As the new pavement and paint removal shows ahead, this was once a 2 lane highway. For the next couple of miles before the Moore County line, US 1 was widened along the existing 2 lane highway.
Also from when the new pavement began, this is a short arterial section of US 1 until it reaches US 1 BUSINESS, it then becomes an expressway.
This is unusual of signing the original US 1 with a BUSINESS banner. It does not go through Cameron but goes through the town of Vass. Most of the road is 55mph running through mostly rural land. Why didn't NCDOT sign this as US 1 Alt?
The new bypass just opens and the sign is about to fall off.
US 1 "BUSINESS" is on the right. Also, a frontage road is to the left of us.
Old Pavement of the original US 1 shows on the right but will likely be gone soon.
One of the few at-grades along the bypass coming up.
US 1 BUSINESS veers to the right.
Moore County State Road 2005. The green rectangle sign indicates a "State Road" number designation as part of NCDOT's extensive road maintenance coverage. This maintenance coverage is very high in comparison to other states since its in the high 80% figure. The remaining jurisdiction falls under the city DOT and national parks. Unlike most states, NC does not have county roads.
For the bypass, this makes the trip to Rockingham a little easier, not just for Southern Pines, Aberdeen and Pinebluff.
At the time filming the bypass, the lane drop is here because of the work being done at the next at-grade intersection.
Locally, this is known as Lobelia Road. NC 690 came into existence in 1999.
One of the reasons for NC 690's new designation along an existing State Road.
Coming close to the southern end of the bypass.
This was a new connector built as this was not here before construction began.
Little River and the wetlands around it. This came under big controversy of building the bypass but NCDOT prevailed into getting the bypass built.
To the far right, was signage (red two-way) for the original US 1.
Far left shows the original US 1 going to Vass.
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This was four lanes already to begin with.
Approaching the Aiken Road at-grade.
As Aiken Road is passed through here, this ends the photo coverage of the US 1 bypass. US 1 continues as a brief arterial before it becomes an expressway bypassing Southern Pines. Despite the fact that NCDOT maps label the Southern Pines Bypass as a freeway, it is an expressway along its entire legnth!