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Completing US Routes in South Carolina

Started by Mapmikey, April 05, 2015, 11:29:58 AM

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Mapmikey

Because I managed to pick up most of the remaining mainline US routing in South Carolina on my January trip to SC and FL, the last remaining 4 miles was taunting me.  So yesterday I took a 17.5 hr ride with the goal of getting those 4 miles (US 321 north of Clover).  I used this ride as an opportunity to pick up bits and pieces of NC state routes I was missing...

Drove US 360 west of Richmond, then VA/NC 119 and NC 86 to Hillsborough; made my way to Burlington via I-85, NC 119, NC 54, I-85, NC 87.  I had to do NC 87 because a parade prevented me from getting I-85 to NC 49-54 a year ago.  I then drove all of NC 100 to be sure I really had it all, then US 70 west.

I used FUTURE I-785/840 to the Greensboro beltway.  At US 70 there are still only I-840 shields.  Some construction at US 70 on the unbuilt SB lanes was ongoing.  I took I-85 then I-73 around Greensboro, following FUTURE I-73/840 to Bryan Blvd, then west around to NC 68.  Other than right at I-40 there were no signs for 73/840 NB.  SB there were TO I-73 SOUTH shields as far around as Bryan Blvd/Old Oak Ridge Rd interchange.

Followed I-40 around Winston-Salem, then NC 801 west to US 601.  I wa held up by a drag racing facility having an event in Farmington.  Made my way over to NC 901 at I-77 using county roads.  Got held up at a fiddle festival on NC 901 in Union Cross.  Took NC 115 to N. Wilkesboro and NC 268 out to US 421 Bypass.  Followed US 421 to Boone and NC 105 to Linville.  I used NC 181 to NC 194 south to US 221 north back to NC 181 south.  NC 181 south of NC 183 has a nearly continuous 11-mile downhill run.  There are mile markers on NC 181 during this stretch (MM 12-23).  NC 181 is pretty hard on the brakes as there are many tight curves coming down the mountain.

in Morganton I went ahead and ensured I had NC 18/US 64 Business full captured.  My wife interned at a hospital here in 1989 and I couldn't remember if I had done the piece north of downtown.  I followed NC 18 then NC 27 to NC 274 south to Gastonia.  NC 274 is terrible between NC 216 and Bessemer City...a bunch of really tight curves even though the terrain was not harsh here.  Took US 321 to Clover, accomplishing my goal.  Took SC 55 then 557 to 49 to get back to I-485 and I-85 for the trip back to Virginia.  SC 557 is in horrible shape, EB the pavement is coming apart in many places where your right wheels should be.  I was also struck by how built up the SC 49-274-557 area is now (the last time I was there was I believe 1987.  I am old).

There are several state-named I-85 shields at the Ruin Creek Rd interchange near Oxford.

Total distance driven: 950 miles
Routes clinched: NC 86, US 70 Bus (Hillsborough), NC 119, both FUT I-840s, FUT I-73, FUT I-785, NC 801, NC 115, US 421 Bus (Wilkesboro), NC 268, NC 181, NC 274, US 321 in SC
Routes confirmed my claimed clinch: NC 100, NC 18, US 64 Bus (Morganton)
New mileage but no clinch: NC 194 (US 221 to NC 181); NC 10 (NC 27 to NC 18); NC 27 (NC 10 to NC 274); US 321 (US 29-74 to SC)

South Carolina becomes the 7th jurisdiction I have finished all the mainline US routes, joining: VA, MD, DE, NJ, RI, DC

Mapmikey




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