As Charlotte faces increasing road congestion (Forbes recently ranked us as having the second worst commute in America), Raleigh is expanding its network of free-flowing highways around the capitol city region.
This week, North Carolina leaders in our state’s capitol unveiled signs for “Future I-685,” a new highway that will link I-85 near Greensboro to I-95 just south of Raleigh. The red, white, and blue shields signal the N.C. Department of Transportation’s plan to upgrade 86 miles of road to interstate standards.
This addition joins other new, future, and partially completed interstate highways in the region, including I-885 in Durham, I-42 and I-87 from the Triangle to the coast, and I-587 between Zebulon and Greenville. For now, “Future I-685” signs will appear along U.S. 421 only between I-85 in Guilford County and U.S. 421 Business in Lee County near Sanford. This stretch is already a four-lane divided highway.
What do you think about North Carolina’s latest highway?
