U.S. Route 74: Difference between revisions

| type = US

| route = 74

| map = {{maplink-road|from=U.S. Route 74.map}}

| map_custom = yes

| terminus_b = Lumina Avenue in [[Wrightsville Beach, North Carolina|Wrightsville Beach, NC]]

| states = [[Tennessee]], [[North Carolina]]

| browse = {{Us browse|previous_type=US|previous_route=73|next_type=US|next_route=75|route=[[List of United States Numbered Highways|US]]}}{{tn browse|previous_type=SR|previous_route=73|route=[[List of state routes in Tennessee|TN]]|next_type=TN|next_route=74}}<br />{{nc browse|previous_type=I|previous_route=74|route=[[North Carolina State Highways|NC]]|next_type=NC|next_route=75}}

}}

 

==Route description==

[[File:Interstate 277 Directional Signs.jpg|I-277/US 74 directional signs at Stonewall Street, in [[Charlotte, North Carolina|Charlotte]]|thumb|right]]

From the [[Tennessee]] state line, US 74 traverses across the southern portion of the state, connecting the major cities [[Asheville, North Carolina|Asheville]], [[Charlotte, North Carolina|Charlotte]], and [[Wilmington, North Carolina|Wilmington]], for a total of {{convert|451.8|mi|km}}.

In western North Carolina, US 74 enters the state with a concurrency with [[U.S. Route 64 in North Carolina|US 64]]. Routed along on pre-existing highways in the region, specifically the: [[Appalachian Development Highway System#Corridor K|Appalachian Highway]] (at-grade [[Limited-access road|expressway]], except in the [[Nantahala Gorge]]) and the [[Great Smoky Mountains Expressway]] (controlled-access [[freeway]], which is broken in three sections along the route); it shares a revolving door of concurrency changes with [[U.S. Route 19 in North Carolina|US 19]], [[U.S. Route 129 in North Carolina|US 129]], [[U.S. Route 441 in North Carolina|US 441]] and [[U.S. Route 23 in North Carolina|US 23]]. The alternating named highway (depending on grade of road) is considered the commercial back-bone and main truck route of Western North Carolina, connecting the cities of [[Murphy, North Carolina|Murphy]], [[Andrews, North Carolina|Andrews]], [[Bryson City, North Carolina|Bryson City]], [[Cherokee, North Carolina|Cherokee]], [[Sylva, North Carolina|Sylva]], and [[Waynesville, North Carolina|Waynesville]]. In or around October, the fall colors create an influx of more tourists in the region. In the winter months, the highway is the first to be salted and plowed; however, both the [[Nantahala Gorge]] and [[Balsam Gap]] tend to get the most snow and/or ice in the region and should be traveled with care.

 

North of [[Clyde, North Carolina|Clyde]], US 74 merges with [[Interstate 40 in North Carolina|Interstate 40]] and goes east, in concurrency, to [[Asheville, North Carolina|Asheville]]. From there, it then goes southeast, in concurrency with [[Interstate 26 in North Carolina|Interstate 26]] till [[Columbus, North Carolina|Columbus]], where it separates and continues east along a mostly [[controlled-access highway]], except in [[Shelby, North Carolina|Shelby]], to [[Interstate 85 in North Carolina|Interstate 85]], in [[Kings Mountain, North Carolina|Kings Mountain]].

 

 

After leaving the Charlotte city limits, the route turns southeast as it goes through [[Stallings, North Carolina|Stallings]], [[Indian Trail, North Carolina|Indian Trail]] and [[Monroe, North Carolina|Monroe]], where it briefly overlaps with [[U.S. Route 601 in North Carolina|US 601]], before continuing east again through [[Wingate, North Carolina|Wingate]], [[Marshville, North Carolina|Marshville]], [[Peachland, North Carolina|Peachland]], [[Polkton, North Carolina|Polkton]], [[Wadesboro, North Carolina|Wadesboro]] and [[Lilesville, North Carolina|Lilesville]]. On this stretch, prior to 2018, signage for the route was very poor, only being found at a few locations along the route. As part of the US 74 Monroe Bypass project, signage along the route was improved by the NCDOT.

