 Interstate 40 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blue Star Memorial Highway | ||||
 I-40 highlighted in red | ||||
| Route information | ||||
| Maintained byNCDOT | ||||
| Length | 420.21 mi[1] (676.26 km) | |||
| Existed | 1958[2]–present | |||
| NHS | Entire route | |||
| Major junctions | ||||
| West end |  I-40 at theTennessee state line | |||
| Major intersections | ||||
| East end |   US 117 /NC 132 nearWilmington | |||
| Location | ||||
| Country | United States | |||
| State | North Carolina | |||
| Counties | Haywood,Buncombe,McDowell,Burke,Catawba,Iredell,Davie,Forsyth,Guilford,Alamance,Orange,Durham,Wake,Johnston,Sampson,Duplin,Pender,New Hanover | |||
| Highway system | ||||
| ||||
Interstate 40 (I-40) is a part of theInterstate Highway System that travels 2,556.61 miles (4,114.46 km) fromBarstow, California, toWilmington, North Carolina. InNorth Carolina, I-40 travels 420.21 miles (676.26 km) across the entirety of the state from theTennessee state line along thePigeon River Gorge toU.S. Highway 117 (US 117) andNorth Carolina Highway 132 (NC 132) in Wilmington. I-40 is the longest Interstate Highway in North Carolina and is the only Interstate to completely span the state from west to east.[1]
Traveling from west to east, I-40 connects the three major regions of North Carolina—Western North Carolina, thePiedmont, andEastern North Carolina. In the Piedmont region, I-40 connects thePiedmont Triad andResearch Triangle metropolitan regions. Included in these regions are the cities ofRaleigh,Greensboro,Durham, andWinston-Salem which represent the second through fifth largest cities in the state, respectively. In addition, I-40 connects the cities ofAsheville andHickory in Western North Carolina, Wilmington in Eastern North Carolina, and many smaller communities along its route. The landscapes traversed by I-40 include theBlue Ridge Mountains, the foothills of Western North Carolina, suburban communities, and the urban core of several Piedmont cities, along with Eastern North Carolina farmland. There are five auxiliary Interstates in the state related to I-40:I-140,I-240,I-440,I-540, andI-840. I-40 formerly had onebusiness loop which primarily ran through Winston-Salem and briefly was extended through Greensboro.
The freeway bears several names in addition to the I-40 designation. Throughout the state, the freeway is known as theBlue Star Memorial Highway, a name shared with multiple Interstates across the state. From theGuilford–Alamance county line to one mile (1.6 km) east ofNC 54, inGraham, I-40 andI-85 is known as theSam Hunt Freeway. FromOrange County to Raleigh, I-40 is known as theHarriet Morehead Berry Freeway,John Motley Morehead III Freeway,Dan K. Moore Freeway, andTom Bradshaw Freeway. I-40 is theJames Harrington Freeway fromUS 70 toI-95. InDuplin County, a section of I-40 is known as theHenry L. Stevens Jr. Highway. From thePender–New Hanover county line to the eastern terminus of I-40, the freeway is known as theMichael Jordan Highway.
I-40 was an original Interstate Highway planned in theFederal-Aid Highway Act of 1956. In North Carolina, the original highway was to run from the Tennessee state line to Greensboro where thefreeway 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 nearSmithfield and the second in 1984 to Wilmington. After 34 years since it first opened, the last section completed was the Winston-Salem rerouting 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.
I-40 travels through all of the diverse regions in North Carolina.[3][4]Annual average daily traffic counts along the Interstate in 2023 reached a peak of 193,099 vehicles per day from Harrison Avenue (exit 287) toWade Avenue in Raleigh.[5] The lowest count was a total of 21,288 vehicles per day in a rural stretch of Pender County.[5] All of I-40 is listed in theNational Highway System, a network of roads important to the country's economy, defense, and mobility.[6][7] I-40 is also designated as aBlue Star Memorial Highway throughout the state.[8]
I-40 enters North Carolina along the north banks of thePigeon 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 theMississippi 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.[9] 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 forWalters Dam and the Harmon Den Wildlife Management Area.[10] I-40 continues toward Asheville. The Interstate then merges withUS 74 (Great Smoky Mountains Expressway). I-40 and US 74 encounter theI-26/I-240 interchange, sometimes called Malfunction Junction,[11] in the southwestern part of the city. The interchange is the current western terminus of I-240 and the original western terminus of I-26. I-40 then goes along the south side of Asheville, north of theBiltmore Estate towardHickory.[12] I-40 then has another interchange with I-240 before the Interstate leaves the Asheville area.
