East
Interstate 40 climbs into the Blue Ridge Mountains through Swannanoa Gap. A truck information pull off lines the eastbound roadway by Kitsuma Peak.
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Interstate 40 lowers over 1,300 feet in elevation on the ensuing stretch east along Young Ridge. Trucks are limited to a 35 mile per hour speed limit.
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Runaway truck ramps are located eastbound one mile beyond mile marker 69.
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U.S. 70 separates from I-40 east at a wye interchange (Exit 72) to the town of Old Fort.
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I-40 historically navigated through a sharp curve at Exit 72. The freeway was realigned along with the wye interchange for U.S. 70 to greatly improve the roadway geometry.
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East
Interstate 40 bypasses Old Fort to the south.
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Catawba Avenue (SR 1103) connects Interstate 40 with the Old Town business district to the north of Exit 73.
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I-40 arcs northeast along side the Catawba River to a parclo interchange (Exit 75) with Parker Padgett Road (SR 1240).
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Interstate 40 passes by the unincorporated community of Providence ahead of Exit 81 to Sugar Hill Road (SR 1001).
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Sugar Hill Road weaves northeast through the community of West Marion to Henderson Street in the city of Marion.
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Sugar Hill Road (SR 1001) arcs southward through Providence to a valley between Lewis and Jones Mountains and the community of Sugar Hill.
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Interstate 40 curves around Pool Mountain at Exit 81, one mile ahead of the McDowell County Rest Area.
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Ashworth Road (SR 1168) heads south from West Marion to a diamond interchange with I-40 at Exit 83.
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The eastbound rest area lies next to the Habersham Mountains and North Muddy Creek.
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U.S. 221 converges with Interstate 40 between Grant and Smith Mountains at Exit 85.
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North from Exit 81, U.S. 221 encircles Grant Mountain to an expressway bypass of Marion.
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U.S. 221 travels south to the Rutherford County seat of Rutherfordton.
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NC 226 branches southeast from U.S. 221 to a folded diamond interchange (Exit 86) with Interstate 40 near Jamison Mountain.
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NC 226 traverses the South Mountains southeast to Shelby.
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Photo Credits:
10/23/15, 09/23/22 by AARoads
Page Updated 09-23-2022.