Interstate 73/74

[jcarte29]

Interesting Find for Future Eastern NC end of I-74...

http://m.wect.com/autojuice?targetUrl=http%3a%2f%2fwww.wect.com%2fstory%2f22469511%2fis-hwy-7476-becoming-an-interstate

[Strider]

Maybe NC is considering having I-74 just end in Wilmington instead of at Myrtle Beach. (I-73 will go there eventually, anyways).

[CanesFan27]

Interesting Find for Future Eastern NC end of I-74...

http://m.wect.com/autojuice?targetUrl=http%3a%2f%2fwww.wect.com%2fstory%2f22469511%2fis-hwy-7476-becoming-an-interstate

From earlier this year

Quote from: jcarte29 on January 22, 2013, 12:48:33 AM

    News on a couple projects (of note, 4 are mentioned total) to both widen and improve US 74 (Future I-74) in Eastern North Carolina...


    http://fayobserver.com/articles/2013/01/09/1229228?sac=fo.community/columbus

The bridge replacement is on US 74 just east of Laurel Hill.  Which will have to be bypassed in some fashion  when US 74 is upgraded from Rockingham to Laurinburg.

The paving and widening of 74 from Whiteville to NC 214 east of Bolton is interesting as somewhere along that stretch I-74 could make a right turn to head towards US 17 and South Carolina.  I'm guessing the widening means they will add shoulders.  I doubt they will close any of the at-grade intersections on that stretch of 74.

I believe the other project is just a standard resurfacing project.

What the WECT report is about is the Whiteville to Bolton widening that was from this article.  Somewhere along here is where I-74 turns to South Carolina.

Posted by: Strider
« on: Today at 10:21:42 AM »

Maybe NC is considering having I-74 just end in Wilmington instead of at Myrtle Beach. (I-73 will go there eventually, anyways).

  The state always has had plans to upgrade US 74/76 to Wilmington to a freeway and now to interstate grade.  WHat the state would prefer is having I-20 extend from Florence to Wilmington.  In the end, I am sure NC doesn't care if it's an I-x74 or I-20, or even I-74.  But the plans to upgrade US 74/76 to a full freeway have existed long before .

Edit Add:
This is really no different with what they are doing with the section between NC 41 and US 76.  Small upgrades that will slowly get the highway to interstate grade.  It's a slow process, but it's very interesting to see how an existing four lane road slowly becomes an interstate.  Something which was done to a lot of highway in the past; however, before many of us were born.

[jcarte29]

It's gonna be years (decades, really) before I-74 turns south into Brunswick County, and its a bad idea anyways for an E-W interstate to turn SSW.

But this will make the present US 74/76 route nicer to travel if I am going to Charlotte (better alternative to 40/85 from where I live)

[NE2]

That whole routing is a bad idea. Any traffic heading that way will use I-73.

As for I-20 to Wilmington, it's probably a waste to upgrade US 76 between Florence and I-74.

The obvious conclusion is I-74 to Wilmington.

[WashuOtaku]

That whole routing is a bad idea. Any traffic heading that way will use I-73.

As for I-20 to Wilmington, it's probably a waste to upgrade US 76 between Florence and I-74.

The obvious conclusion is I-74 to Wilmington.

It's not necessarily a bad idea, it just all depends where you are going.  It is likely that I-74 will also flip at the state line into South Carolina going West towards Myrtle Beach along the Carolina Bays Parkway.  Also, I-74 is still planned to go into South Carolina as per the compact agreement with North Carolina; NCDOT will build into South Carolina on I-74 and SCDOT will build into North Carolina on I-73.

I-20 was a pipe dream a former NC Governor had, NCDOT is not seriously considering that now.  As for a I-x74, never know; but since a majority of  US 74 in North Carolina is already freeway grade and not an Interstate, I could easily see the state leaving it as is.

[NE2]

That whole routing is a bad idea. Any traffic heading that way will use I-73.

It's not necessarily a bad idea, it just all depends where you are going.

It appears that the only places to which I-74 will be shorter are in NC - and even then the difference is negligible. From Rockingham to Shallotte, the Goog gives me 134 miles via US 74-NC 211-US 17 (AKA I-74) and 144 miles via SC 38-US 501-SC 319-SC 22-SC 31 (the closest parallel to I-73). By the time you get to the state line it's 130 vs. 149.

[MBHockey13]

I went back Friday and ran and took more pics - this time at the US-311 Randleman exit off of I-74.

I also grabbed some pics of the approach signs on both I-73/US-220 and on the current and part future US-311.

I only got so far in each direction because each way I ran into a different stray dog and didn't feel like finding out if it was friendly or not.

The pics include the first I-74/US-311 signs West/Northbound and the first single I-74 sign eastbound - probably the first one since it runs into US-52.

Pics here:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/39949866@N07/sets/72157633888875211

[NE2]

Strange. I-73 is a left exit off I-74.
God damn it. That's on I-74 east, not I-74 west.

[Strider]

But yeah from I-74 East to I-73 North is a left exit. (the exit ends up a loop ramp though.)

