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| U.S. Route 117 in North Carolina | |
|---|---|
| State | NC |
| Type | US |
| Route | 117 |
| Length mi | 100 |
| Established | 1932 |
| Direction a | South |
| Terminus a | Calypso |
| Direction b | North |
| Terminus b | Wilson |
| Counties | Duplin County, Sampson County, Lenoir County, Wayne County, Wilson County |
U.S. Route 117 in North Carolina is a United States Numbered Highway serving the eastern part of North Carolina. The highway connects a series of towns and cities, linking rural Duplin County communities with regional centers such as Goldsboro and Wilson. It functions as part of a corridor parallel to Interstate 95, offering connections to U.S. Route 70, U.S. 264, and other principal routes.
U.S. 117 begins near Calypso and proceeds north through Mount Olive, where it intersects I‑40 and NC 55, before continuing toward Goldsboro and La Grange. Within Goldsboro the route follows urban arterial streets providing access to Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, Wayne Community College, and downtown districts with links to U.S. 70 and I‑795. North of Goldsboro, U.S. 117 parallels NC 42 and traverses agricultural terrain in Wayne County, crosses the Neuse River, and continues to Wilson where it terminates near I‑95 and US 264 interchanges. Along its length the highway passes near Duplin County Fair, Clinton, and multiple NCDOT maintenance facilities.
The corridor that became U.S. 117 was originally served by early state roads and turnpikes linking Raleigh markets to the port of Wilmington. The U.S. Route designation was assigned during the 20th-century expansion of the United States Numbered Highway System, succeeding alignments used by Atlantic Coast Line Railroad spurs and sections of the Columbia–Wilmington Road. Mid-century improvements incorporated federal aid from programs inspired by the Federal Aid Highway Act of 1956 and state projects coordinated with NCDOT. In the late 20th century, bypasses around Mount Olive and Goldsboro were constructed to accommodate growth associated with Seymour Johnson Air Force Base and regional manufacturing, including facilities tied to Smithfield Foods and Pinnacle Airlines. Recent decades saw re-alignments to reduce urban congestion and accommodate Freight rail interchange near CSX Transportation lines.
The route meets significant corridors including: - Southern terminus near US 301 and Calypso - Interchange with I‑40 near Mount Olive - Junctions with NC 55 and US 70 in Goldsboro - Connection with I‑795 providing access to Raleigh - Northern terminus near I‑95 and US 264 at Wilson
Several business and bypass routes have existed along the corridor. A U.S. 117 Business route served downtown Goldsboro when a freeway alignment skirted the city, and truck routes have been designated around weight-restricted bridges and industrial zones serving Seymour Johnson Air Force Base logistics. Historical alternates paralleled the mainline through towns such as Mount Olive and La Grange, created during periods of urban realignment tied to Urban Renewal projects and state highway transfer agreements with municipal governments.
Planned projects by NCDOT have included corridor upgrades to improve safety and freight capacity, interchange reconstructions near Goldsboro and Wilson, and potential four‑lane expansions funded by state transportation improvement programs coordinated with regional planning agencies such as the Eastern Carolina Council of Governments. Proposals have targeted improvements to accommodate growth from employers like Boeing supply chains and to enhance connections to Port of Wilmington-linked freight routes. Environmental reviews consider impacts on wetlands, agricultural lands, and crossings of rivers such as the Neuse River.
Traffic volumes on U.S. 117 vary from rural two‑lane segments to multi‑lane urban arterials near Goldsboro and Wilson, with peak hour congestion tied to commuter flows to Seymour Johnson Air Force Base and regional manufacturing centers like Smithfield Foods facilities. Safety initiatives have addressed high‑collision intersections through signal optimization, addition of turn lanes, and shoulder widening, often implemented following crash analyses by NCDOT and regional highway safety studies coordinated with North Carolina Highway Patrol. Freight traffic is significant, especially truck movements linking to I‑95 and rail intermodal yards operated by CSX Transportation.
U.S. 117 interfaces with a network of facilities including I‑40, I‑95, US 70, and US 264, plus state highways like NC 50 and NC 581. The corridor parallels rail lines owned by Norfolk Southern Railway and CSX Transportation and serves airports such as Piedmont Triad International Airport (regional access) and air installations like Seymour Johnson Air Force Base. Coordination with agencies including Federal Highway Administration and NCDOT shapes funding, while local economic development boards in Wayne County and Wilson County leverage the route for industrial recruitment.