Interstate 40 in North Carolina facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Interstate 40
I-40 highlighted in red
Route information
Maintained by NCDOT
Length	420.21 mi (676.26 km)
Existed	1958–present
Major junctions
West end	I-40 at Tennessee state line
	I-26 / I-240 / US 74 in Asheville I-240 / US 74A in Asheville I-77 in Statesville I-74 in Winston-Salem I-73 / I-840 / US 421 in Greensboro I-85 in Greensboro I-540 / NC 540 in Durham I-87 / I-440 / US 64 in Raleigh I-95 near Benson I-140 in Murraysville
East end	US 117 / NC 132 in Wilmington
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 ← NC 39 NC 41 →

Interstate 40 (I-40) is a part of the Interstate Highway System that runs from Barstow, California, to Wilmington, North Carolina. In North Carolina, I-40 enters the state along the Pigeon River Gorge, from Tennessee. Crossing the entire state, it connects the cities of Asheville, Statesville, Winston-Salem, Greensboro, Burlington, Durham, and Raleigh before ending along U.S. Highway 117 (US 117)/NC 132 in Wilmington. The landscapes traversed by I-40 include the Blue Ridge Mountains, the foothills of western North Carolina, suburban communities, and the urban core of several Piedmont cities, along with eastern North Carolina farmland. At a total of 420.21 miles (676.26 km), it is the longest Interstate Highway in North Carolina. There are five auxiliary Interstates in the state related to I-40, as well as one business loop which formerly ran through Winston-Salem. The route is labeled east–west for the entire route (as are all even-numbered Interstate Highways); however, the eastern portion (from Raleigh to Wilmington) follows a much more north–south alignment.

The freeway bears several names in addition to the I-40 designation. Throughout the state, the freeway is known as the Blue Star Memorial Highway, a name shared with multiple Interstates across the state. From the Guilford–Alamance county line to one mile (1.6 km) east of NC 54, in Graham, I-40/I-85 is known as the Sam Hunt Freeway. From Orange County to Raleigh, I-40 is known as the Harriet Morehead Berry Freeway, the John Motley Morehead III Freeway, and the Tom Bradshaw Freeway. I-40 is the James Harrington Freeway from US 70 to I-95. In Duplin County, a section of I-40 is known as the Henry L. Stevens Jr. Highway. From the Pender–New Hanover county line to the eastern terminus of I-40, the freeway is known as the Michael Jordan Highway.

I-40 was an original Interstate Highway planned in the Federal Aid Highway Act of 1956. In North Carolina, the original highway was to run from the Tennessee state line to Greensboro where the freeway would end at I-85. In 1958, the first section of completed Interstate Highway in the state was I-40 along the East–West Expressway in Winston-Salem. I-40 received two extension approvals; the first in 1969 to I-95, to be routed in or near Smithfield, and the second in 1984 to Wilmington. After 34 years since it first opened, the last section completed was the Winston-Salem Bypass in 1992. The highest point is at 2,786 feet (849 m), located at Swannanoa Gap, and the lowest point is at 15 feet (4.6 m), located at the Pender–New Hanover county line.

Route description

I-40 travels through several diverse regions in North Carolina, including the Great Smoky and Black mountains of Western North Carolina, the rural Foothills, the urban Piedmont, and the farmlands of Eastern North Carolina. All of I-40 is listed in the National Highway System, a network of roads important to the country's economy, defense, and mobility. I-40 is also designated as a Blue Star Memorial Highway throughout the state.

I-40 enters North Carolina along the north banks of the Pigeon River at the foot of Snowbird Mountain. Winding in parallel with the river, I-40 goes through twin tunnels. When the tunnels opened in 1968, they were the first Interstate tunnels east of the Mississippi River. I-40 then proceeds through the Pigeon River Gorge for the next 16 miles (26 km). Just south of exit 7, I-40 uses another tunnel, for eastbound traffic only, through Hurricane Mountain. The westbound lanes use a rock cut through Hurricane Mountain. A short distance after the tunnel is the North Carolina Welcome Center. Immediately afterward is Waterville Lake, where there are a few at-grade intersections in this location, used as service access for Walters Dam and the Harmon Den Wildlife Management Area. I-40 continues toward Asheville. I-40 then merges with US 74 (Great Smoky Mountains Expressway). I-40 and US 74 encounter the I-26/I-240 interchange, sometimes called Malfunction Junction, in the southwestern part of the city. The interchange is the current western terminus of I-240 and the historic terminus of I-26. I-40 then goes along the southside of Asheville, north of the Biltmore Estate toward Hickory. I-240 and I-40 have another interchange before I-40 leaves the Asheville area.

I-40 crosses the Eastern Continental Divide in eastern Buncombe County.

Shortly after it leaves the Asheville area, I-40 encounters a steep grade, Old Fort Mountain, with winding roads that pose a hazard to truck traffic. There are several runaway truck ramps on this part of the highway. This stretch is about six miles (9.7 km) long. I-40 goes south of Black Mountain and Marion, and north of Conover. There it crosses the Eastern Continental Divide and the southern tip of the Black Mountain range. When I-40 enters Hickory, it has a clover interchange with US 321. I-40 then heads south of Hickory and crosses the Catawba River. I-40 enters Statesville north of the city. It has major interchanges with US 64 and US 21 before utilizing a clover interchange with I-77. I-40 heads northeast toward Winston-Salem passing Mocksville and Clemmons. When I-40 enters Winston-Salem, it has another major interchange, this time with the portion of US 421 known as Salem Parkway. US 421 heads north to go through downtown Winston-Salem while I-40 goes just south of the city. I-40 has another clover interchange with I-285/US 52/NC 8. I-74 exits off to the south while I-40 heads back northeast to meet up with US 421. US 421 runs a concurrency with I-40 into Greensboro.

