Interstate 73/74

[sprjus4]

You did not stay in NC Long Enough.

US 501 South in Laurinburg calls out Mrytle Beach.

You missed many NC Gas Stations heading on NC38....  Not to mention South of the Border.

I must not have! I exited at NC-38 to head down to I-95. They should sign it there though, as that is primary way down there. South Carolina signs Myrtle Beach on their side, despite SC-38 not actually going there directly.

A true tell of the differences of priority in North and South Carolina making that drive. Four lane 65-70 mph interstate highway from I-77 to Rockingham, and two lane (some four lane closer to I-95) highway on the other side of the border.

While it might be a while before I-73 is built in South Carolina, a 5 lane widening or four lane divided widening of the portion between Bennettsville and US-74 would be a nice upgrade in the interim.

[WashuOtaku]

Remove I-74 (Future I-73) and US 74 overlap and just leave it I-74 (and future I-73). Eliminate Business US 74 and replace it with US-74. So you have US-74 going through Rockingham and Hamlet once again while I-74 (and I-73) bypasses both.

There's no reason for Business US-74 to exist.

The reason NCDOT has not done that is because I-73 would normally continue being the lead Interstate till it splits off into South Carolina. Since that part has not been built, they are not going to do a weird switchover from I-73 to I-74 around NC 38. So basically US 74 is lead till I-73 is sorted out then talks can begin regarding moving US 74 back through Rockingham and Hamlet.

Of course, this is just my opinion; but I believe that is the logic.

[WashuOtaku]

It's too late to dump Interstate 74, and renumbering US 74 to US 72 is a Fictional Highways proposal. Perhaps removing all US 74 signage along its co-currency with Interstate 74 would help.

I believe some western states do this, but I find the whole practice silly. It is an official route and there is no reason to hide route numbers that travelers could also be using, otherwise have them decommissioned.

Actually not opposed to the idea of NCDOT just going to AASHTO and asking them to extend US 72 east or replace with a new US Route number. Of course, I also think US 74 could be removed east of Lumberton once I-74 connects to US 76 in Whiteville, as US 74/US76 to Wrightsville Beach is redundant.

[Henry]

It's too late to dump Interstate 74, and renumbering US 74 to US 72 is a Fictional Highways proposal. Perhaps removing all US 74 signage along its co-currency with Interstate 74 would help.

I believe some western states do this, but I find the whole practice silly. It is an official route and there is no reason to hide route numbers that travelers could also be using, otherwise have them decommissioned.

Actually not opposed to the idea of NCDOT just going to AASHTO and asking them to extend US 72 east or replace with a new US Route number. Of course, I also think US 74 could be removed east of Lumberton once I-74 connects to US 76 in Whiteville, as US 74/US76 to Wrightsville Beach is redundant.

Or better yet, they could borrow from WisDOT's playbook and truncate US 74 to Rockingham, with only I-74 and US 76 present from there to Wilmington and Wrightsville Beach. Kind of a longshot, but that would clean up the mess that's been there for 34 years.

[Strider]

I see NCDOT, even when they have a chance to do so with the new signage, still doesn't care to sign the more important control cities...

Especially the continued signing of Monroe, which is literally just a few miles outside of Charlotte city limits

I really took this one in when I drove south on the new I-73 bypass approaching US-74 a couple months ago...

Lumberton and Monroe for US-74... would it be that hard to sign Wilmington and Charlotte? Even a mention of Myrtle Beach somewhere would be better (at least at NC-38).

Lumberton makes sense because that's where I-74 meets I-95 just 1/4 mile north of Lumberton city limits. It is the same reason Benson is signed on I-40 East going southeast past Raleigh (because of I-95 junction).

On I-74/US-74 going east, you won't see Wilmington signed as one of two control cities until you're past Maxton (ground signage). The other one is Whiteville.

I don't know what's with Monroe on the signage although I agree with you, it should be Charlotte being signed or at least added to the signage. There is no mention of Charlotte anywhere on I-73/I-74 and US 74 approaching the interchange and I find that rather odd.

[sprjus4]

I see NCDOT, even when they have a chance to do so with the new signage, still doesn't care to sign the more important control cities...

Especially the continued signing of Monroe, which is literally just a few miles outside of Charlotte city limits

I really took this one in when I drove south on the new I-73 bypass approaching US-74 a couple months ago...

Lumberton and Monroe for US-74... would it be that hard to sign Wilmington and Charlotte? Even a mention of Myrtle Beach somewhere would be better (at least at NC-38).

