North Carolina State Highway 54
Encyclopedia
NC 54 is a North Carolina
state highway
and a semi-urban traffic artery connecting Raleigh
to its western suburbs, and extending outward to Burlington
.
54 follows Chapel Hill Road to the intersection of NC 49/100/Maple Avenue in downtown Graham. 54 joins 49 north on Harden Street through downtown. 54/49 continues eastward and intersects with NC 87, marking a stretch of 49 north, 54 east and 87 south all along Harden Street (which actually runs east-west). 87 turns off at Main Street in downtown Graham and 49 exits at Elm Street. It's at this point that 54 begins its turn southeast and crosses Interstates 40/85 (exit 148). 54 remains on Harden Street until it crosses the Haw River, and is known from that point as NC 54.
54 heads southeast to Carrboro where it becomes the Fordham Blvd bypass, a divided highway that runs through the south side of Carrboro and Chapel Hill. At Pittsboro Road US 15/501 joins 54/Fordham Blvd and the highway begins to turn northbound to head toward Durham. 54 exits on Raleigh Road and then Nelson-Chapel Hill Highway, a divided major highway connecting Fordham Blvd and Interstate 40. 54 hits I-40 at exit 273 and continues east, crossing NC 751 and heading into Durham.
54 enters the Research Triangle Park and intersects with NC 55 before crossing over the Durham Freeway (NC 147) and intersecting with South Miami Blvd, where 54 turns right and starts to head toward Morrisville. When 54 enters Wake County it is once again on Chapel Hill Road and crosses NC 540 at exit 69.
54 travels through Morrisville and heads into Cary, where it crosses the Cary Parkway and then exits onto the northern portion of the Maynard Road loop around Cary. It then turns left back onto Chapel Hill Road in the eastern portion of Cary and hits I-40 for the last time at exit 290 in Cary. 54 continues toward Raleigh and intersects with Hillsborough Street before ending at exit 4 of the Cliff Benson Beltline, which carries Interstate 440 and US 1.
NC 54's eastern terminus is at US 1
/I-440
, at the Hillsborough Street (exit 3) in western Raleigh
, North Carolina
. This used to be the junction for US 64 in the 1990s before that highway was rerouted along I-40
. NC 54 westbound ends at US 70
/NC 62 in Burlington, North Carolina
.
The route is a fairly major road in the Triangle
area, and runs over several local important streets:
The route also runs through the Piedmont Triad
region, but it is not usually considered a major road there. A notable fact is that NC 54 crosses I-40
four times, more than most nearby routes.
in Chapel Hill and the NC State Fairgrounds
in Raleigh. NC 54 runs near UNC Chapel Hill
; Meredith College
, the NC State Veterinary School
, Carter-Finley Stadium
, and the RBC Center lie near the route's junction with I-440
(exit 3). The North Carolina State University North Campus
and the university's Memorial Bell Tower is located near its eastern terminus. NC 54/Hillsborough Street just inside the beltline is adorned with numerous businesses targeted at college students; there are several bookstores, coffee shop
s, and small restaurant
s along this stretch of road. NC 54 also runs through a section of Research Triangle Park
.
The original routing (1929) of NC 54 mostly followed today's route, but was shorter. It originally ran from Chapel Hill to Nelson
and was extended west to Graham in the 1930s. It was extended east to Raleigh along the former U.S. 70
-A when it was decommissioned in the 1950s.
U.S. 1
occupied the section of Hillsborough Street from the I-440 beltline
to downtown Raleigh in the 1950s and 1960s and U.S. 1
Business occupied it in the 1980s. A project is currently underway to construct traffic circle
s along this section of Hillsborough Street inside the beltline in an effort to persuade travelers to take nearby parallel route Western Boulevard in and out of downtown Raleigh.
In 1997, NC 54 through central Cary
was rerouted from Chapel Hill Road to the northern section of Maynard Road to avoid the downtown
area. Maynard Road is a loop road that encircles downtown Cary.
