U.S. 21
U.S. 21 through North Carolina enters the state alongside Interstate 77 through Charlotte. The two overlap three times over the course of 90.1 miles from the South Carolina line to southern Surry County near Elkin. The remaining 34.3 miles head northwest from the I-77 corridor to Roaring Gap, the Alleghany County seat of Sparta and into Virginia north of Twin Oaks.
Interstate 77 and U.S. 21 combine north to Exit 16 A in Charlotte. U.S. 21 branches east there onto parallel Statesville Road north to Huntersville, Caldwell and Cornelius. Reconnecting with I-77 at Exit 28, U.S. 21 crosses arms of Lake Norman to Exit 33 at Mt. Mourne, where it again shifts east from the freeway.
Passing through the town of Mooresville, U.S. 21 continues through southern Iredell County to meet I-77 again at Exit 42. Traveling west of the freeway, U.S. 21 advances to the town of Troutman to the city of Statesville. U.S. 21 combines with U.S. 64 along Front Street in Downtown Statesville for a 1.35 mile long overlap northeast along Tradd Street and Davie Avenue.
Following Sullivan Road, U.S. 21 splits with U.S. 64 (Davie Avenue) north to a diverging diamond interchange with Interstate 40. The ensuing stretch follows Turnersburg Highway north to another meeting with Interstate 77 at Exit 54. U.S. 21 becomes rural east from there to Turnersburg, Harmony and Houstonville.
The last overlap with I-77 bypasses Jonesville and Elkin to the east between Exit 79 and 83. U.S. 21 Business follows the original alignment to the west along a 3.53 mile course while the mainline of U.S. 21 uses the Bypass banner. U.S. 21 combines with U.S. 221 for 3.28 miles northward from New Haven to the Virginia state line near the New River.
Southeast from Twin Oaks, U.S. 21 passes between Doughton and Fender Mountains en route to Sparta where it meets NC 18.
06/17/05
South
The diamond interchange joining U.S. 21 (Turnersburg Highway) with I-40 at Statesville was converted to a DDI as part of a widening project along the freeway.
01/17/19
The traffic pattern for U.S. 21 through the DDI with I-40 shifted on December 4, 2016. All four lanes for U.S. 21 through the exchange were opened in their final configuration on December 29.1
01/17/19
Traveling east from U.S. 21 and Statesville, I-40 meets I-77 nearby en route to Winston-Salem and the Piedmont Triad region.
01/17/19
U.S. 21 (Charlotte Highway) south of the modified cloverleaf interchange with NC 150 (Plaza Drive) in Mooresville.
12/30/08
U.S. 21 (Charlotte Highway) south at Brawley School Road (SR 1100) west and Wilson Avenue east in Mooresville. Wilson Avenue connects Charlotte Highway with NC 115 (Broad Street). Brawley School Road heads 1.00 mile west to a SPUI with I-77.
12/30/08
U.S. 21 passes under a power line corridor beyond the Cypress Landing development.
12/30/08
Waterlynn Road (SR 1135) spurs 1.35 miles northwest from NC 115 (Mecklenburg Highway) to Lake Norman. Subdivisions and apartment complexes line Waterlynn Road in both directions from U.S. 21 (Charlotte Highway).
12/30/08
Gateway Boulevard and Medical Park Road (SR 1245) meet U.S. 21 (Charlotte Highway) just east of the parclo interchange (Exit 33) with I-77 at Williamson Road.
12/30/08
U.S. 21 curves westward into the exchange with Interstate 77.
12/30/08
Interstate 77 north heads 15 miles to Statesville and 17 miles to I-40. Williamson Road (SR 1109) extends northwest across an arm of Lake Norman to heavily developed areas south of NC 150 (River Highway).
12/30/08
U.S. 21 south follows a loop ramp onto Interstate 77 for the five mile overlap to Cornelius.
12/30/08
U.S. 21 (Statesville Road) converges with NC 73 (Sam Furr Road) at a commercialized intersection anchored by Northcross Shopping Center. This confirming marker was posted south of NC 73.
12/30/08
Stumptown Road crosses Interstate 77 east from residential areas to meet U.S. 21. East of Statesville Road, Stumpton Road continues to NC 115 (Old Statesville Road).
12/30/08
U.S. 21 reassurance shield posted south of Stumptown Road.
12/30/08
Forthcoming Gilead Road (SR 2136) links U.S. 21 (Statesville Road) with adjacent Interstate 77 at Exit 23.
12/30/08
Gilead Road (SR 2136) runs 0.68 miles east to NC 115 (Old Statesvlle Road) at the Huntersville town center and west 4.27 miles through suburban to Beatties Ford Road (SR 2128) near NC 73 at Hicks Crossroads.
12/30/08
A number of car dealerships occupy the strip along the west side of U.S. 21 (Statesville Road) paralleling Interstate 77 between Gilead Road and Mt. Holly-Huntersville Road.
12/30/08
A parclo B2 interchange joins U.S. 21 (Statesville Road) and Mt Holly-Huntersville Road (SR 2004). Mt. Holly-Huntersville Road arcs southwest from NC 115 (Old Statesville Road) in Huntersville to Northlake Centre Parkway in Charlotte.
12/30/08
U.S. 21 returns to Interstate 77 from Statesville Road west from NC 115 along Sunset Road in Charlotte.
05/31/21
The remainder of U.S. 21 in North Carolina overlaps with Interstate 77 south from the six-ramp parclo interchange (Exit 16) with Sunset Road (SR 2108).
05/31/21
scenes
NC 73 (Sam Furr Road) connects with U.S. 21 (Statesville Road) just east of a parclo interchange (Exit 25) with I-77.
12/30/08
NC 73 east at U.S. 21 (Statesville Road). NC 73 links Huntersville with Concord six miles to the east. U.S. 21 generally serves local traffic between Cornelius to the north and the town center of Huntersville to the south.
12/30/08
References:
- "Things to know about the diverging diamond interchange in Statesville." Statesville Record & Landmark (NC), January 1, 2017.
Photo Credits:
- Alex Nitzman: 06/17/05
- Brent Ivy: 01/17/19, 05/31/21
- ABRoads: 12/30/08
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Page Updated Monday January 30, 2023.