Route:

Begins at Business US 64 northwest of Wendell.
Leaves Wake County just east of intersection with NC 39.

Major
Intersections:

Business 64 twice-northwest of Wendell and just inside Zebulon.
M-Bus. 64 through Zebulon.
NC 96 in the center of Zebulon.
US 264 east of Zebulon.

History:

97 was originally numbered NC 95, and it ended at NC 96 in Zebulon.  95 conflicted with the similarly-numbered interstate, though, and so the renumbering to 97 was required.  At that time, Business 64 was mainline 64.  Business 64 began where it and 97 split today, and it only ran through Wendell.  The current 97 west of Zebulon was mainline 64, until the 4-lane 64 freeway was finished around 1975.  At that time, 97 was routed along the old 64 to its current terminus.

Attractions:

97 goes through the best-named town in Wake County:  Lizard Lick.  It's not incorporated, but it does have a "Town Hall".  I actually know some people who live in Lizard Lick -- what a claim to fame!

Comments:

The 64/264 multiplex west of Zebulon is unneccessary, although once the 64 bypass south of Knightdale is completed (when I'm about 30, at the rate it's going right now) the old road will presumably be signed as 264.  My solution would be to kill 264 west of Zebulon and sign 97 along the old 64.  It ain't gonna happen, though, folks.

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