An interstate highway from Raleigh to Norfolk, Va., could make it from just a thought to a reality in the coming years.

Marc Finlayson, executive director of the Highway 17 Association, discussed that idea with the Beaufort County Board of Commissioners during its Dec. 2 meeting. Finlayson acknowledged that idea remains just that, an idea, but the current administration is Raleigh is talking about what’s being called the I-44 proposal.

Although no plans have been drawn up and there is no funding earmarked for such a project, there is a potential route being discussed, Finlayson said. That route would follow the U.S. Highway 64 corridor from Raleigh to Williamston, where it would follow the U.S. Highway 17 corridor to the Hampton Roads area of Virginia.

The military, especially the Marine Corps with its facilities at Cherry Point and Camp Lejeune, likely would support the proposal, according to Finlayson. The military already supports widening U.S. Highway 17 to four lanes throughout North Carolina because it would make it easier for personnel and equipment to reach ports at Norfolk, Morehead City and Wilmington, he noted.

“The only reason I bring this to your attention is there’s actually talk coming out of Raleigh, coming out of the new administration, about the interest in building an interstate between Raleigh and Norfolk. … It’s an idea that Gov. (Pat) McCrory and (NCDOT) Secretary (Tony) Tata are willing to supporting,” Finlayson said.

Finlayson also discussed three scenarios regarding improvement projects along the U.S. 17 corridor

One of the scenarios calls for making the entire 282-mile corridor interstate quality, he said.

“There’s no funding scenario by which this could occur before the year 2035. It’s quite expensive, over a half a billion dollars,” Finlayson said. “It’s not necessarily feasible, but we looked at it because the economic impact of it is tremendous. It would be nearly $3 billion. It would be nearly a 2.5-to-1 (return on investment). It would create over 4,000 recurring jobs once the improvements were finished.”

If the I-44 project proceeds, much of U.S. 17 would become interstate quality, he said.

The I-44 idea has been around for several years. It was discussed at a Governor’s Logistics Task Force meeting May 23, 2011, at North Carolina Central University’s School of Law.

The Highway 17 Association advocates for improvements to U.S. 17, especially the conversion of its entire length in the state to four lanes. Those improvements would lead to better economic development along the corridor, contends the association.