Wikipedia

U.S. Route 421 in North Carolina

This article is about the section of U.S. Route 421 in North Carolina. For the entire route, see U.S. Route 421.

U.S. Route 421 (US 421) is part of the United States Numbered Highway System that runs from Fort Fisher, North Carolina to Michigan City, Indiana. In the U.S. state of North Carolina, US 421 travels 328 miles (528 km) from its southern terminus at Fort Fisher to the Tennessee state line near the community of Zionville, North Carolina. US 421 traverses the state from east to west travelling from the coastal plains to Appalachian Mountains. It provides an important connection between the cities of Wilmington, Sanford, Greensboro, Winston-Salem, and Boone. Despite being signed as north–south, much of the routing of US 421 in North Carolina runs in an east–west direction, particularly between Greensboro and the Tennessee state line. Portions of US 421 have been upgraded to freeway standards including the majority of its routing between Sanford and North Wilkesboro.

U.S. Highway 421 marker
U.S. Highway 421
Map
US 421 highlighted in red
Route information
Auxiliary route of US 21
Maintained by NCDOT
Length328 mi[1] (528 km)
Existed1931–present
Major junctions
South end NC 211 / Fort Fisher-Southport Ferry at Fort Fisher
Major intersections
North end US 421 / SR 34 at the Tennessee line
Location
CountryUnited States
StateNorth Carolina
CountiesNew Hanover, Brunswick, Pender, Sampson, Duplin, Harnett, Lee, Chatham, Randolph, Guilford, Forsyth, Yadkin, Wilkes, Watauga
Highway system
← NC 417→ I-440

US 421 was established in 1931 between Greensboro and Boone, North Carolina replacing North Carolina Highway 60 (NC 60). In 1932, the highway was extended northwest through Sugar Grove to Mountain City, Tennessee, and southeast along NC 60 to Wilmington. US 421 was extended south from Wilmington to Fort Fisher in 1936, replacing NC 40. Since 1936, the highway has been upgraded and readjusted throughout North Carolina.

A majority of the highway is part of the North Carolina Strategic Highway Corridors system.[2] Because of this designation, the state has made numerous changes converting a rural two-lane highway into a major freeway/expressway with 4 or more lanes. Numerous former segments of the highway named "Old U.S. Route 421" are found along the entire route.

Route description

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Southern terminus of US 421 near Fort Fisher State Recreation Area
 
I-40 BUS/US 421/NC 150 near Kernersville. I-40 Business has since been decommissioned.
 
US 421 South near the Red White and Blue Road (exit 276) in eastern Wilkes County
 
King Street (US 421), going through downtown Boone

US 421 starts at a parking/dock area on the Cape Fear side of Pleasure Island. Within one-quarter mile (0.40 km), US 421 passes through its unsigned junction with NC 211 and the approach to the Fort Fisher Ferry Terminal, where travelers can board to cross the Cape Fear River toward Southport. Immediately after the ferry terminal is Fort Fisher State Recreation Area, where the first and second battles of Fort Fisher took place.

The highway continues north, going through popular tourist destinations in New Hanover county: Kure Beach, and Carolina Beach. Eventually, US 421 crosses the Cape Fear River and enters downtown Wilmington.

At Wooster Street, it goes west, overlapping with several other highways and funnels through Brunswick County before returning in northwestern New Hanover County; there it links with Interstate 140 (I-140) before continuing north towards Clinton.[1]

From about three miles (4.8 km) north of the I-140 interchange, the road remains a four-lane divided highway for another ten miles (16 km). After its intersection with NC 210, it becomes a rural two-lane highway for much of its remainder until Dunn. The exception is in Clinton, where it follows Faircloth Freeway to bypass the city, running concurrent to US 701 for about four miles (6.4 km). There is one rest area located just north of Delway.[3] US 421 meets I-95 in Dunn. From Wilmington to Dunn, the route parallels I-40 approximately ten miles (16 km) to US 421's east.[1]