Sunflowers along I-40

I-40 enters the Greensboro area at the I-73/US 421/I-840 interchange. This interchange is the east end of the US 421 concurrency with I-40 and is also the planned western terminus of I-840. From there, I-40 heads through southwestern Greensboro. I-40 passes Wendover Place and Four Seasons Town Centre before having another large interchange with US 220. US 29/US 70 all merge into I-40/US 220 for one large concurrency one mile (1.6 km) after the interchange with US 220. The road is generally a six-lane freeway throughout.

This 2.5-mile (4.0 km) corridor with concurrent routes ends in the east at the US 29/US 70/US 220/Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard junction. Both the beginning and ending interchanges of this corridor are quite unusual in design and are often operating at above full capacity, leading to frequent traffic jams and traffic incidents.

I-40 through Greensboro officially bears the name Preddy Boulevard. The nickname "Death Valley" has been given to the area of I-40 where I-40 and Interstate 85 Business (I-85 Bus.) splits. The locals have given that area that name because of the high number of deaths due to car crashes in that area. One major problem with the highway is that the US 29/US 70/US 220 southbound lanes merge from the right and exit to the left. Thus, through traffic on I-40 west and US 29 south (a major route from Virginia to Charlotte) must all merge to the other side of the freeway. A study conducted by state traffic engineers from May 1, 2006, to April 30, 2008, (the period between the I-85 relocation and I-40's relocation) concluded that "the Death Valley area" had an accident rate "higher than average for urban interstates ... but the [route] was safe anyway." There were no fatalities during the study period, but a large number of rear-end collisions.

I-40/I-85 through Burlington

I-40 merges with I-85 east of Greensboro. I-40 and I-85 have a 31-mile (50 km) concurrency through Guilford, Alamance, and Orange counties. The concurrency section uses I-85 exit numbers instead of I-40 exit numbers. The section goes south of Elon, Burlington, Graham, and Mebane. I-40 breaks ways from I-85 at exit 163, south of Hillsborough.

After I-40 breaks away from I-85, it heads in a very southeasterly direction toward Chapel Hill. I-40 parallels NC 86 until NC 86 crosses I-40 at exit 266. I-40 is routed along northern Chapel Hill and then through southern Durham. I-40 enters the Research Triangle Park after an interchange with NC 147. The Interstate varies in width, from four to eight lanes depending on the location. It serves as a major route between Raleigh, Cary, and Durham (the other being US 70). After leaving the Research Triangle area, I-40 has an interchange with I-540 near the Raleigh–Durham International Airport. Several I-40 exits serve Raleigh–Durham, including Aviation Parkway, Airport Boulevard, and I-540. I-40 continues to head southeast toward Downtown Raleigh. I-40 is routed north of Cary and south of Umstead State Park. At Wade Avenue, I-40 bears right to head south. It then has an interchange with I-440/US 1/US 64 at exits 293A and 293B. I-40 then runs a concurrency with US 64 along the southside of Raleigh. The concurrency ends at an interchange with I-87/I-440/US 64 at exit 301, where I-40 bears to the south.

Start of I-40 west at US 117 near Wilmington

Between Raleigh and Wilmington, I-40 follows a southerly routing while occasionally bearing to the southeast. At exit 306, the Interstate begins a concurrency with US 70 which follows I-40 until the Clayton Bypass (exit 309). I-40 continues south with exits at NC 42, NC 210, and NC 242. To the northeast of Benson, I-40 meets with I-95 at exit 328. For the duration of its routing in North Carolina, I-40 is primarily rural Interstate, bypassing towns such as Warsaw and Wallace. Beginning near Faison, I-40 begins to run parallel with US 117 which continues until its eastern terminus. I-40 meets with NC 24 at exit 364 near Warsaw. A rest area is located between the travel lanes of the Interstate, with access from NC 24. Beginning at exit 364, NC 24 runs concurrently with I-40 for 8.2 miles (13.2 km) until meeting up with NC 903 southwest of Kenansville. Approaching Wallace, I-40 passes the Duplin Winery in Duplin County and bypasses the town to the east. Continuing south, I-40 bypasses Burgaw to the east and crosses the Northeast Cape Fear River east of Castle Hayne. Nearing Wilmington, I-40 has an interchange with I-140 and NC 140. The speed limit is reduced to 55 mph (89 km/h) approximately one mile (1.6 km) from its eastern terminus. Exit 420 is the last exit on I-40 before its terminus on US 117/NC 132

