Interstate 73/74

[El-Caz]

I still say that NC 192 is seriosly confuisng and rediculous - it should be I 474 whether the shoulders are to standard or not because it was signed as an Interstate and there are hundreds of substandard Interstates throughout the country. Local officials have no clue of the importance of maintaing an Interstate connection. Recall various positive and exciting headlines when there is a new Interstate 3 or 2 digit.

I fully agree, and I think the same thing can be said for NC-147 or the limited-access portion of Wade Ave. in Raleigh. It seems like "Interstate standards" are merely a suggestion considering how many exceptions there are, even in North Carolina alone. Like, a good chunk of I-73/74 south of Asheboro barely even has an outer shoulder, as did the western section of I-440 until recently. Hell, I-70 in Pennsylvania literally has stop signs on it.

[bob7374]

I happened upon a FB post by NCDOT put up after the completion of the I-74 section of the Winston-Salem Beltway from last weekend. In it someone asked about when US 52 between Mt. Airy and the Beltway would be offficialy I-74. I commented that the road is substandard, especially in Surry County, and would have to be upgraded to interstate standards first. Then someone from NCDOT chimed in stating it already is designated as I-74. (?/!). Here is a screen grab of the post:


I followed up asking for confirmation, and if it is I-74 when it would be signed. This was on Friday, so I don't expect an answer until next week. I will post again if I get a response.

[The Ghostbuster]

Until that segment of US 52 is officially signposted as Interstate 74, it should still be considered Future Interstate 74.

[Molandfreak]

Until that segment of US 52 is officially signposted as Interstate 74, it should still be considered Future Interstate 74.

You don't say...

[vdeane]

Are we sure that NCDOT even differentiates between interstates and freeway-standard "future interstates"?  It seems like future interstates that are already freeways tend to be at the bottom of their priority list.

[Dirt Roads]

Are we sure that NCDOT even differentiates between interstates and freeway-standard "future interstates"?  It seems like future interstates that are already freeways tend to be at the bottom of their priority list.

Which is why my first online rant was about why FHWA should even care why they should stop NCDOT from installing Interstate signage on freeways already posted at 70 MPH.  (Same comment applies to any other state agency as well, even perhaps at lower freeway speeds).  NCDOT got stung with some of this back 30 years ago or so, and after the I-640/I-540 argument just decided to be play along.  Which, in turn, is why I-87 is still only 12.9 miles long.

I highly suspect that, back then (say the year 2001 or so),  NCDOT was figuring politics would sort this all out.  Instead, GPS made that Interstate shield much less important for most drivers.

[Rothman]

Are we sure that NCDOT even differentiates between interstates and freeway-standard "future interstates"?  It seems like future interstates that are already freeways tend to be at the bottom of their priority list.

Which is why my first online rant was about why FHWA should even care why they should stop NCDOT from installing Interstate signage on freeways already posted at 70 MPH.  (Same comment applies to any other state agency as well, even perhaps at lower freeway speeds).

*laughs in NY*

[jcil4ever]

Here's a view along the newly-completed 74! I'll disagree with the NCDOT social media person from above; there is an END I-74 sign just before the merge with 52 and no new 74 signage beyond.

Time stamps in the description!

[CanesFan27]

Are we sure that NCDOT even differentiates between interstates and freeway-standard "future interstates"?  It seems like future interstates that are already freeways tend to be at the bottom of their priority list.

Yes, they do.  They signed for awhile parts of US 74 on Rockingham and Laurinburg as shielded "Future I-74" seems like the FHWA administrator ended that.

And further in reference to US 52, there have been various piecemeal upgrades done over the last 20 or so years.  Same with the piecemeal upgrades to 74 east of I-95.  If you are looking for a full dedicated one time project - that's not been the MO.  But to say they have totally ignored existing "future interstate" freeways is just not the case.

