US 401 widened to 4 lanes in Franklin County

Drivers are celebrating a newly-widened section of U.S. 401 in fast-growing Franklin County.

The North Carolina Department of Transportation on Tuesday officially cut the ribbon on a four-lane stretch between N.C. 96 north of Rolesville and Flat Rock Church Road in southern Franklin County.

The project, which started in 2018, widened the six-mile stretch of U.S. 401 to four lanes.

The next phase of the project will widen U.S. 401 from Flat Rock Church Road to Fox Park Road in Louisburg.

According to NCDOT, construction is set to begin in 2031.