Interstate 73/74

[bob7374]

NCDOT official updated its Route Number ordinances so that NC 74 is extended west of NC 66 as of January 14. The western end is now officially at the NC 65 exit, not where it meets US 52. The ordinance can be found at: https://connect.ncdot.gov/resources/safety/Ordinance%20Packages/2025/2025_01_14.pdf

[Henry]

Just looked up the Rockingham bypass in Apple Maps.

They have it signed as US 74.... 

Thought Google would've screwed this up, but Apple is even worse/

[Strider]

I drove through US-421 from Greensboro to Winston-Salem and going back, I can confirm that NCDOT is currently replacing the "NC-74 WEST TO US-311" overhead signage with new signages to show "NC-74 WEST, WYTHEVILLE."

Heading south on US-421, the overhead signages were now signed "NC-74 (blank space for High Point control city), Wytheville 2 miles, 1 mile and then 1/2 mile away from Linville Rd interchange. At the interchange itself, "NC-74 WEST, WYTHEVILLE" is now signed. (No more TO US-311 shields)

However, heading north on US-421, There are still two "NC-74 WEST TO US-311" overhead signages at the Kernersville interchange, but at the NC-74 interchange itself, the signage is updated to "NC-74 WEST, Wytheville".

I plan on heading back and take some photos if weather cooperates on Wednesday.

[The Ghostbuster]

US 311 signs beyond US 52's/future Interstate 74's Exit 110 have lingered to this day. 311 may have been truncated in 2018, but they sure have been slow to remove all signage.

[sprjus4]

US 311 signs beyond US 52's/future Interstate 74's Exit 110 have lingered to this day. 311 may have been truncated in 2018, but they sure have been slow to remove all signage.

I'm pretty sure the "To US-311" Strider was referring to was for NC-74 when it ended at US-311. That part was not truncated.

[bob7374]

I drove through US-421 from Greensboro to Winston-Salem and going back, I can confirm that NCDOT is currently replacing the "NC-74 WEST TO US-311" overhead signage with new signages to show "NC-74 WEST, WYTHEVILLE."

Heading south on US-421, the overhead signages were now signed "NC-74 (blank space for High Point control city), Wytheville 2 miles, 1 mile and then 1/2 mile away from Linville Rd interchange. At the interchange itself, "NC-74 WEST, WYTHEVILLE" is now signed. (No more TO US-311 shields)

However, heading north on US-421, There are still two "NC-74 WEST TO US-311" overhead signages at the Kernersville interchange, but at the NC-74 interchange itself, the signage is updated to "NC-74 WEST, Wytheville".

I plan on heading back and take some photos if weather cooperates on Wednesday.

Thanks for confirming what I thought I saw on the US 421 traffic camera at the Beltway West exit. The sign was too distant to make out the control city. This confirms the sign plans which indicated the final signs would have I-74 West/Wytheville and I-74 East High Point. They just have to swap out the NC 74 shield when the Beltway is completed to I-74. Wonder if they'll add any auxiliary signs/trailblazers for To US 52 North. Look forward to the photos when the weather cooperates. Meanwhile, here's a traffic camera view of the new exit sign along US 421 East:

[74/171FAN]

US 311 signs beyond US 52's/future Interstate 74's Exit 110 have lingered to this day. 311 may have been truncated in 2018, but they sure have been slow to remove all signage.

I'm pretty sure the "To US-311" Strider was referring to was for NC-74 when it ended at US-311. That part was not truncated.

US 311's south end is being truncated to NC 74 though as it was approved at the last AASHTO Meeting.

[sprjus4]

US 311 signs beyond US 52's/future Interstate 74's Exit 110 have lingered to this day. 311 may have been truncated in 2018, but they sure have been slow to remove all signage.

I'm pretty sure the "To US-311" Strider was referring to was for NC-74 when it ended at US-311. That part was not truncated.

US 311's south end is being truncated to NC 74 though as it was approved at the last AASHTO Meeting.

True, but NC-74 to US-311 is still accurate. That signage is being removed for other reasons.

[Strider]

US 311 signs beyond US 52's/future Interstate 74's Exit 110 have lingered to this day. 311 may have been truncated in 2018, but they sure have been slow to remove all signage.

I was referring to US-421's interchange with NC-74/Future I-74 (Exit 227) between Kernersville and Winston-Salem. They're replacing signages there.

Now to mention US-52/Future I-285's interchange with US-311/MLK Jr. Dr (Exit 110) in Winston-Salem... well, they already replaced the overhead signage. Now it is just simply "MLK Jr. Drive" with no mention of US-311 North. So yeah they're starting to remove US-311 signage between there and NC-74/Future I-74 (Exit 49) where US-311 will now start/end and going northeast towards Walkertown.

