Interstate 73/74

[The Ghostbuster]

Is the portion of US 220 between Interstates 73/85 and Interstate 40 up to Interstate Standards? If not, it would need to be upgraded to receive an Interstate designation. This being North Carolina, an Interstate designation might be proposed for this freeway segment, although it seems unlikely to me.

[WashuOtaku]

(Apologize if below has been asked in previous pages, I am new to Search capability)

Q1: Was the US220 Freeway between I85 and I40 ever considered as an x73  (Example: Interstate 273)

No.

Q2: Does NC DOT have an plans to update horrible Signs at I73 North and I85 Interchange.

What is funny is that it was recently updated. I do not see NCDOT changing it.

[Strider]

Is the portion of US 220 between Interstates 73/85 and Interstate 40 up to Interstate Standards? If not, it would need to be upgraded to receive an Interstate designation. This being North Carolina, an Interstate designation might be proposed for this freeway segment, although it seems unlikely to me.

Yes, US 220 between I-73/I-85 and I-40 is up to interstate standards with the exception of US 29 (former Business I-85) interchange area.

The only reason it is not a I-x73 is because I-73 was supposed to follow that route to I-40 and then follow I-40 to NC 68 (it was the original I-73 plan). When I-73 was put on the Urban Loop along with US 421 and with I-40 moving back to its original route through Greensboro, they decided to leave it just US 220 with no plans to add I-xxx to it.

IMO, the one road that should have been an I-x73 is Bryan Blvd from I-73/I-840 to Greensboro downtown. That road is interstate standard with a 65mph speed limit.

[PColumbus73]

They've been doing a lot to de-clump US 29/70 and removing Business 85, so I can see why there wouldn't be an interest in adding a new route to the mix. It's simple enough to keep it as US 220 since it leads people through downtown and back out to I-73, acting as an unofficial business route.

[MBHockey13]

https://myfox8.com/news/north-carolina/piedmont-triad/interstate-73-could-be-expanding-into-south-carolina-near-myrtle-beach/

[PColumbus73]

https://myfox8.com/news/north-carolina/piedmont-triad/interstate-73-could-be-expanding-into-south-carolina-near-myrtle-beach/

That's more about a development moratorium along the proposed I-73 corridor in Horry County. There's still no funding from the State or Congress to build it.

https://www.wmbfnews.com/2024/01/05/funding-bring-i-73-grand-strand-not-included-mcmasters-executive-budget/

According to the Governor, they didn't get a request from local representatives and Horry County sounds like they're looking for someone else to put up the funding, either from Congress or elsewhere. Assuming the RIDE 4 sales tax passes in Horry County, part of the sales tax would be used for local match funding.

It makes it sound like Horry County, Myrtle Beach and North Myrtle Beach all want I-73, but they keep looking at each other asking where's the money coming from.

Outside of the Horry County and the Grand Strand, I don't see many news stories from the inland counties voicing their support for I-73, places like Marion, Latta, Dillon, and Bennettsville. I think if Horry County wants I-73, maybe they need to form, or show that there is a stronger coalition with the adjacent counties. Right now the news makes it sound like only Horry County wants it. Even Florence might see it as a win for them since they already have I-95 and I-20.

[carbaugh2]

I came across the following projects while looking at the completion percentages for the Rockingham Bypass and Winston-Salem Beltway segments:

The bridges over Toms Creek at Exit 135 (future Exit 21- Thanks Bob) for the southbound only left exit to Old US 52 with plans found at https://xfer.services.ncdot.gov/dsplan/2024%20Highway%20Letting/04-16-24/Plans%20and%20Proposals/SURRY_B-5527_C204208/Standard%20PDF%20Files/

Repaving 7.5 miles between the Little Yadkin River and King with plans available at https://connect.ncdot.gov/letting/Division%209%20Letting/04-24-2024/DI00342%20-%20US%2052%20Plans.pdf.

Since I'm not skilled in reading through the detailed drawings, I'm guessing that this will also allow any substandard shoulders to be upgraded. Maybe this means we are seeing a piecemeal upgrade to interstate standards much like other parts of the state.

