Interstate 295 North Carolina

History

Southern Terminus

Northern Terminus

Routing

Interstate 295 is the designation for the proposed route to the west of Fayetteville. The loop has been listed by various sources as being 27 miles long¹ and 40 miles long ², and the actual mileage will vary as design is completed and construction nears. The current route (as of July 2007) connects Interstate 95 with U.S. 401 north of Fayetteville on a seven-mile route.

History

Submitted to the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) as Interstate 195, it was rejected on May 30, 2003. (for more on this and other actions taken by AASHTO at their 2003 meeting, see AASHTO Committee Actions - Special Committee on Route Numbering). On May 6, 2005, North Carolina resubmitted the Fayetteville bypass to AASHTO, this time requesting the designation of Interstate 295. AASHTO approved Interstate 295 as a future route, and signs for the route have already been placed along the completed sections of the route.

The first two segments of Interstate 295 to open were the section from U.S. 401 to River Road on June 16, 2003,² and the section from River Road to Interstate 95 and U.S. 13 on July 7, 2005.³ The 2005 North Carolina Official State Map showed the segment between U.S. 401 and Interstate 95 under construction as North Carolina 13; the 2007 North Carolina Official State Map shows this section as complete and signed as Future Interstate 295. Plans to call this route North Carolina 13 changed once AASHTO approval for the future designation was obtained in 2005.

Future Aspirations

Plans call for Interstate 295 to be built in phases over the next twenty years. The next phase would connect U.S. 401 with the All American Freeway and North Carolina 87 via Spring Lake, with construction beginning in summer 2009 and completion expected in 2012. The rest of the loop would be built in stages, possibly completing the loop by 2020.³ Interstate 295 appears in North Carolina's Strategic Highway Corridors map as of September 2, 2004.

