Acknowledgments
(and other Misc. Stuff)
I would like
to thank all the creators of highway web sites, particularly
those about North Carolina roadways,
who've inspired me to start one of my own. I
would also like to thank the many contributors
to the misc.transport.road newsgroup whose own questions
about Interstates 73 and 74 have encouraged me to
find out more about these highways. I would also like
to thank everybody who has provided suggestions on how to
improve these pages, and Adam Prince for his suggestions
and photo contributions. Lastly, I'd like to thank
my parents who, by giving me road maps during those
long family trips, contributed to a life-long interest
in highways and finding out where they go.
A note on sources:
much of the information for this site
was gathered on several road trips to many places
along the I-73 and I-74 corridors and the perusal
of I-73/74 stories in local papers along the
interstate corridors. Where I've supplemented
my knowledge elsewhere, through news sources or highway
web sites, I have tried to fully reference where
the information was gathered. Where I do not have specific
information or sources I have tried to make educated guesses,
hopefully any gaps in information will be filled in
over time (feel free to help in this regard). All the opinions
expressed are those of the author along with full responsibility
for any errors that may be contained here.
All the photos appearing
on this page are by the author,
except where noted. Photos or other information may
be used if proper credit is given to the author and
permission has been given by the author. If
you have any comments and questions about photos
or the site in general, feel free to send me e-mail.
If you wish to know
more about the author of this site,
Go Here.
UPDATES:
March 3: Added
more photos of I-74 construction (Segment 7) and Ellerbe Bypass signage (I-73
Segment 10).
February 21: Updated I-73 Progress Summary Page and Segment 4/5 page with
news of opening of next section of Greensboro Urban Loop
February 10: Updated I-73 Segment 5 section with photos of I-73 signage
on highway and on approaching roadways.
January 14: Added photos of newly opened Ellerbe Bypass (I-73 Segment 10)
and additional photos of I-74 signs along Ellerbe Bypass I-74 Segment 15).
January 8: Updated I-73 Segment 10 page with news of segment opening,
continued to revise exit lists needed due to many recent highway openings.
2007
December 18: Added photo link to new open section of Greensboro Urban
Loop for I-73 Segment 4, Updated I-73 Exit List for new opened segment and
list of Ellerbe exits (I-73 Segment 10) to open by end of year.
December 16: Added new information
regarding opening dates and interstate signage for Greensboro Loop (I-73
Segment 5) and US 220 Ellerbe Bypass (I-73 Segment 10).
December 3: Added photos from road
trip to I-73 Segment 10, and I-74 Segments 15 and 16 showing new I-74 shields
along those two sections. Change !-74 Progress Page based on new signage
situation.
November 30: Added to I-74 Segment 16 page about the opening of 6
+ miles of 20 mile segment to traffic.
November 12: Added news about early opening of I-74 segment 16 and
posted some additional photos.
November 8: Updated I-73 Segment 10 page with news of delay in completing
I-73/74 Ellerbe Bypass.
November 2: Revised Progress and Segment
Pages to reflect new construction dates appearing in the draft 2009-2015
State TIP document. Updated I-73 Segment 4 page with new information on
completion date for Greensboro Urban Loop. Will start revising segment pages
to reflect Draft STIP completion dates and costs.
October 8: Updated I-73 Segments 4 and 10 pages with updated completion
percentages for segment projects.
September 23: Added photos to I-73 Segments 4 and 5 and I-74
Segments 6 and 7 taken during trip to Greensboro area.
September 15: To mark the 5th anniversary of the official opening
of the site. I've revised the look of most of the pages, including
the main page. I added photos to I-73 Segment 4 and I-74 Segment 16
pages. I will also added new information to the I-74 Segment 2 and Segment
15 pages, and the I-73 Segment 13 page.
September 9: Added additional photos
to I-73 Segment 10 showing additional progress in building the Ellerbe
bypass. Added additional photos to I-74 Segment 14 showing progress in
building the I-95/I-74 interchange. Look for additional web site changes
to mark the fifth anniversary of the website's debut on September 15.
August 19: Updated I-74 Segment 16 page further with photo
of the new signs along with photo of progress at the I-95/I-74 interchange.
Updated I-74 Exit Page with finalization of I-73's route between Hamlet
and the SC border (will get to the I-73 list later). Updated wording
of I-73 Segment 4 page with news that the final I-73 route through Greensboro
will likely be the Urban Loop to Bryan Blvd.
August 1: Updated I-74 Segment 16 page
with word signs for the new freeway have been spotted at the eastern end
of the Maxton Bypass.
