įor the rest of its route until Wilkesboro, US 421 remains almost entirely free-flowing. It runs concurrent with NC 87 Bypass until the US 1/ US 15/ US 501/NC 87 interchange, from which it continues until the end of the bypass near Cumnock. Upon reaching Sanford, US 421 formerly followed Horner Boulevard with NC 87 to cross downtown, but it is now rerouted onto the recently completed Sanford Bypass, the entirety of which is freeway. US 421 then splits off to the west, following two-lane Front Street until Sanford (though speed limit never actually increases). Upon reaching the junction with US 401, NC 27, and NC 210, all four routes collect onto a thoroughfare heading south over the Cape Fear River into downtown Lillington. Īfter crossing downtown Dunn and Erwin immediately to the west, US 421 becomes a four-lane divided highway again until reaching Lillington, with a short segment in Buies Creek containing a center lane and reduced speed limit as it crosses Campbell University. From Wilmington to Dunn, the route parallels I-40 approximately ten miles (16 km) to US 421's east. There is one rest area located just north of Delway. The exception is in Clinton, where it follows Faircloth Freeway to bypass the city, running concurrent to US 701 for about four miles (6.4 km). After its intersection with NC 210, it becomes a rural two-lane highway for much of its remainder until Dunn. įrom about three miles (4.8 km) north of the I-140 interchange, the road remains a four-lane divided highway for another ten miles (16 km). Eventually, US 421 crosses the Cape Fear River and enters downtown Wilmington.Īt Wooster Street, it goes west, overlapping with several other highways and funnels through Brunswick County before returning in northwestern New Hanover County there it links with Interstate 140 (I-140) before continuing north towards Clinton. The highway continues north, going through popular tourist destinations in New Hanover county: Kure Beach, and Carolina Beach. Immediately after the ferry terminal is the Fort Fisher State Recreation Area, where the first and second battles of Fort Fisher took place. Within one-quarter mile (0.40 km), US 421 passes through its unsigned junction with NC 211 and the approach to the Fort Fisher Ferry Terminal, where travelers can board to cross the Cape Fear River toward Southport. US 421 starts at a parking/dock area on the Cape Fear side of Pleasure Island. King Street (US 421), going through downtown Boone Route 421" are found along the entire route. Numerous former segments of the highway named "Old U.S. Because of this designation, the state has made numerous changes converting a rural two-lane highway into a major freeway/ expressway with 4 or more lanes. Since 1936, the highway has been upgraded and readjusted throughout North Carolina.Ī majority of the highway is part of the North Carolina Strategic Highway Corridors system. US 421 was extended south from Wilmington to Fort Fisher in 1936, replacing NC 40. In 1932, the highway was extended northwest through Sugar Grove to Mountain City, Tennessee, and southeast along NC 60 to Wilmington. US 421 was established in 1931 between Greensboro and Boone, North Carolina replacing North Carolina Highway 60 (NC 60). Portions of US 421 have been upgraded to freeway standards including the majority of its routing between Sanford and North Wilkesboro. Despite being signed as north–south, much of the routing of US 421 in North Carolina runs in an east–west direction, particularly between Greensboro and the Tennessee state line. It provides an important connection between the cities of Wilmington, Sanford, Greensboro, Winston-Salem, and Boone. US 421 traverses the state from east to west travelling from the coastal plains to Appalachian Mountains. state of North Carolina, US 421 travels 328 miles (528 km) from its southern terminus at Fort Fisher to the Tennessee state line near the community of Zionville, North Carolina. Route 421 ( US 421) is part of the United States Numbered Highway System that runs from Fort Fisher, North Carolina to Michigan City, Indiana. New Hanover, Brunswick, Pender, Sampson, Duplin, Harnett, Lee, Chatham, Randolph, Guilford, Forsyth, Yadkin, Wilkes, Watauga
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