Lumberton makes sense because that's where I-74 meets I-95 just 1/4 mile north of Lumberton city limits. It is the same reason Benson is signed on I-40 East going southeast past Raleigh (because of I-95 junction).

On I-74/US-74 going east, you won't see Wilmington signed as one of two control cities until you're past Maxton (ground signage). The other one is Whiteville.

My point is that Wilmington should be the primary control city for eastbound traffic. In regards to your Benson example, Wilmington is the primary control city while Benson is a secondary. You can sign the same for US-74: a primary control city of Wilmington with secondary control cities of Lumberton and Whiteville.

Similarly, US-74 West should use Monroe and Charlotte, or just Charlotte. Charlotte is used as a control city on US-64 near Asheboro for the NC-49 interchange, despite the fact it goes through Concord first. Monroe doesn't make any sense.

Going back to US-74, most people aren't going to Benson, Lumberton, or Whiteville - they're going to Wilmington. In the case of I-40, perhaps they're headed to I-95 southbound, but in the case of US-74, most people are not getting on I-95 in either direction - they would be taking other routes to cut over.

[WashuOtaku]

My point is that Wilmington should be the primary control city for eastbound traffic. In regards to your Benson example, Wilmington is the primary control city while Benson is a secondary. You can sign the same for US-74: a primary control city of Wilmington with secondary control cities of Lumberton and Whiteville.

Similarly, US-74 West should use Monroe and Charlotte, or just Charlotte. Charlotte is used as a control city on US-64 near Asheboro for the NC-49 interchange, despite the fact it goes through Concord first. Monroe doesn't make any sense.

Going back to US-74, most people aren't going to Benson, Lumberton, or Whiteville - they're going to Wilmington. In the case of I-40, perhaps they're headed to I-95 southbound, but in the case of US-74, most people are not getting on I-95 in either direction - they would be taking other routes to cut over.

In all fairness, I-74 is not routed to go to Wilmington, regardless what people hope it to be. And while US 74 is, it appears obvious that NCDOT will likely move US 74 back along its Alternate/Business routing like US 70 was in Clayton.

[LM117]

I see NCDOT, even when they have a chance to do so with the new signage, still doesn't care to sign the more important control cities...

Especially the continued signing of Monroe, which is literally just a few miles outside of Charlotte city limits

I really took this one in when I drove south on the new I-73 bypass approaching US-74 a couple months ago...

Lumberton and Monroe for US-74... would it be that hard to sign Wilmington and Charlotte? Even a mention of Myrtle Beach somewhere would be better (at least at NC-38).

This is the same NCDOT that decided that it makes more sense to use Kenly as a control city for I-795 South at the split from I-587 instead of Wilmington.

You'd think we'd be used to this kind of crap by now.

[sprjus4]

My point is that Wilmington should be the primary control city for eastbound traffic. In regards to your Benson example, Wilmington is the primary control city while Benson is a secondary. You can sign the same for US-74: a primary control city of Wilmington with secondary control cities of Lumberton and Whiteville.

Similarly, US-74 West should use Monroe and Charlotte, or just Charlotte. Charlotte is used as a control city on US-64 near Asheboro for the NC-49 interchange, despite the fact it goes through Concord first. Monroe doesn't make any sense.

Going back to US-74, most people aren't going to Benson, Lumberton, or Whiteville - they're going to Wilmington. In the case of I-40, perhaps they're headed to I-95 southbound, but in the case of US-74, most people are not getting on I-95 in either direction - they would be taking other routes to cut over.

In all fairness, I-74 is not routed to go to Wilmington, regardless what people hope it to be. And while US 74 is, it appears obvious that NCDOT will likely move US 74 back along its Alternate/Business routing like US 70 was in Clayton.

And technically I-40 doesn't reach the Wilmington city limits either. That doesn't change the fact that the majority of traffic is headed to Wilmington, and also the route follows US-74 which does go to Wilmington.

[Molandfreak]

At least Lumberton has been established as a useful control point along US (and future I-) 74 for quite awhile now. That's no worse than Albert Lea or Cove Fort; if someone doesn't know where it is, it is pretty easy to find on a map as the junction of 74 and 95. But Asheboro and especially Monroe? Those are places that are irrelevant to anyone but the tiny amount of motorists exiting the highway right there. There are no relevant or useful junctions in Monroe, and while you could make the case for Asheboro being near the split of I-73/74, the actual interchange isn't anywhere close to the heart of the city. Randleman is much closer to this split, and the potential confusion with Asheville makes it a very poor choice to begin with.