July 19: Updated I-73 Segment 13 page with news about announcement
of preferred alignment from US 74 to SC border. Later updated I-73
Segment 12 and I-74 Segment 13A based on the same information.
July 12: Updated I-73 Segment 4 page with new (and later)
dates for completion of the next segments of the Greensboro Urban
Loop and I-74 Segment 6 page about starting date for construction for
that segment and Segment 7.
July 1: Updated I-74 Segment 18 page with news
about results of study examining the viability of building part
of the segment as a toll road.
June 6: Updated I-73 Segment 10/I-74 Segment 11 page
with new completion date for Ellerbe Bypass project.
June 1: Updated I-74 Segments
6 and 7 pages with news that construction has begun on these segments
on May 29.
May 3: Updated I-74 Segments 6 and
7 pages with news of the approval of the contracts to build the
remainder of the High Point East Belt and the first segment of the
US 311 bypass route from I-85 to US 220 (I-73).
March 18: Added several new photos to the I-73 Segment
10 page taken on a weekend road trip.
March 5: Updated most segment pages with new page
references for projects listed in newly released final edition
of 2007-2013 State Transportation Improvement Program.
February 25: Updated I-74 Exit List and I-74 Segments
5,6,7,16 and 17 with new exit number and I-74 signing information
obtained from NCDOT contract documents.
February 5: Updated the I-74 Segments 6 and 7
pages with new information about the letting of the contracts
to build the last part of the High Point East Belf (US 311 Bypass)
and US 311 Bypass between I-85 and US 220.
January 24: Updated the I-74 Segment 16 Page
with information about a possible early opening of part of the
new I-74 freeway between Maxton and I-95.
January 13: Updated I-73 Segment 10
Page with news on further delay in Ellerbe Bypass completion.
Updated I-74 Segment 4 with information from recent newspaper
article on Winston-Salem Northern Bypass.
2006
November 1: Updated Links page with
a few new links and some revised link addresses. Updated I-74
Segment 13 page with news about progress on constructing the
I-95/I-74 interchange.
October 14: Updated I-73 Segment 8 and 12
pages with new photos courtesy of Chris Lawson.
October 11: Updated I-73 Segment 4
Page with news from article about progress in building new roadways around
the Piedmont Triad International Airport.
September 30: Updated I-74 Segment 14 Page
with news about meeting NCDOT officials held in Laurel Hill
to discuss options for building this segment.
September 18: Added photo of current
US 17/NC 130 interchange, a possible future I-74 exit, to
I-74 Segment 18 page. Finished upgrade of page design project
to each site page.
September
6: Updated I-73 and I-74 Progress Pages with new dates for construction
projects from NCDOT's Draft State Transportation Improvement Program,
2007-2013.
July 25: To commemorate the I-73's '10
Birthday' (AASHTO route approval) added I-73 exit list and
an updated I-74 exit list.
July 9: Based on Roadtrip along I-74
and I-73/74 corridors have put in new photos and updated
information for I-73 Segment 10 and I-74 Segments 16, 17 and
18.
June 21: Updated I-74 Segment 4 page
with news about rising cost of building the eastern section
of the Winston-Salem Beltway.
June 15: Added information to I-74
Segment 18 page regarding the agreement by the NC Turnpike
Authority to study building I-74 in Brunswick County as a
toll road.
June 1: Added link to SC I-73 page
with posting of EIS for their preferred routing from I-95
to Myrtle Beach. Alternatives for route from I-95 to NC due
in July.
May 8: Updated I-73 Segment 4 Page
with news that the NC Turnpike Authority is studying the
I-73/74 Connector (a separate highway to run from I-73 at Bryan
Blvd to the I-74 Winston-Salem Beltway) for inclusion as one
of its projects. Updated I-74 Segment 16 with additional road closings
related to building of new I-74 freeway. Started process of updating
pages in a more
highway sign like font.
May 6: Updated Why I-73/74 in
NC? page with more detailed description of the politics
involved in routing the two highways. Updated I-73 Segment
10/I-74 Segment 11 page with link to more construction photos.
April 24: Updated I-74 Segments
2 and 7 with new information gleaned from recently discovered
news articles.
April 3: Updated I-74 Segments
6 and 7 with latest news as to start of construction on
next segment of US 311 Bypass. Updated FAQ with more detail
as to how interstates are signed.
February 1: I've added
a FAQ section at the bottom of the I-73/74 in NC page
with 2 questions and will plan to add more in the future.
I updated the links page with a link to the I-73 Wikipedia article
which includes an exit list.
