Special routes of U.S. Route 401 explained

Several special routes of U.S. Route 401 exist, from South Carolina to North Carolina. In order from south to north, separated by type, they are as follows.

Business loops

Laurinburg business loop

U.S. Route 401 Business (US 401 Bus) was established in 1960 as a renumbering of US 401A through downtown Laurinburg, it has remained unchanged since.

Raeford business loop

U.S. Route 401 Business (US 401 Bus) first started unofficially in 1954, US 15A was rerouted onto a bypass around Raeford, the old alignment through downtown was unnumbered until around the early 1960s, when it became US 401 Business. The route follows Harris Avenue, Main Street, and Central Avenue.

Fayetteville business loop

U.S. Route 401 Business (US 401 Bus) was established in late 1960s from a renumbering of US 401, this business loop goes through Fayetteville via Raeford Road, Robeson Street, Martin Luther King Jr Freeway, and Ramsey Street.

Rolesville business loop

U.S. Route 401 Business (US 401 Bus) is a 4.67miles business loop that runs along Main Street through downtown Rolesville. The Town of Rolesville had been planning a bypass of the town since 1985, but the project was delayed for many years. U.S. Route 401 originally passed through the town until the bypass was completed in 2015. The business loop designation was approved by AASHTO on May 29, 2014, with its official establishment dependent on the opening of the Rolesville bypass, which would be designated as U.S. 401.^[1] The Rolesville bypass opened on July 16, 2015.^[2]

Former business loops

Bennettsville business loop

U.S. Route 401 Business (US 401 Bus.) was a 3.4miles business route of US 401 that traveled through Bennettsville via Main Street and Tyson Avenue. It was established in 1958, when mainline US 401 was bypassed south of Bennettsville; it followed the old alignment. By 1990, the highway was decommissioned with most being replaced by an extension of SC 385.

Former alternate routes

Laurinburg alternate route

U.S. Route 401 Alternate (US 401A) was established in 1957, when US 401 was re-established, it replaced US 15A alignment through downtown Laurinburg, via Main Street. It was renumbered in 1960 into US 401 Business.^{[3] [4]}

Notes and References

1. Web site: AASHTO . Special Committee on U. S. Route Numbering - Louisville, Kentucky - Report to SCOH . DOC . May 29, 2014 . May 30, 2014 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20140531105136/http://route.transportation.org/Documents/USRN%20Report%20May%2029%202014.docx . May 31, 2014 .
2. News: WTVD Staff . DOT opens 6-mile long Rolesville Bypass . . Durham, NC . July 16, 2015 . July 25, 2015.
3. Web site: NCRoads.com: U.S. 401. August 25, 2012.
4. Web site: NCRoads.com: U.S. 15-A. August 25, 2012.