Interstate 40 in North Carolina facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
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| Blue Star Memorial Highway | ||||
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I-40 highlighted in red
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| Route information | ||||
| Maintained by NCDOT | ||||
| Length | 420.21 mi (676.26 km) | |||
| Existed | 1958–present | |||
| Major junctions | ||||
| West end |  I-40 at the Tennessee state line |
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| East end |   US 117 / NC 132 near Wilmington |
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| Location | ||||
| Counties: | Haywood, Buncombe, McDowell, Burke, Catawba, Iredell, Davie, Forsyth, Guilford, Alamance, Orange, Durham, Wake, Johnston, Sampson, Duplin, Pender, New Hanover | |||
| Highway system | ||||
| Main route of the Interstate Highway System Main • Auxiliary • Business North Carolina Highway System
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→Interstate 40 (I-40) is a very long highway that is part of the Interstate Highway System in the United States. It stretches for about 2,557 miles (4,115 km) from Barstow, California, all the way to Wilmington, North Carolina. In North Carolina, I-40 covers about 420 miles (676 km). It goes across the entire state, from the Tennessee border to U.S. Highway 117 (US 117) and North Carolina Highway 132 (NC 132) in Wilmington. I-40 is the longest Interstate Highway in North Carolina. It is also the only Interstate that goes completely across the state from west to east.
Traveling from west to east, I-40 connects North Carolina's three main areas. These are Western North Carolina, the Piedmont, and Eastern North Carolina. In the Piedmont region, I-40 links big cities like Raleigh, Greensboro, Durham, and Winston-Salem. These are some of the largest cities in the state. I-40 also connects Asheville and Hickory in Western North Carolina, and Wilmington in Eastern North Carolina. It also passes through many smaller towns. The highway goes through different landscapes, including mountains, foothills, city areas, and farmlands. There are five other Interstate highways in North Carolina that are connected to I-40. These are I-140, I-240, I-440, I-540, and I-840.
Contents
What is Interstate 40?
Interstate 40 is a major highway that helps people and goods travel across North Carolina. It's part of a big network of roads important for the country's economy and travel. The amount of traffic on I-40 changes a lot. Some parts have about 15,000 vehicles each day. Other parts, especially near cities, can have as many as 192,000 vehicles daily. All of I-40 is part of the National Highway System. This system includes roads that are very important for the country. I-40 is also known as the Blue Star Memorial Highway throughout the state.
Traveling Across North Carolina
I-40 goes through many different types of places in North Carolina. These include the Great Smoky and Black Mountains, the rural Foothills, the busy Piedmont region, and the farmlands of Eastern North Carolina.
Mountains and Foothills
I-40 enters North Carolina along the Pigeon River. It winds through two tunnels, which were the first Interstate tunnels east of the Mississippi River when they opened in 1968. The highway then goes through the Pigeon River Gorge for about 16 miles (26 km). After this, it heads towards Asheville.
In Asheville, I-40 joins with US 74. They meet the I-26/I-240 interchange, which is a very busy spot. I-40 then goes along the south side of Asheville, near the famous Biltmore Estate. After leaving Asheville, I-40 goes up a steep hill called Old Fort Mountain. This part has winding roads and special ramps for trucks that might lose control. It's about 6 miles (10 km) long.
I-40 passes by Black Mountain and Marion. It also crosses the Eastern Continental Divide. This is the spot where rivers on one side flow to the Atlantic Ocean, and rivers on the other side flow to the Gulf of Mexico. When I-40 reaches Hickory, it connects with US 321. This road goes north to Hickory and south to Lincolnton. I-40 then crosses the Catawba River on the Cecil H. Hoffman Bridge. It then enters Iredell County and passes Statesville. Here, it connects with I-77, a major highway that goes north and south.
Through the Piedmont Region
As I-40 enters the Piedmont region, it heads northeast. It passes Mocksville and Clemmons. The highway gets wider, with six lanes, before it reaches Winston-Salem. Here, it connects with the Salem Parkway, which is US 421. This exit leads to downtown Winston-Salem. I-40 then turns more to the east, passing shopping areas like Hanes Mall. It also meets I-285/US 52/NC 8 and later I-74. From there, I-40 continues northeast, bypassing Kernersville. It then joins with US 421 again, and they travel together into Greensboro.
In Greensboro, I-40 meets a big interchange with I-73/US 421/I-840. This is where US 421 leaves I-40. I-40 then goes through southwestern Greensboro. It meets US 70 (Wendover Avenue) and passes shopping centers. Then, US 29, US 70, and US 220 all join I-40 for a short distance. This part of the highway usually has six lanes.
This section of I-40 through Greensboro is officially called Preddy Boulevard. Some local people used to call a part of it "Death Valley" because it was a tricky spot for drivers. However, studies showed that while there were many minor accidents, it was still a safe road.
I-40 then merges with I-85 east of Greensboro. They travel together for about 31 miles (50 km) through Guilford, Alamance, and Orange counties. This section uses I-85 exit numbers. They pass through suburban areas. I-40 then separates from I-85 near Hillsborough.
