Interstate 295 North Carolina
Overview
The Fayetteville Outer Loop west to the All American Freeway (SR 1007) was completed on December 2, 2016. 01/01/17
Interstate 295 is the designation for the partially completed Fayetteville Outer Loop encircling Fayetteville. The freeway improves connectivity between the US Army’s Fort Bragg and I-95, as well as providing a new commuter route between the base and city of Fayetteville.
The loop had been listed by various sources as being 27 miles long1 and 40 miles long 2. The final design takes I-295, 39 miles around the north, west and south sides of Fayetteville.7 The current route connects Interstate 95 and U.S. 13, by the town of Eastover, with the All American Freeway at Fort Bragg and U.S. 401 (Raeford Road) in west Fayetteville.
Sign changes made in 2014 redesignated the original seven-mile section joining U.S. 401 (Ramsay Street) with I-95 from Future I-295 to North Carolina Highway 295. This designation was meant to be temporary, awaiting both the completion of the loop and upgrades to bridges along the route and interchange with I-95/U.S. 13.
The latest section of the Fayetteville Outer Loop opened to traffic on August 19, 2020. The 2.7 mile section runs south from Cliffdale Road (SR 1400) to U.S. 401 (Raeford Road). It opened three months ahead of schedule. Signage for this segment, and the previously opened section from the All American Freeway (SR 1007) to Cliffdale Road, reference the beltway as Interstate 295 instead of NC 295. This is because the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) granted permission to the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) to designated the entire freeway as I-295. NCDOT will eventually replace the remaining NC 295 markers.10
Construction on the remaining 17 miles of I-295 are as follows:
- Section A – I-95 to Camden Road – scheduled completion by Summer 2022
- Section B – Camden Road to U.S. 401 (Raeford Road) – a construction contract to be awarded in August 2022.10
- Section CA – U.S. 401 (Raeford Road) to Cliffdale Road – construction south from Raeford Road to Century Circle continues to May 2022
History
The Fayetteville loop was first considered in 1977. Discussion for the road continued through the Governor Jim Martin administration to 1993 and further by U.S. Rep Richard Hudson and Fayetteville Major J.L. Dawkins around the year 2000.6 An Interstate designation was eventually sought, with North Carolina officials submitting Interstate 195 to the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) on May 30, 2003. That choice was rejected. On May 6, 2005, North Carolina resubmitted the Fayetteville bypass to AASHTO, this time requesting the designation of Interstate 295. AASHTO approved I-295 as a future route, with signs erected along completed sections of the route soon thereafter.
The first two segments of Interstate 295 opened were the section from U.S. 401 (Ramsay Street) to River Road on June 16, 2003,2 and the section from River Road east to Interstate 95 and U.S. 13 on July 7, 2005.3 The initial segment generally served local traffic.
Construction continued along future Interstate 295 westward to the All American Freeway (SR 1007) to the August 4, 2014 opening of the 1.7-mile link between NC 24/87 and NC 210. This portion cost $6.1-million, with work commencing in March 2013.4 Completion of the freeway from the All American Freeway to U.S. 401 (Ramsay Street) was scheduled for late 2016.5 The initial stretch extended the freeway west from Murchison Road (NC 210) to Bragg Boulevard on August 11, 2016. Succeeding work on the $146 million project7 completed the link to the All American Freeway on December 2, 2016.8
The next phase of road work for Interstate 295 underway was the 6.7 mile segment (Section CB) from the All American Freeway south to Cliffdale Road (SR 1400). A $125.4-million contract was awarded for the project in August 2014,5 and scheduled for completion in October 2018.7 However a design change in this segment adding a $2 million tunnel to accommodate Fort Bragg military vehicles, pushed the scheduled completion back to Summer or Fall 2019.9 Section CB finally opened to motorists on November 26, 2019.