 

 

Near [[Chadbourn, North Carolina|Chadbourn]], US 74 overlaps with [[U.S. Route 76 in North Carolina|US 76]], which continue mostly together till [[Wrightsville Beach, North Carolina|Wrightsville Beach]], where US 74 dead-ends north and US 76 dead-ends south. Eastbound after the overlap with US 76, US 74 continues on Salisbury Street through some residential areas and businesses before coming to a traffic light separating Salisbury Street and Lumina Avenue. Drivers are directed to take a left on to North Lumina Avenue to continue on US 74 while South Lumina Avenue connects to Jack Parker Boulevard, which leads to US 76. Approximately {{Convert|1.7|mi|km}} on North Lumina, US 74 reaches its eastern terminus at a dead end circle with an entrance to the local Shell Island Resort hotel.

US 74 features several dedicated bridges and stretches of highway throughout its route.

 

* Andrew Jackson Highway&nbsp;– Official North Carolina name of US&nbsp;74 throughout the state, except in Robeson County (it is still named along the old sections of US 74 now called US 74 Business and Alternate). It was established to honor of the seventh [[President of the United States]], [[Andrew Jackson]] (approved: April 4, 1963).<ref name="NCMH">{{cite web |publisher= [[North Carolina Department of Transportation]] |url= https://connect.ncdot.gov/resources/safety/Teppl/TEPPL%20All%20Documents%20Library/Sorted%20by%20County.pdf |title= North Carolina Memorial Highways and other Named Facilities |date= July 15, 2004 |access-date= April 21, 2014 |url-status= dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20121229090753/https://connect.ncdot.gov/resources/safety/Teppl/TEPPL%20All%20Documents%20Library/Sorted%20by%20County.pdf |archive-date= December 29, 2012 }}</ref> Signage is found primarily east of Charlotte, overlapping other official North Carolina dedicated sections.

* C. Heide Trask Bridge&nbsp;– Official North Carolina name of bridge over the Inland Waterway, in [[Wrightsville Beach, North Carolina|Wrightsville Beach]] (approved: June 9, 1958).<ref name="NCMH"/>

* G R Kindley Freeway&nbsp;– Official North Carolina name of US&nbsp;74/[[Interstate 74 in North Carolina|I-74]] along the Rockingham-Hamlet bypass. It is named in honor of the former mayor of Rockingham (approved: September 8, 2000).<ref name="NCMH"/>

* Herman H. West Bridge&nbsp;– Official North Carolina name of bridge over the [[Valley River]], in [[Cherokee County, North Carolina|Cherokee County]]. It was dedicated in honor of the former state Senator and Representative (approved: September 8, 2000).<ref name="NCMH"/>

* J. Ollie Harris Highway&nbsp;– Official North Carolina name of US&nbsp;74 Bypass at [[Kings Mountain, North Carolina|Kings Mountain]] (approved: October 3, 1997).<ref name="NCMH"/>

* James Arthur Callahan Freeway&nbsp;– Official North Carolina name of a {{convert|2.7|mi|km|adj=on}} section of US 74/[[Interstate 26 in North Carolina|I-26]] in Rutherford County (approved: May 10, 1992).<ref name="NCMH"/>

* R.W. Goodman Bridge&nbsp;– Official North Carolina name of the westbound US&nbsp;74 bridge, over the [[Pee Dee River]]. It is named in honor of the former [[Richmond County, North Carolina|Richmond County]] sheriff [[R. W. Goodman]] (approved: March 11, 1983).<ref name="NCMH"/>

* Senator Jesse Helms Freeway&nbsp;– Official North Carolina name of US&nbsp;74 between [[U.S. Route 601|US&nbsp;601]] to the [[Anson County, North Carolina|Anson]]-[[Union County, North Carolina|Union]] County line (approved: January 8, 1993). Named in honor of the late five-term U.S. senator who was born in Union County in 1921.<ref name="NCMH"/>

