Interstate 73/74

[bob7374]

At the other end of I-74, NCDOT is planning to open the new US 52 SB (Future I-74 EB) bridge over Toms Creek on Wednesday. The current NB bridge will now be replaced with a completion date of 2027:
https://www.ncdot.gov/news/press-releases/Pages/2026/2026-03-09-surry-us-52-bridge.aspx

[bob7374]

Looks like they're planning to place I-40 West onto its permanent alignment through the future I-74/Beltway interchange starting tomorrow:
https://www.ncdot.gov/news/press-releases/Pages/2026/2026-03-10-40-northern-beltway-closures.aspx

[brian440i]

At the other end of I-74, NCDOT is planning to open the new US 52 SB (Future I-74 EB) bridge over Toms Creek on Wednesday. The current NB bridge will now be replaced with a completion date of 2027:
https://www.ncdot.gov/news/press-releases/Pages/2026/2026-03-09-surry-us-52-bridge.aspx

64 Year Old Bridge...

For Most in N.C. Its Hard to Remember Winston Salem was the Big City(OK Charlotte was Technically much bigger in 1950 but not the whole Triad) and US52 was the New Freeway... Long before I-77 and I-40 were completed in the State.
Its had a Hard Life more similar to a Rust Belt City... but Winston-Salem is finally growing after a 40 year reprieve.

New I-40 in the early 90's
Upgrade on Old I-40 to Salem Parkway in past 10 years
I-74 Northern Beltway (Now)
And
Finally Updating US52 to become I-285/I-74 in the next 20 years...
https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/infrastructure/back1205.cfm

[carbaugh2]

Big Rig Steve used parts of Future I-74 during his drive on Friday. He also used parts of I-42 and went through the I-40 widening project west of Raleigh, but for the purpose of this thread, my focus started around the 2:55:00 mark, which is when he started up US 52 from the Northern Beltway interchange. It appears the repaving project from King to the Little Yadkin River is complete, and those right-hand berms appear to be widened to interstate standards. The Toms Creek bridge replacement project is around 3:09:00.

[carbaugh2]

Big Rig Steve recently made another trip using US 52, this time south(east)bound. The new Toms River bridge is around 22:30.

[monty]

South Carolina purchasing ROW for I 73. Article notes that 95% + of needs have been purchased.

https://www.wmbfnews.com/2026/02/10/scdot-makes-progress-right-of-way-acquisition-proposed-i-73/?outputType=amp&fbclid=IwZnRzaAQ2MKFleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZAo2NjI4NTY4Mzc5AAEeeFwGmQjOXiZXwrIWA0ByDdTgEF_bpamr8WpIZExlw3vvm6a2hhm2z_z0z7Y_aem_R9eSxw9dUrNmVpwZUeZLbg

[Rothman]

South Carolina purchasing ROW for I 73. Article notes that 95% + of needs have been purchased.

https://www.wmbfnews.com/2026/02/10/scdot-makes-progress-right-of-way-acquisition-proposed-i-73/?outputType=amp&fbclid=IwZnRzaAQ2MKFleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZAo2NjI4NTY4Mzc5AAEeeFwGmQjOXiZXwrIWA0ByDdTgEF_bpamr8WpIZExlw3vvm6a2hhm2z_z0z7Y_aem_R9eSxw9dUrNmVpwZUeZLbg

It's interesting to see what news makes it out faster to the Facebook groups than here and vice versa.

[bob7374]

I received a new set of photos from David Gallo of the under construction NC 72/NC 130 interchange in Robeson County. Looks like it is getting close to opening. Lane markings are finished on US 74, but not yet on the ramps, and signage still needs to be placed:


Full set of photos at: https://malmeroads.net/i7374nc/i74seg17.html#photos

[brian440i]

With the near completion of NC72/NC130 Interchange will they close the Old NC130/Ann Rd Access?
If Yes,  Any Images? I assume no changes yet? (Assuming Signs and Barrels when New Interchange Opens)

[The Ghostbuster]

Are they going to do anything to the Woodrow Rd. and the V.C. Britt Rd. intersections (a mini frontage road would be sufficient)? Or will that come at a later date?

