Interstate 73/74

[dfilpus]

Any word on what will happen to US 311? Overlap to I-73? Remain on the current alignment? Truncation?

According to the new signage, US 311 will stay on I 74 from Cedar Square Road to the next interchange ( current US 311 ). It will remain on the current route from I 74 to US 220. This gives a short segment where US 311 is not multiplexed with any highway.

[Strider]

Yeah, what the post said above. US 311 will still end at I-73/US 220 (which i think it should be extended east to end at Business 220 instead.. or maybe extend it south to end at US 64 in Asheboro.

But yes! can't wait til I-74 is finally opened to I-73.

Now, the state need to turn their focus on the Western Rockingham bypass to extend I-73 farther south. (and I-74)

[1995hoo]

I haven't been down the road south of Greensboro in years and I have no idea whether Street View imagery is accurate. How thorough is the Interstate signing through there? If you were giving directions to someone, would you refer to the Interstate numbering, the US Route numbering, or all of it together (e.g., "I-73/I-74/US-220 and the sign may list any or all of these")?

The reason I ask is that my brother-in-law and his wife are heading to the Pinehurst area next month and are then planning to drive up to the DC area on a Sunday afternoon to visit us. Using I-95 from Richmond to DC on a Sunday afternoon at the end of June is a bad idea, so I'm going to suggest he go a little west from Pinehurst and then take what I still think of as US-220 north to Greensboro, then US-29 the whole way from there up to Northern Virginia. It's about 40 miles further than the I-85/I-95 route but is likely to be faster, and it's certainly more scenic. In the interest of giving good directions I'm wondering if anyone could clarify what he might expect to see on the signs.

Thanks in advance.

[dfilpus]

I haven't been down the road south of Greensboro in years and I have no idea whether Street View imagery is accurate. How thorough is the Interstate signing through there? If you were giving directions to someone, would you refer to the Interstate numbering, the US Route numbering, or all of it together (e.g., "I-73/I-74/US-220 and the sign may list any or all of these")?

The reason I ask is that my brother-in-law and his wife are heading to the Pinehurst area next month and are then planning to drive up to the DC area on a Sunday afternoon to visit us. Using I-95 from Richmond to DC on a Sunday afternoon at the end of June is a bad idea, so I'm going to suggest he go a little west from Pinehurst and then take what I still think of as US-220 north to Greensboro, then US-29 the whole way from there up to Northern Virginia. It's about 40 miles further than the I-85/I-95 route but is likely to be faster, and it's certainly more scenic. In the interest of giving good directions I'm wondering if anyone could clarify what he might expect to see on the signs.

Thanks in advance.

The I-73/74 signing project from Greensboro to Ellerbe is going on right now. It officially started in February, but relatively few signs have been changed as of now. It is scheduled to be completed in October.

Currently, the entire freeway is signed US 220, with I 73 and 74 signs (both Future and regular) showing up sporadically north and south of the section around Asheboro (which is solidly signed for all three routes). From Pinehurst, if you take NC 211 west to I 73/74/ US 220, you can just follow the US 220 signs. One exit south of NC 211, US 220 is being routed back onto the old road (US 220 Alternate) and the freeway is going to be just I 73/74. As far as I know, this resigning has not happened yet, but should not be a problem if you are coming from Pinehurst.

[Strider]

Yeah, they did in fact changed a few signs along the route, but just say US 220 for now.. it should lessen the confusion until at least when the entire signing project is done.

[1995hoo]

Thanks, appreciate that. I may refer to it as 220 and then mention that he may also see some version of I-73/74 shields occasionally as part of an ongoing upgrade project.

[Strider]

Yeah.. that's what you should mention to him. Just tell him that he will see I-73/I-74 signs (future, interstate) on every US 220 signage (that's how it is signed out there).. but yeah just mention it as US 220 for now.

[jcarte29]

I-73/74 doesn't have the "name-brand recognition" as say an I-40/85 because its still so new. But in time it will be.

US 220 has been that route forever, some will continue to call it that regardless.

[NE2]

I-99 doesn't have the "name-brand recognition" as say an I-78 because its still so new. But in time it will be.

