U.S. 311

U.S. 311 was a 78 mile long intrastate route traveling between U.S. 220 near Randleman and North Carolina Highway 14 at Eden. An extension approved in July 2012 lengthened U.S. 311 northeast from Eden to a point just outside Danville, Virginia. Further changes took place with Interstate 74 established over the U.S. 311 freeway southeast from Winston-Salem to Randleman. U.S. 311 also overlapped with I-40 and U.S. 52 through the city of Winston-Salem.

A North Carolina application to the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) addressed the U.S. 311 redundancy by requesting the elimination of the route in Forsyth, Guilford and Randolph Counties. The 37.03 mile portion eliminated includes all of U.S. 311 south from U.S. 52 north of Downtown Winston-Salem to U.S. 220. This includes redesigning the 7.27 mile independent section of U.S. 311, from I-74 southeast to U.S. 220 in Randolph County, as a state secondary route. The application was approved by AASHTO at the May 21, 2018 meeting. This change leaves 58 miles remaining for U.S. 311 in North Carolina.

U.S. 311 originally continued into Virginia, but that was short lived with a truncation to Madison, North Carolina by 1935. In 2003 NCDOT successfully petitioned AASHTO officials to extend the route east from U.S. 220 at Madison to Eden.¹

The route between High Point and Winston-Salem doubled as mainline Interstate 74. A ground breaking ceremony for the first section of the High Point bypass was held on December 18, 1992.² Construction on the 3.7 mile stretch commenced in late 1993 and ran through September 18, 1997. The $35.7 million-project³ added new freeway from North Main Street to Eastchester Drive by Oak Hollow Lake in north High Point. That section tied into a 12.2 mile stretch of freeway linking High Point and Winston-Salem that opened on March 6, 1984. Right of way acquisition for that portion commenced in 1975.⁴

Further work on the High Point bypass started in December 1997³. Construction extended the freeway southward to U.S. 29. Costing $351.7 million, that section of freeway opened to traffic on November 20, 2004.⁵ The next portion, fully signed as Interstate 74 from its completion, opened to traffic on November 22, 2010. I-74 and U.S. 311 wind east from U.S. 29 to Cedar Square Road, including a directional cloverleaf interchange with Interstate 85. Work on this portion of freeway started in July 2007 at a cost of $104 million.⁶

Main Street (SR 1009) carried U.S. 311 shields through both Archdale and the adjacent city of High Point until November 2010, when I-74 opened to traffic between High Point and Glenola. During that time, U.S. 311 shifted entirely onto the freeway between Winston-Salem and Randleman. U.S. 311 Business along Main Street through High Point was simultaneously decommissioned.

The last portion of Interstate 74 under construction extended the U.S. 311 freeway from Glenola southeast to Randleman (I-73/74). Originally projected to finish in late 2012, the final portion of I-74 between High Point and Randleman finally opened on June 7, 2013.

North

When U.S. 220 was relocated onto the freeway west of Randleman and Asheboro, U.S. 311 was truncated from the former alignment as well. This view looks at former U.S. 311 north at the northbound on-ramp to I-73/U.S. 220.

12/08/99

U.S. 311 began within the folded diamond interchange with I-73 and U.S. 220.

12/21/08

I-73/74 follow U.S. 220 south to Asheboro and Ellerbe.

12/21/08

Drivers turning southward next reach the North Asheboro area in five miles.

12/21/08

Leaving the exchange with I-73/U.S. 220, U.S. 311 continued along a rural route to Sophia.

12/21/08

South

Advancing to the folded diamond interchange with I-73/U.S. 220 on U.S. 311 south.

12/21/08

Asheboro is six miles to the south along I-73/74-U.S. 220. North Carolina Zoological Park is further south near Ulah.

12/21/08

Future Interstate 74 previously began at the exchange joining U.S. 311 and U.S. 220. I-74 overlaps with I-73 south to Rockingham.

12/21/08

An end shield for U.S. 311 appeared at the overpass spanning U.S. 220. U.S. 311 used to continue another 0.58 miles east to U.S. 220 Business (Main Street).

12/21/08

Southbound old U.S. 311 at the loop ramp to I-73/U.S. 220 north. The freeway traves 14 miles to Interstate 85 at Greensboro.

12/21/08

scenes

Kivett Drive west at the entrance ramp to eastbound Interstate 74 and former U.S. 311 at High Point.

07/09/10

References:

1. North-South routes - US 1 to US 101 - Odd numbered highways, http://www.us-highways.com/us1.htm#US_311 US-Highways.com.
2. "Ground Breaking for Bypass is Friday." Greensboro News & Record (NC), December 16, 1992.
3. "New U.S. 311 Bypass Unveiled." Greensboro News & Record (NC), September 19, 1997.
4. "The Road Less Wanted - Not Everyone Enjoyed the View When a Key Highway Opened from High Point to Winston-Salem 20 Years Ago." Greensboro News & Record (NC), February 29, 2004.
5. "The Real Deal on the New Bypass." Greensboro News & Record (NC), November 20, 2004.
6. "I-74/U.S. 311 bypass opens." WMBF News, November 22, 2010.

Connect with:

Interstate 40

Interstate 73

Interstate 74

Interstate 85

U.S. 220

Page Updated Monday September 03, 2018.