U.S. 23

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US 23/74 west split - Dillsboro, NC

U.S. 23 splits with U.S. 74 (Great Smoky Mountains Expressway) west near the town of Dillsboro to combine with U.S. 441 south to Franklin. U.S. 441 north joins U.S. 74 west to Gateway. 10/26/15

U.S. 23 has the distinction of being cosigned with another route for its entire alignment through North Carolina. The route enters the state from Dillard, Georgia with U.S. 441 along a four-lane highway that leads north to Franklin and U.S. 74 (Great Smoky Mountain Expressway) at Dillsboro. U.S. 23 turns east alongside U.S. 74 to Lake Junaluska, where it trades freeway mileage for an arterial routing with U.S. 19 through Clyde, Canton and Enka.

U.S. 23 is one of four highways that combine with Interstate 26 leading north from Asheville. U.S. 19-25-70 join the 2003-extended Interstate for portions of the route to Tennessee while U.S. 23 stays with I-26 the whole way.

A portion of old U.S. 23, east of the Mars Hill to Sams Gap section of Interstate 26, was retained as U.S. 23A. This two-lane roadway winds east from Exit 9 and 3.

U.S. 23 North Carolina Guides

U.S. 23A North
Approaching Bear Branch Road along U.S. 23A northbound at Little Creek. U.S. 23A shifts away from the original alignment of U.S. 23 west to I-26/U.S. 23 at Exit 3. 05/31/07
Old U.S. 23 (SR 1636) continues north through Little Creek to Sams Gap and Flag Pond, Tennessee. U.S. 23 remains along Interstate 26 to the Tri-Cities. 05/31/07
Spanning Big Laurel Creek, U.S. 23 Alternate (Bear Branch Road) enters a diamond interchange with I-26/U.S. 23. 05/31/07
U.S. 23 Alternate northbound ends at I-26/U.S. 23. I-26 travels northwest to Johnson City and Interstate 81 south of Kingsport. 05/31/07
U.S. 23A South
Bear Branch Road carries U.S. 23 Alternate east 0.15 miles from I-26/U.S. 23 to SR 1636 (Old U.S. 23) at Little Creek. 05/31/07
Southbound reassurance shield posted after the turn from Bear Branch Road. Ebb Chapel and Faust lie east of Ramsey Ridge within the next two miles. 05/31/07
U.S. 23 Business
SR 1646 (Frontage Road) south at U.S. 23 Business/NC 209 (Asheville Road) and the east Waynesville interchange (Exit 104) along U.S. 19-23-74. U.S. 23 Business travels into Downtown Waynesville. NC 209 continues the roadway north to I-40. Traffic to U.S. 19/23 south and U.S. 74 west is directed onto the SR 1375 frontage road for the Great Smoky Mountain Expressway. 08/13/04
Old U.S. 23 - South
Heading south through Little Creek along Old U.S. 23 near U.S. 23 Alternate (Bear Branch Road). 05/31/07
Bear Branch Road takes U.S. 23 Alternate from Old U.S. 23 to Interstate 26 and U.S. 23 at Exit 3, east of Devil Knob. 05/31/07



Photo Credits:

    08/13/04 by Carter Buchanan. 05/31/07 by AARoads and Carter Buchanan.

Connect with:
U.S. 19
U.S. 23
U.S. 25
U.S. 64
U.S. 70
U.S. 74
U.S. 441
Interstate 26
Interstate 40
Interstate 240

Page Updated 05-13-2021.

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