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.

[bob7374]

NCDOT will close 1 of the 2 lanes on I-40 East overnight (5/9-10) to install a glare screen on the concrete barrier walls in the I-74/Beltway interchange construction zone:
https://www.ncdot.gov/news/press-releases/Pages/2025/2025-05-08-night-work-lane-closures-forsyth.aspx

[bob7374]

Google Maps has updated its coverage of I-74 West through the southern Winston-Salem Northern Beltway interchange work zone to March 2025. I have taken some screen grabs such as:


showing construction progress and have added it to my I-74 Segment 4 page:
https://malmeroads.net/i7374nc/i74seg4.html#photos

[The Ghostbuster]

I wonder if Google Maps will again jump the gun and label the freeway NC 192 before the Interstate 74 connector freeway is completed.

[carbaugh2]

Here is a link to US 74 going west from Wilmington to Rockingham posted approximately 3 weeks ago. The creator has included a new chapter at the point of the new interchange with NC 72 and NC 130. Unfortunately, it looks like there must have been a dashcam issue that caused the Lake Waccamaw area to not get included.

[bob7374]

NCDOT press release regarding awarding of the 13 mile pavement rehabilitation contract along US 74 in Robeson County whose plans suggest the widening of shoulders to interstate standards as part of the project. The work is to start this summer and take 2 years to complete. You will notice that (surprise?), the details about the contract are misleading. It suggests work is taking place along the entire length of US 74 in the county starting near Maxton, while most of it is actually east of Lumberton starting at NC 41. The work near Maxton updates only 3 miles of the highway from the NC 71 exit to to the start of I-74 at Bus./Alt. 74, already labeled as I-74 East (or To I-74 East) at the NC 71 ramp, to interstate standards. The route actually runs 32 miles through Robeson County:
https://www.ncdot.gov/news/press-releases/Pages/2025/2025-06-02-us-74-robeson-resurface.aspx

[bob7374]

Google Maps has updated their Street View coverage of I-40 West through the Future I-74/Winston-Salem Northern Beltway interchange area to May 2025. I've posted some screen grabs, such as:


of the progress building the flyover ramps and bridges to my I-74 Segment 4 page:
https://malmeroads.net/i7374nc/i74seg4.html#photos

[brian440i]

Hello.

I beleive N.C. had to purchase all R.O.W. after lawsuit a few years ago, specifically about Northern(Western) Beltway of Winston Salem but think its across state.

Congrats to Richmond County/Rockingham with Amazon selecting them for 10 Billon Dollar Data Center - to be built at Energy Way (Just South of Duke Energy - Smith Energy Complex) but that along with new tenants at Richmond County Industrial Park  both being near Highway NC 38... 

[Corrected to 10 Billion:  https://www.axios.com/local/raleigh/2025/06/04/amazon-ai-data-centers-in-north-carolina-richmond-county]
...
It made me wonder about the proposed Route for Interstate 73 off Interstate 74 toward Bennettsville, SC... Has NCDOT had to purchase (and lease back out) the proposed Highway Path.  Have not looked at the path of future interstate though recall it was to break away near NC38... and wondering with the Industrial Development whether NC purchased before the new developments started coming to the area.

Location of Amazon Data Center:  https://sites.ncrr.com/index.php/property/energy-way-industry-complex/

Path of Future I-73
https://malmeroads.net/i7374nc/i73seg13.html

[Strider]

I-73 between I-74/US-74 and SC border is not going to be built anytime soon as NCDOT is waiting on SCDOT's action on their part (As far as I know, SCDOT is trying to to build I-73 from I-95 down to Myrtle Beach first but is struggling to get money for it).

If the $15 Billion Dollar Data center is coming to that area, Either Airport Road or NC-38 will have to be widened from 2 to 4 lanes in the future to accommodate potential traffic since I-73 isn't going to be built in the area for the foreseeable future.

[brian440i]

Thanks.

I agree it will not be built in the near future. (If the northern part is built - I think SC would just Connect NC I-73 to SC38 South of Bennettsville, and only if Industry actually moves to the I-74 corridor in the next 20 years) 

My question is really how far out were they required to purchase Right-of-Way on the future projects.

Did they have to purchase just Winston Salem

or

All Projects in the 10 Year STIP

or

All Planned Projects.

In relation the the Lawsuit.  I beleive we are to have less construction until 2028 comparatively because of ROW purchases.

PS
No State Infrastructure Mentioned in Press Releases but I'd hope for a Connector Road between NC177 and NC38 by the Site so that both exits on I-74 could be utilized.

[jcil4ever]

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?

[Henry]

This is surprising; I guess the exit renumbering is becoming official, now that we know exactly where I-74 will divert onto the Beltway. But to do it before the necessary improvements to actually make it I-74 are done is jumping the gun a bit, and also, will there be an I-285 extension in the works to meet I-74?

[Strider]

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.

[sprjus4]

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.