After crossing downtown Dunn and Erwin immediately to the west, US 421 becomes a four-lane divided highway again until reaching Lillington, with a short segment in Buies Creek containing a center lane and reduced speed limit as it crosses Campbell University. Upon reaching the junction with US 401, NC 27, and NC 210, all four routes collect onto a thoroughfare heading south over the Cape Fear River into downtown Lillington. US 421 then splits off to the west, following two-lane Front Street until Sanford (though speed limit never actually increases).[1]

Upon reaching Sanford, US 421 formerly followed Horner Boulevard with NC 87 to cross downtown, but it is now rerouted onto the recently completed Sanford Bypass, the entirety of which is freeway. It runs concurrent with NC 87 Bypass until the US 1/US 15/US 501/NC 87 interchange, from which it continues until the end of the bypass near Cumnock.[1]

For the rest of its route until Wilkesboro, US 421 remains almost entirely free-flowing. It is an expressway from Sanford to just south of Siler City, bypassing Goldston, Bear Creek, and Siler City. From here to the Greensboro Urban Loop, US 421 becomes a freeway, bypassing Staley, Liberty, and Julian. All of these cities/places were connected by US 421's old alignment, now called some variant of Old US 421 for the majority of its route.[1]

Near Pleasant Garden, US 421 joins I-85 on the Greensboro Urban Loop, staying with the loop as I-85 leaves and I-73 joins it. Another six miles (9.7 km) later, US 421 leaves the Greensboro Urban Loop to join I-40 and continue westward towards Winston-Salem. Near Kernersville, US 421 gains the name Salem Parkway. Continuing in a western direction, US 421 passes major interchanges with NC 74 (Future I-74), US 52, and a final interchange with I-40, where US 421 departs from Salem Parkway.

West of Winston-Salem, US 421 continues to Yadkinville and Wilkesboro. When the highway nears North Wilkesboro, the highway passes North Wilkesboro Speedway (access via exit 282); there is also a visitor center built in 2009 as the state's first environmentally friendly rest area, located at mile marker 283.[3] As US 421 enters Wilkesboro city limits, it downgrades to an expressway with various stores and restaurants along it.[1]

As it leaves Wilkesboro, US 421 begins a gradual climb in elevation, until approximately five miles (8.0 km) from Deep Gap, where it climbs up the steep escarpment along the eastern edge of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Access to the Blue Ridge Parkway is located at Deep Gap, as US 421 continues on towards Boone.[1]

As US 421 approaches Boone, the expressway comes to an end just before an intersection with Old US 421. The road continues into Boone as four lane boulevard, becoming two lanes at the intersection with US 321. US 321 north, US 421 north, and NC 194 south all run concurrent through the downtown area via King Street. After leaving Boone, US 421 continues on as a two-lane road to the Tennessee state line, heading on to Mountain City.[1]

Designations

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US 421 overlaps with two state scenic byways: the Cape Fear Historic Byway, in downtown Wilmington, and the U.S. 421 Scenic Byway, between Deep Gap and Boone.[4] Two of North Carolina's Bicycle Routes run concurrent for portions of US 421. North Carolina Bicycle Route 5 is concurrent from US 421's southern terminus at Fort Fisher to north of Snows Cut, through downtown Wilmington to Blueberry Road near Montague, North Carolina, and a short portion near Coats.[5] A small part of North Carolina Bicycle Route 3 is concurrent with US 421 in downtown Wilmington.[6]

History

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Overlapping US 221, US 321, and US 421. Truck routes along NC 105 in Boone

In 1931, US 421 officially began appearing on highway maps starting from Winston-Salem (junction with US 70/170) to Boone at King/Hardin Street intersection (junction with US 221/321). It was solely within the state of North Carolina and was completely overlapped with NC 60.[7][unreliable source] US 421 was extended both north and south in 1932. North from Boone, it extended to Sugar Grove where it then replaced US 321 heading towards Mountain City, Tennessee; US 321 was redirected towards Elizabethton, Tennessee. From Winston-Salem, the highway was routed to Wilmington following NC 60.[7] In 1933, the highway was realigned around Boone (using a straighter alignment) and in Greensboro (Market Street).[7] NC 60 was completely removed from its original route in 1934, leaving US 421. The NC 60 designation was reused on a short highway in Cherokee County, where it continues to this day.[citation needed] US 421 was extended south from Wilmington to Carolina Beach, Kure Beach, and Fort Fisher, replacing NC 40, in 1936.[7]