[bob7374]

I came across the following projects while looking at the completion percentages for the Rockingham Bypass and Winston-Salem Beltway segments:

The bridges over Toms Creek at Exit 135 (future Exit 21- Thanks Bob) for the southbound only left exit to Old US 52 with plans found at https://xfer.services.ncdot.gov/dsplan/2024%20Highway%20Letting/04-16-24/Plans%20and%20Proposals/SURRY_B-5527_C204208/Standard%20PDF%20Files/

Repaving 7.5 miles between the Little Yadkin River and King with plans available at https://connect.ncdot.gov/letting/Division%209%20Letting/04-24-2024/DI00342%20-%20US%2052%20Plans.pdf.

Since I'm not skilled in reading through the detailed drawings, I'm guessing that this will also allow any substandard shoulders to be upgraded. Maybe this means we are seeing a piecemeal upgrade to interstate standards much like other parts of the state.

Thanks for finding those. For the Toms Creek bridge project, the plans do show interstate standard 12' lanes and 10' right shoulders with widened left shoulders in the construction area. For the other it's hard to tell, the shoulders are to be reconstructed but there's no specific mention of how wide they will be. You are probably correct with NCDOT's using a piecemeal approach, like with US 74 east of I-95, to bring the highway closer to interstate standards. They probably hope with enough progress they can convince the FHWA to allow them to post interstate shields earlier with waivers for the remaining substandard portions if they promise to upgrade them over a period of time. 

[bob7374]

Looks like the final lane configuration for the NC 74 (Future I-74) Beltway interchange with US 52 will be in use by the end of this week:
https://www.ncdot.gov/news/press-releases/Pages/2024/2024-09-23-nightly-closures-nc-74-forsyth.aspx

Hopefully, permanent signage can go up now as well.

[bob7374]

Looks like the final lane configuration for the NC 74 (Future I-74) Beltway interchange with US 52 will be in use by the end of this week:
https://www.ncdot.gov/news/press-releases/Pages/2024/2024-09-23-nightly-closures-nc-74-forsyth.aspx

Hopefully, permanent signage can go up now as well.

Here's a video by the Winston-Salem Journal that explains tonight's traffic shift:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wrtLkFJzgu8

[LM117]

Speaking of US-52, there are upcoming closures on the southbound side as part of the beltway interchange project.

https://www.ncdot.gov/news/press-releases/Pages/2024/2024-09-10-us-52-closures.aspx

[carbaugh2]

The Youtuber Driving Around NC posted another trip to Wilmington using US 74/Future I-74. Here are timestamps for the current projects taking place along the route.

32:30 Rockingham Bypass (no changes since the remaining work is between US 220 and US 74)
1:33:00 NC 72/NC 130
1:35:00 Boardman Exit
1:59:00 Lake Waccamaw

[bob7374]

I have updated my I-74 Segment 4 pages with screen grabs from Google Maps Street View and an early October Big Rig Travels video through the Beltway construction zones east and north of Winston-Salem. Here's what the US 52 interchange looked like in September looking north/west from the NC 65 bridge:


The rest of the photos at: https://malmeroads.net/i7374nc/i74seg4.html#photos

[bob7374]

NCDOT is completing work on the new Kernersville Road interchange bridge over the future I-74/Winston-Salem Northern Beltway:
https://www.ncdot.gov/news/press-releases/Pages/2024/2024-11-08-kernersville-road-new-traffic-pattern.aspx

[carbaugh2]

Here is another Driving Around NC video showing updates around Rockingham, including overhead signage. For this topic, the most relevant part is at the start.

EDIT: I also found a recent news clip about the progress of the bypass.

[brian440i]

NCDOT is completing work on the new Kernersville Road interchange bridge over the future I-74/Winston-Salem Northern Beltway:
https://www.ncdot.gov/news/press-releases/Pages/2024/2024-11-08-kernersville-road-new-traffic-pattern.aspx

Images from iPhone Video of Kernersville Rd.(Locallly known as Old Hwy 150) Intersection over I-74. (Will remember to increase quality of video next time!)

In Short - the Divergent Diamond is open.  As with all Diverging Diamond - a bit frustrating as it went from 100% free flowing to multiple signalized stops... without the benefit of being able to use the interstate for another two years.