Dedicated and memorial names

The freeway bears several names in addition to the I-40 designation. Throughout the state, the freeway is known as the Blue Star Memorial Highway, a name shared with multiple Interstates across the state. From the Guilford–Alamance county line to one mile (1.6 km) east of NC 54, in Graham, I-40/I-85 is known as the Sam Hunt Freeway. The freeway is known as the Harriet Morehead Berry Freeway through Orange County, named for a leader in the good roads movement in North Carolina. Between US 15/US 501 in Chapel Hill to NC 147 in Durham, I-40 is known as the John Motley Morehead III Freeway who was a noted philanthropist and graduate from the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill. I-40 is the Dan K. Moore Freeway from Research Triangle Park to the Tom Bradshaw Freeway. The section is named after Dan K. Moore who was the 66th Governor of North Carolina. From the Wade Avenue Extension to US 70 in Garner, the freeway is known as the Tom Bradshaw Freeway, named after the 33rd Mayor of Raleigh. I-40 is the James Harrington Freeway from US 70 to I-95. In Johnston, south of I-95, and Sampson counties, I-40 is dedicated to Robert D. Warren Sr. who was a former State Director of Driver's Licenses and State Senator from the area. In Duplin County, a section of I-40 6.95 miles (11.18 km) north of NC 24 west of Warsaw to 6.95 miles (11.18 km) south of NC 24 is known as the Henry L. Stevens Jr. Highway, who was a commander of the American Legion and a Superior Court judge. From the Pender–New Hanover county line to the eastern terminus of I-40, the freeway is known as the Michael Jordan Highway, named after the famous basketball player who grew up in Wilmington and was a graduate of the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill. I-40 has also been given the name Tobacco Road by college sports fans, because the freeway links up the four North Carolina schools in the ACC.

History

Authorized by the Federal Aid Highway Act of 1956, North Carolina was originally allocated 714 miles (1,149 km) for their share of the Interstate Highway System; 219 miles (352 km) of which was subsequently allocated for a route from the Tennessee state line, through Asheville and Winston-Salem, to Greensboro. Designated as I-40, it became the first Interstate in the state after opening on a completed three-mile-long (4.8 km) section in Winston-Salem in 1958. For the next 32 years, I-40 was constructed and extended twice to its current routing from the Pigeon River Gorge to Wilmington.

Beginnings

The first major overland transportation corridors in North Carolina were the Indian trading paths. One of these, the Rutherford's Trace, followed the path of modern I-40. In 1921, the North Carolina Highway System was established, with NC 10, nicknamed the "Central Highway", designated on the route between Asheville and Greensboro. By the time US 70 was established in 1926 and placed on concurrency on all of NC 10, nearly all of the route was either paved or oil-treated. After World War II, the federal government began planning on a new Interregional Highway system, as mandated by the Federal-Aid Highway Act of 1944, and released a proposed National System of Interstate Highways in 1947, which included a route that followed loosely to US 70 from the Tennessee state line to Greensboro. After years of planning and the passing of the Federal Aid Highway Act of 1956, which established the route between Tennessee and Greensboro, American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) approved the I-40 designation in 1957.

Interstate Highway era

In 1958, the first construction job in the country that was designated specifically for I-40 was in Haywood County, along the Pigeon River. That same year, the first two sections of I-40 opened: the first was the three-mile-long (4.8 km) East–West Expressway in Winston-Salem; the second was from US 421 in Kernersville to US 29/US 70 in Greensboro. In both cases, these first freeways were constructed a couple of years prior for US 158 and US 421, respectively, and did not benefit from the 1956 Act; as a result, in 1988, the state was able to convince the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) to build the Winston-Salem Bypass. Between Ridgecrest and Old Fort, US 70 along Youngs Ridge was four-lane as of 1954; however, I-40 was not officially designated until 1982, after additional highway improvements, including additional widening, runaway truck ramps, and warning devices.

In 1960, I-40 made three expansions: in Burke County, from Dysartsville Road (SR 1129) to Hildebran (connecting to US 64/US 70 along I-40 Access Road Southeast (SR 1890)); from NC 16 in Conover to NC 90 in Statesville; and from NC 801 near Advance to the US 158/US 421 split east of Winston-Salem. In 1961, I-40 extended west from Dysartsville Road to NC 226 near Marion. In Statesville, I-40 extended east along a completed widening project of the US 64 Bypass, between NC 90 to US 64. In 1962, I-40 extended west from NC 226 near Marion to link-up with US 70 near Old Fort. In 1963, the gap between Winston-Salem and Kernersville was completed. In 1964, I-40 opened a 12-mile (19 km) segment from east of Clyde (using the freeway connector from US 19/US 23) to Wiggins Road (SR 1200). In 1967, I-40 opened a 3.8-mile (6.1 km) segment through the Biltmore Estate from NC 191 to US 25. In 1968 and after 10 years of construction, I-40 opened a 20-mile (32 km) segment from the Tennessee state line to US 276 in Cove Creek. In November of same year, the North Carolina State Highway Commission submitted a request to the Bureau of Public Roads to extend I-40 east of Greensboro to Raleigh via the Research Triangle Park (RTP). In 1969, both the Bureau and AASHTO approved the extension, allowing I-40 to continue east of Durham through Raleigh to Smithfield. Also in the same year, I-40 was extended west from NC 191 to connect with I-26 and end at US 19/US 23 in Enka. In 1970, I-40 extended west from NC 801 near Advance to US 64 near Mocksville.

