Interstate 74 North Carolina

History

Western Terminus

Eastern Terminus

Routing

As of August 2009, Interstate 74 exists in three sections in North Carolina: (1) near Mount Airy, (2) concurrent with Interstate 73 for a short segment south of Greensboro near Ulah, and (3) between Laurinburg and Lumberton, connecting to Interstate 95. Additional miles are anticipated to open in the coming years, even though it may be decades before North Carolina's Interstate 74 connects with Interstate 74 in the Midwest. Interstate 74 was first tagged for extension into West Virginia and the Carolinas with the passage of the National Highway Designation Act of 1995. While the original Interstate 74 still ends in Cincinnati, it is unlikely that the freeway will continue east toward Huntington, West Virginia, any time soon. At the same time, North Carolina has completed and signed three separate sections of Interstate 74 in North Carolina that do not connect to the main section of Interstate 74 in Ohio. As such, these separate sections warrant separate pages.

To see a map, visit Interstate 73/74 Economic Atlas of North Carolina.

The first section is Interstate 74 along the Mount Airy bypass and Interstate 77. Near Mount Airy, the newest section of Interstate 74 encompasses 17 miles in Northwestern North Carolina. The highway has recently seen reassurance shields installed in both directions between U.S. 52 and Interstate 77, with one shield on each direction of the Interstate 74/77 multiplex between Exit 101 of Interstate 77 and the state line of Virginia. Interstate 74 then continues as a signed route from Interstate 77 east to the U.S. 52 interchange southeast of Mount Airy.

Future Interstate 74 Corridor signage is in place on U.S. 52 eastbound after the terminus of the Mount Airy section of Interstate 74. This section of freeway will receive Interstate 74 shields upon upgrading to full Interstate standards. The next section of Interstate 74 to have shields posted is on the U.S. 220 freeway from Randleman Southward to near Candor. Future shields are posted north of U.S. 64, while full Interstate status is given to the highway south of Asheboro. The second section of signed Interstate 74 is on a shared alignment with Interstate 73 near Ulah. After leaving the Interstate-standard stretch of freeway, the future signs again resume en route to Rockingham. (A Business Loop I-73/74 is proposed for Rockingham once the freeway bypass is built, but that bypass is still unconstructed as of 2009). At Rockingham, future Interstate 74 turns southeast on U.S. 74, with all segments of U.S. 74 freeway slated to become Interstate 74.

Future Interstate 74 shields are posted on the U.S. 74 Rockingham/Hamlet bypass. At the Laurinburg bypass, Interstate 74 is fully signed for a third time. This is a long section of Interstate 74, extending from Laurinburg to Lumberton for a distance of about 23 miles. The freeway again ends east of Interstate 95. At Chadbourn, at the current intersection of U.S. 74 and U.S. 76, Interstate 74 would meet a proposed easterly extension of Interstate 20. Interstate 20, planned to be extended from Florence, South Carolina, east to Wilmington, North Carolina, would overlap with Interstate 74 between Chadbourne and Bolton via Whiteville. The governor of North Carolina introduced the new routing of Interstate 20 and Interstate 74 in his Strategic Transportation Plan for Southeastern North Carolina on May 5, 2003.

Interstates 20 and 74 would follow U.S. 74-76 east to Whiteville, then continue on via U.S. 74-76 due east to Bolton. Interstate 20 will continue east from this point into Wilmington, and Interstate 74 would turn south along North Carolina 211 toward Myrtle Beach. Both the extension of Interstate 20 into Wilmington and the extension of Interstate 74 along North Carolina 211 are part of High Priority Corridor 5.

Interstate 20 would follow U.S. 74-76 east to Wilmington, ending at its junction with Interstate 140, the proposed new Interstate bypass route for U.S. 17. Interstate 140 is planned for completion in 2005, and it will provide a 14.5-mile bypass from U.S. 17 at the Pender County line south to U.S. 421, then onward to U.S. 17 near Bishop in Brunswick County. Both Interstates 20 and 40 would terminate in Wilmington, and there would be no Interstate route leading south from Wilmington to Myrtle Beach.