Between 1951 and 1952, US 421 was rerouted around Clinton (on what would be today's Faircloth Freeway). The Wilkesboro segment was realigned through town to North Wilkesboro.[7] In 1954–1955, US 421 was rerouted going west out of Wilmington via US 17/74/76, then north following NC 133.[7] In 1957–1958, US 421 was realigned onto a straighter routing between Deep Gap and Wilkesboro. US 421 was redirected out of North Wilkesboro, old routing was renumbered as US 421-A (Now US 421 Business). US 421 was placed onto one-way streets within Winston-Salem (using 4th and 5th streets), it was also rerouted in Greensboro going from Market Street to the freeway O. Henry Blvd. Between Erwin and Dunn, US 421 was realigned onto a new four-lane expressway.[7]

From 1962 to 1963, US 421 was realigned onto a new road near Sugar Grove and Zionville, leaving the communities of Amantha and Mabel. Between Yadkinville and Winston-Salem, US 421 was given its current alignment, expanding to a freeway after the Yadkin River to I-40; it then overlapped with I-40 (later called Business 40) through downtown Winston-Salem. In Harnett County, US 421 was moved north, avoiding the community of Mamers, and enters Lillington via Front Street. US 421 was straightened out through Harrells.[7] Between 1964 and 1968, US 421 was routed onto one-way streets through downtown Greensboro (Market Street and Madison/Gaston Avenues). US 421 was also rerouted onto the new Faircloth Freeway in Clinton.[7] In 1969–1970, US 421 was rerouted onto the new Cape Fear Bridge in Wilmington. US 421 was also realigned around Bonlee and Bear Creek.[7]

The bypass around Wilkesboro was completed between 1971 and 1984. The segment between Greensboro and Staley was upgraded to expressway standards (Joseph M. Hunt Jr Expressway) and bypassed the communities of Pleasant Garden, Climax, Julian, and Liberty. US 421 was rerouted in Sanford, avoiding the community of Broadway.[7] The Siler City bypass was completed in 1987–1990. US 421 was rerouted going north around Greensboro then going south on Henry Boulevard (US 29).[7] From 1994 to 1999, US 421 was removed from all surface roads from Kernersville to Greensboro, following I-40 to Joseph M. Hunt Jr Expressway.[7]

Between 2000 and 2003, US 421 was realigned and widened to 4-lane freeway between Yadkinville to Wilkesboro and a 4-lane expressway between Wilkesboro to Boone (though some parts already pre-existed for before 2000). This completed US 421 as a 4-lane (or more) highway from Sanford to Boone. US 421 was realigned in Greensboro during 2008 to follow the new southern loop, overlapping with I-73 and I-85 to Joseph M. Hunt Jr Expressway. This was done to give drivers a direct route to Winston-Salem; I-40 returned to its original routing after one year on the southern loop.[citation needed] A 1.1-mile (1.8 km) section in Boone, known as King Street, was widened from four to six lanes with a raised concrete median from US 321 (Hardin Street) to east of NC 194 (Jefferson Road) in 2012. The project cost $16.2 million.[8]

Project reconstruction of highway in Winston-Salem

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Main article: Salem Parkway (North Carolina)

In Winston-Salem, a 1-mile (1.6 km) section from west of Fourth Street to east of Church Street was reconstructed between 2018 and 2020 to completely upgrade and streamline. The project included removing the existing pavement and replacing it with new concrete pavement, upgrade and modernize entrance and exit ramps, and replace most of the bridges on and over the freeway.[9][10] Work began on this rehabilitation in 2018 with the closure of several miles of U.S. 421.[11] The closed section was reopened earlier than expected in early February 2020.[12] Concurrent with the rehabilitation of the route, the Interstate 40 Business designation was dropped from the entire route, with the route remaining U.S. 421, exits renumbered to US 421 mileage, and the highway taking on a new name, The Salem Parkway.[13][14]

