Interstate 73/74

[Molandfreak]

Are they still intending to remember I-77's exit / milemarkers as well? That's still the one part that does not make sense to me.

You're still hung up about that? It's literally one exit and five mile markers. That's a "blink-and-you'll-miss-it" level detail.

[english si]

You're still hung up about that? It's literally one exit and five mile markers. That's a "blink-and-you'll-miss-it" level detail.

And that one exit is only in one direction - northbound on I-77 it would still be exit 101.

[bob7374]

Speaking of new signs, NCDOT announced today that the transition of exit numbers along US 52 to align with future I-74 mile markers has started. The prep work creating new sign foundations will be followed by sign installation and new mileposts by April:
https://www.ncdot.gov/news/press-releases/Pages/2025/2024-02-26-signs-mile-markers-i74-forsyth-county.aspx

List of new exit numbers included.

I drove this today (from Fancy Gap down through Kernersville) and noticed the new signs and knew they would be mentioned here. 😅 In addition to new exit numbers, I noticed many additional text-only "Future I-74 Corridor" signs were added, along with 74-based mile markers. The only oddity I noticed was that the new exit for US-52 to continue on the old highway into Winston (where NC-74 begins near Rural Hall) was not updated and still uses 52's Exit No. 119. This was true on every sign I saw for the exit, including this overhead where Exit 120 was correctly updated. Since it's included in the press release's list, hopefully it's coming soon! Just weird to have one out of order exit number.

I was also surprised by the press release's language of "the redesignation of N.C. 74 and U.S. 52 to Interstate 74 near Rural Hall as part of the Winston-Salem Eastern Beltway improvements." I didn't think the older US-52 could be redesignated before improvement proejects were complete. Has any one seen anything else saying that the older section of 52 will become 74 once the work on the Beltway is done?

US-52/Future I-74 between both I-74 (Exit 17 and 41) junctions will need to be improved to interstate standards (US-52 in that section are close to interstate standards, but not quite there yet as some areas have no shoulders), so the redesign will probably came with the agreement that US-52 will be improved along as soon as possible. I have not heard of any news related to that until you mentioned that, so it is just my assumption.

As of the exit numbers 120 and 119, they will be changed eventually as they're just added not long ago.

Thanks for the news about the US 52 exit numbers being updated to I-74 mileposts. Currently, there are no funded projects to upgrade US 52 to full interstate standards, this is apparently NCDOT's way to get the message across that the freeway between Rural Hall and Mt. Airy will eventually be part of I-74. As to the wording in the press release, I believe they are only talking about the section of US 52 between the Beltway interchange and NC 65. This is where the current northern end of NC 74 was designated to be, it makes sense for that to become I-74 when the Beltway is completed. The exit number for US 52 is supposed to be 41 based on the project sign plans, maybe they just have not gotten to it yet. I too am curious as to whether the proposed I-77 mile marker and exit number changes have happened.

[sprjus4]

You're still hung up about that? It's literally one exit and five mile markers. That's a "blink-and-you'll-miss-it" level detail.

And that one exit is only in one direction - northbound on I-77 it would still be exit 101.

Then the purpose of spending money on signage, sending crews out to swap them, etc. is...?

Additionally, the milemarkers do not specify the highway.

Plans: https://malmeroads.net/i7374nc/i74seg1.html

If you are not familiar with the area you are at (which experiences a lot of through traffic from out of towners), and are broken down... all you know is "MM 3". Is that VA I-77 MM 3 or NC I-74 MM 3? What if cell signal is not the greatest? I've been in situations where I've been able to make calls but maps don't properly load (usually on "Extended" network).

It's "minor", but it's an unnecessary change that could possibly lead to more confusion should an incident arise.

When I-40 was routed over I-85, I-85 retained the milemarkers and exit numbers. I-40 is the highway that exits and enters. I-81 is the primary highway when I-77 enters for a few miles just a bit north.

I-74 enters, takes over the exit numbering, then ends and it goes right back to I-77 with no defined split off, not to mention I-77 is the primary highway through that area.

Yes, it's minor. Yes, for the vast majority of people, it won't cause much confusion. But what purpose does the project and the expenditure toward it even serve? VA I-74 is dormant and unless they're renumbering their exits too, there is no purpose.

[The Ghostbuster]

No changes to the Interstate 74/77 duplex need to be made, although I wouldn't mind an End Interstate 74 sign at the state line.

[jcil4ever]

I too am curious as to whether the proposed I-77 mile marker and exit number changes have happened.

I wasn't paying super close attention, but I'm 99% sure I-74 was still signed as Exit 101 from I-77.

As of the exit numbers 120 and 119, they will be changed eventually as they're just added not long ago.

Sorry, should have been clearer. Old Exit 120 has already been changed to Exit 39; it's just Exit 119 (US-52) that hasn't been updated.

[Strider]

I agree with sprjus4. They shouldn't change I-77 milemarkers from I-74 split to VA border nor they need to. I-77 is the primary route through there. I don't know who works for NCDOT these days, but they're been so odd with route numberings lately.

[sprjus4]

I too am curious as to whether the proposed I-77 mile marker and exit number changes have happened.

I wasn't paying super close attention, but I'm 99% sure I-74 was still signed as Exit 101 from I-77.

Nope, it will become Exit 5.

https://malmeroads.net/i7374nc/i74seg1.html

If you're going south and pass VA Exit 8, then hit VA Exit 1, don't get confused... you didn't miss your exit. The exit is not in between those two, but rather after. Just don't question NCDOT's logic, because it's just a few signs and it won't affect nor confuse anyone.

[vdeane]

I too am curious as to whether the proposed I-77 mile marker and exit number changes have happened.

I wasn't paying super close attention, but I'm 99% sure I-74 was still signed as Exit 101 from I-77.

Nope, it will become Exit 5.

https://malmeroads.net/i7374nc/i74seg1.html

If you're going south and pass VA Exit 8, then hit VA Exit 1, don't get confused... you didn't miss your exit. The exit is not in between those two, but rather after. Just don't question NCDOT's logic, because it's just a few signs and it won't affect nor confuse anyone.

So I-74 exit 5 is going to be for... I-74? At least the "exit 81 for I-81 on I-81" situation people love to complain about is temporary.

[english si]

So I-74 exit 5 is going to be for... I-74?

No, it'll be for I-77. And the diverge where the exit number will change will go from a left exit with a lane drop to a standard lane-drop exit.

I agree its stupid, but its not totally insane. If I was the crew signing it, I might forget to remove that left exit 101 tab when putting up the exit 5 tab.

[sprjus4]

So I-74 exit 5 is going to be for... I-74?

No, it'll be for I-77. And the diverge where the exit number will change will go from a left exit with a lane drop to a standard lane-drop exit.

vdeane is correct, I-74 Exit 5 will be for I-74.

[english si]

vdeane is correct, I-74 Exit 5 will be for I-74.

Goodness me, that's incredible ineptitude!

[bob7374]

vdeane is correct, I-74 Exit 5 will be for I-74.

Goodness me, that's incredible ineptitude!

As I point out on my I-74 Segment 3 page, many of the exit numbers seen in the plans were changed between 2022 and 2024. For example, the Cook School Road exit is 20 in the plans, but is now signed 21. It is possible then that the I-77 changes seen in the plans are now not going to happen. However, Google Map Street View coverage of US 52 North at the Beltway interchange recently updated to May (ending, for now, at Westinghouse Road) did not show any exit renumbering or new mileposts, indicating work only started in the past few weeks and may not be complete, see below. Therefore only time will tell whether there are going to be any changes on I-77.

[fillup420]

I really hope they don't change the exit numbers on 74/77. That would make the mile markers hit 0 from both directions at the state line. so southbpund from VA will be 5-4-3-2-1-0-1-2-3-4-5. Lots of wasted time and money for something that is both wholly unnecessary and will cause more confusion. 77 is the primary designation on that stretch. Just leave it be.

[Molandfreak]

On the flipside, I think people generally know when they cross the state line since it's indicated by a big sign or two.