[bob7374]

I happened upon a FB post by NCDOT put up after the completion of the I-74 section of the Winston-Salem Beltway from last weekend. In it someone asked about when US 52 between Mt. Airy and the Beltway would be offficialy I-74. I commented that the road is substandard, especially in Surry County, and would have to be upgraded to interstate standards first. Then someone from NCDOT chimed in stating it already is designated as I-74. (?/!). Here is a screen grab of the post:


I followed up asking for confirmation, and if it is I-74 when it would be signed. This was on Friday, so I don't expect an answer until next week.

I got a response from NCDOT on FB to my question about their post. The answer was nevermind. US 52 will not be signed as I-74 any time soon:
"The section of US 52 North of Exit 41 B-A (Bethania Rural Hall Road) headed towards Mount Airy is not up to interstate standards and will not be signed as I 74 at this time. The project that would bring this section up to standards is currently unfunded."

I also asked about the status of the change to I-74 mileposts along I-74/I-77 indicated by the Beltway project sign plans. Looks like someone thought the better of that idea:
"The original plans [for I-77] did show to change the exit sign as described in the question, however signing and delineation decided to keep it as it currently is as Exit 101 to follow I 77 numbering as I 77 is more contiguous through this area."

[jcil4ever]

I got a response from NCDOT on FB to my question about their post. The answer was nevermind. US 52 will not be signed as I-74 any time soon:
"The section of US 52 North of Exit 41 B-A (Bethania Rural Hall Road) headed towards Mount Airy is not up to interstate standards and will not be signed as I 74 at this time. The project that would bring this section up to standards is currently unfunded."

I also asked about the status of the change to I-74 mileposts along I-74/I-77 indicated by the Beltway project sign plans. Looks like someone thought the better of that idea:
"The original plans [for I-77] did show to change the exit sign as described in the question, however signing and delineation decided to keep it as it currently is as Exit 101 to follow I 77 numbering as I 77 is more contiguous through this area."

Nice to see the social media folks connecting with others in the office. I sent the facebook page a message shortly after Helene because the digital message boards were advising people to take "I-74" to get to Tennessee when it was still sign NC-74 and they were able to update the sign pretty quickly.

[bob7374]

Forgot to mention that a name some may remember from the MTR days also made an appearance in the NCDOT FB post, text version below:

John Lansford:
I was the Highway Design Engineer for the project that built the interchange on US 52/I-74 that takes traffic north to I-40. Is that section completed now? Google Earth's latest image is from February of this year and it looked near completion then.

North Carolina Department of Transportation:
Yes, the I-74/I-40 Northern Beltway (Eastern Section) Interchange is now open to public, as of Sept. 19.

[Rothman]

Forgot to mention that a name some may remember from the MTR days also made an appearance in the NCDOT FB post, text version below:

John Lansford:
I was the Highway Design Engineer for the project that built the interchange on US 52/I-74 that takes traffic north to I-40. Is that section completed now? Google Earth's latest image is from February of this year and it looked near completion then.

North Carolina Department of Transportation:
Yes, the I-74/I-40 Northern Beltway (Eastern Section) Interchange is now open to public, as of Sept. 19.

Very happy to hear he's still around.

[The Ghostbuster]

The bypassed portion of Interstate 74 is now shown as NC 192: https://www.google.com/maps/@36.0591585,-80.1660393,2512m/data=!3m1!1e3?entry=ttu&g_ep=EgoyMDI2MDkyNy4xIKXMDSoASAFQAw%3D%3D.

[yadkinv]

NC 192 - they don't have a clue.

[bob7374]

The bypassed portion of Interstate 74 is now shown as NC 192: https://www.google.com/maps/@36.0591585,-80.1660393,2512m/data=!3m1!1e3?entry=ttu&g_ep=EgoyMDI2MDkyNy4xIKXMDSoASAFQAw%3D%3D.

Interestingly, the NCDOT traffic map jumped the gun by signing the Beltway as I-74 for months prior to the final segment being completed. Now that it is officially I-74 they have added NC 74 shields to the map along with the pre-existing I-74 shields.