[bob7374]

I have updated my I-74 Segment 3 and 4 pages with photos taken of the newly opened ramps at the NC 74 Beltway/US 52 interchange along with screen grabs from Google Maps Street View taken in the same location in December. Such as:


I-74 Segment 3 photos are at: https://malmeroads.net/i7374nc/i74seg3.html#photos
I-74 Segment 4 photos are at: https://malmeroads.net/i7374nc/i74seg4.html#photos

[The Ghostbuster]

You obviously drove through the area after the Google Car did, since on Street View the preceding sign (and the US 52 South sign in the photo) were still covered up: https://www.google.com/maps/@36.2037037,-80.286881,3a,75y,265.84h,95.13t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1s3pflquvYF1H7UqN6DACTTg!2e0!6shttps:%2F%2Fstreetviewpixels-pa.googleapis.com%2Fv1%2Fthumbnail%3Fcb_client%3Dmaps_sv.tactile%26w%3D900%26h%3D600%26pitch%3D-5.127184592793043%26panoid%3D3pflquvYF1H7UqN6DACTTg%26yaw%3D265.8444612064316!7i16384!8i8192?entry=ttu&g_ep=EgoyMDI1MDIxNy4wIKXMDSoASAFQAw%3D%3D.

[bob7374]

I drove through US-421 from Greensboro to Winston-Salem and going back, I can confirm that NCDOT is currently replacing the "NC-74 WEST TO US-311" overhead signage with new signages to show "NC-74 WEST, WYTHEVILLE."

Heading south on US-421, the overhead signages were now signed "NC-74 (blank space for High Point control city), Wytheville 2 miles, 1 mile and then 1/2 mile away from Linville Rd interchange. At the interchange itself, "NC-74 WEST, WYTHEVILLE" is now signed. (No more TO US-311 shields)

However, heading north on US-421, There are still two "NC-74 WEST TO US-311" overhead signages at the Kernersville interchange, but at the NC-74 interchange itself, the signage is updated to "NC-74 WEST, Wytheville".

I plan on heading back and take some photos if weather cooperates on Wednesday.

Thanks for confirming what I thought I saw on the US 421 traffic camera at the Beltway West exit. The sign was too distant to make out the control city. This confirms the sign plans which indicated the final signs would have I-74 West/Wytheville and I-74 East High Point. They just have to swap out the NC 74 shield when the Beltway is completed to I-74. Wonder if they'll add any auxiliary signs/trailblazers for To US 52 North. Look forward to the photos when the weather cooperates. Meanwhile, here's a traffic camera view of the new exit sign along US 421 East:

Here's one of the photos Strider took of the new NC 74 signage:


The rest are available at: https://malmeroads.net/i7374nc/i74seg4.html#photos

[The Ghostbuster]

When NC 74 is completed to existing Interstate 74 east of Ridgewood Rd., and it is resigned as Interstate 74, I'd like to see someone get pictures of the new NC 192 signs that will be installed on the "orphaned" segment of existing Interstate 74.

[bob7374]

When NC 74 is completed to existing Interstate 74 east of Ridgewood Rd., and it is resigned as Interstate 74, I'd like to see someone get pictures of the new NC 192 signs that will be installed on the "orphaned" segment of existing Interstate 74.

The signs on I-40 should resemble this:

[fillup420]

i gotta wonder why 192 is the chosen number for that route. did they even try to make it a related number?

[The Ghostbuster]

Here is Wikipedia's article on future NC 192: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/North_Carolina_Highway_192. I doubt the long-proposed NC 192 boulevard connecting Interstate 40 with US 421 (Salem Parkway) will ever be built, although there are stubs indicating its potential existence: https://www.google.com/maps/@36.0643289,-80.1873889,387m/data=!3m1!1e3?entry=ttu&g_ep=EgoyMDI1MDIyMy4xIKXMDSoASAFQAw%3D%3D.

[Henry]

Here is Wikipedia's article on future NC 192: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/North_Carolina_Highway_192. I doubt the long-proposed NC 192 boulevard connecting Interstate 40 with US 421 (Salem Parkway) will ever be built, although there are stubs indicating its potential existence: https://www.google.com/maps/@36.0643289,-80.1873889,387m/data=!3m1!1e3?entry=ttu&g_ep=EgoyMDI1MDIyMy4xIKXMDSoASAFQAw%3D%3D.

On top of that, there's a residential neighborhood in the way that may prevent the surface road from ever being constructed. I don't know what the NIMBY factor is there, but if it's great enough, then the boulevard is already dead.