Shortly after it leaves Asheville, 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.[13] I-40 goes south ofBlack Mountain andMarion and north ofConover.[14] There, it crosses theEastern Continental Divide and the southern tip of theBlack Mountains. When I-40 enters Hickory, it has a cloverleaf junction withUS 321, providing access north toHickory and south toLincolnton andGastonia. I-40 then heads south of Hickory and crosses theCatawba River on the Cecil H. Hoffman Bridge.[15] After that, it entersIredell County and passesStatesville north of the city center. It has major interchanges with US 64 and US 21 before utilizing a partial turbine/cloverleaf interchange withI-77. This interchange was reconstructed to help alleviate congestion around the area.[16]
I-40 heads northeast upon entering into the region, passing throughMocksville. The interstate heads insideClemmons, where it widens to six lanes upon entering inside the surrounding commercial districts, approaching Winston-Salem. The interstate comes to the large junction with a four-level stack interchange withUS 421 andSalem Parkway. Westbound I-40 have direct access to downtown Winston-Salem, to Salem Parkway. U.S. 421 have eastbound entrance and westbound exit in its connection with I-40.[17]. I-40 continues in its eastern direction inside the city, following adjacent toHanes Mall, via the Stratford Road (US 158) exit for both east-west access and Hanes Mall Boulevard for westbound access. The interstate straddles downtown to the south, with direct access to center of Downtown from the large Peters Creek Parkway (NC 150) exit. Nearly right after, it has a major cloverleaf interchange withI-285 andUS 52 which is in concurrency withNC 8.[18] Exiting the district, It later meetsI-74, which exits off to the south towardHigh Point. From here, I-40 comes to the under-construction interchange with the Winston-Salem Northern Beltway, which is slated to become the new streth for I-74. This happens, soon before I-40 continue insideKernersville, before it crosses the Guilford County line.[19] The Salem Parkway merges onto the Interstate, leaving US 421 to also merge onto and run concurrently with I-40 into Greensboro[20][21][22]
I-40 heads into the Greensboro city limits, passing an interchange with NC 68, which gives access to thePTI Airport. This happens shortly before reaching the large I-73/US 421/I-840 interchange. This interchange is the east end of the US 421 concurrency with I-40 as well as the western terminus of I-840.[23] From here, I-40 heads through southwestern Greensboro passing several interchanges that connects to various major areas in the city, including a junction withUS 70 which carries Wendover Avenue, and access to theFour Seasons Town Centre with a major junction with Gate City Boulevard, with Koury Boulevard giving access to westbound. This happens before having a large interchange withUS 220.[24]US 29/US 70 all merge into I-40/US 220 for a major concurrency one mile (1.6 km) after the interchange with US 220.[25] The Interstate is generally six-lanes throughout in this area.[26]
This 2.5-mile (4.0 km) corridor with concurrent routes ends in the east at the US 29/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 trafficjams and incidents.[21][22][27]
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 andI-85 Business (I-85 Bus.) split. The locals have given that area that name because of the high number of deaths due to car crashes in that area.[28][29] 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 fromVirginia toCharlotte) 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".[30] There were no fatalities during the study period, but a large number of rear-end collisions.[21][22][30]
I-40 merges with I-85 east of central 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 ofElon,Burlington,Graham, andMebane, passing through generally suburban development. I-40 breaks ways from I-85 at exit 163, south ofHillsborough, where I-85 continues east.[22][26]
After I-40 breaks away from I-85, it heads in a very southeasterly direction towardChapel Hill, going through rural areas and a forest. I-40 parallelsNC 86 until NC 86 crosses I-40 at exit 266. The interstate then passes more suburban areas as well as northern Chapel Hill and through southernDurham. I-40 entersResearch Triangle Park (RTP) after an interchange withI-885 andNC 885. The Interstate varies in width, from four to eight lanes, depending on the location. It serves as a major thoroughfare betweenRaleigh,Cary, and Durham (the other beingUS 70). After leaving the Research Triangle area, I-40 has an interchange withI-540 nearRaleigh–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 ofCary and south ofWilliam B. Umstead State Park. At Wade Avenue, I-40 bears right to head south. It then has an interchange withI-440/US 1/US 64 at exits 293A and 293B. I-40 then runs a concurrency with US 64 along the south side of Raleigh. The concurrency ends at an interchange withI-87/I-440/US 64 at exit 301, where I-40 turns south.[21][22]
Beyond exit 301, I-40 follows a primarily south-southeasterly routing to Wilmington. It departs Raleigh and runs along through easternGarner between Jones Sausage Road (exit 303) and White Oak Road. I-40 meets US 70 in Garner at exit 306. Additionally, I-40 begins to parallelNC 50 starting near exit 306 in Garner and continuing throughKenansville. I-40 travels 4.1 miles (6.6 km) south to exit 309 withI-42 andNC 540, where I-42 heads eastward towardSelma andNew Bern. South of exit 309, I-40 leaves Wake County and entersJohnston County. As the highway leaves suburban regions surrounding Raleigh, it interchanges withNC 42 (exit 312),NC 210 (exit 319), andNC 242 (exit 325) which provide access toClayton,Angier, andBenson. I-40 travels to the east of Benson, crossing overUS 301, but provides no access to the highway. Immediately south of US 301, I-40 meetsI-95 at exit 328, a modifiedcloverleaf interchange. This interchange was redesigned to help smoothen out the driving surface from the I-40 bridges to I-95.[31]
I-40 continues southeast through rural Johnston County farmland, meetingNC 96 (exit 334) north ofPeacocks Crossroads. ApproachingNewton Grove, I-40 leaves Johnston County and crosses intoSampson County. I-40 travels along the southwestern side of Newton Grove, interchanging with NC 50 andNC 55 at exit 341 andUS 701 at exit 343.US 13 crosses over I-40 in the vicinity of Newton Grove, but there is not a dedicated interchange. I-40 continues southeast of Newton Grove through rural Sampson County. It meetsUS 117 Connector andNC 403 at exit 355 southwest ofFaison, and I-40 begins to parallel US 117 near the exit.[32] I-40 departs Sampson County and entersDuplin County approximately four miles (6.4 km) southeast of exit 355. It continues through Duplin County for approximately five miles (8.0 km) before meetingNC 24 andNC 24 Bus. (exit 364) west ofWarsaw. At the interchange, NC 24 begins an 8.4 miles (13.5 km) concurrency with I-40 to the southeast. An interchange with US 117 (exit 369) is located south of Warsaw and I-40 begins to travel aroundMagnolia to the east. NC 24 departs the freeway atNC 903 (exit 373) which provides access to Kenansville. After the interchange, I-40 primarily turns to the south, bypassingTeachey,Rose Hill, andWallace to the east. Interchanges with Charity Road (exit 380),NC 11 (exit 384), andNC 41 (exit 385) provide access to these towns and to US 117.[33] I-40 begins to run parallel to theNortheast Cape Fear River and entersPender County after crossing Rockfish Creek near Wallace.[34]
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The highway once again meets US 117, at an interchange south of Wallace, and crosses to the western side of US 117. I-40 remains on the western side of US 117 for 5.6 miles (9.0 km) until it crosses over I-40 north ofBurgaw. The highway bypasses Burgaw to the east, meetingNC 53 (exit 398) east of the town. Continuing south, I-40 once again meets NC 210 at exit 408 nearRocky Point and then crosses the Northeast Cape Fear River intoNew Hanover County where it picks up the name "Michael Jordan Freeway".[35] I-40 passes to the east ofCastle Hayne and interchanges with Holly Shelter Road at exit 412. An interchange withI-140 andNC 140 is located 2.5 miles (4.0 km) south of Holly Shelter Road at exit 416. From I-140 and NC 140, I-40 continues south passing east of Olsen Park before turning to the southwest and meeting US 117 andNC 132 at exit 420. Eastbound I-40 runs concurrently with US 117 and NC 132 for 0.2 miles (0.32 km) beyond the exit, while westbound I-40 is concurrent with US 117 and NC 132 for approximately 0.5 miles (0.80 km) due to the design of the interchange. The eastern terminus of I-40 is located at US 117 and NC 132 north of Kings Grant Road in Wilmington, where both US 117 and NC 132 drop the concurrency. The highway continues south as North College Road towardUS 74, theUniversity of North Carolina Wilmington, andCarolina Beach.[21][22][36]