In 1971, two gaps were completed: Wiggins Road (SR 1200) to US 19/US 23 in Enka; and US 64 in Statesville to US 64 near Mocksville. In July, NCSHC finalized a plan for I-40's routing east of Durham to Smithfield, with an estimated cost of $75 million (equivalent to $390 million in 2021 ). In December, new freeway opened between Davis Drive (SR 1999) in the Research Triangle Park (RTP) to US 1/US 64 (Raleigh Beltline) in Raleigh; I-40 was added along seven miles (11 km) between Davis Drive and Harrison Avenue (SR 1654), while east of Harrison Avenue (future Wade Avenue) was signed "To I-40". In 1972, I-40 extended east from US 25 in Asheville to Porters Cove Road (SR 2838) in Oteen; the extension bypassed both US 25A and US 74, where interchanges were built in 1999 and 1973, respectively. In 1973, I-40 and the Durham Freeway (future NC 147) were connected in the RTP. In 1974, a gap was completed between US 276 in Cove Creek to the freeway connector (future Great Smoky Mountains Expressway) near Clyde. I-40 also extended east from Porters Cove Road in Oteen to Patton Cove Road (SR 2740) in Swannanoa. In 1976, a gap of I-40 was completed between Henry River Road (SR 1002) in Hildebran and NC 16 in Conover. In April 1978, after years of debate on where I-40 should be routed east of I-95, either Morehead City or Wilmington, the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) approved a corridor location between Raleigh and Wilmington. The discussions on its routing started since the initial extension in 1969 and arguments from several area groups why the routing should go to their port city. In the end, the routing approval to Wilmington came with a caveat to build new freeway in parallel to US 117 instead of a full upgrade of US 421 as several in the region supported. In 1979, I-40 was extended east from Patton Cove Road in Swannanoa to US 70 in Ridgecrest.

Barstow, California, distance sign, as seen from I-40 in Wilmington

In 1982, I-40 was designated, in concurrency with US 70, along Youngs Ridge between Ridgecrest and Old Fort; this officially completed the original I-40 routing from Tennessee to Greensboro. In 1984, I-40 was extended in Raleigh from Wade Avenue (exit 289), along the Tom Bradshaw Freeway, to the Cliff Benson Beltline (exit 301). Also same year, AASHTO approved of designation of I-40 between Wallace and Wilmington, currently under construction at the time. By 1985, construction began on a 22-mile (35 km) project, connecting the Durham Freeway in the RTP with I-85 west of Hillsborough at an estimated cost of $103 million (equivalent to $223 million in 2021 ). In 1985, I-40 was placed on new 19-mile (31 km) section between US 117 (exit 390) near Willard and NC 210 (exit 408) near Rocky Point. In 1986, I-40 was extended west from the Durham Freeway (exit 279) to NC 55 (exit 278) in the RTP; I-40 was also extended east to its current eastern terminus at US 117/NC 132 (exit 420) in Wilmington. In 1987, I-40 was extended west from US 117 (exit 390) near Willard to NC 41 (exit 385) near Tin City. In 1988, I-40 was extended west to US 15/US 501 (exit 270) in Chapel Hill and east to US 70 (exit 306) in Garner. In October, then-Governor James G. Martin announced federal approval of $114.1 million (equivalent to $229 million in 2021 ) for I-40 to be relocated around Winston-Salem. In 1989, I-40 was extended west to I-85 (exit 259) west of Hillsborough and east to I-95 (exit 328) in Benson. By 1990, I-40 was extended west from NC 41 (exit 385) in Tin City to US 117 (exit 369) near Warsaw. On June 29, 1990, with a ribbon-cutting by Gov. James G. Martin, I-40 was connected between Raleigh and Wilmington, providing improved access with the Port of Wilmington with the rest of the state. At around this time, a standard distance sign near the start of the westbound section of I-40 in Wilmington indicates the distance to Barstow, California, as 2,554 miles (4,110 km). In December, AASHTO approved the I-40 designation between Raleigh and Wallace; and in January 1991, NCDOT certified the designation.

The final gap of I-40 was completed when it was designated along existing I-85 from Greensboro to west of Hillsborough c. 1992. In November, the 20.89-mile (33.62 km) Winston-Salem Bypass was completed and opened; featuring mostly new construction, with a short overlap of existing US 311 freeway. The former alignment, featuring the first sections of I-40 completed in the state, was designated as I-40 Bus., with a complete concurrency with US 421. After 34 years, I-40 was officially completed in North Carolina.

Since completion

In 1996, 35 miles (56 km) of I-40/I-85, through Alamance and Orange counties, were widened to eight lanes. At a cost of $175 million (equivalent to $283 million in 2021 ), the project began in 1989 and opened completed sections in phases.

In December 2004, a 10.6-mile (17.1 km) widening project was completed from US 15/US 501 (exit 270) in Durham to NC 147 (exit 279) in the RTP. The project expanded lanes from four to six-lanes. In March 2005, construction crews returned for eight weeks to replace asphalt used in the widening project, which began to deteriorate not long after the lanes opened to the public. However, the paving mistakes were more severe, and NCDOT contracted Lane Construction Corp to replace all the bad concrete used in the botch widening project, at a cost of $21.7 million (equivalent to $29.3 million in 2021 ).

In 2011, an eight-mile (13 km) widening project was completed between Harrison Avenue (exit 287) and Gorman Street (exit 295). At a cost of $49 million (equivalent to $59 million in 2021 ), the project expanded lanes from four to six-lanes.

Pigeon River Gorge

Crews clearing the westbound lanes from the 2012 rockslide

The first section of I-40 in North Carolina is the section that travels through the Pigeon River Gorge in Haywood County. Known locally as simply "The Gorge", this part of I-40 cuts a path from the Tennessee state line to Waynesville. This section of the Interstate is curvy and tends to become a bit narrow in some places when compared to other portions of the highway. Because much of the road was cut through mountainside and along the river, concrete retaining walls have been built on both sides of the road and in the median, cutting down on the width of the breakdown lanes. Coupled with speeding vehicles, the thick fog that tends to plague the area, winter weather, and little room to maneuver in case of accident, this area has become notorious for its severe and many times fatal accidents. It is reported that a person is 20 times as likely to die on I-40 in Haywood County than they would be to win the Powerball lottery, which equals to be twice the average of any other Interstate Highway in North Carolina.

