North Carolina gets designations for 2 more interstates

The Governor's Office said in a statement Wednesday that a national association has approved two new interstate designations for eastern North Carolina.

Officials approved Interstate 42 for the U.S. Highway 70 corridor between Interstate 40 and Morehead City.

Permission also has been given for Interstate 87 along U.S Highway 64/17 between Raleigh and Virginia.

"It makes it easier in terms of economic development. When people are looking for a place to locate or expand a business, they ask, 'Does it have interstate access?'" said Joe Milazzo II, Regional Transportation Alliance executive. "We'll have counties that will now have that, and eastern North Carolina will get their first interstate to Hampton roads."

Milazzo said the I-87 designation pays tribute to important dates in North Carolina history. The Roanoke Colony was founded in 1587, James Madison's Virginia plan, an important part of the development of the United State Constitution, was created in 1787, and North Carolina State University was created in 1887.

Gov. Pat McCrory says the roads would provide improved links to the Hampton Roads area in Virginia as well as improving links between important military bases.

There is no word on how the state would pay for the interstates or when they might be built. But the state can put up signs that read "Future I-42" and "Future I-87."