleaf interchange southwest of Asheboro. The highway continues to run in a southeasterly direction, passing to the north of the North Carolina Zoo.
As NC 42 travels further from Asheboro, the surrounding area becomes increasingly rural. Large forested areas and farms are mixed with sparse houses. NC 42 begins a slow turn to the east south of Hayfield Drive, which it completes before reaching Old Cox Road/Grantville Lane. The highway continues eastward until reaching Hinshaw Town Road, where NC 42 bears to the southeast. NC 42 continues southeastward for until making a turn to the northeast. The highway continues for, before crossing Deep River west of Coleridge. NC 42 briefly parallels the river in Coleridge, before intersecting NC 22. At the intersection, NC 42 turns to the south to follow concurrently with NC 22 toward Sanford. NC 22/NC 42 briefly travel to the south before turning southeastward. The highway once again parallels the Deep River for until the river turns to the south. NC 42 continues to run concurrently with NC 22 for to the southeast. NC 22 and NC 42 pass to the south and west of the town of Bennett. South of Bennett, NC 22 and NC 42 intersects the western terminus of NC 902. NC 22 and NC 42 continue to run concurrently for southeast of NC 902. At an intersection with Charlie Garner Road, NC 42 bears to the east toward Sanford. NC 42 crosses several tributaries of the Deep River prior to intersecting Siler City-Glendon Road. East of the intersection, NC 42 makes multiple curves which temporarily adjust its orientation to the northeast and southeast. The final curve adjust the orientation of NC 42 southeastward toward Carbonton. NC 42 continues through the unincorporated community before crossing the Deep River and entering into Lee County. Beginning at the Lee County line, NC 42 is given the name "Carbonton Road". At Woolard Road, NC 42 turns to the east toward Sanford. Several curves between Woolard Road and Sanford give the highway a slightly southeastward orientation. Nearing Sanford, the highway begins to run adjacent to residential neighborhoods west of the city. The road name changes to Wicker Street at an intersection with Steel Bridge Road and Carbonton Road in western Sanford. NC 42 continues east along Wicker Street for before meeting US 1, US 15, and US 501 at a diamond interchange.

Sanford to Clayton

After an interchange with US 1, US 15 and US 501, NC 42 continues northeast along Wicker Street into Sanford. Until reaching Carthage Street the area is mostly residential, however as the road continues east more commercial buildings are found roadside. In downtown Sanford, NC 42 turns to the south along US 421 Business, exiting the downtown area. The highway passes under a railroad operated by CSX Transportation and the turns toward the southeast. The four lane highway enters into a primarily commercial area until NC 42 turns off at Main Street. After crossing a railroad operated by Atlantic and Western Railroad, the highway moves from a commercial area to a primarily residential area. After Rosser Road, the road name changes from Main Street to Broadway Road. NC 42 meets US 421 and NC 87 Bypass as it exits Sanford to the east. The highway passes by East Lee Middle School, along with several warehouses and a mobile home park all before leaving Sanford. NC 42 bears off along Avents Ferry Road to the northeast running toward Corinth. After intersecting Buck Horn Road, NC 42 begins a slow turn due north, however the highway begins a turn back to the northeast briefly before intersecting Poplar Springs Church Road. As NC 42 continues northeast, the highway crosses over the Cape Fear River. Avents Ferry Road meets with Corinth Road to the southwest of the town, and NC 42 turns right to follow Corinth Road to the northeast. As NC 42 enters into the small community of Corinth, several houses appear alongside the highway. However, as the highway makes a slow turn to the southeast, the houses give way to forests alongside Harris Lake. NC 42 passes over a railroad operated by Norfolk Southern, briefly before the highway turns directly south. The highway makes several turns toward the northeast, routing the highway toward Duncan. Entering into the area around Duncan, several small farms appear alongside the road. NC 42 also turns toward the east to run through the heart of Duncan. Leaving Duncan to the east, NC 42 once again crosses the railroad operated by Norfolk Southern, however this time at an at-grade crossing. NC 42 turns to the northeast along Academy Street, and runs adjacent to several fields along with several rural neighborhoods. By the time the highway intersects Judd Parkway, the fields disappear into a strictly residential area. Just before entering into the downtown area, the highway once again crosses the Norfolk Southern Railway. In downtown Fuquay-Varina, NC 42 turns to the north and follows US 401 towards Raleigh. Main Street turns to the east, paralleling the adjacent railroad. US 401 and NC 42 meets up with NC 55 in a commercial area along the northern side of town. NC 42 continues to follow concurrently with US 401 and NC 55 for, until both NC 42 and NC 55 bear off to the south. NC 42 and NC 55 stay concurrent for until NC 42 bears off to the southeast. The highway continues to run toward the east, with multiple neighborhoods and farms adjacent to the highway. NC 42 meets up with NC 50 in a rural area near Cleveland. Through Cleveland, the route serves as the main commercial district through the rapidly growing suburban area of northern Johnston County. The highway turns to the northeast, before entering a commercial area near the I-40 interchange. East of that interchange, NC 42 crosses Swift Creek and meets up with I-42 at exit 2. As the highway nears Clayton, its passes to the south of a hospital and then moves into a residential area.

Clayton to Wilson

NC 42 enters into Clayton from the west along Lombard Street. Past Guy Road, several commercial stores are located adjacent to the highway, along with an elementary school. The highway meets US 70 Business at an incomplete interchange southwest of downtown Clayton. Westbound NC 42 follows Barbour and Hamby Streets before intersecting Lombard Street. NC 42 turns to the east to follow along US 70. The two highways follow concurrently for before NC 42 bears northeast along its own four lane highway. The highway bears further to the east before passing by several research and industrial buildings. As the highway continues east, it crosses the Neuse River, another elementary school along with multiple residential developments. NC 42 intersects NC 96 southwest of the unincorporated community of Jordan. after intersecting NC 96, NC 42 intersects NC 39 and turns toward the northeast, before making another slight turn to the east. Continuing east, NC 42 meets NC 222 and the highway's share a brief concurrency. From there, NC 42 and Little Creek begin to parallel each other. Several accesses to Buckhorn Reservoir are located along the northern side of NC 42. Just past the reservoir, NC 42 meets up with NC 581, and begins a turn to the northeast to parallel I-95. NC 42 makes a slight turn to the east and meets up with I-95 at exit 116. Past I-95, NC 42 becomes a four lane divided highway. The highway meets up with I-587, I-795, and US 264 at exit 40 west of Wilson where you can see the beautiful Wilson skyline. NC 42 makes a turn to the northeast before turning back to the east and entering into Wilson from the east.