Even some minor accidents have been known to tie up traffic in this area, because there is little room to move accidents off or to the side of the road with the terrain. Speeding semitrucks have been a problem in the gorge and have subsequently led to many accidents. In 2002 and 2003, two state troopers were killed in two separate accidents by speeding trucks that drifted off the road and hit their police car conducting a traffic stop. This led the North Carolina Highway Patrol to crack down on speeding tractor trailers and speeders in general through the area.

This portion of the highway is also notorious for rockslides and rocks falling onto the highway. The main cause is an engineering flaw, in that sections of the highway have been built on the northside of the Pigeon River, where the rock stratums foliate toward the highway.

In 1985, a severe rockslide buried the westbound entrance to one of two tunnels that carry the highway through the gorge. Repair of the slide area and the tunnel required shifting westbound traffic to the eastbound tunnel, while eastbound traffic was diverted onto a temporary viaduct around the tunnels. In July 1997, a rockslide near the Tennessee state line closed the entire road for nearly three months.

In 2009, a large rockslide at milemarker 2.6 along I-40 near the Tennessee State Line shut down the freeway for several weeks. While the slide only caused minor injuries, it shut down I-40 in both directions.

Greensboro relocation

The six routes of Death Valley in 2007

In February 2008, I-40 was relocated onto the Greensboro Western Urban Loop, marking the first change to I-40 since it was rerouted onto the Winston-Salem Bypass opened in 1992 which was completely constructed the same year. At a cost of $122 million (equivalent to $153 million in 2021 ), it was constructed by Archer Western Contractors of Atlanta and took four years to complete. NCDOT Secretary Lyndo Tippett said that "the opening of the Greensboro Western Urban Loop is a major step in improving the mobility of the Triad region" and that "the highway will provide better access for motorists in and around Greensboro, as well as those traveling between the eastern and western areas of our state." The new routing was placed in concurrency with I-73, while its former alignment became an extension of I-40 Bus.

The glowing sentiment the NCDOT Secretary gave on the new I-40 routing was unfortunately not reciprocated. NCDOT received many complaints by local residents and motorists on the confusion between "Blue" 40 and "Green" 40. Greensboro residents also had concerns with the resulting increased traffic and noise. On September 12, 2008, seven months after the initial switch and in agreement with Greensboro DOT and FHWA, I-40 was rerouted to its original route through the city, I-40 Bus. was decommissioned, and I-73 and I-85 were left as the only Interstates signed along the loop. Exit numbers on the western segment of the loop were to be replaced with I-73 exit numbers; while exit numbers along I-40 Bus. would be changed over to I-40 exit numbers. At a cost around $300,000 (equivalent to $373 thousand in 2021 ), all signage was replaced by July 1, 2009. In November 2009, US 421 was rerouted onto the Urban Loop, replacing most of I-40's brief alignment around Greensboro.

The current alignment of I-40 is four miles (6.4 km) shorter than the 2008 Urban Loop routing and is the quicker route for any vehicle consistently traveling at the posted speed limits.

Statesville interchange rebuild

In Statesville, the I-40/I-77 interchange (exit 152), originally built in the late 1960s, is currently being upgraded to increase capacity and improve safety. The initial estimated cost for the entire project is $251 million with construction started in March 2012. The first phase, completed in summer 2019, involved the widening of I-40 from four to six lanes. The second phase, begun in 2020, involves a similar widening of I-77 and the reconstruction of the interchange into a partial turbine interchange. There is no anticipated completion date for the project as of September 2020.

Fortify project

Begun in 2013, an extensive project known as "Fortify" (a play on the route number "40") overhauled I-40 along the southern edge of Raleigh, from the I-40/US 1/US 64 interchange (exit 293) near Cary Crossroads through the I-40/I-440 split (exit 301) in Southeast Raleigh, including the easternmost two miles (3.2 km) of I-440 as well. The project necessitated a complete teardown and rebuild of the roadway, widening of the roadway, rehabilitation and widening of bridges and overpasses along the entire route, and extension and widening of several highly congested exit and entrance ramps.

The project was divided into two phases, the first (completed in summer 2015) was a rebuilding and repaving of I-40 and I-440 from I-40 exit 301 to I-440 exit 14. The second phase, completed in late 2018, was the more extensive rebuild of I-40 from exit 293 to exit 301.

Southeast Raleigh–Clayton widening

Begun in autumn 2018 after the completion of the Fortify project to widen I-40 through South Raleigh, the section of I-40 between the I-40/I-440 split (exit 301) and NC 42 (exit 312) is being widened. As part of the widening project, many of the overpasses along the route are being reconstructed, both to accommodate the wider road underneath, and to expand capacity of the roads passing overhead. An onramp was removed at exit 303 (US 70) in November 2019 in order to accommodate the wider roadway. Traffic that normally used a free-flowing loop ramp is now routed through a left-turn traffic light to access the other onramp. Exit 312 (NC 42) is being rebuilt entirely as a diverging diamond interchange, and an additional ramp is being built at that exit to provide access to Cleveland Road. Additionally, the interchange at exit 309 for US 70 (Clayton Bypass) is being expanded to also including the future NC 540/Triangle Expressway. In December 2020, a new overhead flyover ramp between I-440 east and I-40 east was opened, replacing the older ramp to allow for the wider freeway underneath. The project is expected to be completed to Exit 309 by 2023, with the I-40/NC 42 interchange rebuild expected to be completed by 2024.

