Carter took some photos recently along U.S. 74 eastbound at the new Shelby Bypass currently under construction. The interstate standard freeway will eventually shift U.S. 74 north onto a freeway around the Cleveland County seat, connecting with the U.S. 74 freeway around Kings Mountain further east. When completed, U.S. 74 will provide a seamless freeway between Interstates 26 and 85.
Split into six sections, the first contracts for work on the 18.5 mile roadway were awarded in June 2013 and June 2014 respectively. Construction was underway by July 2014, and the first two-mile portion was completed in September 2016,. This included the replacement of the at-grade intersection with Peachtree Road into an interchange.
Upgrades along U.S. 74 included the addition of a folded diamond interchange (Exit 193) with Peachtree Road.
East from there, 1.9 miles of new roadway, from Kimbrell Road east to Plato Lee Road, should be completed in August 2017. The contract for the subsequent stretch, from N.C. 226 to N.C. 150, should be awarded this month.
U.S. 74 shifts north from its former alignment to Pleasant Ridge Church Road onto a freeway leading east to a trumpet interchange with the Shelby Bypass.
A temporary pull through sign reiterates the current mainline movement of U.S. 74 from the future Shelby Bypass back onto the current arterial route east into Shelby. Barriers shunt traffic south at the future trumpet interchange here.
This leaves a 4.1 mile section from N.C. 150 to U.S. 74 west of Long Branch Road, and a 2.6 mile stretch from Long Branch Road to U.S. 74 Business at Kings Mountain. Both sections are not fully funded at this time.
