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:
August 7: Revised Start Dates for
some I-73/74 projects on Summary Progress pages due to release of new Draft
STIP, started to revise segment pages with new dates, added some photos to
I-74 Segment 6 and 7 pages.
July 26: Added first signs of construction for I-73 Segment 8 in Asheboro.
July 22: Updated I-73 and I-74 Progress pages due to start of construction
on I-73 Segment 8 in Asheboro. Added June road trip photos to I-74 Segment
6 page and photos taken up to the Cedar Square Interchange on the Segment
7 page.
May 26: Updated I-74 Segment 5 with new Exit 65 sign photo and added
photos to I-74 Segment 6 page from road trip taken earlier in May (Segment
7 added June 1).
May 21: Updates I-74 Segment 4 page with information about lawsuit against
constructing the Northern Beltway being dismissed and its effects on a timeline
for construction.
May 19: Added Information from US 220 reconstruction plans in Asheboro
to I-73 Segment 8 page, including new exit number lists based on plans for
Segments 8, 9 and 10.
April 17: Added news about I-85 lanes reopening and new photos from
trip to I-74 Segments 6 and 7.
April 14: Added photo showing tornado damaged sign at Exit 65 on
I-74 Segment 5.
March 28: Updated information on I-74 Progress Page for Segment
6, now scheduled to open in November 2010 along with photos taken on
road trip through area March 10.
February 15: Added information about completion of Baker Road
bridge on I-74 Segment 6 page.
January 29: Added photos of new Rest Areas/Visitor Centers on
I-73 Segment 8 Page. Added new photos of Construction progress on i-74
Segments 6 and 7.
January 21: Updated I-73 and I-74 Exit Pages and I-73 Segment
8 and I-74 Segment 9 Page with news of opening of Visitor Centers along
that segment.
January 15: Upgraded I-73 Segments 2 and 3 pages based on
visit to NCDOT Public Workshop in Greensboro on 1/14/10.
2009
December 19: Upgraded I-74 Segments 6 and 7 pages with new
photos taken of I-74/US 311 freeway construction.
November 16: Updated I-74 Segment 15 Page and Progress Page,
due to news that I-74 signs had been removed from the Laurinburg
and Maxton Bypasses and new photos were added to I-74 Segment 17 showing
progress on building bridge over US 74 and added a couple revised
photos to I-74 Segment 16.
November 6: Updated I-73 Segment 2 with additional information
and photos provided by local resident Bonnie Wilcox.
October 20: Updated I-74 Segments 6 and 7 with
more new photos of freeway construction taken on 10/12/09.
October 7: Updated I-74 Segments 6 and 7 with new photos
of freeway construction taken on 9/18/09. Also added information
regarding the future of Business 311 through High Point to same pages.
September 23: Updated I-74 Segments 2 and 5 with new
photos. Updated I-74 Segment 19 with new information regarding possible
construction date.
September 7: Altered text and coding for I-74 Segment
4 (Winston-Salem Beltway) to reflect NCDOT's changing of status
of project to unfunded, and not to start until at least 2015.
August 4: Added additional photos of sign revisions
and End I-73 North Sign on I-73 Segment 5 page.
July 24 and 29: Added additional photos to I-73 Segment
5 page showing new signage on I-40 and I-73 portion of the Greensboro
Loop, south and west of Greensboro.
June 28: Added photos from trip to I-73 Segments
5, 6, 7 and 8 on June 26. Includes revised photos along I-73 Segment
5 due to signage changes due to re-routing of I-40.
June 18: Added photos from trip to I-74 Segments 6 and
7 on June 14. Corrected attribution of photos along Bryan Blvd.
on I-73 Segment 4 page.
June 1: Revised progress page for I-73 and I-74
to June. Added map showing intersections needed to be upgraded
on I-74 Segment 17 for it to be eligible to become an interstate
(more photos to be added soon).
May 17: Added photos of new exit numbers placed
on I-74 Segments 15 and 16 between Laurinburg and NC 41. Also
added photo to I-74 Segment 13A. All photos courtesy of
James Mast.
April 12: Added photos showing construction
progress on I-74 Segments 6 and 7 near High Point.
March 8: Pages back up. Revisions to I-73
Segments 2 and 3 page and I-74 Segments 6 and 7 page.
March 3: Problems with Duke servers cause
pages to go offline temporarily.
February 8: Added photos and new information
to I-74 Segment 16 and 17 pages after road trip to area on
2/7.
February 3: Added new information and photos
to I-73 Segments 1 and 2 pages.
January 5: Added photo of I-74 East End
sign on I-74 Segment 16 page, updated I-74 Exit list to show
construction finished at NC 41 interchange.
2008
December 14: Added information and photos
to I-74 Segment 5 regarding Future I-74 signs put up and
new exit signs. Updated I-74 Segment 6 with photos of signs
with new I-74 based exit numbers.
December 8: Updated I-74 Exit list and
I-74 Segment 6 page with news that NCDOT was replacing US
311 based exit numbers between Business 311 and Business 85
to I-74 milepost based exits.
December 2: Updated I-74 Segment 6 and
7 pages with photos taken to new freeway construction area
on Halloween and mid-November.
November 25: Updated I-74 exit list
with new numbers for US 311 segment put up by NCDOT in mid-November
and added new photos to I-74 Segment 5 page showing signs put
up with the new numbers as of Nov. 23.
November 19: Added information to
I-74 Segment 5 page about new signs going up with I-74
exit numbers along existing stretch of US 311 freeway between
I-40 and Business 311.
November 4: Added photos for I-74
Segment 7 page from trip to area on 10/31.
October 24: Revised I-73 Segment
4 page to report yet another new official routing of I-73
from the Greensboro Loop to NC 68.
October 23: Added news to I-73
Segment 13 page about progress in South Carolina's effort
to build I-73 which includes southern NC segment.
October 14: Added additional photos
and information to I-74 Segment 16 page from another
trip to I-74 freeway.
September 26: Made remaining
changes to I-74 exit list and I-74 Segment 16 page due
to NCDOT press release confirming the remainderof the I-74/US
74 freeway is completely open.
September 20:
Made changes to I-74 exit list and I-74 Segment 16 page due to road trip
that confirmed eastbound freeway is completely open. Photos were added the
following day.
September 13: Changed I-73
Segment 5 page and I-73 Exit List as result of information
from NCDOT concerning the re-routing of I-40 through Greensboro.
September 9: Added new photos
to I-73 Segment 4 page showing progress of Bryan Blvd.
PTI Airport interchange.
August 28: Added photos to
I-74 Segment 16 page showing progress constructing
I-74 near I-95 in Lumberton.
August 13: Updated I-74
Segment 7 page with news of awarding final construction
contract for 311 Bypass.
July 22: Updated I-74 Segments
5, 15, and 18 with information from new photos and
news reports.
June 15: Updated most
pages with revised references from Final NCDOT STIP
document released June 3.
May 26: Updated I-74
Segments 6, 7,16 and 17 with new news about construction
progress and completion dates.
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: August 7,
2010