Highway Guides

• Future Interstate 295 North Carolina

	Future Southern Terminus - Interstate 95 - Hope Mills, North Carolina This terminus location is just an approximation at the current time. Therefore the concept of trying to photograph the location is impractical and not requested at this time. Current Southern Terminus - U.S. 401 - north of Fayetteville, North Carolina Perspective from Interstate 295 south The final reassurance shield for Future Interstate 295 south is posted shortly after the River Road interchange and prior to the Cape Fear River bridge. Photo taken by Andy Field (05/30/07). Shortly thereafter, the nearly seven-mile future Interstate approaches its end at U.S. 401. Use U.S. 401 north to Lillington and south to Fayetteville. Photo taken by Andy Field (05/30/07). The left lane ends as Interstate 295 approaches the U.S. 401 interchange. Photo taken by Andy Field (05/30/07). Future Interstate 295 ends temporarily at the interchange with U.S. 401. All traffic must exit here. Note the stub lanes, which would someday become the continuation of Interstate 295 west to Spring Lake, Fort Bragg, Pope Air Force Base, and the connection to North Carolina 87. Photo taken by Andy Field (05/30/07). Now on the ramp to U.S. 401, turn left to Fayetteville and right to Lillington. This marks the temporary southern (western) terminus of Interstate 295, which is slated to be an eventual belt route for Fayetteville. Photo taken by Andy Field (05/30/07). Perspective from U.S. 401/Ramsey Street north Traveling north on U.S. 401, the junction with Future Interstate 295 is posted prior to the single point urban interchange traffic signal for the interchange. Small businesses line U.S. 401 on either side of the Interstate 295 traffic signal. Photo taken by Andy Field (05/30/07). Continue straight ahead on U.S. 401 north to Lillington; use Interstate 295 northeast to River Road and to Interstate 95 and U.S. 13. Photo taken by Andy Field (05/30/07). A set of shields are posted on northbound U.S. 401 at the intersection with Interstate 295, including U.S. 13 and Interstate 95. Photo taken by Andy Field (05/30/07). The interchange between U.S. 401 and Interstate 295 will eventually be a single point urban interchange, given that the movements are all governed by this single traffic signal. Photo taken by Andy Field (05/30/07). This U.S. 401 north reassurance shield is posted after the Future Interstate 295 interchange. Photo taken by Andy Field (05/30/07). Perspective from U.S. 401/Ramsey Street south Southbound U.S. 401/Ramsey Street approaches the Future Interstate 295 interchange. Photo taken by Andy Field (05/30/07). In front of the Hardee's Restaurant is this bank of signs. Use Future Interstate 295 east (north) to Interstate 95 and U.S. 13 north. Continue south on U.S. 401 to Fayetteville. Photo taken by Andy Field (05/30/07). The two left lanes connect to Interstate 295 north to Interstate 95 and U.S. 13 at this single point urban interchange. Photo taken by Andy Field (05/30/07). Shortly after the traffic signal for Interstate 295 is this U.S. 401 south reassurance shield. Photo taken by Andy Field (05/30/07). Perspective from Interstate 295 north A two-lane on-ramp carries traffic from U.S. 401 onto northbound Future Interstate 295. Photo taken by Andy Field (05/30/07). The onramp reduces to one lane, then joins the nascent mainline of Interstate 295. The stub main lanes are not yet in use. Photo taken by Andy Field (05/30/07). Prior to crossing the Cape Fear River is the first reassurance shield for northbound Interstate 295. Note the FUTURE banner and the lack of the word "INTERSTATE" in the red area. The first (and only exit) is with River Road. Photo taken by Andy Field (05/30/07). Northern Terminus - Interstate 95 and U.S. 13 - Eastover, North Carolina Perspective from Interstate 295 north Traveling north on Interstate 295, the first advance signage for Interstate 95 (northern terminus) appears after the River Road interchange. Use Interstate 95 north to Benson and Raleigh and south to Fayetteville, Lumberton, and Florence. Photo taken by Andy Field (05/30/07). The junction with Interstate 95 was opened to traffic on July 7, 2005, with a flyover to make the connection to Interstate 95 north. Photo taken by Andy Field (05/30/07). Future Interstate 295 ends at the interchange with Interstate 95. Unlike the connection from Interstate 95 north to Interstate 295, the interchange provides for a freeway to freeway connection to Interstate 95 north and south. Continue straight ahead for U.S. 13 north to Newton Grove and Junction Interstate 40/U.S. 701. Photo taken by Andy Field (05/30/07). Now on the transition ramp from Interstate 295 north, the first ramp connects to Interstate 95 south, while the left two lanes continue to connect with Interstate 95 north. Photo taken by Andy Field (05/30/07). Incoming traffic from U.S. 13 south joins the transition ramp from Interstate 295 north to Interstate 95 north. Photo taken by Andy Field (05/30/07). Perspective from Interstate 95 north The first appearance of signage for Future Interstate 295 on northbound Interstate 95 is posted after Exit 55, Murphy Road. In addition to serving as the northern terminus of Future Interstate 295, Exit 58 serves as the southern terminus of U.S. 13. From here, U.S. 13 travels north to Morrisville, Pennsylvania, by way of Newton Grove, Goldsboro, Greenville, the Hampton Roads region, the Delmarva Peninsula, Wilmington, and Philadelphia. Photo taken by Andy Field (05/30/07). Future Interstate 295 currently extends west from Interstate 95 to U.S. 401. There is one interchange between Interstate 95 and U.S. 401 at River Road. Early maps showed Future Interstate 295 as "North Carolina 13," but it is fully signed solely as Future Interstate 295. The southern terminus of U.S. 13 remains at Interstate 95 (Exit 58). Photo taken by Andy Field (05/30/07). Use U.S. 13 north to Goldsboro and U.S. 13 north to U.S. 70 east to Kinston. Both Interstate 295 and U.S. 13 are served by the same exit ramp. Photo taken by Andy Field (05/30/07). Northbound Interstate 95 reaches Exit 58, Junction Future Interstate 295 south (west) to U.S. 401 and Junction U.S. 13 northeast to Goldsboro and Kinston. Photo taken by Andy Field (05/30/07). The transition ramp from northbound Interstate 95 to Future Interstate 295 and U.S. 13 is not a freeway-to-freeway connection. Instead, a right turn is required to connect to U.S. 13 north (to U.S. 301 and Newton Grove), and a left turn is required for Future Interstate 295 southwest to U.S. 401. Photo taken by Andy Field (05/30/07). Perspective from Interstate 95 south No photos are currently available. To contribute a photo, please contact us. Perspective from U.S. 13 south After the intersection with U.S. 301, southbound U.S. 13 ends at its interchange with Interstate 95 northeast Fayetteville. An END U.S. 13 shield is posted on the Interstate 95 overpass. Continue straight ahead to follow Future Interstate 295 southwest to U.S. 401. Photo taken by Andy Field (05/30/07). Perspective from Interstate 295 south The first exit on southbound Interstate 295 is the connection to Interstate 95 south via this loop ramp to Fayetteville and Lumberton. Continue straight ahead to follow Interstate 295 west to U.S. 401. Photo taken by Andy Field (05/30/07). Leaving the Interstate 95 interchange, the first reassurance shield is this unique "Future Interstate 295" shield, complete with FUTURE banner. Note the lack of the word "INTERSTATE" in the red section of the shield. Photo taken by Andy Field (05/30/07).

Sources:

1. Discover Fayetteville: On The Go
2. Secretary Tippett's Remarks - Fayetteville Outer Loop Ribbon Cutting Ceremony on June 16, 2003
3. Fayetteville, NC: Fast Facts - Fayetteville, N.C. is a Community of History, Heroes, and a Hometown Feeling - according to Eddie Terry: "Outer Loop Set For Completion 2020: The second phase of the Fayetteville Outer loop opened on July 7th. The second section of the project connects River Road and I-95. Motorist can now travel from I-95 to River Road and Ramsey Street. The next phase of the project, from Ramsey Street to the All American Freeway, is scheduled to begin in 2008. When complete, the Outer Loop will connect I-95 and US 13 to Ft. Bragg, then curve around Fayetteville and Hope Mills and re-connect to I-95 near St. Pauls. The entire project is expected to be completed by 2020."

Page Updated May 17, 2009.