January 11: Updated I-73 Segment
10 Page with latest information on the completion date
of the US 220 Ellerbe Bypass Project.
2005
December 14: Updated I-74
Segments 18 and 19 page with new information from recently
posted I-74 feasibility study. Change scope of Segment 19
page to be from US 17 at future Carolina Bays Parkway extension
to SC border. Will plan further updates to Segment 18 page.
November 29: Updated I-73
Segment 13 Page with information about public meeting
over I-73 corridor plans in Hamlet, NC.
November 26: Added link
to recent newspaper series on I-73 in Florence, SC Morning
News.
November 17: Updated I-74
Segment 18 and 19 pages with news about a proposal
for making I-74 in this area a toll highway. Also updated
information about the not yet public I-74 feasibility study.
October 31: Updated I-73
Segments 10 and 11 with photos from road trip to tour
progress on the US 220 Ellerbe Bypass.
October 16: Updated I-73
Segments 4 and 5 Page with news about the I-73 Greensboro
Route Evaluation Study under way to determine the final
route from the NC 68-US 220 Connector to I-40.
October 12: Updated I-74
Segment 19 page with news about a public meeting regarding
potential alignments for the NC portion of the Carolina
Bays Parkway Extension. Updated I-73 Segment 10 page with
an updated completion date for the US 220 Ellerbe Bypass and
NC 73 connector.
August 2: Updated
I-73 Segment 13 page about a reported starting date
for construction on that segment. Updated I-74 Segment 3
page with additional historical information about a rejected
AASHTO designation for US 52.
July 10: Updated I-73 and
I-74 Progress Summary Pages with information from
NCDOT's Final 2006-2012 State Transportation Improvement
Program Document.
May 8: Updated I-74 Exit
list and I-74 Segment 4 page with information from
new documents recently posted on NCDOT's Winston-Salem
Northern Beltway website.
April 6: Updated
I-73 and I-74 Progress Pages with information from
newly released 2006-2012 Draft TIP. Segment pages will
be updated shortly.
March 16/17: Updated
I-74 Segment 18 page with word about a possible new
alternative routing for I-74 through SE NC and latest
on the study of the proposed NC 211 route.
February 12:
From announced agreement between NC and SC over final
I-73 border routing, have created new I-73 segment 13 page
and updated information on I-73 Segment 12 and I-74 Segment
13 pages. Will be adding new page regarding I-74 routing
to SC, Segment 19, soon.
February 7:
Updated I-74 Exit list with refined mileage based on
documentation at NCDOT's Strategic Highway Corridors Site.
Updated I-73 Segment 12 page with revised information
about I-73 routing to South Carolina.
January 7: Updated I-74
Segment 16 page with information about start
of construction on US 74 freeway, from Maxton to NC
41 near Lumberton.
2004
November
28: Updated I-74 Exit List to include new information
about US 311 High Point Bypass and Additional exits
from I-73/74 portion.
November
22: Updated I-74 Segment 6 Page further with new photos
and exit information from the US 311 High Point Bypass.
Updated I-73 Segment 10 page with photos of construction
along the US 220 Ellerbe Bypass.
November
20: Updated I-74 Segment 6 Page with the completion
of the second part of the US 311 High Point Bypass.
November
15: Revised updated I-74 Segment 4 page again with
new information about NCDOT's plans, advocated by
this website, to designate the western half of the Winston-Salem
Northern Beltway as Interstate 274. Updated I-73 Segment
4 page with updated information of construction of the Greensboro
Urban Loop, including new maps indicating the segment north
of I-40 will be signed as Interstate 73 and Interstate 840.
November
10: Updated I-74 Segment 4 page with new information
on hearings regarding construction of the Winston-Salem
Northern Beltway. Updated Construction Progess on
Why I-73/74? Page
November
5: Updated I-74 Segment 16 with the word that NCDOT
has begun to let contracts for constructing new I-74/US
74 freeway from Maxton to Lumberton.
October 23: Updated I-74
Segment 6 with new projected opening date of
US 311 High Point Bypass.
September 19: Updated I-73
Segments 7 and 8 with new information as to
when these segments could be signed as full interstate
highways.
September 16: Updated NC Future Interstates linked
page with new information on I-140, I-285, and I-295.
July 29: Updated I-74 Segment
6 page with latest information on the opening
date for the US 311 Bypass (and added a link to a traffic
camera along this segment). Updated I-74 Segment 7
page with interesting information that may reflect the moving
up of the construction date for this segment. Updated
I-74 Segment 16 page to reflect latest information on the
start of construction on this segment later this year.