I'm saying all of this as a staunch defender of Limon as a control city. There isn't even the intra-state control city bias we're dealing with here, because all of these cities are within NC. What in the world is going on with the DOT?

[Strider]

I see NCDOT, even when they have a chance to do so with the new signage, still doesn't care to sign the more important control cities...

Especially the continued signing of Monroe, which is literally just a few miles outside of Charlotte city limits

I really took this one in when I drove south on the new I-73 bypass approaching US-74 a couple months ago...

Lumberton and Monroe for US-74... would it be that hard to sign Wilmington and Charlotte? Even a mention of Myrtle Beach somewhere would be better (at least at NC-38).

Lumberton makes sense because that's where I-74 meets I-95 just 1/4 mile north of Lumberton city limits. It is the same reason Benson is signed on I-40 East going southeast past Raleigh (because of I-95 junction).

On I-74/US-74 going east, you won't see Wilmington signed as one of two control cities until you're past Maxton (ground signage). The other one is Whiteville.

My point is that Wilmington should be the primary control city for eastbound traffic. In regards to your Benson example, Wilmington is the primary control city while Benson is a secondary. You can sign the same for US-74: a primary control city of Wilmington with secondary control cities of Lumberton and Whiteville.

Similarly, US-74 West should use Monroe and Charlotte, or just Charlotte. Charlotte is used as a control city on US-64 near Asheboro for the NC-49 interchange, despite the fact it goes through Concord first. Monroe doesn't make any sense.

Going back to US-74, most people aren't going to Benson, Lumberton, or Whiteville - they're going to Wilmington. In the case of I-40, perhaps they're headed to I-95 southbound, but in the case of US-74, most people are not getting on I-95 in either direction - they would be taking other routes to cut over.

I already emailed NCDOT about the missing or should be signed "Charlotte" issue, I am still waiting to hear from them. This one should have been added or signed.

Otherwise, not much I can say about why NCDOT chose some towns instead of big cities to sign except for major intersections (especially major interstate and/or US highway) as their probable reasons. It seems like every state has different opinions in what town/city to use as the control cities.

[sprjus4]

I see NCDOT, even when they have a chance to do so with the new signage, still doesn't care to sign the more important control cities...

Especially the continued signing of Monroe, which is literally just a few miles outside of Charlotte city limits

I really took this one in when I drove south on the new I-73 bypass approaching US-74 a couple months ago...

Lumberton and Monroe for US-74... would it be that hard to sign Wilmington and Charlotte? Even a mention of Myrtle Beach somewhere would be better (at least at NC-38).

Lumberton makes sense because that's where I-74 meets I-95 just 1/4 mile north of Lumberton city limits. It is the same reason Benson is signed on I-40 East going southeast past Raleigh (because of I-95 junction).

On I-74/US-74 going east, you won't see Wilmington signed as one of two control cities until you're past Maxton (ground signage). The other one is Whiteville.

My point is that Wilmington should be the primary control city for eastbound traffic. In regards to your Benson example, Wilmington is the primary control city while Benson is a secondary. You can sign the same for US-74: a primary control city of Wilmington with secondary control cities of Lumberton and Whiteville.

Similarly, US-74 West should use Monroe and Charlotte, or just Charlotte. Charlotte is used as a control city on US-64 near Asheboro for the NC-49 interchange, despite the fact it goes through Concord first. Monroe doesn't make any sense.

Going back to US-74, most people aren't going to Benson, Lumberton, or Whiteville - they're going to Wilmington. In the case of I-40, perhaps they're headed to I-95 southbound, but in the case of US-74, most people are not getting on I-95 in either direction - they would be taking other routes to cut over.

I already emailed NCDOT about the missing or should be signed "Charlotte" issue, I am still waiting to hear from them. This one should have been added or signed.

Otherwise, not much I can say about why NCDOT chose some towns instead of big cities to sign except for major intersections (especially major interstate and/or US highway) as their probable reasons. It seems like every state has different opinions in what town/city to use as the control cities.

The one nice thing about I-95 in South Carolina is that it is very straightforward:

Going southbound, control cities are Florence then Savannah. Northbound is Florence then Fayetteville. Not every little small town it passes through.

I-95 in North Carolina, likewise, should be Fayetteville, Rocky Mount, and Richmond. Rocky Mount, while smaller, is still a major city in the area, and the junction of US-64 / future I-87.

Virginia uses Rocky Mount as the southbound control city on VA I-295 and south of Petersburg.