State seeking future interstate designation for U.S. 264 to Greenville

Governor Pat McCrory announced Wednesday that North Carolina is seeking federal approval to designate U.S. 264 as a future interstate from the U.S. 264/64 split in Zebulon to Greenville.

State transportation officials will submit an application by September 16 to the Federal Highway Administration and the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials. These groups will consider the application and cooperatively make a decision on the designation. That decision is expected by the end of the year.

"There is a lot of support from public officials, the business community and citizens for an interstate that serves Greenville," said State Transportation Secretary Nick Tennyson. "We are working with our federal and local partners to answer Greenville's call for an improved transportation corridor."

Greenville Mayor Allen Thomas says, "This designation would put Greenville and Pitt County on the global grid of interstate connectivity for economic development and recruitment. I commend the collaboration with all levels of government and action taken by Governor McCrory today as we move forward seeking interstate designation. This is the result of great work with the Mayor's office, Governor McCrory, N.C. DOT and our congressional representatives over the past four years."

Earlier this year, Governor McCrory gained two future interstate designations: I-42 for the U.S. 70 Corridor between I-40 and Morehead City and I-87 for U.S. 64/17 between Raleigh and the Virginia state line. The new request begins where Future I-87 splits from U.S. 264.