 Between 1934 and 1935 NC 42 was extended twice, first to NC 23 south of Emit, and then to US 15A west of McCullers.The western terminus of the highway was moved in 1948 to US 15A (Now US–401) in Fuquay-Varina, placing NC 42 on its modern routing south of Raleigh.Four years later, NC 42's eastern terminus was extended to US 64 in Conetoe.