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
state highway
State highway
State highway, state road or state route can refer to one of three related concepts, two of them related to a state or provincial government in a country that is divided into states or provinces :#A...
and a semi-urban traffic artery connecting Raleigh
Raleigh, North Carolina
Raleigh is the capital and the second largest city in the state of North Carolina as well as the seat of Wake County. Raleigh is known as the "City of Oaks" for its many oak trees. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the city's 2010 population was 403,892, over an area of , making Raleigh...
to its western suburbs, and extending outward to Burlington
Burlington, North Carolina
Burlington is a city in Alamance and Guilford counties in the U.S. state of North Carolina. It is the principal city of the Burlington, North Carolina Metropolitan Statistical Area which encompasses all of Alamance County, in which most of the city is located. The population was 49,963 at the 2010...
.
Route description
54 east begins in western Burlington at the intersection of US 70/NC 62/Church Street and South O'Neal Street. 54 east runs on O'neal Street for less than 500 yards before turning left on Chapel Hill Road.54 follows Chapel Hill Road to the intersection of NC 49/100/Maple Avenue in downtown Graham. 54 joins 49 north on Harden Street through downtown. 54/49 continues eastward and intersects with NC 87, marking a stretch of 49 north, 54 east and 87 south all along Harden Street (which actually runs east-west). 87 turns off at Main Street in downtown Graham and 49 exits at Elm Street. It's at this point that 54 begins its turn southeast and crosses Interstates 40/85 (exit 148). 54 remains on Harden Street until it crosses the Haw River, and is known from that point as NC 54.
54 heads southeast to Carrboro where it becomes the Fordham Blvd bypass, a divided highway that runs through the south side of Carrboro and Chapel Hill. At Pittsboro Road US 15/501 joins 54/Fordham Blvd and the highway begins to turn northbound to head toward Durham. 54 exits on Raleigh Road and then Nelson-Chapel Hill Highway, a divided major highway connecting Fordham Blvd and Interstate 40. 54 hits I-40 at exit 273 and continues east, crossing NC 751 and heading into Durham.
54 enters the Research Triangle Park and intersects with NC 55 before crossing over the Durham Freeway (NC 147) and intersecting with South Miami Blvd, where 54 turns right and starts to head toward Morrisville. When 54 enters Wake County it is once again on Chapel Hill Road and crosses NC 540 at exit 69.
54 travels through Morrisville and heads into Cary, where it crosses the Cary Parkway and then exits onto the northern portion of the Maynard Road loop around Cary. It then turns left back onto Chapel Hill Road in the eastern portion of Cary and hits I-40 for the last time at exit 290 in Cary. 54 continues toward Raleigh and intersects with Hillsborough Street before ending at exit 4 of the Cliff Benson Beltline, which carries Interstate 440 and US 1.
NC 54's eastern terminus is at US 1
U.S. Route 1 in North Carolina
U.S. Route 1 is an north–south United States highway that runs for from the South Carolina state line, near Rockingham, to the Virginia state line, near Wise...
/I-440
Interstate 440 (North Carolina)
Interstate 440 in North Carolina, also known as the Raleigh Beltline and the Cliff Benson Beltline, is a 16.4-mile partial beltway that nearly encircles central Raleigh. Prior to August 2002, it was a complete loop and shared a concurrency with its parent, Interstate 40 along the loop's southern...
, at the Hillsborough Street (exit 3) in western Raleigh
Raleigh, North Carolina
Raleigh is the capital and the second largest city in the state of North Carolina as well as the seat of Wake County. Raleigh is known as the "City of Oaks" for its many oak trees. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the city's 2010 population was 403,892, over an area of , making Raleigh...
, North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
. This used to be the junction for US 64 in the 1990s before that highway was rerouted along I-40
Interstate 40
Interstate 40 is the third-longest major east–west Interstate Highway in the United States, after I-90 and I-80. Its western end is at Interstate 15 in Barstow, California; its eastern end is at a concurrency of U.S. Route 117 and North Carolina Highway 132 in Wilmington, North Carolina...
. NC 54 westbound ends at US 70
U.S. Route 70
U.S. Route 70 is an east–west United States highway that runs for 2,385 miles from eastern North Carolina to east-central Arizona. As can be derived from its number, it is a major east–west highway of the Southern and Southwestern United States...
/NC 62 in Burlington, North Carolina
Burlington, North Carolina
Burlington is a city in Alamance and Guilford counties in the U.S. state of North Carolina. It is the principal city of the Burlington, North Carolina Metropolitan Statistical Area which encompasses all of Alamance County, in which most of the city is located. The population was 49,963 at the 2010...
.
The route is a fairly major road in the Triangle
The Triangle (North Carolina)
The Research Triangle, also known as Raleigh-Durham and commonly referred to as simply "The Triangle", is a region in the Piedmont of North Carolina in the United States, anchored by North Carolina State University, Duke University, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and cities of...
area, and runs over several local important streets:
- Hillsborough StreetHillsborough StreetHillsborough Street is a prominent business and cultural thoroughfare through Raleigh, North Carolina. The street serves as a center for social life among North Carolina State University students. Nearby Meredith College students also frequent the street's area businesses...
in Raleigh - Chapel Hill Road in Cary and Morrisville
- Maynard Road in Cary
- Fordham Boulevard in Chapel Hill
- Harden Street in Graham
- Chapel Hill Road in Burlington
The route also runs through the Piedmont Triad
Piedmont Triad
The Piedmont Triad, or Triad, is a north-central region of the U.S. state of North Carolina that consists of the area within and surrounding the three major cities of Greensboro, Winston-Salem, and High Point. This close group or "triad" of cities lies in the Piedmont geographical region of the...
region, but it is not usually considered a major road there. A notable fact is that NC 54 crosses I-40
Interstate 40
Interstate 40 is the third-longest major east–west Interstate Highway in the United States, after I-90 and I-80. Its western end is at Interstate 15 in Barstow, California; its eastern end is at a concurrency of U.S. Route 117 and North Carolina Highway 132 in Wilmington, North Carolina...
four times, more than most nearby routes.
Nearby points of interest
Significant attractions along NC 54 include the Dean DomeDean Smith Center
The Dean E. Smith Student Activities Center, usually called simply the Smith Center and popularly referred to as the Dean Dome is a multi-purpose arena in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. The arena is home to the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Tar Heels men's basketball team, and temporary...
in Chapel Hill and the NC State Fairgrounds
North Carolina State Fair
The North Carolina State Fair is an annual fair and agricultural exposition held in Raleigh, North Carolina, and organized by the North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services....
in Raleigh. NC 54 runs near UNC Chapel Hill
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is a public research university located in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States...
; Meredith College
Meredith College
Meredith College is a liberal arts women's college located in Raleigh, North Carolina. For the 2010-2011 academic year, there were approximately 2,300 students enrolled, including about 350 graduate students, making Meredith the largest women's college in the southeastern United States...
, the NC State Veterinary School
North Carolina State University
North Carolina State University at Raleigh is a public, coeducational, extensive research university located in Raleigh, North Carolina, United States. Commonly known as NC State, the university is part of the University of North Carolina system and is a land, sea, and space grant institution...
, Carter-Finley Stadium
Carter-Finley Stadium
Carter-Finley Stadium is home to the North Carolina State University Wolfpack football team. It was opened in 1966 and now has a seating capacity of 57,583 seats....
, and the RBC Center lie near the route's junction with I-440
Interstate 440 (North Carolina)
Interstate 440 in North Carolina, also known as the Raleigh Beltline and the Cliff Benson Beltline, is a 16.4-mile partial beltway that nearly encircles central Raleigh. Prior to August 2002, it was a complete loop and shared a concurrency with its parent, Interstate 40 along the loop's southern...
(exit 3). The North Carolina State University North Campus
North Carolina State University
North Carolina State University at Raleigh is a public, coeducational, extensive research university located in Raleigh, North Carolina, United States. Commonly known as NC State, the university is part of the University of North Carolina system and is a land, sea, and space grant institution...
and the university's Memorial Bell Tower is located near its eastern terminus. NC 54/Hillsborough Street just inside the beltline is adorned with numerous businesses targeted at college students; there are several bookstores, coffee shop
Café
A café , also spelled cafe, in most countries refers to an establishment which focuses on serving coffee, like an American coffeehouse. In the United States, it may refer to an informal restaurant, offering a range of hot meals and made-to-order sandwiches...
s, and small restaurant
Restaurant
A restaurant is an establishment which prepares and serves food and drink to customers in return for money. Meals are generally served and eaten on premises, but many restaurants also offer take-out and food delivery services...
s along this stretch of road. NC 54 also runs through a section of Research Triangle Park
Research Triangle Park
The Research Triangle Park is a research park in the United States. It is located near Durham, Raleigh, and Chapel Hill, in the Research Triangle region of North Carolina...
.
History
The current NC 54 was the first paved road in North Carolina, and was once designated as U.S. 70.The original routing (1929) of NC 54 mostly followed today's route, but was shorter. It originally ran from Chapel Hill to Nelson
Nelson, North Carolina
Nelson is a small community in southeastern Durham County, North Carolina. The community is centered at the intersection of Miami Boulevard and North Carolina Highway 54 near the edge of modern Research Triangle Park....
and was extended west to Graham in the 1930s. It was extended east to Raleigh along the former U.S. 70
U.S. Route 70
U.S. Route 70 is an east–west United States highway that runs for 2,385 miles from eastern North Carolina to east-central Arizona. As can be derived from its number, it is a major east–west highway of the Southern and Southwestern United States...
-A when it was decommissioned in the 1950s.
U.S. 1
U.S. Route 1 in North Carolina
U.S. Route 1 is an north–south United States highway that runs for from the South Carolina state line, near Rockingham, to the Virginia state line, near Wise...
occupied the section of Hillsborough Street from the I-440 beltline
Interstate 440 (North Carolina)
Interstate 440 in North Carolina, also known as the Raleigh Beltline and the Cliff Benson Beltline, is a 16.4-mile partial beltway that nearly encircles central Raleigh. Prior to August 2002, it was a complete loop and shared a concurrency with its parent, Interstate 40 along the loop's southern...
to downtown Raleigh in the 1950s and 1960s and U.S. 1
U.S. Route 1 in North Carolina
U.S. Route 1 is an north–south United States highway that runs for from the South Carolina state line, near Rockingham, to the Virginia state line, near Wise...
Business occupied it in the 1980s. A project is currently underway to construct traffic circle
Traffic circle
A traffic circle or rotary is a type of circular intersection in which traffic must travel in one direction around a central island. In some countries, traffic entering the circle has the right-of-way and drivers in the circle must yield. In many other countries, traffic entering the circle must...
s along this section of Hillsborough Street inside the beltline in an effort to persuade travelers to take nearby parallel route Western Boulevard in and out of downtown Raleigh.
In 1997, NC 54 through central Cary
Cary, North Carolina
Cary is a large town and suburb of Raleigh, North Carolina in Wake and Chatham counties in the U.S. state of North Carolina. Located almost entirely in Wake County, it is the second largest municipality in that county and the third largest municipality in The Triangle after Raleigh and Durham...
was rerouted from Chapel Hill Road to the northern section of Maynard Road to avoid the downtown
Downtown
Downtown is a term primarily used in North America by English speakers to refer to a city's core or central business district ....
area. Maynard Road is a loop road that encircles downtown Cary.