I can't wait til I can drive on it when it opens. it looks ready to be opened.

but I agree with NE2 about the majority of traffic will use I-73 when going to Myrtle Beach, which means I-74 into Myrtle Beach seems pointless. I'd end it in Wilmington or something like that. the spur route can go from there to Myrtle Beach to connect with I-73.

[Chris]

Great photos! When will the new link open to traffic? It looks finished and earlier media reports indicated it would open the week after memorial day, which was last week.

[jcarte29]

My Dad, who still lives in Winston-Salem (where I grew up) will be using the new I-74 route either returning from Oak Island, NC this weekend or both to/from (of course depending if it opens to the latest estimate) I asked him to let me know, he's not a road geek but still excited for its utility.

So then the next question will be...when will the official I-74 signs from I-40 to the Forsyth/Guilford Co line go up??!

It is (almost) Summer 2013, when it was thought by the WSJ to happen.

[Strider]

I think the I-74 signs will go up from High Point to I-40 by the time the connection to I-73 is completed? who knows when it comes to NCDOT lol.

[rickmastfan67]

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.

Only reason I was asking was because I wanted to clear this "OSM Bug".

[OracleUsr]

I can't wait for this segment to open.  Wonder when the I-74 signs will go up on I-40 at the current US 311 Interchange (Exit 196).  Haven't seen any indication that it is going to happen anytime soon, but I could be wrong.

[Strider]

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.

Only reason I was asking was because I wanted to clear this "OSM Bug".

Technically NCDOT got this section approved as "I-73/Future I-840", however they don't plan on signing it until the NC 68/US 220 connector and the I-73 connector between the airport and NC 68 interchanges are done. The exit numbers will be changed reflecting I-73 mileage on this section soon though.

[jcarte29]

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.

Only reason I was asking was because I wanted to clear this "OSM Bug".

Technically NCDOT got this section approved as "I-73/Future I-840", however they don't plan on signing it until the NC 68/US 220 connector and the I-73 connector between the airport and NC 68 interchanges are done. The exit numbers will be changed reflecting I-73 mileage on this section soon though.

I thought it was part of the current signing project to get official I-73 signs in addition to the exit numbers, but maybe I'm wrong.

[dfilpus]

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.

Only reason I was asking was because I wanted to clear this "OSM Bug".

Technically NCDOT got this section approved as "I-73/Future I-840", however they don't plan on signing it until the NC 68/US 220 connector and the I-73 connector between the airport and NC 68 interchanges are done. The exit numbers will be changed reflecting I-73 mileage on this section soon though.

I thought it was part of the current signing project to get official I-73 signs in addition to the exit numbers, but maybe I'm wrong.

The current big signing project is for I 73 signage and exit numbers from I 85 south to Ellerbe. The signage for I 73/Future 840 north of I 40 is not part of any announced signage project.

[jcarte29]

Fox 8 WGHP reporting today that I-74 Randleman Connector will open by *this* Friday, June 7 with a ribbon-cutting ceremony, to pat themselves on the back for finally finishing it...

[Strider]

Fox 8 WGHP reporting today that I-74 Randleman Connector will open by *this* Friday, June 7 with a ribbon-cutting ceremony, to pat themselves on the back for finally finishing it...

About time...

[rickmastfan67]

Fox 8 WGHP reporting today that I-74 Randleman Connector will open by *this* Friday, June 7 with a ribbon-cutting ceremony, to pat themselves on the back for finally finishing it...

I'll be ready to mark it as open in OSM as soon as that happens then (unless somebody beats me to it, haha).

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.

Only reason I was asking was because I wanted to clear this "OSM Bug".

Technically NCDOT got this section approved as "I-73/Future I-840", however they don't plan on signing it until the NC 68/US 220 connector and the I-73 connector between the airport and NC 68 interchanges are done. The exit numbers will be changed reflecting I-73 mileage on this section soon though.

I thought it was part of the current signing project to get official I-73 signs in addition to the exit numbers, but maybe I'm wrong.

The current big signing project is for I 73 signage and exit numbers from I 85 south to Ellerbe. The signage for I 73/Future 840 north of I 40 is not part of any announced signage project.

Alright, I'll then go into OSM and remove the "I-73" ref tags from the highway since it's not being posted yet.  Or, better yet, add the word "FUTURE" into the ref tags since it is posted that way.

[jcarte29]

No need to take pictures, but I am in the Triad today and plan to drive the "delayed-thousand-times" I-74 freeway lol.

[Strider]

let me know how it is.. I will be driving on it tomorrow. lol.

[OracleUsr]

I will be passing through Winston tonight and Sunday, but will have to hold off the I-74 trip for a later date.

[jcarte29]

Just finished drivin the new segment. What a time saver! Winston-Salem to Asheboro- 45 min flat. I remember taking trips to the beach when I was younger and Asheboro was an hour+ because you had to go I-40 to US 220, meaning you went through "Death Vally." Anyways, very nice.

Now about this signing project in SE Winston that hasn't happend yet...lol