North Carolina...
 

 

Glossary

US 17:
US 17, as in South Carolina, is a major coastal route connecting the many beach communities and port cities in North Carolina. South of Wilmington, US 17 is an expressway along the bypasses of Shallotte and Bolivia, and an arterial along the rest of segment. NCDOT wants to construct "superstreets" at some signalized intersections. There are talks of ultimately converting part or all of US 17 south of Wilmington into a freeway. The Brunswick County beach area, including towns such as Sunset, Ocean Isle, Holden and Oak Island, is becoming one of the fastest growing areas in North Carolina. New golf courses are popping up along US 17 or near the coast. In the long range, Wilmington is proposed to have I-74 and I-20 come towards the Port City. The I-140 / US 17 Wilmington Bypass is already under construction. US 17 continues further north into Pender County where Topsail Beach is the dominant player at the beach. Camp Lejune is another extension to Fort Bragg for military installments right before the city of Jacksonville, also known as “Fayetteville on the Water”. US 17 runs along the western border of Croatan National Forest before hitting the 2nd port city of New Bern which has a bypass currently planned. US 17 begins to go further away from the beach and flirts with more port towns, the next one being Washington. The locals refer it to "Little" Washington to out of town people so as not to confuse it with the nations capital. Williamston, a smaller river community, and Windsor are next in line. These communities are more inland than the previous ones. US 17 turns eastward back towards the Northeastern North Carolina marshlands, crossing over the Albermarle Sound. It then bypasses Edenton, a historic town along the sound. US 17 bypasses Elizabeth City along a new freeway that was built in 2001. US 17 continues northward into Chesapeake, Virginia as a 2 lane highway, losing its 4 lanes. It soon loses its importance historical significance as the Ocean Highway where US 13 gets a taste of being near the ocean.

US 17 is mostly 4 lanes and the remaining segments that are 2 lanes will eventually become all 4 lanes along the current alignment or bypassed as a freeway.

History and Construction Schedule:

Segment Status
South Carolina to Shallotte Complete 1993
Shallotte Bypass Complete 1992
Shallotte to NC 87 Complete 1993
NC 87 to US 74 / US 76 ROW purchase slated for 2008. To be built after 2012.
US 74 / US 76 to US 421 ROW purchase slated for 2007. Construction slated for 2009.
US 421 to US 117 / NC 133 ROW purchase began December 1998. Construction began November 2000. Completion scheduled for September 29, 2005.
US 117 / NC 133 to I-40 ROW purchase began March 1999. Construction began June 2001. Completion scheduled for August 22, 2005.
I-40 to the east end of the Wilmington Bypass ROW purchase began September 1998. Construction began October 2003. Completion scheduled for June 15, 2006.
Wilmington Bypass to SR 1571 (3 miles) ROW purchase began September 1993. Construction began October 2003. This segment will not have any access control.
SR 1571 to Washington Acres Rd (3.4 miles) ROW purchase began December 1995. Construction began February 1998. Completed May 1999.
Washington Acres Rd to Topsail Heights Rd (3.7 miles) ROW purchase began May 1995. Construction began January 1997. Completed August 1998.
Topsail Heights Rd to Long Leaf Dr (1.7 miles) ROW purchase began October 1994. Construction began May 1995. Completed October 1996.
Long Leaf Dr to SR 1561 (2.3 miles) ROW purchase began July 1995. Construction began December 1997. Completed February 2000.
SR 1561 to NC 50 (5.5 miles) ROW purchase began November 1994. Construction began December 1997. Completed January 2000
NC 50 to NC 24 West Complete (Date?)
South Jacksonville Bypass (NC 24 West to NC 24 East) ROW purchase began December 1994. Construction began March 1998. Completion scheduled for September 1, 2005.
East Jacksonville Bypass (NC 24 East to the north end of the bypass) ROW purchase began December 1998. Construction began July 2003. Completion scheduled for June 30, 2006.
Jacksonville Bypass to Kellum Complete 1974
Kellum to 2 miles south of Belgrade ROW purchase began February 2002. Construction contract was let in December 2004. Completion scheduled for July 1, 2007.
2 miles south of Belgrade to Maysville ROW purchase slated for 2009. Construction slated for 2011.
Maysville to 3 miles north of Maysville ROW purchase slated for 2009. Construction slated for 2012.
3 miles north of Maysville to New Bern Bypass ROW purchase slated for 2012. To be built after 2012.
Southern New Bern Bypass (US 17 South to US 70) ROW purchase slated for 2006. Construction slated for 2008.
Northern New Bern Bypass (US 17 North to US 70) To be built after 2012.
New Bern Bypass to 1 mile north of NC 102 To be built after 2012.
1 mile north of NC 102 to Chocowinity Bypass ROW purchase began in March 2005. Construction slated for 2007.
Chocowinity Bypass and Washington Bypass ROW purchase slated for 2006. Construction slated for 2007.
Washington Bypass to NC 171 To be built after 2012.
NC 171 to 2 miles south of US 64 Planning underway. Design scheduled for 2008. ROW to be bought in 2010. To be built after 2010.
2 miles south of US 64 to US 64 Complete 1979
US 17 multiplexes with the US 64 freeway.
US 64 to Roanoke River Complete 1969
Roanoke River to Windsor Complete Early 1960’s
Windsor Bypass Construction began in Jaunuary 2005. Completion scheduled for July 1, 2008.
Windsor Bypass to NC 45 ROW purchase began June 1996. Construction began September 1998. Completed in January 2001.
NC 45 to Chowan River ROW purchase began September 1995. Construction began October 1997. Completed March 2000.
Chowan River Bridge ROW purchase began April 1995. Construction began September 1996. Completed August 2000.
Edenton Bypass ROW purchase began October 1995. Construction began October 1996. Completed March 2000.
Edenton to Hertford ROW purchase began October 1992. Construction began July 1995. Complete July 1998.
Hertford Bypass except Perquimans River Bridge ROW purchase began October 1990. Construction began December 1991. Completed May 2003.
Perquimans River Bridge ROW purchase began August 1987. Construction began March 1992. Completed December 1993.
Hertford to Elizabeth City Bypass Complete 1979
Elizabeth City bypass is freeway
Elizabeth City bypass to Virginia Complete early 1980's

 

Junction Log (Wilmington to South Carolina):

Junction Type of Access Type of Highway Location
NC 132 / North College Rd Partial Cloverleaf Boulevard Wilmington, New Hanover County
US 17 Business Signal Boulevard Wilmington
US 74 / 76 Signal Boulevard Wilmington
US 17 co-signs with US 74 / US 76.
US 421 / US 17 Business Signal Boulevard to Freeway Wilmington
US 421 co-signs with US 17 / US 74 / US 76
NC 133 / US 421 North Interchange Freeway Leland, Brunswick County
NC 133 co-signs with US 17 / US 74 / US 76
NC 133 South Diamond Interchange Freeway Leland
US 74 / US 76 Interchange (they go straight, US 17 goes right) Freeway to Arterial Leland
US 17 is an expressway for the rest of the way to the South Carolina border
NC 87 No signal Arterial Northern Brunswick County
NC 87 co-signs with US 17.
NC 87 South Signal Arterial Northern Brunswick County
US 17 Business No signal Arterial to Expressway Bolivia, Brunswick County
US 17 Business No signal Expressway to Arterial Bolivia, Brunswick County
NC 211 Signal Arterial Supply, Brunswick County
US 17 Business No signal Arterial to Expressway Shallote, Brunswick County
NC 130 Half diamond interchange Expressway Shallote
US 17 Business No signal Expressway to Arterial Shallote
NC 904 Signal Arterial Grisetown, Brunswick County
Hickman Rd No signal Arterial Grisetown

Hickman Road is an unnumbered road in North Carolina, but becomes SC 57 at the border. It is also the proposed location of a future northern extension of the Carolina Bays Parkway, SC 31. Hickman Road and SC 57 are currently two-lane roads.

US 17 enters South Carolina.

 

 

US 19 / US 19E:
 

History and Construction Schedule:

Segment Status
I-26 to Micaville ROW to be purchased 2004; Construction to begin 2006
Micaville to Spruce Pine ROW to  be purchased 2007; Construction to begin 2009
Spruce Pine Bypass Expressway Complete (When?)
Spruce Pine to 2 miles west of NC 194 ROW to be  purchased 2008; Construction to begin 2010
2 miles west of NC 194 to NC 194 To be built after 2010.