Future

A widening project along I-40 is in development stage, between milemarkers 259 and 279 in Orange and Durham counties. After some initial delays due to noise concerns through populated areas and two public comment meetings, the project is currently in the right-of-way acquisition phase, and construction is scheduled to begin around 2022; however, NCDOT has suspended engineering activities for the project.

Related routes

	Interstate	City	Type	Notes
	Interstate 40 Business	Winston-Salem	Business loop	Freeway grade throughout the route; decommissioned, replaced by US 421.
	Interstate 40 Business	Raleigh	Business loop	Unsigned, freeway grade throughout the route; decommissioned, replaced by I-440.
	Interstate 140	Wilmington	Spur
	Interstate 240	Asheville	Business loop
	Interstate 440	Raleigh	Beltway
	Interstate 540	Raleigh	Spur/Beltway	Designated along the Northern Wake Freeway.
	Interstate 840	Greensboro	Beltway	Partially completed northern bypass, under construction.

Exit list

County	Location	Mile	Roads intersected	Notes
Haywood	​	0.0	0.0		I-40 west – Knoxville	Continuation into Tennessee
	​	6.7	10.8	7	Cold Springs Creek Road – Harmon Den
	​	14.8	23.8	15	Fines Creek Road
	Cove Creek	20.5	33.0	20	US 276 south – Waynesville, Maggie Valley
	​	24.2	38.9	24	NC 209 – Lake Junaluska, Hot Springs
	​	27.3	43.9	27	US 19 / US 23 / US 74 west – Clyde, Waynesville	West end of US 74 overlap
	Canton	31.2	50.2	31	NC 215 – Canton
		33.2	53.4	33	Newfound Road – Canton
Buncombe	​	37.4	60.2	37	Wiggins Road – Candler, East Canton
	Asheville	44.3	71.3	44	US 19 / US 23 / US 74A east – West Asheville, Enka, Candler
		45.9	73.9	46A	I-26 / US 74 east – Hendersonville, Spartanburg	East end of US 74 overlap; no eastbound entrance; westbound left exit
				46B	Future I-26 west / I-240 east – Asheville, Johnson City	No westbound exit; eastbound left exit
		46.7	75.2	47	NC 191 – West Asheville	To Farmers Market
		50.2	80.8	50	US 25 – South Asheville, Biltmore House	Signed as exits 50A (south) and 50B (north) westbound
		51.3	82.6	51	US 25A – Asheville
		52.8	85.0	53A	US 74A east / Blue Ridge Parkway – Bat Cave
				53B	I-240 / US 74A west – East Asheville
		55.1	88.7	55	To US 70 – East Asheville	To VA Hospital
	​	58.8	94.6	59	Patton Cove Road – Swannanoa
	Black Mountain	63.8	102.7	64	NC 9 – Black Mountain, Montreat
		64.8	104.3	65	US 70 west – Black Mountain	West end of US 70 overlap; westbound exit and eastbound entrance
	​	65.7	105.7	66	Dunsmore Avenue – Ridgecrest
McDowell	Old Fort	71.4	114.9	72	US 70 east – Old Fort	To Mount Mitchell; East end of US 70 overlap; eastbound exit and westbound entrance
		72.4	116.5	73	Catawaba Avenue – Old Fort
		74.8	120.4	75	Parker Padgett Road
	Marion	81.2	130.7	81	Sugar Hill Road – Marion
		83.4	134.2	83	Ashworth Road
		84.6	136.2	85	US 221 – Marion, Rutherfordton
		86.3	138.9	86	NC 226 – Marion, Shelby
	​	89.8	144.5	90	Harmony Grove Road – Nebo, Lake James
Burke	​	94.1	151.4	94	Dysartsville Road
	​	95.8	154.2	96	Kathy Road
	Glen Alpine	97.5	156.9	98	Causby Road – Glen Alpine
		99.5	160.1	100	Jamestown Road / Dixie Boulevard – Glen Alpine
	Morganton	102.9	165.6	103	US 64 – Morganton, Rutherfordton
		104.1	167.5	104	Enola Road
		105.1	169.1	105	NC 18 – Morganton, Shelby
	​	106.2	170.9	106	Bethel Road
	​	107.4	172.8	107	NC 114 – Drexel
	Valdese	110.7	178.2	111	Abees Grove Church Road / Milestone Avenue – Valdese
		111.4	179.3	112	Mineral Springs Mountain Road – Valdese
	Rutherford College	112.3	180.7	113	Rutherford College Road / Malcom Boulevard – Connelly Springs, Rutherford College
	Icard	116.2	187.0	116	Old NC 10 – Icard
	Hildebran	117.9	189.7	118	Old NC 10
		118.8	191.2	119	Henry River Road / Center Street – Henry River, Hildebran	Signed as exits 119A (Henry River) and 119B (Hildebran) eastbound
Catawba	Long View	120.6	194.1	121	33rd Street – Long View
	Hickory	122.8	197.6	123A	US 321 south to NC 127 – Lincolnton, Gastonia	Cloverleaf interchange with Collector/distributor roadways
				123B	US 321 north to US 70 – Hickory, Lenoir, Boone	To Appalachian State University and Hickory Regional Airport
		125.1	201.3	125	Lenoir Rhyne Boulevard – Hickory	To Lenoir-Rhyne University
		126.2	203.1	126	To US 70 – Hickory, Newton