May 28: Updated I-74 Segment
6 Page with new information on the planned opening
date for the US 311 High Point Bypass.
May 8: Upgraded I-74 Segment
14 to include new information of the status
to upgrade US 74 to interstate standards.
April 26: Added new Future
NC Interstate page to Links Page. Updated information
on proposal to extend I-20 to Wilmington which
is apparently not strongly supported in SC.
April 23: I-73 Segments
4 and 5 pages updated with new routing
information for I-73 that will take it to the north
of the PTI Airport to the Greensboro Urban Loop (I-840).
Information also added about starting date of construction
of a rerouted segment of Bryan Blvd which will now carry
I-73.
April 6: Updated I-73 Segments 6-8 pages to note
new date for start of project to upgrade US 220 through
Asheboro, 2007.
March 25: Link added to Report on I-73/74 economic
benefits (which has maps of route through each county)
from Piedmont Triad Council of Governments.
March 15: Added photos to I-73 Segment 1 and
I-74 Segments 3 and 6 pages.
February 15: Updated I-74 Segment 18 Page with
news NCDOT is beginning to hold hearings on potential
I-74 routings in SE North Carolina. Added website
of newly formed SC I-73 Association to Links page.
February 1, 2004: Updated Project Status Page
with information of meeting of I-73/74 Corridor
Association in Rockingham on January 22.
2003
December 3: Updated I-74 Segment 7 Page with
new information about Randolph County supporters
lobbying NCDOT and the state legislature about moving
up the construction timetable from 2008 to 2005.
September 1: Updated I-73
and I-74 Progress pages along with I-73
Segment 10 page with information about construction
on the US 220 Ellerbe Bypass. Additional I-73
page added to Links Page. Revised information on
I-73 Segment 4 page about I-73 Routing. First Anniversary
of Site Acknowledged.
August 10: Included a Project Status section
on the I-73/74 in North Carolina page to provide
the latest on construction progress information.
June 6: NCDOT released
the final version of its 2004-2010 Transportation
Improvement Program (TIP) report. I have
updated most of the pages with reference information
about I-73 and I-74 from this new document. There
are changes to information in the I-73 Segment 2 and I-74
Segment 16 pages. I also fixed a broken link regarding
the NCDOT map of the proposed Interstate 20 and I-74 routings
in Southeastern North Carolina, on the I-74 Segment 18
page.
May 30: Updated I-73 Segment 4 Page
with information about a proposed new I-73
routing around the Piedmont Triad International
Airport.
May
11: Updated I-74 Segment 7 Page with information from
April High Point newspaper article. Finished updating
of I-74 Segment 18 Page, with news of a
new routing proposal announced (and first put on
page) on May 5 by NC Governor Easley.
April 7: Updated I-74 Segments 4, 5,
6, 7 with new information about the Winston-Salem
Beltway and US 311 Bypass projects.
March 24: Updated I-73 Segment 10
and 11 pages with information about date
of contruction of US 220 Ellerbe Bypass from December
2002 speech of NCDOT Secretary.
February 2: Changed date of completion
of segment 2 of US 311's bypass around High
Point to early 2004 from late 2003 based on December
2002 article in the Greensboro News & Record.
2002
November 30: Based on
two road trips to I-74 corridor from High Point
North and West and around Rockingham South and East,
and information in recent articles from papers along
the corridor, added new information and photos to
I-74 segments 1-5 and 13-17. Added I-74
exit list for freeways in these segments. Updated
information in I-73 Segment 4 page and added NC 68
Exit List, also update info on I-40 widening project
in I-73 Segment 5 page.
October 20: Updated
I-73/74 in North Carolina page to include information
on the total mileage of the each interstate, if all sections
are built as proposed, and how they compare
to the lengths of the other interstate
routes in North Carolina. Added a link to I-73 exit
list from links page to segments 6 through 9 in lieu,
for now, of creating own exit lists for these segments.
Updated Interstate 73 Segment 10 page with planned
construction completion date information.
September 29: Updated
I-74 Segment 18 Page with new info
about the designation of I-140 along the future US
17 bypass around Wilmington and its possible
effects on the routing of I-74.
September 22: Updated
I-74 Segment 4 Page with new info
about a possible upgrade of US 52 in Wisnton-Salem
to an Interstate, Updated Links Page
September 15: Official
Site Grand Opening
September 1: Unofficial
Site Opening, Updated Links Page
Links to the other pages:
Last Updated: March 3,
2008