After leaving I-85, I-40 heads southeast towards Chapel Hill. It goes through rural areas and forests. I-40 passes through northern Chapel Hill and southern Durham. It then enters Research Triangle Park (RTP), a big area for science and technology. The highway here can have four to eight lanes. It's a main road connecting Raleigh, Cary, and Durham. After the Research Triangle area, I-40 connects with I-540 near Raleigh–Durham International Airport. Many exits on I-40 serve the airport. I-40 continues southeast towards downtown Raleigh. It passes north of Cary. At Wade Avenue, I-40 turns south. It then connects with I-440/US 1/US 64. I-40 then travels with US 64 along the south side of Raleigh. This shared section ends at an interchange with I-87/I-440/US 64, where I-40 turns south.
Heading East to the Coast
After leaving Raleigh, I-40 generally heads south-southeast towards Wilmington. It passes through eastern Garner. I-40 meets US 70 and US 70 Business in Garner. I-40 and US 70 travel together for about 4 miles (6.4 km) before US 70 goes east towards Selma. South of this point, I-40 leaves Wake County and enters Johnston County.
As the highway leaves the city areas around Raleigh, it connects with NC 42, NC 210, and NC 242. These roads provide access to towns like Clayton, Angier, and Benson. I-40 passes east of Benson and meets I-95. This interchange was rebuilt to make driving smoother.
I-40 continues southeast through farmlands in Johnston County. It then enters Sampson County near Newton Grove. I-40 passes along the side of Newton Grove, connecting with NC 50, NC 55, and US 701. I-40 continues southeast through rural Sampson County. It meets NC 403 near Faison and starts to run next to US 117. I-40 then enters Duplin County. It goes through Duplin County for about 5 miles (8 km) before meeting NC 24. At this point, NC 24 travels with I-40 for about 8.4 miles (13.5 km). An interchange with US 117 is located south of Warsaw. I-40 then goes around Magnolia to the east. NC 24 leaves the highway at NC 903, which goes to Kenansville. After this, I-40 mainly turns south, bypassing Teachey, Rose Hill, and Wallace. It connects with Charity Road, NC 11, and NC 41, which lead to these towns. I-40 then runs next to the Northeast Cape Fear River and enters Pender County.
The highway meets US 117 again south of Wallace. I-40 stays on the west side of US 117 for about 5.6 miles (9 km). It then bypasses Burgaw to the east, connecting with NC 53. Continuing south, I-40 meets NC 210 near Rocky Point. It then crosses the Northeast Cape Fear River into New Hanover County. Here, it gets the name "Michael Jordan Freeway." I-40 passes east of Castle Hayne and connects with Holly Shelter Road. An interchange with I-140 and NC 140 is located about 2.5 miles (4 km) south of Holly Shelter Road. From I-140 and NC 140, I-40 continues south. The eastern end of I-40 is at US 117 and NC 132 in Wilmington. The highway then continues south as North College Road towards the University of North Carolina Wilmington and Carolina Beach.
Special Names for I-40
I-40 has several special names in addition to its main I-40 sign.
- Throughout the state, it's known as the Blue Star Memorial Highway. Many Interstates share this name.
- From the Guilford–Alamance county line to Graham, I-40/I-85 is called the Sam Hunt Freeway.
- Through Orange County, I-40 is known as the Harriet Morehead Berry Freeway. Harriet Morehead Berry was a leader in the Good Roads Movement in North Carolina.
- Between Chapel Hill and Durham, I-40 is called the John Motley Morehead III Freeway. He was a generous person who graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
- Through the Research Triangle Park, I-40 is the Dan K. Moore Freeway, named after a former governor of North Carolina.
- From Wade Avenue to US 70 in Garner, it's the Tom Bradshaw Freeway, named after a former mayor of Raleigh.
- I-40 is the James Harrington Freeway from US 70 to I-95.
- In Johnston and Sampson counties, south of I-95, I-40 is dedicated to Robert D. Warren Sr., a former State Senator.
- In Duplin County, a section of I-40 is the Henry L. Stevens Jr. Highway. He was a judge and a commander of the American Legion.
- From the Pender–New Hanover county line to the end of I-40, it's known as the Michael Jordan Highway. This is named after the famous basketball player who grew up in Wilmington.
- College sports fans sometimes call I-40 "Tobacco Road." This is because it connects the four North Carolina schools in the Atlantic Coast Conference.
- On February 1, 2024, a section of I-40 near Benson was named the Jimmy Capps Freeway, after a country music singer and songwriter.
How I-40 Was Built
The plan for I-40 was approved in 1956. North Carolina was given about 714 miles (1,149 km) for its part of the Interstate Highway System. About 219 miles (352 km) of this was for a road from Tennessee to Greensboro. This road was named I-40.
Early Roads and Plans
Before I-40, there were old trading paths used by Native Americans. One of these, Rutherford's Trace, followed a similar route to modern I-40. In 1921, North Carolina created its highway system. NC 10, called the "Central Highway," went between Asheville and Greensboro. By 1926, when US 70 was put on the same route as NC 10, most of the road was paved. After World War II, the government planned a new "Interregional Highway" system. This plan included a route similar to US 70 from Tennessee to Greensboro. In 1957, the I-40 name was officially approved.