Subsequent construction of the Fayetteville Outer Loop included a $100.6 million design-build contract awarded in June 2016 for Section CA. The 3.1 mile long segment extends from Cliffdale Road to Century Circle, south of U.S. 401 (Raeford Road). Construction on Section CA commenced in August 2007 and 2.7 miles of the freeway were completed on August 19, 2020.10
More than $400 million was invested to complete the remainder of the loop by 2025. This included a budgetary allocation in 2015 to speed the time table for the start of work on the portion between Camden Road and Interstate 95 to the south by one year to 2020.7
Route Information
North End – Eastover, NC
South End – Parkton, NC
Mileage – 14.10
Cities – Fayetteville
- Junctions –
Source: December 31, 2018 Interstate Route Log and Finders List
The completed Fayetteville Outer Loop will be 39 miles long.7
Interstate 295 – Annual Average Daily Traffic (AADT)
| Location | Vehicles per day |
|---|---|
| Exits 21C to 23 | 23,000 |
| Exits 23 to 25 | 29,000 |
| Exits 25 to 28 | 23,000 |
| Exits 28 to 30 | 22,000 |
| Exits 30 to 34 | 20,000 |
Source: 2017 NCDOT AADT Mapping Application
Highway Guides
North End 
– Eastover, North Carolina
North at 
The Fayetteville Outer Loop advances east from River Road (SR 1714) to the cloverstack interchange (Exit 34) with Interstate 95. 12/13/17
The exchange joining the Fayetteville Outer Loop with Interstate 95 opened to traffic on July 7, 2005. 12/13/17
Exit 34 departs from I-295 north for a two lane flyover to I-95 north to I-40 near Benson and I-795/Future I-587 near Wilson, and a single lane ramp for I-95 south to Lumberton and Florence, South Carolina. 12/13/17 and 05/30/07
The second end shield for NC 295 appears at the northbound exit ramp from I-95 and beginning of U.S. 13. U.S. 13 extends east to Spivey’s Corner and Newton Grove. 12/13/17
North at
Business Loop I-95 merges with I-95, 1.5 miles south of the Fayetteville Outer Loop and U.S. 13 in the town of Eastover. 12/21/18
A five year widening project along Interstate 95 north from Eastover to I-40 commenced in January 2020. The $708.9 million project expands the freeway to eight overall lanes. 12/21/18
Expansion of I-95 at the Fayetteville Outer Loop includes realigning the ramp to U.S. 13 north outward and adding a loop ramp from I-95 northbound to the southbound exit ramp for Interstate 295. This will provide the required freeway to freeway connection for I-295. 12/21/18
South at
Exit 58 departs from Interstate 95 south for both U.S. 13 north to Newton Grove and the Fayetteville Outer Loop west to Fort Bragg. 01/01/17
A high speed ramp links I-95 south with Interstate 295 south while an at-grade turn takes motorists to the northbound beginning of U.S. 13. 01/01/17
South at
Beyond the intersection with SR 1863 (Pembroke Lane), U.S. 13 concludes at the north side ramps joining I-95 with the Fayetteville Outer Loop. 01/01/17
North End Throwback
1.50 miles ahead of the exchange (Exit 58) with Future I-295 south and U.S. 13 north. U.S. 13 travels north to Morrisville, Pennsylvania, by way of Goldsboro and Greenville, North Carolina, the Hampton Roads region, the Delmarva Peninsula and Philadelphia. 05/30/07
Future I-295 initially extended west from Interstate 95 to U.S. 401. Signs were updated to show NC 295 in place of I-295 by 2014. 05/30/07
Sign replacements made for the Fayetteville Outer Loop added Fort Bragg to Newton Grove for U.S. 13 north. 05/30/07
South End – 
– Fayetteville, North Carolina
As of August 19, 2020, the Fayetteville Outer Loop concludes at U.S. 401 (S Raeford Road) in western areas of Fayetteville.
Future Southern Terminus – east of Parkton, North Carolina
The south end of the Fayetteville Outer Loop will connect with Interstate 95 at a trumpet interchange in a rural area in eastern Robeson County. Future widening of I-95 will expand the freeway to eight overall lanes through the exchange with I-295 north.
Former Southern Terminus 
– north Fayetteville, North Carolina
South at 
Future I-295 west crossed the Cape Fear River and a Norfolk Southern Railroad line and concluded at a half single point urban interchange (SPUI) with U.S. 401. The section leading west to NC 210 opened to traffic on August 11, 2016. 05/30/07
The previous half opened SPUI with U.S. 401 (Ramsay Street). U.S. 401 is a four lane arterial leading south toward the city center and a rural route north to the town of Lillington, where it merges with NC 210. 05/30/07
South at
U.S. 401 southbound between Andrews Road and the half opened SPUI with Future I-295. The initial segment of I-295 ran east from here in 2003. The I-295 shield was replaced with an NC 295 shield by 2015. 05/30/07
Sources:
- Discover Fayetteville: On The Go.
http://www.discoverfayetteville.com/community/traffic.shtml - Secretary Tippett’s Remarks – Fayetteville Outer Loop Ribbon Cutting Ceremony on June 16, 2003.
http://www.ncdot.org/public/speeches/loopceremony06_03.html - Fayetteville, NC: Fast Facts – Fayetteville, N.C. is a Community of History, Heroes, and a Hometown Feeling
http://www.ncinvest.com/fayetevillefastfacts.htm– 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.” - “Fayetteville’s Outer Loop segment opens, connects Bragg Boulevard and Murchison Road.” Fayetteville Observer, August 4, 2014.
- “Gov. McCrory says finishing Fayetteville Outer Loop a priority.” Fayetteville Observer, September 18, 2014.
- “I-95 to Bragg Blvd. section of Outer Loop open to traffic.” Fayetteville Observer, August 12, 2016.
- “State Opens New Section of the Fayetteville Outer Loop.” North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT), news release, August 11, 2016.
- “Next Section of Fayetteville Outer Loop Ready to Open.” North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT), news release, December 1, 2016.
- “New segment of Outer Loop project delayed until 2019.” The Fayetteville Observer (NC), November 13, 2018.
- “Fayetteville Outer Loop segment to open Wednesday afternoon.” The Fayetteville Observer (NC), August 18, 2020.
Page updated August 19, 2020.
