In the U.S. state of North Carolina, Interstate 785 (I-785) is the designation for a future spur interstate route. When completed, it will connect Greensboro to Danville, Virginia.
[edit] Route description
Currently, I-785 appears only as future corridor signs along US 29, from Hicone Road to the Virginia state line.
[edit] History
The designation was approved in 1997 at the request of a coalition of counties in North Carolina and Virginia who saw it as a way of further developing that area's economy. Most of the route will use existing US 29 north of Greensboro; however, for a few miles I-785 will run between US 29 and its parent route, Interstate 85 on the Greensboro Urban Loop, which will also carry the Interstate 840 designation. Construction of this highway was due to begin in 2011. With the upgrade of the Danville Expressway to a four-lane route in 2004, the I-785 route in Virginia is complete (and has been given the interim designation State Route 785), but US 29 still needs to be upgraded to Interstate standards in North Carolina between the Greensboro Loop and Reidsville before the route can be signed as an Interstate. Currently, there are no projects scheduled by the North Carolina Department of Transportation to do so. Given that in the spring of 2006 NCDOT put up mileposts and added numbers to some exit signs from Reidsville to the Virginia border reflecting US 29's mileage, an upgrade of this highway to an interstate does not seem to be in their immediate plans.[1][2]
[edit] Future
In Greensboro, the eastern loop of the Greensboro Urban Loop, from US 70 to US 29, is scheduled to begin property acquisition in 2012. This section is planned to be a concurrency of I-840 and I-785. The estimated cost is $119 million, with date of construction to begin in 2014.[3][4]
Unconfirmed if the completion of the eastern loop will banner I-785 along the rest of its route along US 29 in North Carolina.
[edit] Exit list
[edit] See also
[edit] References
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I-40 / I-85 / I-85 Bus. – Charlotte, Durham, Raleigh, Greensboro
US 70 (Burlington Road) – Burlington, Greensboro
I-840 east / US 29 south
NC 150 – Browns Summit
To US 158 west / NC 87 (Freeway Drive) – Reidsville, Burlington
US 158 / NC 14 (Freeway Drive) – Reidsville, Eden, Yanceyville
NC 700 (Shady Grove Road) – Eden