Future

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Future Interstate 685

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Future Interstate 685
LocationGreensboro–Dunn

In September 2019, the Greensboro Urban Area Transportation Advisory Committee (GUATAC) passed a resolution in support of giving US 421 interstate designation between I-40 in Greensboro and I-95 near Fayetteville and bringing it up to interstate standards. The resolution noted that an interstate along US 421 would provide a “valuable alternate route for military and freight traffic” as well as “additional evacuation routes and relief and recovery routes to the region.” The resolution also stated that US 421 becoming an interstate would “support economic development, including the four designated megasites in the Carolina Core.” The resolution states that the North Carolina Board of Transportation has already passed a resolution in support of the future interstate designation for US 421.[15]

The passage of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act in November 2021, proposed to upgrade US 421 to Interstate status, possibly as I-685. The new Interstate designation would overlay the existing freeway from I-85 south of Greensboro to the east side of Sanford, and then follow a new alignment from Sanford to I-95 near current exit 70.[16] The bill contains language designating the US 421 corridor as High Priority Corridor 92 between I-85 and I-95. Seven counties along the proposed route have explicitly endorsed the new Interstate designation.[17] In May 2022, AASHTO approved the designation of the corridor as Future I-685.[18]

In June 2022, the Wilmington Metropolitan Planning Organization (WMPO) passed a resolution asking NCDOT to extend the planned southern terminus of Future I-685 from Dunn to Wilmington, suggesting the corridor would improve connections to large population centers, military bases, and the Port of Wilmington; provide an improved coastal evacuation route; and enhance the economy of the region.[19] But concerns were also raised on how the route would be relatively parallel with I-40, which also goes through the region.[20] Currently, no plans to implement the resolution have been made by NCDOT.

Proposed Piedmont Triad Interstate Spur

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In August 2022, the Piedmont Triad Partnership proposed upgrading the existing US 421 to an interstate from Winston-Salem to Wilkesboro.[21] The Wilkes County commissioners approved a resolution supporting action that is part of the process of getting US 421 designated an interstate the same month.[22] In November 2022, the Forsyth County Board of Commissioners passed a resolution also in favor of the effort.[21] In April 2024, a local organization, called Carolina Core, made the recommendation to designate the spur route as I-777.[23]

Cape Fear Skyway

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In New Hanover and Brunswick counties, the Cape Fear Skyway has begun its project development studies (since 2007) to build a toll road and bridge that will bypass Wilmington. Early estimates range from $950 million to $1.1 billion. The environmental impact study was completed in 2014, a record of decision and a complete financial feasibility was done in 2015.[24][25][26] The project has been re-prioritized and delayed numerous times. In 2018, NCDOT stated that construction would not start before 2029.[27] While in August 2019, NCDOT halted design and planning of the bridge, putting the project on hold indefinitely.[28]

Junction list

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CountyLocationmi[1]kmExitDestinationsNotes
New HanoverFort Fisher0.20.32 
   NC 211 north – Southport		US 421 begins .2 miles (0.32 km) south of terminal; Fort Fisher–Southport Ferry
Myrtle Grove13.521.7 
  NC 132 north (College Road) – Wilmington		Southern terminus of NC 132
Wilmington1524  US 117 (Shipyard Boulevard) – Wilmington, State Port
1829 
  
 
  US 76 east / US 17 Bus. north (3rd Street) – Wrightsville Beach, Downtown Wilmington		East end of US 76 overlap, north end of US 17 Business overlap
1931Front StreetPartial interchange
Brunswick​2134  
   