 

 

NC 24:
NC 24 will be a 4-lane divided highway for almost its entire length, starting at I-485 in Charlotte and running east to US 70 near Morehead City. The segment from Lake Tillery to Troy is very scenic and runs through Uwharrie National Forest.

History and Construction Schedule:

Segment Status
I-485 to US 601 Complete (When?)
US 601 to Locust Constructed 1991 to 1993
Segment through Locust ROW purchase began in June 2000. Contract let in January 2004. This will be not be built as an expressway. Instead, the project will convert NC 24 into a 5-lane road with sidewalk, a center turn lane, and a 35-mph speed zone. The project is scheduled to be complete on September 1, 2006.
Locust to 6 miles east of Locust ROW purchase began in June 2001. Construction to begin in 2004.
6 miles east of Locust to Albemarle ROW purchase began in April 2003. Construction to begin in 2005.
Albemarle to Pee Dee River Design scheduled for 2007. ROW will be bought 2009. To be built after 2010.
Pee Dee River to Troy Planning in  progress. Design scheduled for 2005. ROW will be bought 2007-2008. Construction will begin 2009.
Troy Bypass Planning in progress. Design scheduled for 2005. ROW will be bought 2007, and construction will begin 2009.
Troy to Biscoe Complete (Date?). This is a mix of 4-lane divided segments and 5-lane (including center turn lane) stretches.
Biscoe to I-73 / I-74 / US 220 ROW will be bought 2006. Construction will begin 2008.
I-73 / I-74 / US 220 to Carthage To be built after 2010.
Carthage Bypass Planning in  progress. Design scheduled for 2007. ROW will be bought 2009. To be built after 2010.
Carthage to NC 87 To be built after 2010.
NC 87 to Fayetteville Outer Loop Complete (Date?)
I-95 to 3 miles east of I-95 Complete (Date?)
3 miles east of I-95 to Autryville Bypass ROW purchase slated for 2006. Construction slated for 2008.
Autryville Bypass and Autryville Bypass to Roseboro Bypass ROW purchase slated for 2007. Construction slated for 2009.
Roseboro Bypass and Roseboro to 6.4 miles west of Clinton Bypass ROW purchase slated for 2007. Construction slated for 2009.
6.4 miles west of Clinton Bypass to Clinton Bypass ROW purchase slated for 2007. Construction slated for 2009.
Clinton Bypass ROW purchase slated for 2008. Construction slated for 2010.
Clinton Bypass to I-40 ROW purchase slated for 2008. Construction slated for 2010.
I-40 to Jacksonville Complete (Date?)
Jacksonville Bypass will be freeway. Construction on western part will begin 2004.
Jacksonville Bypass to Swansboro Complete (Date?). There is private access east of the Camp Lejune entrance.
There is a 5-lane non-expressway segment in Swansboro.
Swansboro to NC 58 ROW purchase began April 1998. Construction began April 2000. Completed August 2003.
NC 58 to Broad Creek ROW purchase began July 1995. Construction began August 1998. Completed January 2001.
Broad Creek to 5.6 miles west of US 70 ROW purchase began January 1991. Construction began January 1992. Completed December 1992.
5.6 miles west of US 70 to US 70 ROW purchase began February 1995. Construction began August 1995. Completed August 1997.

 

 

NC 33:
NC 33 will be a 4-lane between US 64 and US 264.

History and Construction Schedule:

Segment Status
US 264 to NC 222 ROW purchase slated for 2008. To be built after 2010.
NC 222 to NC 42 ROW purchase slated for 2008. To be built after 2010.
NC 42 to US 64 ROW purchase slated for 2007. Construction slated for 2009.

 

NC 55:
There are no driveways on the Holly Springs Bypass, a Super-2 expressway.

 

NC 62:
A future expressway from NC 49 to Yanceyville, to be built after 2010.

 

 

 

Sources:
John Lansford, North Carolina DOT, NCRoads.com, George Conklin, Roanoke-Chowan News Herald. Lou Corsaro is the author of the description and junction log for US 17.

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Last Updated: 8/21/05

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