US 220 has been that route forever, some will continue to call it that regardless.

[dfilpus]

I-73/74 doesn't have the "name-brand recognition" as say an I-40/85 because its still so new. But in time it will be.

US 220 has been that route forever, some will continue to call it that regardless.

The US 220 freeway from Greensboro to Candor will continue to be signed US 220 for the foreseeable future. It will also have multiplexes with I 73 alone and I 73/74.

Currently, the only part of the US 220 freeway that is being moved to the old routing is the newest segment of the freeway. This segment was signed as I 73/74 Future/US 220 when it was opened. The signage on old US 220 was never changed, so both routes are signed (and referred to) US 220. The exits for the old route from the freeway have been signed US 220 Business (for the Ellerbe exit) and US 220 Alternate (for the Candor exit). I have not seen evidence that NC even applied to AASHTO to move US 220 to the new freeway or defining the Alternate or Business routes. By removing US 220 signage from the new freeway, the situation will be clearer and should conform to AASHTO.

[bob7374]

NCDOT has moved up the construction date for the 'I-73 Connector,' the section that will take the interstate from Bryan Blvd near the PTI Airport exit to NC 68. The current plan is for construction to start next spring and work to be completed by 2015. Previously the route was to be built starting in 2016. For more details go to my I-73 Segment 4 page: http://www.gribblenation.net/i7374nc/i73seg4.html
Meanwhile, still no word on the I-74 freeway. My contact says that only half the lanes had been painted as of last week. The end date on the traffic alert at NCDOT's TIMS site has now been pushed back to June 7.

[MBHockey13]

NCDOT has moved up the construction date for the 'I-73 Connector,' the section that will take the interstate from Bryan Blvd near the PTI Airport exit to NC 68. The current plan is for construction to start next spring and work to be completed by 2015. Previously the route was to be built starting in 2016. For more details go to my I-73 Segment 4 page: http://www.gribblenation.net/i7374nc/i73seg4.html
Meanwhile, still no word on the I-74 freeway. My contact says that only half the lanes had been painted as of last week. The end date on the traffic alert at NCDOT's TIMS site has now been pushed back to June 7.

I am really excited by this find of yours. Between this and the beginning of the Bryan Boulevard to US-220 / Battleground part of the Greensboro Loop / I-840 construction 2014 should be a good year for road building around here.

[jcarte29]

NCDOT has moved up the construction date for the 'I-73 Connector,' the section that will take the interstate from Bryan Blvd near the PTI Airport exit to NC 68. The current plan is for construction to start next spring and work to be completed by 2015. Previously the route was to be built starting in 2016. For more details go to my I-73 Segment 4 page: http://www.gribblenation.net/i7374nc/i73seg4.html
Meanwhile, still no word on the I-74 freeway. My contact says that only half the lanes had been painted as of last week. The end date on the traffic alert at NCDOT's TIMS site has now been pushed back to June 7.

I am really excited by this find of yours. Between this and the beginning of the Bryan Boulevard to US-220 / Battleground part of the Greensboro Loop / I-840 construction 2014 should be a good year for road building around here.

Triad Business Journal (http://www.bizjournals.com/triad) was the first to "break the story." Great resource too, along with the Winston-Salem Journal (my hometown newspaper), they both do well with I-73/74 news.

[Strider]

That's an excellent news!

Seems like the construction for I-73 is really speeding up in NC. Hopefully Virginia and South Carolina can learn from North Carolina

[jcarte29]

That's an excellent news!

Seems like the construction for I-73 is really speeding up in NC. Hopefully Virginia and South Carolina can learn from North Carolina

Couldn't agree more Strider, a lot of the "orange" on Bob's I-73 progress page will be gray and fully signed by 2016, and somewhat by October 2013!

[1995hoo]

A follow-up to my earlier query further up this page regarding giving directions.

I'm finding all sorts of conflicting information on exit numbers in Greensboro. Could someone perhaps verify for me what the exit numbers are for:

(a) Northbound US-220 onto northbound Green I-85 (Google Maps shows it as Exit 79A);

(b) Northbound Green I-85 onto northbound US-29 towards Reidsville (this one is where the real inconsistency surfaces, probably due to the I-40/Green I-40 screwup a few years ago).