The freeway bears several names in addition to the I-40 designation. Throughout the state, the freeway is known as theBlue Star Memorial Highway, a name shared with multiple Interstates across the state.[37] 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.[38] The freeway is known as the Harriet Morehead Berry Freeway through Orange County, named for a leader in theGood Roads Movement in North Carolina.[39][40] Between US 15/US 501 in Chapel Hill to I-885/NC 885 in Durham, I-40 is known as theJohn Motley Morehead III Freeway who was a noted philanthropist and graduate from theUniversity of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.[41] I-40 is the Dan K. Moore Freeway through the Research Triangle Park. The section is named after Dan K. Moore who wasthe 66th governor of North Carolina.[42][43] From the Wade Avenue Extension to US 70 in Garner, the freeway is known as the Tom Bradshaw Freeway, named afterthe 33rd mayor of Raleigh.[44] I-40 is the James Harrington Freeway from US 70 to I-95.[45] InJohnston, south of I-95, andSampson counties, I-40 is dedicated toRobert D. Warren Sr. who was a former State Director of Driver's Licenses and State Senator from the area.[46] InDuplin County, a section of I-40 6.95 miles (11.18 km) north of NC 24 west ofWarsaw 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 theAmerican Legion and aNorth Carolina Superior Court judge.[47] From the Pender–New Hanover county line to the eastern terminus of I-40, the freeway is known as theMichael Jordan Highway, named after the famous basketball player who grew up in Wilmington and was a graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.[48][49] 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 theAtlantic Coast Conference.[50]
On February 1, 2024, I-40 was named the Jimmy Capps Freeway, afterJimmy Capps, a country music singer and songwriter from Benson.[51][52]
Authorized by theFederal-Aid Highway Act of 1956, North Carolina was originally allocated 714 miles (1,149 km) for their share of theInterstate 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.[2][53]
The first major overland transportation corridors in North Carolina were theIndian trading paths. One of these routes, the Rutherford's Trace, followed the path of modern I-40.[54] In 1921, theNorth Carolina Highway System was established, withNC 10, nicknamed the "Central Highway", designated on the route between Asheville and Greensboro. By the timeUS 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. AfterWorld War II, the federal government began planning on a newInterregional Highway system, as mandated by theFederal-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,[55] though a different route was eventually chosen west of Asheville.[56] After years of planning and the passing of the Federal-Aid Highway Act of 1956, which established the route between Tennessee and Greensboro, theAmerican Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) approved the I-40 designation in 1957.[57]
In 1953, a contract for about $1.3 million was awarded for a 6.5-mile (10.5 km) two-lane road inHaywood County, along thePigeon River which would connect existing highways to Tennessee. Officials in both states eventually agreed on the Pigeon River route for an interstate highway, even though a route along theFrench Broad River was being considered.[56][58] In 1958, the project along the Pigeon River was the first construction job in the country that was designated specifically for I-40. That same year, the first two sections of I-40 opened: the first was the three-mile-long (4.8 km) East–West Expressway inWinston-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 theFederal Highway Administration (FHWA) to build the Winston-Salem Bypass.[2][59][60] Between Ridgecrest and Old Fort, US 70 along Youngs Ridge was four lanes as of 1954; I-40, however, was not officially designated until 1982, after additional highway improvements, including additional widening,runaway truck ramps, and warning devices.[61][62]
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.[63][64] 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.[65] 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.[66] 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).[67] In 1967, I-40 opened a 3.8-mile (6.1 km) segment through theBiltmore Estate from NC 191 to US 25.[68] 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.[69][70] In November of same year, theNorth Carolina State Highway Commission (NCSHC) submitted a request to theBureau of Public Roads (BPR) to extend I-40 east of Greensboro to Raleigh viaRTP. In 1969, both BPR and AASHTO approved the extension, allowing I-40 to continue east of Durham through Raleigh to Smithfield.[2][71] 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.[72] In 1970, I-40 extended west from NC 801 near Advance to US 64 near Mocksville.[73]
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.[74] 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 $444 million in 2024[75]).[76] In December, new freeway opened between Davis Drive (SR 1999) in 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".[2][77][78] In 1972, I-40 extended east from US 25 in Asheville to Porters Cove Road (SR 2838) in Oteen; the extension bypassed bothUS 25A and US 74, where interchanges were built in 1999 and 1973, respectively.[79] In 1973, I-40 and the Durham Freeway (future NC 147; now I-885) were connected in RTP.[80] In 1974, a gap was completed between US 276 in Cove Creek to the freeway connector (futureGreat Smoky Mountains Expressway) near Clyde. I-40 also extended east from Porters Cove Road in Oteen to Patton Cove Road (SR 2740) in Swannanoa.[81] In 1976, a gap of I-40 was completed between Henry River Road (SR 1002) in Hildebran and NC 16 in Conover.[82] In April 1978, after years of debate on where I-40 should be routed east of I-95, either Morehead City or Wilmington, theNorth 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.[2][83][84][85][86]
In 1979, I-40 was extended east from Patton Cove Road in Swannanoa to US 70 in Ridgecrest,[88] and in 1982, it 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.[62] 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).[89] Also same year, AASHTO approved of designation of I-40 between Wallace and Wilmington, currently under construction at the time.[90][91] 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 $254 million in 2024[75]).[92] 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.[93] 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.[94] In 1987, I-40 was extended west from US 117 (exit 390) near Willard to NC 41 (exit 385) near Tin City.[95] 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-GovernorJames G. Martin announced federal approval of $114.1 million (equivalent to $260 million in 2024[75]) for I-40 to be relocated around Winston-Salem.[96][97] In 1989, I-40 was extended west to I-85 (exit 259) west of Hillsborough and east to I-95 (exit 328) in Benson.[2][98][99] By 1990, I-40 was extended west from NC 41 (exit 385) in Tin City to US 117 (exit 369) near Warsaw.[100] On June 29, 1990, with a ribbon-cutting by Governor Martin, I-40 was connected between Raleigh and Wilmington, providing improved access with thePort of Wilmington with the rest of the state.[2] At around this time, a standard distance sign near the start of the westbound section of I-40 in Wilmington indicates the distance toBarstow, 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.[101][102] The final gap of I-40 was completed when it was designated along existing I-85 from Greensboro to west of Hillsboroughc. 1992.
During the following decades after most of the Interstate was completed, I-40 had experienced notable expansions and modernizations on its route. Between the 1980s to early 2020s, the Piedmont Triad stretch had received heavy remodeling and modifications. The East-West Expressway which carried I-40 through centralWinston-Salem, had stretches that both was built to 1950sInterstate Highway standards and predating the system entirely, leading to notable congestion when all combined. After a study with the city and state, decisions to build a new stretch was concluded, rather than widening and modernizing the freeway through the area, the state lobbied theFederal Highway Administration (FHWA) to allow them new roadway, arguing that since some this section predated the 1956 Act, it never received federal highway dollars for its development and construction, thus I-40 was technically incomplete in Winston-Salem. In October 1988, the group were able to convince the FHWA, and GovernorJames G. Martin announced federal approval of $114.1 million for I-40 to be relocated onto the new bypass.[96][103] By the end of 1992, the 20.89-mile (33.62 km) new stretch was completed and opened and I-40 was officially rerouted onto the new stretch. The new stretch spanned from the then existing US 421 split in southwestern Winston-Salem, to Colfax west of Greensboro. This new stretch was at more recent Interstate standards, and was four-to-six lanes wide. The East–West Expressway was given the new designation asInterstate 40 Business.[104][105][106][107]
In 1989, work began on a renovating the 35-mile (56 km) stretch between Alamance and Orange counties, included in this work was widening it from four to eight lanes. The work was carried out in phases. This was a part of a previous renovation in the 1960s, that transformed the originalSuper-2, which was also originally constructed forUS 70, to Interstate standards, though experiencing the flaws from the preliminary era of those standards. By 1996, it had been competed at the cost of $175 million.(equivalent to $322 million in 2024[75])[108][109][110][111] By 1997, Interstate 40 in Greensboro between west of the infamous former Interstate 85 split, to Wendover Avenue, was renovated to most of the same standards, as the other Piedmont renovations.
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 (now I-885/NC 885; exit 279) in RTP. The project expanded lanes from four to six lanes.[112] 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.[113] The paving mistakes, however, 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 $33.4 million in 2024[75]).[114][115]
The first section of I-40 in North Carolina is the section that travels through thePigeon River Gorge inHaywood County. Known locally as simply "The Gorge", this part of I-40 cuts a path from theTennessee state line toWaynesville. 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 thickfog 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 being twice the average of any other Interstate Highway in North Carolina.[116] 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. Speedingsemitrucks have led to many accidents. In 2001 and 2003, two state troopers were killed in two separate accidents by speeding trucks that drifted off the road and hit theirpolice car conducting atraffic stop. This led theNorth Carolina State Highway Patrol to crack down on speeding tractor trailers and speeders in general through the area.[117][118] This portion of the highway is also notorious forrockslides and rocks falling onto the highway. The main cause is that sections of the highway have been built on the north side of the Pigeon River, where the rock stratums foliate toward the highway.[119] 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.[120] In July 1997, a rockslide near the Tennessee state line closed the entire road for nearly three months.[121] 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.[122][123][124][125][126]
In February 2008, I-40 was relocated onto the southern section Greensboro Urban Loop, marking the first change to I-40 since it was rerouted onto the Winston-Salem Bypass in 1992. At a cost of $122 million (equivalent to $174 million in 2024[75]), the relocation to theGreensboro Urban Loop 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 withI-73, while its original alignment became an extension of formerI-40 Bus.[127] The glowing sentiment the NCDOT secretary gave on the new I-40 routing was not reciprocated, however. 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 the 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.[128] At a cost around $300,000 (equivalent to $425,000 in 2024[75]), all signage was replaced by July 1, 2009.[129][130] In November 2009, US 421 was rerouted onto the Urban Loop, replacing most of I-40's brief alignment around Greensboro.[131][132] 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.[30]
In 2011, an eight-mile (13 km) widening project was completed between Harrison Avenue (exit 287) and Gorman Street (exit 295) in Raleigh. At a cost of $49 million (equivalent to $67.2 million in 2024[75]), the project expanded lanes from four to six lanes.[133]
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) nearCrossroads Plaza in Cary 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.[134] The project was divided into two phases, the first (completed in mid-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.[134]
InStatesville, the I-40/I-77 interchange (exit 152), originally built as a cloverleaf in the late 1960s, was upgraded to increase capacity and improve safety. The initial estimated cost for the entire project is $251 million (equivalent to $338 million in 2024[75]) with construction started in March 2012.[135][136] The first phase, completed in mid-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 partialturbine interchange. The original completion date was supposed to be late 2022. The completion date was rescheduled to late 2023.[137] The $260-million project, including widening of a total of 7.5 miles (12.1 km) of both highways to eight lanes, was essentially completed December 22, 2023, with all lanes opened, but cold weather delayed further resurfacing and pavement markings to spring 2024.[138]
Begun in late 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) andNC 42 (exit 312) has been widened. As part of the widening project, many of the overpasses along the route were reconstructed, both to accommodate the wider road underneath and to expand capacity of the roads passing overhead. An onramp was removed at exit 306 (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) was rebuilt entirely as adiverging diamond interchange, and an additional ramp was built at that exit to provide access to Cleveland Road. Additionally, the interchange at exit 309 for US 70 (Clayton Bypass) was expanded to also include 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.[139] The project was completed to exit 309 in 2023 while the I-40/NC 42 interchange rebuild was completed in September 2024.[140] The new lanes between the Raleigh Beltline and the Clayton Bypass were opened to traffic in April 2023.[141]
Damage fromHurricane Helene in 2024 washed away the eastbound lanes in the Pigeon River Gorge in several places resulting in a complete closure.[142] While crews worked to stabilize what was left, plans were made to put all traffic on the westbound lanes by the start of 2025, but further damage has delayed this action.[143] The road reopened March 1 with one lane in each direction and a 35 MPH speed limit.[144] The cost of rebuilding was estimated at $750 million to $1 billion, based on the least expensive of the plans considered. Work on the permanent replacement of the eastbound lanes, including a wall along the river, is expected to take two years to complete.[145] The project now has an expected cost of $1.36 billion and will take three years to finish. It includes walls up to 70 feet high to hold back the river, using construction techniques previously used for dams.[146]
Part of the Asheville I-26 Connector project inAsheville involves improvements to I-40 from east of the bridge over theFrench Broad River to just west of the US 23/US 19/US 74A interchange. The improvements will widen the freeway, improve the interchanges with US 23/US 19/US 74A, I-240/I-26/US 74, and NC 191, and reconstruct bridges. Part of the project has started, but more funding will be needed to complete it.[147] Further widening of the interstate west of that area to NC 215 is also planned, but not funded.[148]
Another widening project along I-40 is in development stage, between milemarkers 259 and 279 inOrange andDurham counties. After some initial delays due to noise concerns through populated areas and two public comment meetings, the project is currently in theright-of-way acquisition phase, and construction was scheduled to begin around 2022; NCDOT, however, has suspended engineering activities for the project.[149][150]
Another widening project along I-40 is also in the development stage between theI-440/US 1/US 64 interchange (exit 293) and the Lake Wheeler Road interchange (exit 297). The project, which will add one or two lanes to this portion of the Interstate, will also include a redesign of the former interchange. Construction is expected to begin in 2025 at a cost of $68.8 million.[151]
| County | Location | mi | km | Exit | Destinations | 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 | Northern terminus of US 276 | ||
| | 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 | Western 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 | ||
| | 41.9 | 67.4 | 42 | Liberty Road | Future interchange; construction scheduled to begin in 2025[152] | ||
| 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 | Eastern 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 |   ToUS 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 | Western 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 | Eastern end of US 70 overlap; eastbound exit and westbound entrance; toMount Mitchell | |
| 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 | OldNC 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 toNC 127 –Lincolnton,Gastonia | Cloverleaf interchange withCollector/distributor roadways | ||
| 123B |  US 321 north toUS 70 –Hickory,Lenoir,Boone | ToAppalachian State University andHickory Regional Airport | |||||
| 125.1 | 201.3 | 125 | Lenoir Rhyne Boulevard –Hickory | ToLenoir-Rhyne University | |||
| 126.2 | 203.1 | 126 | ToUS 70 –Hickory,Newton | ||||
| Conover | 128.1 | 206.2 | 128 | Fairgrove Church Road | ToHickory 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 | Partial Turbine Interchange; I-77 exit 51 | |||
| 152.9 | 246.1 | 153 | US 64 –Statesville | Permanently closed as of October 1, 2012; was an eastbound exit and westbound entrance[153][154] | |||
| 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 | No access from US 421 south to I-40 west; eastbound left exit | ||
| 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 south /US 52 south /NC 8 south –Lexington | ||||
| 193B | US 52 north /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 | Future NC 192; I-74 will be rerouted onto a new alignment once construction is complete | |||
| | 198 | I-74 (Winston-Salem Beltway) | Future interchange (construction started in early 2022; completion date November 2026)[155][156] | ||||
| 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) –Downtown Winston-Salem,Kernersville | Northern 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 | Single-point diamond interchange | |||
| 212.1 | 341.3 | 212A |    I-73 /US 421 south toI-85 –Asheboro | Southern end of US 421 overlap; eastbound left exit; 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 | US 70 (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 | Western end of US 220 overlap; signed as exits 218A (US 220) and 218B (Freeman Mill Road) | |||
