Raleigh—Motorists traveling on U.S. 64/264 and U.S. 64 between Interstate 440 in Raleigh and I-95 in Nash County are seeing something new along the highway. Signs began going up this week announcing the current and future designation of I-495. Photos can be found on the NCDOT Flickr page.
The N.C. Department of Transportation placed I-495 shield signs along U.S. 64/264 this week between I-440 and I-540. Large green guide signs with the I-495 designation and their corresponding posts are currently being manufactured. These signs will be placed later this spring.
Crews also began placing Future I-495 signs this week along U.S. 64/264 and U.S. 64 between I-540 and I-95. All signs have been put up in Wake and Franklin counties. The signs in Nash County are up on eastbound U.S. 64, and the remaining signs will be placed on westbound U.S. 64 in Nash County starting today. All signs should be placed by Monday, April 28, weather permitting.
It was announced late last year that the stretch of U.S. 64/264 and U.S. 64 between I-440 and I-95 near Rocky Mount is being added to the interstate highway system. The section between I-440 and I-540 on the east side of Raleigh in Wake County has been designated I-495 because it already meets interstate standards. The remainder of the stretch between I-540 and I-95 is being designated Future I-495 because the inside and outside shoulders along this portion of the road need to be widened to meet interstate standards. That work will be done as part of future reconstruction activities along the highway, which is the normal process when an existing highway is upgraded to interstate status.
Getting the interstate designation along that stretch of highway is considered a key to economic development in the region, which now has an interstate connection between Raleigh and the I-95 corridor.