Meanwhile, Interstate 74 would head due south along North Carolina 211, then turn southwest at its intersection with U.S. 17. Interstate 74 would parallel U.S. 17 as it enters South Carolina, and the freeway would then tie into the Carolina Bays Parkway (South Carolina 31). The northeast to southwest route parallels the Grand Strand area of Myrtle Beach along a 20 mile, six-lane, divided highway. The route opened to traffic on December 17, 2002, after three years of construction.¹ Interstate 74 will leave North Carolina via U.S. 17 to Georgetown via the Waccamaw Neck. The Interstate will follow South Carolina 31 (Carolina Bays Parkway) to meet Interstate 73 again at the interchange between South Carolina 31 and South Carolina 22 (Conway Bypass). Interstates 73 and 74 would again merge a final time, following South Carolina 31 and U.S. 17 to a southeasterly terminus at Georgetown.

Plans for the eastern terminus of Interstate 74 have changed dramatically since 1995, when Interstate 74 was proposed to be extended east. The original ISTEA/NHS legislation indicated that Interstate 73/74 would have continued beyond Georgetown southwest into Charleston, but that has since been removed (per the TEA-21 law passed in 1998).

History

The first time Interstate 73 and Interstate 74 were submitted to AASHTO for approval was at the Special Committee on Route Numbering meeting of April 19, 1996. At that meeting, North Carolina submitted three requests under Section 332(a)(2) of the National Highway System Designation Act of 1995. None of the three requests were approved at that particular meeting:

1. Establish Interstate 73 - "Beginning at the intersection of U.S. Route 220 at the Virginia State Line, then southerly over U.S. Route 220 to the intersection of State Route 68 northwest of Greensboro, then southerly over U.S. Route 68 (sic) to the intersection of Interstate Route 40 in Kernersville, then southeasterly over I-40 to the intersection of U.S. Route 220 in Greensboro, then southerly over U.S. Route 220 to the intersection of U.S. Route 1 in Rockingham, then southwesterly over U.S. Route 1 to the South Carolina State Line." The action to establish this route was continued at the April 1996 meeting, and it was subsequently amended in future iterations by North Carolina and adjacent states.
2. Establish Interstate 74 - "Beginning at the intersection of Interstate Route 77 at the Virginia State Line, then southerly over I-77 to the intersection of U.S. 52 south of Mount Airy, then southeasterly over U.S. Route 52 to the intersection of U.S. Route 311 in Winston-Salem, then easterly and southeasterly over U.S. Route 3111 to the intersection with u.S. Route 220 in Randleman, then southerly over U.S. Route 220 to the intersection of U.S. Route 74 in Rockingham then southeasterly over U.S. Route 74 to the intersection of U.S. Route 76 in Whitehall, then westerly over U.S. Route 76 to the South Carolina State Line." The action to establish this route was continued at the April 1996 meeting, and it was subsequently amended in future iterations by North Carolina and adjacent states.
3. Establish Temporary Interstate 74 - a request was made to establish a temporary designation along U.S. 52 from Interstate 40 north 11.22 miles to the intersection with North Carolina 1840. This request was disapproved in favor of "To Interstate 74."

Once the proposals for Interstate 73 and Interstate 74 were resubmitted in a joint proposal by Virginia, North Carolina, and South Carolina, AASHTO approved them as Interstate Highways via a mail ballot completed on July 25, 1996. The results of this ballot were approved as part of the meeting of October 5, 1996. The routes were modified into the following descriptions:

1. Establish Interstate 73 - "Beginning at the intersection of Interstate Route 81 and Interstate Route 581 north of Roanoke, Virginia, then southeasterly over I-581 to the intersection of U.S. Route 220 at the Virginia State Line, then southerly over U.S. Route 220 to the intersection of State Route 68 northwest of Greensboro, then southerly over U.S. Route 68 (sic) to the intersection of Interstate Route 40 north of High Point, then southeasterly over I-40 to the intersection of U.S. Route 220 in Greensboro, then southerly over U.S. Route 220 to the intersection of U.S. Route 1 in Rockingham, then southwesterly over U.S. Route 1 to the intersection of State Route 9 near Cheraw, South Carolina, then southerly over S.R. 9/38 to the intersection of U.S. Route 501 near Marion, then southerly over U.S. Rout(e) 501 (sic) to the intersection of U.S. Route 701 in Conway, then southwesterly over U.S. Route 701 to the intersection of U.S. Route 17 in Georgetown, then southerly over U.S. Route 17 to the terminal interchange of Interstate Route 26 in Charleston, South Carolina." The southern terminus of this route, along with certain other segments, would be modified in the ensuing years.
2. Establish Interstate 74 - "Beginning at the intersection of Interstate Route 81 and Interstate Route 77 east of Wytheville, Virginia, then southerly over I-77 to the intersection of U.S. Route 52 south of Mount Airy, then southeasterly over U.S. Route 52 to the intersection of U.S. Route 311 in Winston-Salem, then easterly and southeasterly over U.S. Route 3111 to the intersection with U.S. Route 220 in Randleman, then southerly over U.S. Route 220 to the intersection of U.S. Route 74 in Rockingham then southeasterly over U.S. Route 74 to the intersection of a new facility to be constructed west of Whiteville, then southerly over the new facility to the intersection of U.S Route 17 southwest of Wilmington, then southwesterly over U.S. Route 17 to the intersectio of proposed Interstate Route 73 at a point yet to be determined in near Myrtle Beach, South Carolina."

From west to east, here's a chronology of the opening of signed section of Interstate 74. The section concurrent with Interstate 77 was signed in April 2001. The adjacent section of Interstate 74 freeway opened between Interstate 77 and U.S. 52 around Mount Airy in June 2000. The original section of Interstate 73-74 near Ulah opened to traffic in May 1997, with an extension south opening in January 2008.³ Its new freeway alignment between Laurinburg and Lumberton fully opened on September 26, 2008.⁴ For the latest on Interstate 73 and Interstate 74 progress in North Carolina, please see Robert Malme's excellent Interstate 73-74 Progress Page.

High Priority Corridor

North Carolina's two sections of Interstate 74 are part of High Priority Corridor 5: I-73/74 North-South Corridor. Its designation in North Carolina is written into law.

Note

This page is a work in progress, and it will be updated as new sections of Interstate 74 are opened in the Carolinas. For more, visit Bob Malme's excellent Interstate 73/74 Progress in North Carolina Page and North Carolina's Proposed Stategic Highway Corridors.

Highway Guides

• Interstate 74 North Carolina

	Mt. Airy Segment - Western Terminus - Virginia-North Carolina State Line - near Pine Ridge, North Carolina Perspective from Interstate 74 west and Interstate 77 north These Interstate 74-77 reassurance shields are posted in the median of Interstate 77 north as the freeway approaches the Virginia state line. This is the last Interstate 74 shield headed westbound until Cincinnati, Ohio. Photo taken by AARoads (10/01). Perspective from Interstate 74 east and Interstate 77 south This is the first set of Interstate 74/77 shields on Interstate 77 southbound near the Virginia state line. These are the first shields indicating the cosignage of Interstates 74 and 77 headed southbound. There are no Interstate 74 shields between this point and Cincinnati, Ohio, as of April 2002 (or as of May 2006). Photo taken by Mike Muiznieks (12/01). After the first set of shields, Interstate 74-77 prepares to split. The left lanes continue southeast on Interstate 74 to Mount Airy, while the right lanes continue south on Interstate 77 to Charlotte. Photo taken by Jeff Morrison (08/07/05). This is the second in a series of signs that announce the pending split between Interstate 74 and Interstate 77. Interstate 74 currently extends only to Mount Airy, but upgrades are underway to convert the U.S. 52 freeway into Interstate 74 all the way to Winston-Salem, and it will continue southeast through High Point toward Wilmington on the coast. Photo taken by Jeff Morrison (08/07/05). Interstate 74 and Interstate 77 split. This section of Interstate 74 serving Mount Airy was signed as an Interstate, even though it currently does not connect to any other Interstate (for now). Photo taken by Jeff Morrison (08/07/05). Mt. Airy Segment - Eastern Terminus - U.S. 52 - Mount Airy, North Carolina Perspective from Interstate 74 east Sign bridge for the U.S. 52 interchange with space allocation for a future Interstate 74 East shield on the overhead signage. Photo taken by AARoads (10/01). This END Interstate 74 shield (which is temporary contingent upon upgrade of U.S. 52 freeway to Interstate standards) is posted just before the merge with U.S. 52 near Mount Airy. Photo taken by AARoads (10/01). Perspective from U.S. 52 east (after Interstate 74 interchange) Located just southeast of the U.S. 52/Interstate 74 interchange is this future corridor signage. Photo taken by AARoads (10/01). Perspective from U.S. 52 west This is the first signage for the pending junction with Interstate 74 west on northbound (westbound) U.S. 52 near Mount Airy. Photo taken by AARoads (10/01). All of the signs for the split between Interstate 74 and U.S. 52 are graphical signs. Photo taken by AARoads (10/01). Westbound on U.S. 52 splits with Interstate 74 at this interchange. From here to the state line with Virginia, Interstate 74 is signed. Photo taken by AARoads (10/01). Asheboro Segment - Western Terminus - U.S. 64 - Asheboro Interstates 73 & 74 end at the U.S. 64 cloverleaf interchange in the city of Asheboro. U.S. 220 continues northward as Future Interstaets 73 & 74 to Randleman. Asheboro Segment - Eastern Terminus - U.S. 220/Alternate U.S. 220 - Candor Perspective from Interstates 73-74 south End Interstate 73 and 74 shield assembly posted near the south end of the U.S. 220 freeway, four miles south of Candor. Ahead traffic from Alternate U.S. 220 returns to U.S. 220. The Alternate route represents the original U.S. 220 through Candor, Biscoe, Star, Ether, and Seagrove. In the state of North Carolina, the original U.S. route when replaced by a freeway alignment is generally signed as Business in built-up areas and Alternate in more rural areas. Photo taken by Chris Patriarca (08/16/03). The four lane freeway draws to a close. The next segment of Future Interstate 74 can be found 24 miles to the south at Rockingham. There Future Interstate 74 shields are posted along the U.S. 74 Rockingham Bypass. Photo taken by Chris Patriarca (08/16/03). Two-way traffic begins for U.S. 220 southbound. The federal highway again widens and divides at the town of Ellerbe, 13 miles to the south. As of right now, Interstate 73 corridor signage can be found to the south, but no other stretches of roadway carry actual Future reassurance shields. Photo taken by Chris Patriarca (08/16/03). Laurinburg Segment - Western Terminus - U.S. 74 - Laurinburg Interstate 74 transitions into U.S. 74 at the west end of the Laurinburg bypass. Laurinburg Segment - Eastern Terminus - Interstate 95 - Lumberton Interstate 74 ends at Interstate 95 on the south side of Lumberton.

Sources

1. SCDOT - Inside SCDOT - Carolina Bays Parkway. SCDOT.
2. Bob Malme, "Some More I-73/74 News," 03/25/04, Misc.Transport.Road newsgroup
3. Interstate 74 Progress Page (Bob Malme)
4. Part of U.S. 74 upgrade now open - News 14 - Sept. 17, 2008

Page Updated August 30, 2009.