3 Reasons Why I Love Interstate 40

I took the top picture Thursday at the begining of Interstate 40 West in Wilmington on the way home from the beach. This sign stands as a reminder that Interstate 40 is a 2,554 mile beauty and the multi-decade long struggle to finish Interstate 40 to the North Carolina Coast.

Here are 3 reasons why I love this road:

1. I like Interstate 40 because of its longevity. As seen in the sign on top, the Interstate is 2,554 miles from Barstow, California to Wilmington, North Carolina. This is one of the longest Interstates in the United States along with Interstate 10 and Interstate 80. It's also the longest Interstate in North Carolina.

2. I like Interstate 40 because of its history. In 1958, the first piece of Interstate 40 opened in Downtown Winston-Salem. It was not designated Interstate 40 until a few years later. This section of Interstate 40 is of course now Business 40. Here's a cool fact. Interstate 40 was originally designated to end in Goldsboro instead of Wilimington.

3. I like Interstate 40 because of its routing. I believe that Interstate 40 is the official Interstate of North Carolina. Why? Because it serves all three regions of the state. It enters from Tennessee and ends in Wilmington in the coast. It also serves as a direct route from Greensboro to the Mountains and the Coast.