North Carolina Highway 56

North Carolina Highway 56 (NC 56) is a primary state highway in the U.S. state of North Carolina. The primarily rural route travels east from Butner to NC 58 north of Castalia. The route connects several major towns in both Granville and Franklin Counties including Creedmoor, Franklinton and Louisburg.

North Carolina Highway 56 marker

North Carolina Highway 56

Route information
Maintained by NCDOT
Length42.8 mi[1] (68.9 km)
Existed1921–present
Major junctions
West endCentral Avenue in Butner
Major intersections I-85 in Butner
US 15 in Creedmoor
US 1 in Franklinton
US 1A in Franklinton
US 401 in Louisburg
East end NC 58 near Castalia
Location
CountryUnited States
StateNorth Carolina
CountiesGranville, Franklin, Nash
Highway system
← NC 55→ NC 57

NC 56 was originally routed from NC 50 in Creedmoor to NC 90 in Nashville. Between 1924 and 1930, NC 56 was truncated to NC 58 in Castalia and extended US 15 in Creedmoor after it was truncated to US 1 near Franklinton. In 1974 the route was extended west to its current terminus in Butner.

Route description

NC 56 is a predominantly two-lane rural highway connecting the three Counties of Granville, Franklin and Nash. Acting as a spur route, it begins at the intersection of Central Avenue/C Street, in Butner, and goes northeast to connect with I-85 (exit 191). Going southeasterly, it enters Creedmoor and has two brief concurrencies with US 15 and NC 50. Going in an easterly direction, it crosses NC 96, in Wilton, halfway before reaching Franklinton, where it connects with both US 1 and US 1A. Continuing east for 8.5 miles (13.7 km), it reaches Louisburg, where it has another short concurrency with US 401 and NC 39 along Bickett Boulevard. At the intersection of East Nash Street, NC 56 begin its concurrency with NC 581 to Mapleville. Continuing east for another 9.3 miles (15.0 km), it reaches its eastern terminus at NC 58, just over the Franklin/Nash County line and north of Castalia.[1]

Dedicated and memorial names
The Clifton L. Benson Highway

NC 56 features one dedicated stretch of highway.

  • Clifton L Benson Highway – Official North Carolina name of NC 56, from Louisburg to NC 58, north of Castalia (approved: December 7, 1972).[2]

History

NC 56 is an original state highway that traversed from NC 50, in Franklinton, to NC 90, in Nashville. In 1923, it was extended west on new primary routing to Wilton, then northwest to NC 75, in Hester. Briefly from 1924-1925, NC 56 was truncated north of Castalia, replaced temporarily by NC 58. In 1929, NC 56 was truncated back to US 1/NC 50, in Franklinton; its routing west becoming secondary roads. In 1930, NC 56 was truncated again and its current eastern terminus at NC 58, north of Castalia; its old alignment was replaced again by NC 58 to Nashville. Also same year, NC 56 was extended west to US 15/NC 75, in Creedmoor.[3]

Between 1947-1949, NC 56 was rerouted onto new bypass east of downtown Louisburg (today Bickett Boulevard), its old alignment along South Main Street and East Nash Street was downgraded to secondary roads (SR 1229 and SR 1231 respectively).[4] In 1974, NC 56 was extended to its current western terminus in Butner, an upgrade to Butner-Creedmoor Road (SR-1111).[5] In 1975, NC 56 was rerouted back through downtown Louisburg, via South Main Street and East Nash Street; it is unknown when it was reverted onto Bickett Boulevard.[6]

Major intersections
CountyLocationmi[1]kmDestinationsNotes
GranvilleButner0.00.0
 To I-85 / Central Avenue
2.33.7 I-85 – Durham, HendersonI-85 exit 191, Diamond interchange
Creedmoor5.08.0
 US 15 south (Durham Avenue) – Durham		South end of US 15 overlap
5.18.2
 US 15 north (Durham Avenue) – Oxford		North end of US 15/NC 50 overlap
5.38.5
 NC 50 south (Main Street) – Raleigh		South end of NC 50 overlap
Wilton11.718.8 NC 96 – Youngsville, Oxford
FranklinFranklinton18.629.9 US 1 – Raleigh, HendersonDiamond interchange
19.030.6 US 1A (Main Street) – Raleigh, Henderson
Louisburg27.644.4
 US 401 south (Bickett Boulevard) – Raleigh		South end of US 401 overlap
28.345.5
 NC 39 south (Bunn Road) – Bunn		South end of NC 39 overlap
29.347.2

 US 401 / NC 39 north (Bickett Boulevard) / NC 581 begins – Henderson		North end of US 401/NC 39/NC 581 overlap
Mapleville33.654.1
 NC 581 south – Spring Hope		South end of NC 581 overlap
Nash​42.868.9 NC 58 – Nashville, Warrenton
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi

References
  1. Google (June 6, 2014). "North Carolina Highway 56" (Map). Google Maps. Google. Retrieved June 6, 2014.
  2. "North Carolina Memorial Highways and other Named Facilities" (PDF). North Carolina Department of Transportation. July 15, 2004. Archived from the original (PDF) on December 29, 2012. Retrieved June 6, 2014.
  3. State Highway System of North Carolina (PDF) (Map). Cartography by NCDOT. North Carolina Department of Transportation. 1930. Retrieved June 6, 2014.
  4. North Carolina Official Highway Map (PDF) (Map). Cartography by NCDOT. North Carolina Department of Transportation. 1951. Retrieved June 6, 2014.
  5. "NC Route Change (1974-06-01)" (PDF). North Carolina Department of Transportation. June 1, 1974. Retrieved June 6, 2014.
  6. "NC Route Change (1975-02-01)" (PDF). North Carolina Department of Transportation. February 1, 1975. Retrieved June 6, 2014.
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