	Conover	128.1	206.2	128	Fairgrove Church Road	To Hickory Motor Speedway
		130.2	209.5	130	Old US 70
		131.1	211.0	131	NC 16	Permanently closed by 2008.
		131.6	211.8	132	NC 16 – Newton, Conover, Taylorsville
		132.6	213.4	133	Rock Barn Road
	Claremont	134.3	216.1	135	Oxford Street – Claremont
	Catawba	138.1	222.3	138	NC 10 west (Oxford School Road) – Catawba
Iredell	​	140.4	226.0	141	Sharon School Road
	​	144.0	231.7	144	Old Mountain Road – West Iredell
	​	145.4	234.0	146	Stamey Farm Road
	Statesville	147.7	237.7	148	US 64 / NC 90 – West Statesville, Taylorsville
		149.5	240.6	150	NC 115 – Downtown Statesville, North Wilkesboro
		151.2	243.3	151	US 21 – East Statesville, Harmony
		152.0	244.6	152	I-77 – Charlotte, Wytheville	Signed as exits 152A (south) and 152B (north)
		152.9	246.1	153	US 64 – Statesville	Permanently closed as of October 1, 2012; was an eastbound exit and westbound entrance
		153.7	247.4	154	US 64 (Old Mocksville Road)
	​	161.8	260.4	162	US 64
Davie	Mocksville	167.8	270.0	168	US 64 – Mocksville
		169.5	272.8	170	US 601 – Mocksville, Yadkinville
	​	173.5	279.2	174	Farmington Road
	​	179.8	289.4	180	NC 801 – Bermuda Run, Tanglewood	Signed as exits 180A (south) and 180B (north) Westbound
Forsyth	Clemmons	182.1	293.1	182	Harper Road – Tanglewood, Bermuda Run
		183.5	295.3	184	Lewisville–Clemmons Road – Lewisville, Clemmons
	Winston-Salem	187.7	302.1	188	US 421 (Salem Parkway) – Downtown Winston-Salem, Yadkinville, Wilkesboro	No access from US 421 south to I-40 west
		188.6	303.5	189	US 158 (Stratford Road)
		189.3	304.6	190	Hanes Mall Boulevard	Westbound exit and eastbound entrance
		191.3	307.9	192	NC 150 (Peters Creek Parkway) – Downtown Winston-Salem
		192.5	309.8	193C	Silas Creek Parkway, South Main Street	Westbound exit and eastbound entrance
		193.2	310.9	193A	I-285 / US 52 / NC 8 south – Lexington
				193B	US 52 / NC 8 north – Mount Airy
		194.3	312.7	195	NC 109 / Clemmonsville Road – Thomasville
		195.9	315.3	196	I-74 east – High Point
	​			198	I-74 (Winston-Salem Beltway)	Future interchange (Construction to start in Spring 2022 with a completion date of November 2026)
	Kernersville	200.7	323.0	201	Union Cross Road	Diverging diamond interchange
		203.5	327.5	203	NC 66 / Regional Road – Kernersville, High Point
Guilford	Colfax	206.4	332.2	206	US 421 north (Salem Parkway) – Kernersville, Downtown Winston-Salem	North end of US 421 overlap; westbound exit and eastbound entrance
	Greensboro	207.4	333.8	208	Sandy Ridge Road
		209.7	337.5	210	NC 68 – High Point, Piedmont Triad International Airport
		210.7	339.1	211	Gallimore Dairy Road	SP Diamond Interchange
		212.1	341.3	212A	I-73 / US 421 south to I-85 – Asheboro	Eastbound left exit; south end of US 421 overlap; I-85 signed eastbound
				212B	I-73 north / I-840 east – PTI-GSO Airport, Martinsville
		213.0	342.8	213	Guilford College Road
		213.8	344.1	214	Wendover Avenue	Signed as exits 214A (west) and 214B (east) eastbound
		215.3	346.5	216	Patterson Street	Eastbound exit and westbound entrance
		216.8	348.9	217	Gate City Boulevard, Koury Boulevard
		218.2	351.2	218	US 220 south / Freeman Mill Road – Asheboro	West end of US 220 overlap; signed as exits 218A (US 220) and 218B (Freeman Mill Road)
		219.0	352.4	219	US 29 south / US 70 west – Charlotte	South end of US 29 and west end of US 70 overlap
		219.3	352.9	220	Randleman Road
		219.9	353.9	221	South Elm-Eugene Street – Downtown Greensboro
		221.0	355.7	222	Martin Luther King Jr. Drive
		221.1	355.8	223	US 29 north / US 70 east / US 220 north – Reidsville	North end of US 29/US 220 and east end of US 70 overlap; northbound exit and southbound entrance
		223.3	359.4	224	Gate City Boulevard, Lee Street	To Bennett College, UNC Greensboro, A&T University and Greensboro College
		225.7	363.2	226	McConnell Road
		226.5	364.5	227	I-85 south / I-785 north – Danville, Charlotte	South end of I-85 overlap; hidden west I-840
I-40 overlaps with Interstate 85 (exits 131 to 163)
Orange	Hillsborough	258.3	415.7	259	I-85 north – Durham	North end of I-85 overlap
		260.8	419.7	261	Old NC Highway 86 – Hillsborough
		262.9	423.1	263	New Hope Church Road
		265.8	427.8	266	NC 86 – Chapel Hill, Hillsborough
Durham	Chapel Hill	269.9	434.4	270	US 15 / US 501 – Chapel Hill, Durham