[PColumbus73]

It wouldn't be too much hassle just to use US 52 to get downtown when/if they rebuild the interchanges with I-40 and US 421.

[bob7374]

New video taken of driving the I-73/I-74 Rockingham Bypass north from US 74, and continuing on until the, not renumbered so far NC 73, exit:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aITBSiEb3jg

UPDATE 3/1:
I have added some screen grabs from the video to my I-73 Segment 11 page, including this one, showing that it is signed as I-73/I-74 regardless of what the NCDOT Raleigh headquarters say:


The rest at: https://malmeroads.net/i7374nc/i73seg11.html#photos

[Strider]

The video proves that I-73/I-74 is signed on Rockingham Bypass. Whoever took the video... thank you!

[sprjus4]

New video taken of driving the I-73/I-74 Rockingham Bypass north from US 74, and continuing on until the, not renumbered so far NC 73, exit:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aITBSiEb3jg

I find it interesting the new bypass is posted at 70 mph, yet the 2.5 miles north of it (which was upgraded around 10 years ago) is still 65 mph... then it goes back to 70 mph north of there.

They need to change that for consistency. Sounds like an inviting area for police to run radar...

[Strider]

Here is Wikipedia's article on future NC 192: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/North_Carolina_Highway_192. I doubt the long-proposed NC 192 boulevard connecting Interstate 40 with US 421 (Salem Parkway) will ever be built, although there are stubs indicating its potential existence: https://www.google.com/maps/@36.0643289,-80.1873889,387m/data=!3m1!1e3?entry=ttu&g_ep=EgoyMDI1MDIyMy4xIKXMDSoASAFQAw%3D%3D.

On top of that, there's a residential neighborhood in the way that may prevent the surface road from ever being constructed. I don't know what the NIMBY factor is there, but if it's great enough, then the boulevard is already dead.

I don't think they plan on building the NC-192 extension anytime soon. Too many houses and businesses in the way between both interchanges. Last time I checked, it is not listed in W-S's Metro plan for 2040.

I haven't heard of any oppositions either.

[Strider]

New video taken of driving the I-73/I-74 Rockingham Bypass north from US 74, and continuing on until the, not renumbered so far NC 73, exit:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aITBSiEb3jg

I find it interesting the new bypass is posted at 70 mph, yet the 2.5 miles north of it (which was upgraded around 10 years ago) is still 65 mph... then it goes back to 70 mph north of there.

They need to change that for consistency. Sounds like an inviting area for police to run radar...

They're probably waiting for the possible proposal to increase speed limit from 70mph to 75mph bill from NC House of Representatives to either pass or fail before doing anything. I'd say they'll probably change it to 70mph or 75mph (if the bill passes) sometime later.

[sprjus4]

New video taken of driving the I-73/I-74 Rockingham Bypass north from US 74, and continuing on until the, not renumbered so far NC 73, exit:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aITBSiEb3jg

I find it interesting the new bypass is posted at 70 mph, yet the 2.5 miles north of it (which was upgraded around 10 years ago) is still 65 mph... then it goes back to 70 mph north of there.

They need to change that for consistency. Sounds like an inviting area for police to run radar...

They're probably waiting for the possible proposal to increase speed limit from 70mph to 75mph bill from NC House of Representatives to either pass or fail before doing anything. I'd say they'll probably change it to 70mph or 75mph (if the bill passes) sometime later.

That shouldn't impact anything. Increase it to 70 mph, when you come back for a (potential) 75 mph speed limit, you're going to do a blanket increase on the entire I-73 highway between Asheboro and Rockingham, not just that segment.

[Strider]

New video taken of driving the I-73/I-74 Rockingham Bypass north from US 74, and continuing on until the, not renumbered so far NC 73, exit:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aITBSiEb3jg

I find it interesting the new bypass is posted at 70 mph, yet the 2.5 miles north of it (which was upgraded around 10 years ago) is still 65 mph... then it goes back to 70 mph north of there.

They need to change that for consistency. Sounds like an inviting area for police to run radar...

They're probably waiting for the possible proposal to increase speed limit from 70mph to 75mph bill from NC House of Representatives to either pass or fail before doing anything. I'd say they'll probably change it to 70mph or 75mph (if the bill passes) sometime later.

That shouldn't impact anything. Increase it to 70 mph, when you come back for a (potential) 75 mph speed limit, you're going to do a blanket increase on the entire I-73 highway between Asheboro and Rockingham, not just that segment.

I'm just telling you what I think is the delay or what's going on, that is all. You can tell that to NCDOT, not the messenger.