  US 17 / NC 133 south / US 74 / US 76 west – Bolivia, Southport, Whiteville		South end of US 17/US 17 Business/NC 133 overlap, west end of US 74/76 overlap
New Hanover​2235U.S.S. North Carolina Road/Battleship RoadTo the N.C. Battleship
​2439 
  
  US 74 east / NC 133 north – Wrightsville Beach, Hightsville		East end of US 74 overlap, north end of NC 133 overlap
​25.541.0  I-140 – Jacksonville, Myrtle BeachI-140 exit 14
PenderLong Creek38.562.0  NC 210 – Rocky Point, CurrieAlso to Moores Creek National Battlefield on west NC 210
Malpass Corner4471 
   NC 11 south / NC 53 – Atkinson, Burgaw		South end of NC 11 overlap
​5284 
  NC 11 north – Penderlea, Willard		North end of NC 11 overlap
SampsonHarrells6097  NC 41 (Tomahawk Highway/Wallace Highway) – Tomahawk, Wallace
Duplin
 No major junctions
SampsonDelway65105  NC 903 (Magnolia-Lisbon Road) – Magnolia, Kenansville
Clinton79127 
  
 
  US 701 south (Garland Highway) / US 701 Bus. north (Sunset Boulevard) – Garland, Clinton		South end of US 701 overlap
80130 
 
  To NC 24 east (Tam Road) – Warsaw
81130 
  NC 24 east (Southwest Boulevard) – Warsaw		Southbound entrance and northbound exit, east end of NC 24 overlap
82132 
  NC 24 west (Sunset Avenue) – Roseboro, Fayetteville		West end of NC 24 overlap
83134 
  US 701 north (Faircloth Freeway) – Newton Grove		North end of US 701 overlap
​95153 
  NC 242 south (Salemburg Highway) – Salemburg, Roseboro		South end of NC 242 overlap
Spivey's Corner99159  US 13 (Fayetteville Highway/Newton Grove Highway) – Fayetteville, Newton Grove
100160 
  NC 242 north (Benson Highway) – Benson		North end of NC 242 overlap
HarnettDunn109175  
  I-95 / NC 55 east – Fayetteville, Benson, Newton Grove		East end of NC 55 overlap
110180  US 301 (Clinton Avenue) – Fayetteville, Benson
Erwin114183 
  
  
  NC 55 north / NC 82 south / NC 217 south (13th Street) – Erwin, Coats		West end of NC 55 overlap
​119192 
  NC 27 east – Coats		East end of NC 27 overlap; Harnett County Airport at intersection
Lillington124200 
  
  US 401 north (Cornelius Harnett Boulevard) / NC 210 north (Main Street) – Fuquay-Varina		North end of US 401 and NC 210 overlap
125201 
  
  
  US 401 south / NC 27 east / NC 210 south (Main Street)		South end of US 401/NC 210 overlap, east end of NC 27 overlap
LeeSanford143230143 
 
  
 
  US 421 Bus. north / NC 87 Byp. south – Sanford, Fayetteville		South end of NC 87 Bypass overlap. Signed as exits 143A (south) and 143B (north) southbound.
144232144  NC 42 (Broadway Road) – Fuquay-Varina
145233145Kelly Drive
148238148Colon Road
​149240149     US 1 / US 15 / US 501 / NC 87 – Raleigh, Southern PinesSigned as exits 149A (north) and 149B (south); US 1 exit 70, north end of NC 87 Bypass overlap
​153246153 
 
  US 421 Bus. south (Cumnock Road) – Sanford
ChathamGoldston159256159Pittsboro-Goldston Road
​163262  NC 902 – Pittsboro
​168270168Sam Fields Road – Siler City
Siler City171275171  US 64 – Siler City, Pittsboro
​174280174Piney Grove Church Road
RandolphStaley180290180Old US Highway 421 – Liberty, Staley
Liberty181291181  NC 49 – Liberty, Ramseur
184296183Old Liberty Road – Liberty
185Shiloh Road / Starmount RoadUnder Construction; Conversion to interchanges as a part of the Toyota Greensboro-Randolph Megasite[29]
187Julian Airport Road / Dogwood Way
188Colonial Trading Path / Shiloh RoadUnder Construction; Conversion to interchanges as a part of the Toyota Greensboro-Randolph Megasite[30]
GuilfordJulian190310190  NC 62 – High Point, Burlington
​194.3312.7194Woody Mill Road / Company Mill Road – Climax
​196315196Neeley Road / Williams Dairy Road – Climax
​197317197 
  
  I-85 north to I-40 – Durham, Raleigh		North end of I-85 overlap
US 421 overlaps with Interstate 85 (exits 126 to 121), Interstate 73 (exits 97 to 103), and Interstate 40 (exits 212 to 206)
GuilfordColfax—  I-40 – GreensboroWestern end of overlap with I-40
ForsythKernersville221 
  NC 150 east (Macy Grove Road) – Oak Ridge		East end of NC 150 overlap[31]
222  NC 66 – Kernersville, Walkertown
224South Main Street – Kernersville
227  NC 74Future I-74, partially opened to traffic on September 5, 2020[32]
Winston-Salem228Linville Road
230 
  US 158 east (Reidsville Road) – Walkertown, Reidsville		East end of US 158 overlap; eastbound exit and westbound entrance
231Lowery Street / Fifth StreetEastbound Lowery Street, westbound Fifth Street
232AMartin Luther King Jr. DriveTo Winston-Salem State University
232B-C   US 52 / NC 8 (John Gold Memorial Expressway) – Lexington, Mount Airy, Airport, Salem College, Old SalemUS 52 exits 109A-B
233AMain Street / First Street – Old Salem, Salem College
233BCherry Street – Convention Center
234A 
  NC 150 west (Peters Creek Parkway) – Truist Stadium		West end of NC 150 overlap
234BWest First Street / Hawthorne RoadWestbound exit and eastbound entrance
234CCloverdale Avenue
235 
  US 158 west (Stratford Road)		West end of US 158 overlap. Signed as Exits 235A (north) and 235B (south) northbound.
236Knollwood Street
237A-B  NC 67 (Silas Creek Parkway) – Wake Forest University, LJVM Coliseum, Forsyth TechSouthbound divided by Collector-Distributor Lane
234377238  I-40 – Greensboro, StatesvilleNo access to I-40 west from US 421 south.
235378239Jonestown Road / Hanes Mall Boulevard
236380240Peace Haven Road
Lewisville238383242Lewisville-Clemmons Road – Lewisville, Clemmons
240390244Williams Road – Lewisville
​242389246Shallowford Road
Yadkin​245394249Dinkins Bottoms Road/Baltimore Road
​247398251Speer Bridge Road
​249401253Shacktown Road/Old Stage Road
​252406256Unifi Industrial Road
Yadkinville253407257  US 601 (State Street) – Yadkinville, Mocksville
​255410259Reavis Road
Brooks Crossroads259417263  US 21 – Jonesville
260420264Asbury Church Road
​262422265  I-77 – Elkin, Statesville, CharlotteNorthbound is exit 265A, southbound is exit 265B
​264425267Windsor Road/Oak Grove Church Road
Wilkes​267430270Dennyville Road
​269433272 
  To NC 268 (Clingman Road/Somers Road)
​273439276 
  To NC 268 (Red, White, and Blue Road/Mathis Farm Road)
​274441277Windy Gap Road/Speedway Road
​279449282 
   US 421 Bus. / NC 115 (Statesville Road) – North Wilkesboro, Statesville
Wilkesboro282454285Brushy Mountain Road – Wilkesboro
283455286A 
   NC 16 south / NC 18 (Cherry Road) – Wilkesboro, Taylorsville, Lenoir		South end of NC 16 overlap
283.5456.2286B  NC 268 – Wilkesboro
284457 
  US 421 Bus. (D Street) – North Wilkesboro
287462 
  NC 16 north – Jefferson		North end of NC 16 overlap
WataugaDeep Gap304489  Blue Ridge Parkway
305491 
  US 221 north – West Jefferson		North end of US 221 overlap
Boone313504 
  NC 194 north (Jefferson Road) – Todd		North end of NC 194 overlap
314505 
  
  US 221 south / NC 105 south (Highway 105 Extension) – Linville, Banner Elk		South end of US 221 overlap
314.5506.1 
  US 321 south (Hardin Street) – Blowing Rock		South end of US 321 overlap
Vilas320510 
  NC 194 south – Valle Crucis		South end of NC 194 overlap
Sugar Grove321517 
  US 321 north – Elizabethton		North end of US 321 overlap
​328528 
  
  US 421 north / SR 34 north – Mountain City		Continuation into Tennessee
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi

Note – Exit numbers west of Winston-Salem are aligned when US 421 went north around Greensboro in late-1980s/early-1990s. As a result, from realignments in Greensboro, the actual mileage vs. exit number mileage is off by an average of 3.5 miles (5.6 km).

Alternate names

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Though the highway is commonly known as "421" throughout the state, the highway does have other known names it uses locally in areas.

  • Burnett Boulevard - Road name briefly used in Wilmington, between Carolina Beach Road and 3rd Street.
  • Carolina Beach Road - Road name from Seabreeze to Burnett Boulevard in Wilmington.
  • Cornelius Harnett Boulevard - Road name from Main Street to Lillington city limit.
  • Cumberland Street - Road name within Dunn city limits.
  • Delway Highway - Road name between Harrells and Delway in Sampson County.
  • Doc and Merle Watson Highway - Official name of highway between the Wilkes/Watauga county line to Boone.[33]
  • Don Buie Highway - Name used from US 1 to Cumnock Road in Sanford
  • Faircloth Freeway - Road name within Clinton city limits.
  • Fort Fisher Boulevard - Road name from Kure Beach to south terminus of US 421.
  • Front Street - Road name from main street to Lillington city limit.
  • King Street - Road name within Boone city limits.
  • Lake Park Boulevard - Road name within Carolina Beach city limits.
  • Jackson Boulevard - Road name within Erwin city limits.
  • Joseph M. Hunt Jr Expressway - Road name from Randolph/Guilford county line to I-85; expressway continues on into Greensboro, which was an old US 421 alignment.
  • Paul Green Memorial Highway - Road Name from Erwin to Lillington.
  • Plain View Highway - Road name from US 13 in Spivey's Corner to I-95 near Dunn.
  • Main Street - Road name between Cornelius Harnett Boulevard and Front Street in Lillington.
  • Northwest Boulevard - Road name from Clinton to Kitty Fork.
  • Salem Parkway - Road name through Forsyth County and a small portion of Guilford County between its junctions with Interstate 40.
  • Spivey's Corner Highway - Road name from Kitty Fork to US 13 in Spivey's Corner.
  • Taylors Bridge Highway - Road name from Delway to Clinton.
  • Watson Brame Expressway - Road name throughout Wilkes County.
  • Wilmington Highway - Road name from the Sampson/Pender county line to Harrells.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j "Overview map of US 421 in North Carolina" (Map). Google Maps. Retrieved January 31, 2011.
  2. ^ "NCDOT: Strategic Highway Corridors". Archived from the original on January 29, 2011. Retrieved October 28, 2010.
  3. ^ a b "NCDOT: North Carolina Rest Area System". Retrieved 2011-01-27.
  4. ^ "NCDOT: Scenic Byways". Retrieved January 7, 2011.
  5. ^ "NC 5 - Cape Fear Run". North Carolina Bike Routes Beta. Walk Bike North Carolina Bicycle Routes. Retrieved June 6, 2016.
  6. ^ "NC 3 - Ports of Call". North Carolina Bike Routes Beta. Walk Bike North Carolina Bicycle Routes. Retrieved June 6, 2016.
  7. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m "NCRoads.com: U.S. 421". Retrieved January 27, 2013.
  8. ^ "421 Widening Project Nearly Done - the Watauga Democrat". Archived from the original on 2013-06-30. Retrieved 2013-06-04.
  9. ^ "NCDOT: Business 40". Retrieved November 24, 2011.
  10. ^ "NCDOT: Business 40 Project Vicinity and Study Area Map" (PDF). Retrieved November 24, 2011.
  11. ^ Young, Wesley (2018-08-15). "Bridge work on Business 40 rehab moving faster". Winston-Salem Journal. Retrieved 2018-08-31.
  12. ^ "NCDOT: Salem Parkway/U.S. 421 to Open Months Ahead of Schedule". Retrieved May 9, 2020.
  13. ^ Young, Wesley (2016-10-21). "Business 40 renamed Salem Parkway". Winston-Salem Journal. Retrieved 2016-10-21.
  14. ^ "Business 40 Construction Timeline". Winston-Salem Business 40. Retrieved 19 November 2018.
  15. ^ Hammer, John (2019-09-25). "Gate City Headed for Another Interstate Highway". Rhino Times. Retrieved 2019-10-05.
  16. ^ Arthur, Keely (23 November 2021). "New interstate planned for middle of the state could bring key economic, safety benefits". WRAL.com. Retrieved 4 June 2023.
  17. ^ Rogers, Mark (19 November 2021). "Infrastructure bill clears way for future I-685". The Sanford Herald. Retrieved 22 November 2021.
  18. ^ Special Committee on U.S. Route Numbering (May 2022). "2022 Spring Meeting Report to the Council on Highways and Streets" (PDF) (Report). Washington, DC: American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials. Retrieved December 10, 2022.
  19. ^ WECT Staff (June 28, 2022). "WMPO to discuss request for future I-685 to be extended to Wilmington". WECT. Retrieved January 21, 2024.
  20. ^ Boyers, Anna Austin (June 29, 2022). "WMPO passes resolution to ask NCDOT to explore future I-685 extension". WECT. Retrieved January 21, 2024.
  21. ^ a b YOUNG, WESLEY (30 October 2022). "Forsyth backs effort to make US 421 to Wilkesboro an interstate highway". Winston-Salem Journal. Retrieved 13 May 2023.
  22. ^ HUBBARD, JULE (10 August 2022). "Step toward interstate status endorsed". journalpatriot. Retrieved 13 May 2023.
  23. ^ Skipper, Elijah (April 9, 2024). "Road from Wilkesboro to I-40 in Winston-Salem could become I-777". Portsmouth, VA: WAVY-TV. Retrieved April 11, 2024.
  24. ^ "NCDOT: Cape Fear Skyway". Retrieved November 24, 2011.
  25. ^ "NCDOT: Cape Fear Skyway Project Map" (PDF). Retrieved November 24, 2011.
  26. ^ "Is a new Cape Fear crossing getting any closer?". Retrieved November 29, 2018.
  27. ^ "Tackling Wilmington's traffic woes". Retrieved January 14, 2019.
  28. ^ "DOT puts the brakes on the Cape Fear Crossing". Wilmington Star News. 2019-08-13. Retrieved 2020-01-13.
  29. ^ "NC DOT to Hold Public Meeting to Discuss 421 Intersection Improvements". 24 August 2022.
  30. ^ "NC DOT to Hold Public Meeting to Discuss 421 Intersection Improvements". 24 August 2022.
  31. ^ "New Route Opening Ahead of Schedule in Forsyth County" (Press release). Raleigh, NC: NCDOT. NCDOT. October 8, 2020. Retrieved October 31, 2020.
  32. ^ Young, Wesley (September 4, 2020). "6 new lanes, all 65 mph opening from Salem Parkway to Reidsville Road". Winston-Salem Journal. Winston-Salem Journal. Retrieved September 5, 2020.
  33. ^ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2011-11-26. Retrieved 2012-06-24.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
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Template:Attached KML/U.S. Route 421 in North Carolina
KML is from Wikidata
  U.S. Route 421
Previous state:
Terminus 		North Carolina Next state:
Tennessee
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