Building the Highway
In 1958, the first construction for I-40 in the country began in Haywood County, along the Pigeon River. That same year, the first two parts of I-40 opened in North Carolina. One was a 3-mile (5 km) section in Winston-Salem. The other was from Kernersville to Greensboro. For the next 32 years, I-40 was built and extended.
By 1960, I-40 had expanded in several places, including Burke County, Statesville, and near Winston-Salem. More sections opened in the early 1960s, connecting parts near Marion, Old Fort, and Kernersville. In 1968, after 10 years of work, a 20-mile (32 km) section opened from the Tennessee state line to Cove Creek. Later that year, North Carolina asked to extend I-40 east from Greensboro to Raleigh and then to Smithfield. This extension was approved in 1969. By 1971, more gaps were filled, connecting different sections of the highway. In 1978, after much discussion, it was decided that I-40 would go to Wilmington.
Important Changes Over Time
In 1982, I-40 was officially completed from Tennessee to Greensboro. In 1984, I-40 was extended in Raleigh. Also, the section between Wallace and Wilmington was approved. Construction began on a 22-mile (35 km) project connecting Durham to Hillsborough. By 1986, I-40 reached its current eastern end in Wilmington. In 1990, I-40 was finally connected all the way from Raleigh to Wilmington. This made it much easier to reach the Port of Wilmington.
The last part of I-40 to be finished was the Winston-Salem Bypass in November 1992. This new road went around the city. The old I-40 route through Winston-Salem became I-40 Business. After 34 years, I-40 was officially completed in North Carolina.
The Pigeon River Gorge Challenge
The first part of I-40 in North Carolina goes through the Pigeon River Gorge in Haywood County. This area is known for its curves and narrow spots. Because the road was built through mountains and along the river, there isn't much room on the sides. This, along with fast cars, fog, and winter weather, can make it a challenging area to drive. Sometimes, even small accidents can cause big traffic jams because there's little space to move cars off the road.
This part of the highway is also known for rockslides. In 1985, a big rockslide covered the entrance to one of the tunnels. In 1997, another rockslide near the Tennessee state line closed the road for almost three months. In 2009, a large rockslide again shut down I-40 in both directions for several weeks.
Greensboro's Road Changes
In 2008, I-40 was briefly moved to a new part of the Greensboro Urban Loop. This change was meant to help traffic flow better. However, many people found it confusing. So, in September 2008, I-40 was moved back to its original route through the city. The signs were changed back by July 2009. The original route of I-40 through Greensboro is actually a bit shorter and faster for drivers.
Statesville and Raleigh Upgrades
In Statesville, the I-40/I-77 interchange was rebuilt to handle more traffic and improve safety. This big project started in 2012 and was mostly finished by the end of 2023. It widened both I-40 and I-77.
In Raleigh, a large project called "Fortify" began in 2013. This project completely rebuilt and widened I-40 along the southern edge of Raleigh. It also improved bridges and ramps. This project was done in two parts and was finished in late 2018. After that, another project started in late 2018 to widen I-40 between Raleigh and Clayton. This project is still ongoing and will also rebuild some overpasses and interchanges.
What's Next for I-40?
There are plans for more improvements to I-40 in the future. In Asheville, a project called the I-26 Connector will widen I-40 and improve its interchanges. More widening is also planned west of Asheville.
Another widening project is being planned for I-40 in Orange and Durham counties. This project will add more lanes. Also, a project is in the works to widen I-40 between the I-440/US 1/US 64 interchange and Lake Wheeler Road in Raleigh. This will add one or two lanes and redesign the interchange. Construction for this is expected to start in 2025.
Other I-40 Roads in NC
Besides the main I-40, there are other related highways in North Carolina:
- I-140 is a road in Wilmington that goes around US 17.
- I-240 forms a loop around downtown Asheville.
- I-440 is part of the inner loop around Raleigh.
- I-540 is an outer loop around the Raleigh area and its suburbs.
- I-840 is part of the northern section of the Greensboro Urban Loop.
There were also some "business loops" for I-40 in the past.
- I-40 Bus. used to go through downtown Winston-Salem. In 2020, it was renamed the Salem Parkway.
- In 2008, I-40 Bus. was briefly used for the old I-40 route through Greensboro. But I-40 was quickly moved back to its original path.
Images for kids
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I-40 crossing the Eastern Continental Divide in eastern Buncombe County
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Sunflowers along I-40 westbound
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I-40/I-85 through Burlington
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I-40 westbound at exit 301
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Eastern terminus of I-40 at US 117 and NC 132 looking westbound
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Barstow, California, distance sign near Wilmington. This sign was permanently removed in 2009.
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Crews clearing the westbound lanes from the 2012 rockslide
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The six routes of Death Valley in 2006. US 220 and US 421 were rerouted in 2008 and 2009, respectively.
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