North Carolina Highway 159

NC Highway 159
Zoo Parkway
Route information
Maintained by NCDOT
Length:	7.3 mi[1] (11.7 km)
Existed:	1975 – present
Major junctions
South end:	US 220 Alt. near Seagrove
North end:	US 64 / NC 49 in Asheboro
Location
Counties:	Randolph
Highway system
North Carolina Highway System Interstate U.S. State Scenic ← US 158 NC 160 →

North Carolina Highway 159 (NC 159) is a primary state highway in the U.S. state of North Carolina. It serves as access to the North Carolina Zoological Park.

Route description

NC 159 is a two-lane highway that connects nearby highways to the North Carolina Zoological Park.

History

Established in 1975 as a new primary route, it went from the North Carolina Zoological Park to US 64/NC 49 in Asheboro. In 1977 its southern terminus was moved to connect US 220, creating a NC 159 Spur to the park.^[2]

Future

NC 159 Spur is planned to be extended west of its current terminus on mainline NC 159 to a planned US 64 By-Pass. Construction on the new US 64 By-Pass is scheduled to begin in 2014, with the spur extension to begin at a later date. The new connector will alleviate traffic for those going to-and-from the North Carolina Zoological Park.^[3][4]

Junction list

The entire route is in Randolph County.

Location	mi[1]	km	Destinations	Notes
​	0.0	0.0	US 220 Alt. to I‑73 to I‑74 – Seagrove, Rockingham, Charlotte, Greensboro
​	2.9	4.7	NC 159 Spur – North Carolina Zoological Park
Asheboro	7.3	11.7	US 64 / NC 49 – Lexington, Charlotte, Ramseur, Siler City
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi

Bannered routes

North Carolina Zoological Park spur route

NC Highway 159 Spur
Location:	North Carolina Zoological Park
Length:	0.7 mi[5] (1.1 km)
Existed:	1977–present

Established in 1979 when NC 159 was redirected south to US 220. Its purpose is to connect the North Carolina Zoological Park with mainline NC 159. Though not bannered along route, it is listed on state and county maps and is the only known spur route in North Carolina.^[6]

Junction list

The entire route is in Asheboro, Randolph County.

mi[1]	km	Destinations	Notes
0.0	0.0		NC 159 To US 64 to US 220 to NC 49 to I‑73 to I‑74 – Raleigh, Charlotte, Greensboro, Rockingham
0.7	1.1	North Carolina Zoological Park
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi

References

1. Google (August 25, 2012). "North Carolina Highway 159" (Map). Google Maps. Google. Retrieved August 25, 2012.
2. "NCRoads.com: N.C. 159". Retrieved August 25, 2012.
3. Staff. "NCDOT: US 64 Asheboro Bypass". North Carolina Department of Transportation. Retrieved February 19, 2013.
4. Corridor Map - US 64 Improvement Project in Asheboro (PDF) (Map). North Carolina Department of Transportation. Retrieved February 19, 2013.
5. Google (August 25, 2012). "North Carolina Highway 159 Spur" (Map). Google Maps. Google. Retrieved August 25, 2012.
6. "NCRoads.com: N.C. 159 SPUR". Retrieved August 25, 2012.

External links

Route map: Bing / Google

• Media related to North Carolina Highway 159 at Wikimedia Commons