(But as someone who's childhood neighbors fought I-74 for so long...  seeing the Vet Clinic Gone, Community Pool Gone, though pleasantly surprised my good friend's grandmother's house still standing just outside the construction zone - I may not be a realiable witness to traffic flow for this particular intersection)

Left Turn from Linville Rd to K'Ville Road North before Intersection


Entering Diverging Diamond


View North to Sedge Garden Road Bridge


Earth Work on North Side in Progress


Exiting the Diverging Diamond - View North to Sedge Garden Rd


I will be curious about the traffic movement as I-74 E to North Kernersville Rd, I expect to be less than planned, except for Sedge Garden Road East Traffic...  Commuters from Winston Salem to Exit off Salem Parkway (AKA Business 40, AKA Old 40) then Exit at Kernersville Rd for Two Lights and Sedge Garden Light to continue North...  will lose out quickly to the New Kernersville Interchange starting construction on Salem Parkway in 2026 which will be a Simpler Right Exit and Right to go South on Kernersville Rd to same residential zone.
Salem Parkway the current preferred commuter route currently from W.S. 

Should though increase redevelopment on Kernersville Rd South which has always been awkward to access unless a local as Rdgewood Exit/Left Turn High Point Rd to Kernersville Rd (On Existing  I-74, Future Hidden Interstate?)  or I-40 Clemmonsville Rd/Sprague Street  or as I took to Area Salem Parkway - Linville Rd Exit, have been indirect access to SE Winston Salem.

[rickmastfan67]

Video of the I-40/74 interchange from WFMY News 2.

[bob7374]

Most of the signage is now up, and much uncovered, for the soon to open I-73/I-74 Rockingham Bypass:


I have posted other new photos taken by site contributor LC on my I-73 Segment 11 page:
https://malmeroads.net/i7374nc/i73seg11.html#photos

They have also started re-signing the US 74 Bypass as I-74/US 74, here's a photo of the first new reassurance marker put up heading east after the future merge with the Bypass by James Carter:

[fillup420]

so i guess I-73 will now end at the 74/74 biz interchange?

[roadman65]

so i guess I-73 will now end at the 74/74 biz interchange?

Looks that way. As SCDOT isn't too urgent building their part, it will be the end for a long time.  Heck, SC can't even widen I-95 to six lanes let alone find funding to build a new interstate.  I-73 will remain an intrastate interstate from north of Greensboro to Rockingham in our lifetimes.


Bigger question  is will US 220 end here or will it still go into Rockingham and end at US 1 like it has?

[PColumbus73]

so i guess I-73 will now end at the 74/74 biz interchange?

Looks that way. As SCDOT isn't too urgent building their part, it will be the end for a long time.  Heck, SC can't even widen I-95 to six lanes let alone find funding to build a new interstate.  I-73 will remain an intrastate interstate from north of Greensboro to Rockingham in our lifetimes.


Bigger question  is will US 220 end here or will it still go into Rockingham and end at US 1 like it has?

Can confirm, the SC governor didn't include any funding for I-73 in the state budget. Outside of Horry County, there isn't much urgency.

[bob7374]

so i guess I-73 will now end at the 74/74 biz interchange?

Looks that way. As SCDOT isn't too urgent building their part, it will be the end for a long time.  Heck, SC can't even widen I-95 to six lanes let alone find funding to build a new interstate.  I-73 will remain an intrastate interstate from north of Greensboro to Rockingham in our lifetimes.

Bigger question is will US 220 end here or will it still go into Rockingham and end at US 1 like it has?

The sign changes going on with the addition of I-74 to the US 74 Bypass include dropping the To US 220 information that appears on auxiliary signs for the US 1 exit as well as removing the To US 220 trailblazers at the ramps, so it appears US 220 will be still ending at US 1:

[The Ghostbuster]

I think US 220 should be retracted to Exit 123 on Interstate 73. Also, if more of 73 is built north of there, 220 should be further retracted on the southern end.

[FightingIrish]

I think US 220 should be retracted to Exit 123 on Interstate 73. Also, if more of 73 is built north of there, 220 should be further retracted on the southern end.

They should remove I-73 if nobody knows what to do with it.

[roadman65]

My take is truncate it to north of Greensboro. Also in PA truncate it to Bedford leaving Buddy Schuster's Highway with one number and north of I-80 make it PA 220 through Williamsport.