Governor Pat McCrory unveiled a Future I-87 sign on the U.S. 64/17 corridor during a ceremony in Edenton.This future interstate designation is included in the Governor’s 25-Year Vision for transportation in North Carolina and will better connect northeastern North Carolina to the Raleigh and Hampton Roads, Virginia economic centers.

 

“Interstate 87 will provide a much-needed connection for this region that will better link its citizens to vital services, support freight movement, and open the door to new economic opportunity,” said Governor McCrory. “Thank you to our congressional delegation and others involved with achieving this important milestone that will help us strengthen communities along this corridor, and North Carolina as a whole, through improved transportation infrastructure.”

 

The future interstate designation, along with one for the U.S. 70 corridor, was included in the federal Fixing America's Surface Transportation (FAST) Act that was signed into law in December. Governor McCrory called for Congress to pass a long-term transportation funding bill in March 2015 when he testified before the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee on behalf of the state and as a member of the National Governors Association Executive Committee.

 

“Interstate connections open the door to new opportunity and are a powerful tool in the recruitment and retention of business and industry,” Transportation Secretary Nick Tennyson said. “The Future I-87 is a critical step for this region and its economic future, and a significant transportation milestone. Interstate designations are exactly the kind of transportation investments we want to continue leveraging throughout the state.”

 

In addition, Governor McCrory also recently announced that the state is seeking federal approval of a future interstate designation for U.S. 264 to Greenville, which is North Carolina’s largest metropolitan area currently not served by an interstate. The state has submitted an application for the designation to the Federal Highway Administration and the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials, and a decision is expected by the end of the year.