Primary route
I-42
Eastern North Carolina segments
Length70 mi
Designated2016
States1
Junctions1
About I-42
From Garner, NC (I-40) to Havelock, NC (US 70)
Interstate 42 is a developing east-west route in eastern North Carolina, planned to run roughly 70 miles between the Garner area near Raleigh and Havelock to the southeast. It follows the corridor of US 70, a long-established highway connecting the central Piedmont with the coastal plain and the ports and military installations near the coast. Much of the planned route uses existing four-lane divided highway that is being upgraded to full Interstate standards section by section.
The corridor passes through a largely rural part of the state, linking smaller cities such as Goldsboro, Kinston, and New Bern with the Raleigh region. It serves Seymour Johnson Air Force Base near Goldsboro and the Marine Corps presence near the coast, giving the route a defense and freight role in addition to local travel. Because the route is still being built out, signed Interstate 42 segments have appeared gradually as individual stretches of US 70 meet the required design standards.
State-by-state mileage
| State | Miles |
|---|---|
| North Carolina | 70.0 |
| Total | 70 |
History
The Interstate 42 designation was approved in 2016 for the US 70 corridor between the Raleigh area and the coast. The route is being assembled by upgrading the existing US 70 freeway and expressway over time, so the full length is not yet continuously signed.
Major cities and places
GarnerGoldsboroKinstonNew BernHavelock
Did you know
- Approved in 2016 and built along the existing US 70 corridor.
- Still developing, with Interstate signage applied to completed segments over time.
- Connects the Raleigh region with the North Carolina coastal plain.
- Serves military installations including Seymour Johnson Air Force Base.