Interstate 85 Business (North Carolina)

In the U.S. state

U.S. state

A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...

of 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...

, Interstate 85 Business (commonly known as "Business 85") is a 43 miles (69.2 km) business loop of Interstate 85

Interstate 85 in North Carolina

In the U.S. state of North Carolina, Interstate 85 scales the state for from the South Carolina border to the Virginia border. As the second-longest interstate in the state , it provides an important link between the cities of Atlanta, Georgia, Charlotte, Greensboro, Richmond, Virginia and...

; which serves several cities in 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...

Route description

Business 85 is known widely as having two section that appears split by I-85

Interstate 85 in North Carolina

in Greensboro

Greensboro, North Carolina

Greensboro is a city in the U.S. state of North Carolina. It is the third-largest city by population in North Carolina and the largest city in Guilford County and the surrounding Piedmont Triad metropolitan region. According to the 2010 U.S...

; it is actually one continuous route that is simply hidden on the 2 miles (3.2 km) stretch of I-85

Interstate 85 in North Carolina

. For almost the entire route, US 29

U.S. Route 29 in North Carolina

U.S. Route 29 is an north–south United States highway that runs for from the South Carolina state line, near Blacksburg, to the commonwealth of Virginia, near Danville...

and US 70 are cosigned.

Southern section

Business 85 begins from exit 87 of Interstate 85

Interstate 85 in North Carolina

, just south of Lexington

Lexington, North Carolina

Lexington is the county seat of Davidson County, North Carolina, United States. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 19,953. It is located in central North Carolina, twenty miles south of Winston-Salem. Major highways include I-85, U.S. Route 29, U.S. Route 70, U.S. Route 52 ...

. It travels along US 52

U.S. Route 52 in North Carolina

U.S. Route 52 is an north–south United States highway that runs for from the South Carolina state line, near McFarlan, to the Virginia state line, near Mount Airy. It serves as a strategic highway through the central North Carolina Piedmont....

north then splits from it at exit 87. Becoming a semi-limited expressway

Limited-access road

A limited-access road known by various terms worldwide, including limited-access highway, dual-carriageway and expressway, is a highway or arterial road for high-speed traffic which has many or most characteristics of a controlled-access highway , including limited or no access to adjacent...

, it travels through Lexington with a short concurrency with US 64. Once past Lexington, the road becomes a more typical expressway, with at grade intersections with some controlled interchanges throughout the rest of the southern section. Business 85 goes at a northeast direction, parallel to Interstate 85

Interstate 85 in North Carolina

further south, as it goes through Thomasville

Thomasville, North Carolina

Thomasville is a city in Davidson County in the U.S. state of North Carolina. The population was 21,354 at the 2010 census. The city is notable for its furniture industry as are its neighbors of High Point and Lexington. This Piedmont Triad community was established in 1852 and hosts the state's...

and High Point

High Point, North Carolina

High Point is a city located in the Piedmont Triad region of North Carolina. As of 2010 the city had a total population of 104,371, according to the US Census Bureau. High Point is currently the eighth-largest municipality in North Carolina....

. It makes a unique intersection with I-74

Interstate 74 in North Carolina

In the U.S. state of North Carolina, Interstate 74 is an Interstate Highway that is partially completed. Currently in four distinct segments in the state; when completed, it will traverse in a southeasterly direction from Virginia to South Carolina, connecting the cities of Winston-Salem, High...

/US 311

U.S. Route 311

U.S. Route 311 is a United States highway that runs for entirely within the state of North Carolina. On its route from Eden it passes through the cities of Madison, Winston-Salem and High Point. Originally a spur route from US 11 starting in Roanoke, Virginia and ending at Rowland, North Carolina,...

by having a full interchange, but with at-grade intersections at the ramps. After 30 miles (48.3 km), Business 85 merges with Interstate 85

Interstate 85 in North Carolina

in Greensboro.

Northern section

Business 85 continues again from exit 120A of Interstate 85

Interstate 85 in North Carolina

, in Greensboro. Continuing a northeast direction, it connects with Interstate 40

Interstate 40 in North Carolina

Interstate 40 runs through the state of North Carolina from the Tennessee state line in the west to its eastern terminus in Wilmington.-Pigeon River Gorge:...

at a location commonly nicknamed as "Death Valley"; creating a rarely seen concurrency of an interstate highway and a business loop signed together. Overlapped with I-40

Interstate 40 in North Carolina

Interstate 40 runs through the state of North Carolina from the Tennessee state line in the west to its eastern terminus in Wilmington.-Pigeon River Gorge:...

, it goes east until it meets Interstate 85

Interstate 85 in North Carolina

for a third time near McLeansville

McLeansville, North Carolina

McLeansville is a census-designated place in Guilford County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 1,080 at the 2000 census. The community is most famous for being the hometown of American Idol contestant Chris Daughtry while he was on the show; he now lives in Oak Ridge, North...

, where it ends. The entire northern section is 6-lane freeway grade; though because it goes through the city of Greensboro, travelers can anticipate typical weekday rush hour slow downs (7:00-9:30 a.m./4:00-6:30 p.m.).

Exit list

{| class=wikitable
!County
!Location
!Mile
!#

Exit number

An exit number is a number assigned to a road junction, usually an exit from a freeway. It is usually marked on the same sign as the destinations of the exit, as well as a sign in the gore....

!Destinations
!Notes
|-
|rowspan=12|Davidson

Davidson County, North Carolina

-Demographics:As of the census of 2010, there were 149,331 people, 58,156 households, and 42,512 families residing in the county. The population density was 267 people per square mile . There were 62,432 housing units at an average density of 113 per square mile...

|To Davidson County Airport

Davidson County Airport

Davidson County Airport is a public airport located three miles southwest of the central business district of Lexington, a city in Davidson County, North Carolina, USA. This general aviation airport covers 75 acres and has one runway....

|-
|2
|85*
|Green Needles Road
|
|-
|rowspan=6|Lexington

Lexington, North Carolina

|3
|86*
|Salisbury Road – Downtown Lexington

Lexington, North Carolina

Thomasville, North Carolina

Thomasville, North Carolina

|style="background:#ffdddd"|Northbound exit and southbound entrance
|-
|17
|
|
|
|-
|19
|
|, West High Point

High Point, North Carolina

|To Piedmont Triad International Airport

Piedmont Triad International Airport

Piedmont Triad International Airport is an airport just west of Greensboro, serving Greensboro, High Point and Winston-Salem as well as the entire Piedmont Triad Region in North Carolina. The airport has 3 runways; the third opened January 27, 2010 for traffic. The airport is located just off...

|-
|Randolph

Randolph County, North Carolina

-Notable people:*Naomi Wise, murder victim*Richard Petty - Nascar driver.*Lee Petty - Nascar pioneer. Richard Petty's father.*Kyle Petty - Nascar driver. Son of Richard Petty*Adam Petty - Nascar driver. Kyle Petty's son...

|rowspan=8|High Point

High Point, North Carolina

|20
|
|Old Thomasville Road – High Point

High Point, North Carolina

|
|-
|rowspan=17|Guildford

Guilford County, North Carolina

Guilford County is a county located in the U.S. state of North Carolina. In 2010, the Census Bureau estimated the county's population to be 491,230. Its seat is Greensboro. Since 1938, an additional county court has been located in High Point, North Carolina, making Guilford one of only a handful...

|21
|
|Prospect Street
|
|-
|22
|
|West Green Drive
|
|-
|22.5
|
|Surrett Drive
|
|-
|23
|
|Main Street – High Point

High Point, North Carolina

|
|-
|24
|
|
|Brentwood Street has a separate exit northbound
|-
|25
|
|Baker Road
|
|-
|26
|
|Kivett Drive – East High Point

High Point, North Carolina

|
|-
|rowspan=10|Greensboro

Greensboro, North Carolina

|29
|
|Vickery Chapel Road / Guildford College Road – Jamestown

Jamestown, North Carolina

Jamestown is a town in Guilford County, North Carolina, United States, and is a suburb of the nearby cities of Greensboro and High Point. The population was 3,088 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Jamestown is located at ....

|style="background:#ffdddd"|North end of I-85 overlap; southbound exit and northbound entrance
I-73/US421/Groometown Road access southbound only
|-
|34
|34
|Holden Road
|
|-
|rowspan=3|35
|35A
|
|
|-
|style="background:#ffdddd"|35B
|style="background:#ffdddd"|

History

Before Business 85 was established, the route had already existed as US 29

U.S. Route 29 in North Carolina

U.S. Route 29 is an north–south United States highway that runs for from the South Carolina state line, near Blacksburg, to the commonwealth of Virginia, near Danville...

and US 70. During the 1960s, the route from Lexington

Lexington, North Carolina

to Greensboro

Greensboro, North Carolina

was signed as Interstate 85

Interstate 85 in North Carolina

. However, NCDOT was already planning of a new bypass route south of Lexington and even built (what was called then) the "bridge over nothing," what now serves as exit 87. In 1980, this planned bypass finally began construction, at the same time signage changed to Temporary I-85. In 1984, Interstate 85

Interstate 85 in North Carolina

moved south to its new 6-lane freeway, bypassing the cities of Lexington, Thomasville

Thomasville, North Carolina

, and High Point

High Point, North Carolina

; the former route was then resigned as Interstate 85 Business.

In 2004, Interstate 85

Interstate 85 in North Carolina

was redirected southeast around Greensboro (what is part of the Greensboro Urban Loop

Greensboro Urban Loop

The Greensboro Urban Loop is a planned 41-mile beltway around Greensboro, North Carolina, United States. The loop carries Interstate 85 and U.S. Route 421 on its southern section, and Interstate 73 from U.S. 220 to Bryan Boulevard along the west side of Greensboro...

); the old route through Greensboro was then replaced by a 13 miles (20.9 km) extension of Business 85 (hidden on main I-85). On February 2008, Interstate 40

Interstate 40 in North Carolina

Interstate 40 runs through the state of North Carolina from the Tennessee state line in the west to its eastern terminus in Wilmington.-Pigeon River Gorge:...

was rerouted south around Greensboro, it was replaced by an extension of Business 40

Interstate 40 Business (North Carolina)

In the U.S. state of North Carolina, Interstate 40 Business is a business loop of Interstate 40; which serves the cities of Winston-Salem and Kernersville.-Route description:...

from Winston-Salem

Winston-Salem, North Carolina

Winston-Salem is a city in the U.S. state of North Carolina, with a 2010 population of 229,617. Winston-Salem is the county seat and largest city of Forsyth County and the fourth-largest city in the state. Winston-Salem is the second largest municipality in the Piedmont Triad region and is home to...

. Seven months later, Interstate 40

Interstate 40 in North Carolina

Interstate 40 runs through the state of North Carolina from the Tennessee state line in the west to its eastern terminus in Wilmington.-Pigeon River Gorge:...

returned to its original routing through Greensboro, making the odd concurrency of an Interstate and Business Loop permanent in Greensboro.

Also in 2004, the High Point East Belt was partially completed to Business 85, creating a temporary routing of US 311

U.S. Route 311

along Business 85 from South Main Street to the new freeway in High Point. This was ended when the East Belt Bypass was completed in November 2010.

Alternate names

Though the highway is simply known as Business 85 throughout the state, the highway does have other known names it uses locally in areas.

Preddy Boulevard - Road name of Business 85, from mile marker 33-36; named after the Preddy Brothers (one of which is George Preddy
George Preddy
George Preddy was an American ace credited with 26.83 enemy air-to-air kills, ranking him as the top P-51 Mustang ace of World War II and sixth on the list of all-time highest scoring American aces....

), for their outstanding service in World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...

.

Route description

Southern section

Northern section

Exit list

History

Alternate names

See also