Segment 8 /  Segment 9

Where:     US 220 North of Vision Drive in Asheboro, to South of NC 134/US 220 Business near Ulah, Randolph County 

Length:      Two projects that overlap one 8 Miles, other 10.1 miles

Needed:     Upgrade to Interstate Standards

Signed As:   

The US 220 freeway through Asheboro received Future I-73 and I-74 signage when the new section of I-73/74 freeway south of Asheboro was completed in 1997. This segment of highway does not meet current interstate standards in that it features a narrow median, thin left and right shoulders, short merge lanes and left-side exits (for NC 42) (see photos below). (1) NCDOT revised and then delayed its plans to upgrade this portion of I-73/74 highway to Interstate status in 2007, to 2010, using in part federal funds from the 2005 SAFETEA-LU Transportation Act. (2) Originally project I-4407, covered both freeway improvements to bring the highway up to interstate standards and interchange redesign in this segment. Now only shoulder widening, median reconstruction, new lighting and exit signage are included in the project, covering 8 miles between just north of the Presnell Street exit to where I-73/74 officially now begins at NC 134/US Bus. 220 for an estimated cost of $22.8 million starting in July 2010 (work that was originally set to start in 2005) with a tentative end date some time in November 2012. (3,4) The project will widen shoulders, requiring a couple bridges to be rebuilt, and will replace areas with with near non-existent medians with larger concrete barriers. Work on the right shoulders and bridges will occur first, with left shoulder, lighting and signing changes completed afterwords. The interchange improvements, now a different project, I-5105 covering 10.1 miles, from Business 220/NC 134 to 2 miles further north of Presnell Street will include 'geometric, operational, and remaining safety improvements' with construction to start after 2015. Work would cost $345 million. (5) Based on plans for the June 2010 project, NCDOT officials have or believe they can get a waiver from the FHWA, since once the first project is completed around the end of 2012, they intend to sign the highway through Asheboro as Interstates 73 and 74. (6) This is with the extremely substandard exit ramps due to remain at least for a few more years. I-73 thus could be signed up to Greensboro when the I-74 freeway being constructed reaches US 220 around the same time. In 2001/2002 NCDOT also put up Future Interstate 73/74 sign assemblies near US 220 (see photo below), both near on-ramps and, in the case of US 64, at the intersection with Business US 220, a mile east. These signs, within the construction zone will also be updated with Interstate shields. The first sign assembly going northbound on US 220 after the NC 134/Business 220 has jumped the gun since 1997; it has read North Interstate 73 and West Future Interstate 74 (here's the long promised photo, taken 1/28/09.):
Intersection of US 64 West and US 220 (Future I-73/74), Asheboro. (Revised photo 6/26/09)


The BGS have not changed over the past ten years, still indicating only US 220. (6/25/09)
Signage along US 220 South of the US 64/NC 49 interchange, note the lack of exit numbers and the narrow shoulders that need to be widened (Photo courtesy of Chris Lawson).
The deficiencies of the US 220 freeway are clearly shown with the NC 42 Exit, which is a left lane exit going both directions
Construction along I-73/74 in 2010 to 2012:
Work began to upgrade the US 220 roadway in July 2010 with construction signs placed ahead and at the work zone:

The first sign of construction ahead, going southbound just before the Speed Limit lowers from 65 to 55 miles per hour. (7/25/10)

The work zone just begins before the Fayetteville Street/Vision Drive Exit, no construction had started at this time. (7/25/10)

A more detailed view of the map excerpt above:

Based on the plans here is the new exit numbering scheme following the 2010 project completion for this segment, proceeding north to south:

Interchange                            Old (US 220) Exit Number       New (I-73) Exit Number

To 220 Business*                                -- (59)**                                      76
Presnell Street                                     -- (58)**                                      75
NC 42 (Left Exit)                                  -- (57)**                                      74
US 64 West/NC 49 South                    -- (55B)**                                   72B
US 64 East/NC 49 North                     -- (55A)**                                    72A
McDowell Rd / Randolph CC               -- (54)                                        71
US 220 Business/NC 134                   51                                               68

*-Not in project plans, but assumed to be changed after contract complete.
**-No Exit Number but estimate of US 220 mileage in ( )

For a list of all I-73 Exits, Go Here.

Sources: ADC North Carolina Road Atlas 1999, p. 61;
(1) Former NCRoads.com I-74 page, text available at: http://members.cox.net/ncroads/interst/ih074.html .
(2) Walker, J.D. 2004. "Road Events Big for 2008." The Courier-Tribune (Asheboro, NC). August 28.
(3) Young, Samantha. 2004. "U.S. 220 Project Would Get $6.6 Million from Bill." Asheboro Courier-Tribune. April 3.
(4) NCDOT. June 2008. State Transportation Improvement Program, 2009-2015, Division 8, p. 8-25. 
(5) NCDOT. June 2008. State Transportation Improvement Program, 2009-2015, Division 8, p. 8-25. 
(6) NCDOT. May 2010. Signage Plans for Project I-4407, Contract C202422, Released 5/18/10. Downloaded from: http://dotw-xfer01.dot.state.nc.us/dsplan/ 2010%20Highway%20Letting/06-15-10/Plans%20and%20Proposals/Randolph%20I-4407%20C202472/ 5/18/10.

I-73, 74 and US 220 shields courtesy of David R. Kendrick's Shield's Up!.