NC 11: 1921-30

NC 11 extended to Oak City

In 1940 or 1941, NC 11 was extended south to Tin City replacing part of US 117 and then duplexed with US 117 a short piece, then west to the NC Coastal Experimental Station. The mile from US 117 to the Experimental Station was a replacement for NC 401.

NC 11 ending in Kenansville

NC 11 extended south of Tin City

About 1942, NC 11 was rerouted between Bethel and Oak City to its current more direct routing. The road to Oak City via Hassell became secondary, though today it is part of NC 142 to Hassell and SR 1002 to Oak City.

NC 11 in Martin County 1930-42

NC 11's route no longer a Hassell after 1942

Kinston changes
Between 1942-44, NC 11 was reoruted within Kinston. Initially, NC 11 entered on Caswell St, north on Queen St, then east on Vernon and northeast on Minerva St out of town with NC 11. Now NC 11 duplexed with NC 55 east at Jackson Store and picked up US 258 north which is Queen St. The old route on Caswell appears to have gone unnumbered for a number of years.
Between 1945-49, NC 11-55 was rerouted on Quuen St to King St east to East St north to Washington St east to Minerva St on out of town. The old route through central Kinston became NC 11-A.
In 1952, NC 11-55 was rerouted to use King St across the Neuse River as it runs today. This left behind US 70-258 and today's SR 1341 between Jacksons Store and US 258.
Sometime after 1968, NC 11-55 was rerouted to use King to Tiffany instead of East and Washington.

NC 11 approaching Kinston from the southwest

NC 11-55 through central Kinston

NC 11-55 rerouted away from central Kinston

NC 11-55 rerouted onto King

NC 11-55 modern routing

Between 1956-58, NC 11 was rerouted in Greenville to its current routing. Initially NC 11 followed Dickinson Ave to Greene St.

NC 11 in central Greenville

NC 11 avoiding downtown

Between 1959-63, NC 11 south was truncated to US 117 below Tin City. The stub out to the Experimental Station has been secondary ever since.
In 1967, NC 11 was extended north as new construction across the Roanoke River to end at NC 305 Connaritsa.
In 1970, NC 11 was placed on new 4-lane construction to bypass Grifton, leaving behind Highland Blvd and a small piece of extended NC 118.
In 1971 NC 11 was placed on new 4-lane construction bypassing Ayden and Winterville, leaving behind Lee St and SR 1149.

NC 11 original alignment

NC 11 bypassing only Grifton

NC 11 bypassing everybody

About 1974, NC 11 was rerouted north of Lewiston-Woodville to near Aulander (new construction), then northeast to Ahoskie as a duplex with NC 350. NC 11 then duplexed with US 13 north 2 miles before angling northwest as new routing to US 158-258 Murfreesboro.
About 1975, NC 11 was extended south along US 117 for 2 miles, then west as new primary routing through Willard to US 421, then with US 421 south to NC 53, then with NC 53 through Atkinson to the Black River. From there, NC 11 replaced NC 141 south to US 74-76.

NC 141 running south to US 74-76

NC 11 replaced NC 141

Around 1980, NC 11 was put on a new road bypassing Ahoskie to the west, which met the old NC 11 on its way to Murfreesboro without touching US 13. The old route south of Ahoskie became part of NC 42.

NC 11 ends at Connaritsa 1967-74

NC 11 extended to Ahoskie and Murfreesboro (1974-80)

NC 11 bypasses Ahoskie, since 1980

In 2004, NC 11 was given an expressway bypass of Bethel to the east. The old route through town became NC 11 Business.

NC 11 through Bethel

NC 11 Bus in Bethel