[bob7374]

With the near completion of NC72/NC130 Interchange will they close the Old NC130/Ann Rd Access?
If Yes,  Any Images? I assume no changes yet? (Assuming Signs and Barrels when New Interchange Opens)

Are they going to do anything to the Woodrow Rd. and the V.C. Britt Rd. intersections (a mini frontage road would be sufficient)? Or will that come at a later date?

I assume that once the interchange is open, the existing NC 130 intersection will be closed, though Google Maps shows both the interchange as complete and the intersection open (they also show US 74 as I-74, so not much credibility there). The other intersections to the east are not part of the project. You would need to build a road to connect them back to Ann Road if they are to be closed since, again according to Google Maps, they are both shown as dead ends.

To the west, the Creek Road grade separation project is still due to be let in August.

[bob7374]

NCDOT is putting I-74 West and Future NC 192 West onto their final alignments through the Beltway interchange area between Union Cross and Ridgewood Roads next week:
https://www.ncdot.gov/news/press-releases/Pages/2026/2026-04-02I-74-forsyth-co-lane-closures.aspx

[carbaugh2]

It seems like the contractors are making similar progressions with I-40 through the interchange as well.

https://www.ncdot.gov/news/press-releases/Pages/2026/2026-04-02--forsyth-co-i-40-lane-closures.aspx

[bob7374]

Another I-40 closure in Forsyth County tonight (4/9) related to the I-74 Beltway project:
https://www.ncdot.gov/news/press-releases/Pages/2026/2026-04-09-I-40-winston-beltway-nightly-closures.aspx

[Strider]

Another I-40 closure in Forsyth County tonight (4/9) related to the I-74 Beltway project:
https://www.ncdot.gov/news/press-releases/Pages/2026/2026-04-09-I-40-winston-beltway-nightly-closures.aspx

Yeah, they are about to put up overhead signage at the I-74 interchange area. I saw it when I drove past by the I-40 and I-74 interchange area. They are working it really fast.

[PColumbus73]

When they finally cut the ribbon on that section, I might make the switch from using US 421 / NC 87 going from SC to OH for a trip or two.

The I-74 bypass of Winston-Salem is nice, but I think my traditional route of taking US 421 to US 52 downtown breaks up the monotony.

[bob7374]

Google Maps recently updated its Street View coverage of I-74 East through the Beltway interchange construction area to February and I-40, in both directions (mostly), to March. Things appear to be getting closer to completion:


The full set of images is at: https://malmeroads.net/i7374nc/i74seg4.html#photos

[The Ghostbuster]

So far, only the signs at the westbound Ridgewood Rd. interchange have been given future NC 192 exit numbers. The rest of the signs will probably get future NC 192 exit numbers when the Interstate 74/NC 192 interchange is completed.

[carbaugh2]

Google Maps recently updated its Street View coverage of I-74 East through the Beltway interchange construction area to February and I-40, in both directions (mostly), to March. Things appear to be getting closer to completion:


The full set of images is at: https://malmeroads.net/i7374nc/i74seg4.html#photos

The NCDOT progress report has the progress of the US 421 to I-40 segment at 88.71% complete as of 3/15 and the I-40 to current I-74 segment at 92.31% complete as of 3/22.

In addition, NCDOT put out a press release for moving I-74 East to its final alignment starting tomorrow.

[bob7374]

Work is to start on replacing the US 52 North (Future I-74 West) bridge over Toms Creek in Surry County:
https://www.ncdot.gov/news/press-releases/Pages/2026/2026-04-15-surry-county-bridge-replacement.aspx

[carbaugh2]

Work is to start on replacing the US 52 North (Future I-74 West) bridge over Toms Creek in Surry County:
https://www.ncdot.gov/news/press-releases/Pages/2026/2026-04-15-surry-county-bridge-replacement.aspx

I was originally going to respond that we should also be seeing an announcement for paving work happening on 52 in Stokes County; however, a check on DriveNC shows that the work has already begun and is listed on the progress report with around 15% completion.