Obviously what I want to do is to give my brother-in-law directions up US-220, through Death Valley on Green I-85, then up US-29 all the way to I-66. While the exit numbers may not be vital, I always try to include them because in a pinch I think that's easier to process than information about a BGS with three or more shields (as is all too common around there).

Thanks again in advance.

[dfilpus]

US-220 to Green I-85: Exit 79A

I-40/Green I-85 to US 29/70/220: Exit 223 ( I 40 exit numbering).

[OracleUsr]

Since the Bus I-85 exit is north of where I-73 splits off, I don't think that number will change any time soon, either.  It's only to Bypass I-85/73 North that the higher 9x numbers come into play.

[MBHockey13]

*** I-74 / US-311 Update WITH PICTURES ***

So, for my afternoon run, I decided to run the soon-to-be-open I-74 / US-311 south of Cedar Square one more time. I had done it a couple of times in the past, before any signs were mounted or any paint was put down, and when some of it was still not paved. I'm not the only one who has used it in this manner.

So, this is what I can tell you:

* The ALL TRAFFIC MUST EXIT signs are gone at Cedar Square. They have a electronic message board, and some cones - that's it.

* All the striping is done.

* The signs are up

* I had to do 2.5 miles to get to the EXIT 84 US-311 SOUTH Randleman sign.

* The mile markers are up

* I did see three work trucks driving along. This was around 6:30 PM. As far as I can tell, from as far as I walked, they were finishing up the fencing separating the highway.

Pictures can be found here:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/39949866@N07/sets/72157633825828557/

Feel free to use them as you wish.

[bob7374]

*** I-74 / US-311 Update WITH PICTURES ***

So, for my afternoon run, I decided to run the soon-to-be-open I-74 / US-311 south of Cedar Square one more time. I had done it a couple of times in the past, before any signs were mounted or any paint was put down, and when some of it was still not paved. I'm not the only one who has used it in this manner.

So, this is what I can tell you:

* The ALL TRAFFIC MUST EXIT signs are gone at Cedar Square. They have a electronic message board, and some cones - that's it.

* All the striping is done.

* The signs are up

* I had to do 2.5 miles to get to the EXIT 84 US-311 SOUTH Randleman sign.

* The mile markers are up

* I did see three work trucks driving along. This was around 6:30 PM. As far as I can tell, from as far as I walked, they were finishing up the fencing separating the highway.

Pictures can be found here:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/39949866@N07/sets/72157633825828557/

Feel free to use them as you wish.

Thanks for the photos, and the run mileage entailed to get some of them. I will plan to putting a few of them, with attribution, on my web pages. Still no announcement from NCDOT regarding an opening, but it looks imminent to me.

[1995hoo]

US-220 to Green I-85: Exit 79A

I-40/Green I-85 to US 29/70/220: Exit 223 ( I 40 exit numbering).

Thanks again, much appreciated.

[jcarte29]

Nice pictures, but selfishly I wish you had made it to the interchange with I-73/US 220 lol unless I wasn't lookin close enough (I am on an iPhone safari browser so that could be causing difficulties...)

[MBHockey13]

Nah - I was DONE at 2.5 - especially because the sun was beating down on me. Plus, I knew I had to make it all the way back!

I am actually considering going out this afternoon and running from the other end (well, sort of close to it) but will be going earlier so I'm not sure if I'll run into any workers. The ones I did see didn't seem to mind and I did see some bikers if you noticed that in the pics. There aren't any NO TRESPASSING signs so I'm not sure why it would be a problem anyway.

[rickmastfan67]

I'm curious, but does anybody know if I-73 has been officially signed North of I-40 along Future I-840 yet?  Or is it still posted as a "Future" like I-840?

[NE2]

Note that there are two different types of future: normal Interstate shields with FUTURE up top, and green reassurance signs indicating it's a future Interstate, but there are no signs on intersecting roads.

At least when the photos on http://people.duke.edu/~rmalme/i73seg4.html were taken, it was the latter: