The entire route, except for two short segments at its northern and southern termini, is concurrent with US Highway 301 (US 301). The 16-mile (26 km) route is partly an expressway and is an urban boulevard in downtown Fayetteville. In downtown Fayetteville, I-95 Bus. is cosigned as Eastern Boulevard.
At each terminus, access from I-95 Bus. to I-95 is limited. For example, at the southern terminus, drivers on I-95 Bus. heading south can only merge with I-95 south, while, at the northern terminus, drivers on I-95 Bus. heading north can only merge with I-95 north.
History
By 1973, I-95 was largely complete in North Carolina.[2] In the two remaining incomplete sections, one around Fayetteville and the other around Wilson and Rocky Mount, traffic was routed over four-lane divided stretches of US 301. Much of these "Temporary I-95" routes were lined with businesses catering to the heavy through traffic. Local businesses in Fayetteville opposed the state's proposed route bypassing the city and counterproposed an urban route.[3][4] Despite appeals to the US Supreme Court,[3] their efforts failed but delayed completion of I-95 around Fayetteville.[4]
In anticipation of the completion of the final two sections of I-95, the "Temporary I-95" routes were both designated I-95 Bus. in May 1978.[5] The route through Fayetteville initially entirely overlapped with US 301 connecting an incomplete gap from nearby Hope Mills (exit 40) to Eastover (exit 56).[5] When I-95 east of Fayetteville was completed in April 1980,[2] I-95 Bus. was extended to meet the new freeway.[5] Large signs at the entrances of I-95 Bus. were erected to promote the businesses that were bypassed along the mainline.[4]
In anticipation of the completion of the penultimate stretch of I-95 in North Carolina, bypassing the cities of Wilson and Rocky Mount, the former "Temporary I-95", consisting largely of parallel US 301, was designated I-95 Bus. in May 1978.[5] In November of that year, that section of I-95 was completed.[7]
I-95 Bus. traversed 44.6 miles (71.8 km) from Kenly (exit 107) to Gold Rock (exit 145). The route ran concurrently with US 301 from Kenly through Wilson and Rocky Mount to just south of Battleboro, and it then proceeded alone over a four-lane divided connector road back onto mainline I-95 (the former North Carolina Highway 1522 [NC 1522]).[5] Large signs at the entrances of I-95 Bus. were erected to promote the businesses that were bypassed along the mainline.[5]
In January 1986, I-95 Bus. was decommissioned;[5]NC 4 was extended onto the connector road from Gold Rock to its current southern terminus at US 301 south of Battleboro.[5][8] Until 2022, a sign was still in place showing a slightly covered part of the I-95 Bus. shield, but it was replaced as a part of a major widening project of I-95 between exits 101 to 107.[9]
Gallery
Before July 2022, a sign showing a slightly covered part of the I-95 Bus. shield with the words "NORTH"
After a widening project, the replacement sign erasing the final legacy of the route
Southbound NC 4 near Rocky Mount, where the destination sign still shows Wilson and Kenly.
^ ab"Interstate Highway System: 95" timeline. State of North Carolina Department of Transportation. ca. 2006. Archived on 5 July 2006. Retrieved 30 August 2022.
^ ab"Supreme Court to Get Case on I-95 Section." The Free Lance-Star. 8 August 1975. p. 7.
I-95 near Hope Mills