		272.7	438.9	273	NC 54 – Chapel Hill, Durham	Signed as exits 273A (west) and 273B (east) westbound
	Durham	274.2	441.3	274	NC 751 – Jordan Lake
		275.6	443.5	276	Fayetteville Road  – Southpoint, North Carolina Central University	SP Diamond Interchange
		277.8	447.1	278	NC 55 to NC 54 – Apex
	Research Triangle Park	279.1	NC 147 Toll south (Triangle Expressway) – Morrisville
		279B	NC 147 north (Durham Freeway) – Downtown Durham
		280.1	450.8	280	Davis Drive
	Durham	280.8	451.9	281	Miami Boulevard
		281.4	452.9	282	Page Road
		282.3	454.3	283	I-540 east / NC 540 west to NC 540 Toll / US 1 north / US 64 east / US 70 – North Raleigh	Signed westbound as exits 283A (East I-540) and 283B (West NC 540)
Wake	Morrisville	283.5	456.2	284	Airport Boulevard – RDU International Airport	Signed eastbound as exits 284A (west) and 284B (east); under conversion into Diverging diamond interchange.
	Cary	284.7	458.2	285	Aviation Parkway  – Morrisville, RDU International Airport	Signed westbound as exits 285A (south) and 285B (north)
		287.0	461.9	287	Harrison Avenue – Cary
	Raleigh	288.6	464.5	289	To I-440 / US 1 north / Wade Avenue – Downtown Raleigh	To PNC Arena, Carter–Finley Stadium, State Fairgrounds, NCSU Veterinary College, and NC Museum of Art
		290.5	467.5	290	NC 54 – Cary
		291.4	469.0	291	Cary Towne Boulevard – Cary
		292.6	470.9	293A	US 1 south / US 64 west – Cary, Asheboro	West end of US 64 overlap
				293B	I-440 east / US 1 north – Raleigh, Wake Forest	Cloverleaf interchange with Collector/distributor roadways
		295.0	474.8	295	Gorman Street
		297.1	478.1	297	Lake Wheeler Road
		298.0	479.6	298	US 70 / US 401 / NC 50 (S. Saunders Street) – Raleigh Downtown, Garner	Signed as exits 298A (east/south) and 298B (west/north), to be converted into a Diverging diamond interchange
		298.8	480.9	299	Hammond Road, Person Street
		300.3	483.3	300	Rock Quarry Road	Signed as exits 300A (south) and 300B (north) westbound
		301.1	484.6	301	I-87 north / I-440 west / US 64 east – Knightdale	East end of US 64 overlap; Eastbound exit is a left exit
	​	303.5	488.4	303	Jones Sausage Road
	Garner	305.6	491.8	306	US 70 west / US 70 Bus. east – Garner, Clayton	West end of US 70 overlap; signed as exits 306A (west) and 306B (east) westbound
		309.6	498.3	309	US 70 east – Smithfield, Goldsboro	East end of US 70 overlap
				310	NC 540 Toll (Triangle Expressway)	Future interchange (under construction)
Johnston	​	311.8	501.8	312	NC 42 – Clayton, Fuquay-Varina	To be converted into Diverging diamond interchange as part of the widening
	​	312.4	502.8		Cleveland Road	Future interchange (under construction)
	McGee's Crossroads	318.6	512.7	319	NC 210 – Smithfield, Angier
	Benson	325.4	523.7	325	NC 242 south to US 301 – Benson
		327.8	527.5	328	I-95 – Benson, Fayetteville, Rocky Mount, Smithfield	Signed as exits 328A (south) and 328B (north)
	​	333.6	536.9	334	NC 96 – Meadow
Sampson	Newton Grove	341.0	548.8	341	NC 50 / NC 55 to US 13 – Newton Grove
		343.3	552.5	343	US 701 to US 13 – Clinton, Newton Grove	to Bentonville Battlefield
	​	348.0	560.1	348	Suttontown Road
	​	355.4	572.0	355	NC 403 – Faison
Duplin	Warsaw	364.5	586.6	364	NC 24 west / NC 24 Bus. east to NC 50 – Warsaw, Clinton	West end of NC 24 overlap
		369.6	594.8	369	US 117 – Warsaw
	​	372.9	600.1	373	NC 24 east / NC 903 – Magnolia, Kenansville, Beulaville	East end of NC 24 overlap
	Rose Hill	380.0	611.6	380	Charity Road – Rose Hill
	​	384.1	618.1	384	NC 11 – Wallace, Greenevers
	​	385.4	620.2	385	NC 41 – Wallace, Beulaville
Pender	​	390.2	628.0	390	US 117 – Wallace
	Burgaw	398.5	641.3	398	NC 53 – Burgaw, Jacksonville
	Rocky Point	408.1	656.8	408	NC 210 – Rocky Point	To Moores Creek National Battlefield
New Hanover	Castle Hayne	414.5	667.1	414	Holly Shelter Road – Castle Hayne
	Murraysville	416.9	670.9	416	I-140 west / NC 140 – Shallotte, Myrtle Beach, Topsail Island, Jacksonville	Signed as exits 416A (west) and 416B (east)
	Wilmington	419.9	675.8	420	US 117 / NC 132 north / Gordon Road – Castle Hayne	Signed as exits 420A (Gordon Road) and 420B (US 117/NC 132) westbound
		423.6	681.7	—	US 117 / NC 132 south – State Port, Carolina Beach	Continuation as US 117/NC 132
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi