[4] In 1987, NC 43 was extended south of Vanceboro along US 17 Business and US 17 to Weyerhaeuser Road.

Traveling along Weyerhaeuser Road, it connects and overlap with NC 55 going into New Bern; then with US 70 Business and southward to US 70 and US 17.

The resulting new routing made a western rural bypass of New Bern.

[7] Major intersections North Carolina Highway 43 (NC 43) is used by people travelling to and from Mayberry on The Andy Griffith Show.

Notable episodes that reference NC 43 are "Andy's English Valet", "Man In a Hurry" and "Gomer Saves the Day[11]".