Interstate 42
Interstate 42 is a partially completed Interstate Highway in the US state of North Carolina, currently existing in two separate segments in the eastern part of the state, totaling up to. The completed and signed segments of I-42 currently run from I-40 eastwards along the Clayton Bypass to an interchange with Business US 70 southeast of Clayton. The Interstate resumes again along the Goldsboro Bypass, running for north of Goldsboro, ending again at US 70. The Interstate eventually will run from I-40 to Morehead City, where it will terminate along the Northern Carteret Bypass, north of Beaufort. I-42 also overlaps the Clayton Bypass Scenic Byway, from I-40 to US 70 Bus.
Route description
The Clayton Bypass is a four-lane freeway that is in length south of Clayton. Starting west of Clayton at a turbine interchange with I-40 and NC 540 on the Wake–Johnston county line, it continues southeast and connects with NC 42 and Ranch Road, before reaching an interchange with US 70/US 70 Bus., where US 70 merges into the through traffic. Mile markers along the route are based on I-42 and the speed limit is throughout.The Goldsboro Bypass is a four-lane freeway that is in length north of Goldsboro, connecting with US 70 at both ends. Starting west of Goldsboro, it splits off from US 70, which continues on towards Goldsboro. In a northeasterly direction, it connects with NC 581, I-795 and US 117, where it turns southeasterly. After connecting with Wayne Memorial Drive, US 13, and Parkstown Road, it merges back as the through traffic with US 70 near La Grange. Mile markers along the route are based on I-42 and the speed limit is throughout. The bypass serves both as a strategic transportation corridor for North Carolina and part of the Strategic Highway Network.
History
A multi-county project, also known as the "US 70 Corridor" or "Super 70", is a collection of several projects along US 70 to improve passenger and freight movement eventually leading to the establishment of Interstate 42, which is the US Department of Transportation's High Priority Corridor #82 from the Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act of 1991. The Fixing America's Surface Transportation Act, signed by then President Barack Obama on December 14, 2015, added the US 70 corridor between Garner and Morehead City to the Interstate system as a future Interstate. Justification for the designation included better connections with Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, the North Carolina Global Transpark, Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, and the Port of Morehead City with the rest of state and the eastern seaboard. With no specified number codified in the act, the Regional Transportation Alliance expected this corridor to be designated Interstate 46 or another suitable designation, and the US Highway 70 Corridor Commission recommended Interstate 50. On March 30, 2016, Governor Pat McCrory and various officials unveiled "Future Interstate" signage along the corridor.For the Spring 2016 AASHTO Special Committee on U.S. Route Numbering, NCDOT proposed Interstate 36 for this route since there were no other routes with that number in the state. However, on May 24, 2016, AASHTO assigned Interstate 42 for the route. The entire project has a budgeted cost of about $1.3 billion, and about 29 miles still without a budget. Some projects like the Clayton and Goldsboro bypasses are completed, while others have yet to be scheduled.
In October 2021, AASHTO approved two segments of I-42, the Clayton Bypass and the Goldsboro Bypass; this was followed by the Federal Highway Administration subsequent approval in March 2022. In May 2022, AASHTO also approved the elimination of US 70 Bypass, clearing the way for NCDOT to fully redesignate the route. Signage for the route was expected to be put up later in 2022, but took a few years to take place, with signage going up in the later part of 2024. In July 2023, NCDOT announced that they were proposing to renumber NC 42 to NC 36 between NC 50 and U.S. Route 70 Business in Clayton in order to avoid confusing motorist when the Clayton bypass is designated as I-42. Once I-42 is fully completed on the Clayton Bypass and the project with nearby NC 540 is completed, US 70 will be rerouted onto its old routing through Clayton, which is currently designated as US 70 Bus. NCDOT requested public input on this proposal at an open house on October 12, 2023. US 70 has also been upgraded to interstate highway standards between Dover and New Bern, but this cannot be signed as I-42 until the Kinston Bypass is completed as this segment is not connected to the Interstate highway system. I-42 signage began being installed on September 16, 2024, on the Goldsboro Bypass, marking its establishment. Additionally, signage for I-42 has been installed on overhead signs at its western terminus, although the signing of the Clayton Bypass itself is not expected until 2025. I-42 is expected to be completed in its entirety by 2032 and will include the installation of broadband fiber along the entire route.
Clayton Bypass
On June 9, 2008, the Clayton Bypass opened, redirecting US 70 onto I-40 between exits 306 to 309 and then on a new four-lane freeway bypass south of Clayton. Planning for the bypass began in 1991, but construction did not start until 2005 because of several delays regarding the dwarf wedgemussel, an endangered species, habitat in the area. Originally scheduled for completion in June 2009, a severe drought in 2007–2008 allowed construction to proceed more rapidly than anticipated. NCDOT was given the approval by AASHTO to officially designate US 70 along the bypass on May 6, 2008, with the former alignment becoming an extension of US 70 Bus. Compared to the former alignment through Clayton, the bypass is estimated to cut fifteen minutes of travel time for drivers traveling between Raleigh and eastern North Carolina.Goldsboro Bypass
Construction started on the central section of the Goldsboro Bypass on October 9, 2008; its contract was awarded to Barnhill Contracting Co. of Tarboro. At a cost of $65.5 million, it features three interchanges connecting I-795, US 117 and Wayne Memorial Drive. On December 16, 2011, the central section became the first segment of the Goldsboro Bypass to open; signed as NC 44.In 2012, both eastern and western sections of the bypass began construction. The eastern section's contract was awarded to Barnhill Contracting Co. in February, at a cost of $104.4 million. The western section's contract was awarded to S.T. Wooten in July, at a cost of $62.4 million. On September 25, 2015, the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials approved the establishment of US 70 Byp., dependent on the completion of the Goldsboro Bypass. On October 17, 2015, the western section became the second segment to open; connecting US 70 and I-795, with an interchange at NC 581.
The eastern or last section of the Goldsboro Bypass was opened on May 27, 2016; from Wayne Memorial Drive to US 70, with interchanges at US 13 and Parkstown Road. The section opened with a ribbon cutting ceremony and all signage that formally delineate NC 44 would be changed to US 70 Byp. after the event.
On June 5, 2021, a section was dedicated to former Goldsboro Mayor Chuck Allen.
In September 2024, signage on I-42 began to replace US 70 Bypass signage along the bypass, indicating again another route change to the Goldsboro bypass. It is expected to take a few months until all signage of US 70 Bypass is replaced entirely by I-42.