| 219.0 | 352.4 | 219 |  US 29 south –Charlotte | Southern end of US 29 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 220 north –Reidsville | Northern end of US 29/US 220 overlap; northbound exit and southbound entrance | |||
| 223.3 | 359.4 | 224 | Gate City Boulevard, Lee Street | ToBennett College,UNC Greensboro,A&T University andGreensboro College | |||
| 225.7 | 363.2 | 226 | McConnell Road | ||||
| 226.5 | 364.5 | 227 |  I-85 south /I-785 north /I-840 west –Danville,Charlotte | Southern end of I-85 overlap | |||
| I-40 overlaps withInterstate 85 (exits 131 to 163) | |||||||
| Orange | Hillsborough | 258.3 | 415.7 | 259 | I-85 north –Durham | Northern end of I-85 overlap | |
| 260.8 | 419.7 | 261 | OldNC 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 | Single-point diamond interchange | |||
| 277.8 | 447.1 | 278 |  NC 55 toNC 54 –Apex | ||||
| Research Triangle Park | 279.1 | 449.2 | 279A |   NC 885 Toll south (Triangle Expressway) –Morrisville | |||
| 279B |   I-885 north (Durham Freeway) toNC 147 –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 toNC 540 Toll /US 1 south –North Raleigh | Signed westbound as exits 283A (I-540 east) and 283B (NC 540 west); I-540 exit 1 | |||
| Wake | Morrisville | 283.5 | 456.2 | 284 | Airport Boulevard –RDU International Airport | Diverging diamond interchange[157][158] | |
| 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 |  ToI-440 /US 1 north /Wade Avenue –Downtown Raleigh | ToPNC Arena,Carter–Finley Stadium,State Fairgrounds,NCSU Veterinary College, andNC 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 | Western end of US 64 overlap | |||
| 293B | I-440 east /US 1 north –Raleigh,Wake Forest | Cloverleaf interchange withcollector–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 adiverging diamond interchange | |||
| 298.8 | 480.9 | 299 | Person Street, Hammond Road | ||||
| 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 –Rocky Mount | Eastern end of US 64 overlap; eastbound exit is a left exit | |||
| | 303.5 | 488.4 | 303 | Jones Sausage Road | Diverging diamond interchange[159] | ||
| Garner | 305.6 | 491.8 | 306 | US 70 –Garner,Clayton | Signed as exits 306A (west) and 306B (east) westbound | ||
| 309.6 | 498.3 | 309 |  I-42 east –Smithfield,Goldsboro | Western terminus of I-42 | |||
| 309.8 | 498.6 | 310 | NC 540 Toll west (Triangle Expressway) | Eastern terminus of NC 540[160] | |||
| Johnston | | 311.8 | 501.8 | 312A |  NC 42 –Clayton,Fuquay-Varina | Rebuilt intodiverging diamond interchange[157][161] | |
| | 312.4 | 502.8 | 312B | Cleveland Road | New interchange opened in April 2024[162][163] | ||
| McGee's Crossroads | 318.6 | 512.7 | 319 |  NC 210 –Smithfield,Angier | |||
| Benson | 325.4 | 523.7 | 325 |   NC 242 south toUS 301 –Benson | |||
| 327.8 | 527.5 | 328 |  I-95 –Benson,Fayetteville,Rocky Mount,Smithfield | Signed as exits 328A (south) and 328B (north); I-95 exit 81 | |||
| | 333.6 | 536.9 | 334 |  NC 96 –Meadow | |||
| Sampson | Newton Grove | 341.0 | 548.8 | 341 |  NC 50 /NC 55 toUS 13 –Newton Grove | ||
| 343.3 | 552.5 | 343 |  US 701 toUS 13 –Clinton,Newton Grove | ToBentonville 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 toNC 50 –Warsaw,Clinton | Western 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 | Eastern 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 | ToMoores 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 –Jacksonville,Myrtle Beach,Topsail Island,New Bern | Signed as exits 416A (west) and 416B (east); I-140 exit 20 | ||
| 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
| |||||||
There are five auxiliary routes and three former business routes for I-40 in the state.
I-140 is a spur route in Wilmington that bypassesUS 17 and forms a partial loop in the city.
I-240 loops around downtown Asheville and the districts in the city.[164]
I-440 serves as much of the inner loop in Raleigh.[165]
I-540 serves as an outer loop in the Raleigh area, also bypassing the suburbs.[166]
I-840 serves as part of the north portion of the Greensboro Urban Loop.[167]
I-40 Bus. used a freeway grade, going through the center of Downtown Winston-Salem, with the route since becomingThe Salem Parkway.[168] In 2008,I-40 Bus. was briefly designated going south of central Greensboro when I-40 was rerouted onto the southern part of theGreensboro Urban Loop, which was then recently completed, and diverted traffic away onto the edges the city limits. I-40 was eventually rerouted back in going through most of the city that same year after local controversy.[169]
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
Media related toInterstate 40 in North Carolina at Wikimedia Commons Interstate 40 | ||
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