The development of the Strategic Highway Corridors concept was a collaborative effort by the Department of Transportation, Department of Commerce, and Department of Environment and Natural Resources. The three agencies saw the need and importance of this initiative to enhance the overall quality of life and business climate in North Carolina. This concerted effort led to the formation of three main themes: Mobility and Connectivity, Environmental Stewardship, and Economic Prosperity.

Mobility is defined as the ability to move unimpeded, safely, and efficiently using a reliable transportation system, while Connectivity is defined as the ability to travel to desired destinations. The SHC concept will enhance the quality of life by enhancing motorists' ability to travel to destinations in a safe and efficient manner.

Building off the Mobility and Connectivity theme, Economic Prosperity is defined as the ability to move people and goods efficiently making for a more competitive business climate, while providing a good quality of life for those employed. An efficient and reliable highway system is vital for North Carolina to stay competitive its ability to attract new business and industry while retaining the companies that currently call the state "home". Improved mobility translates into time-savings for business and freight carriers and accentuates the state's attractiveness for new industry recruitment.

Coinciding with NCDOT's Environmental Stewardship Policy, this theme is defined as striving to preserve and enhance our natural and cultural resources by maximizing the use of the existing transportation infrastructure with the support of compatible land uses. The intent of the SHC concept is to make the most out of the state's existing infrastructure and limit (to the extent possible) construction on new location. By building upon an existing "footprint," impacts due to construction to the surrounding natural, cultural, and social environment can be reduced. This may not be feasible in all cases. However, the concept does lay the groundwork to support a long-term shift in how highway improvements can be made. Additionally, consistent and compatible land uses will be needed to support this effort.