Also in 1986, US&nbsp;74 was extended west, from [[Asheville, North Carolina|Asheville]] to [[Chattanooga, Tennessee]]. The routing extension started at its former western terminus with [[U.S. Route 70 in North Carolina|US&nbsp;70]], going northerly, in concurrency with US&nbsp;70, to I-240, where it overlapped briefly before joining [[U.S. Route 19 in North Carolina|US&nbsp;19]]/[[U.S. Route 23 in North Carolina|US&nbsp;23]]. From Asheville, in concurrency with US&nbsp;19/US&nbsp;23, it went through [[Canton, North Carolina|Canton]] and [[Lake Junaluska, North Carolina|Lake Junaluska]]. From Lake Junaluska, in concurrency with US&nbsp;23, it went through [[Waynesville, North Carolina|Waynesville]]. Near [[Dillsboro, North Carolina|Dillsboro]] it switches US&nbsp;23 for [[U.S. Route 441 in North Carolina|US&nbsp;441]] and continues till it splits north within the [[Qualla Boundary]]. West of [[Bryson City, North Carolina|Bryson City]], it overlaps with [[North Carolina Highway 28|NC&nbsp;28]]. In [[Topton, North Carolina|Topton]], it joins with [[U.S. Route 129 in North Carolina|US&nbsp;129]] and continues southwesterly till at [[Murphy, North Carolina|Murphy]], where it joins with [[U.S. Route 64 in North Carolina|US&nbsp;64]] and separates from US&nbsp;19/US&nbsp;129. Heading west, in concurrency with US&nbsp;64, it enters [[Tennessee]]; traversing through [[Ducktown, Tennessee|Ducktown]], it reaches [[Cleveland, Tennessee|Cleveland]], where it then follows the [[U.S. Route 64 in Tennessee|US&nbsp;64 Bypass]] to [[Interstate 75 in Tennessee|I-75]]. Continuing southeasterly, as a hidden concurrency with I-75, it connects with [[Chattanooga, Tennessee|Chattanooga]], ending at its new terminus at [[Interstate 24 in Tennessee|I-24]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/42/AASHTO_USRN_1986-06-09.pdf |title=US Route Change (1986-06-09) |publisher=North Carolina Department of Transportation |date=June 9, 1986 |access-date=August 31, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{AASHTO minutes |year=1986S |page=3 |access-date=August 31, 2014 |link=https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/42/AASHTO_USRN_1986-06-09.pdf}}</ref><ref>{{AASHTO minutes |year=1986A |page=4 |access-date=August 31, 2014 |link=https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/dc/AASHTO_USRN_1986-11-08.pdf}}</ref>

 

 

In 1994, US&nbsp;74 was rerouted onto I-40 for {{convert|1.58|mi|km}}, in Asheville, and then onto [[Interstate 26 in North Carolina|I-26]], from Asheville to [[Columbus, North Carolina|Columbus]]. East of Columbus, it traverses along new freeway to [[Forest City, North Carolina|Forest City]], where it meets back with its old alignment. The former routing between Asheville and Forest City becomes [[U.S. Route 74A in North Carolina|US&nbsp;74A]].<ref>{{AASHTO minutes |year=1994A |page=11 |access-date=August 31, 2014 |link=http://route.transportation.org/Documents/1994-USRN_Cmte.pdf}}</ref> In 1996, US&nbsp;74 was rerouted through Wilmington.<ref>{{AASHTO minutes |year=1996S |page=8 |access-date=August 31, 2014 |link=http://route.transportation.org/Documents/1996-USRN_Cmte.pdf}}</ref> In late 1997, US&nbsp;74 was rerouted onto I-40, between [[Clyde, North Carolina|Clyde]] and Asheville.<ref>{{AASHTO minutes |year=1997S |page=13 |access-date=August 31, 2014 |link=http://route.transportation.org/Documents/1997-USRN_Cmte.pdf}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://connect.ncdot.gov/resources/safety/Route%20Changes/Route%20Changes/US74_19980130B.pdf |title=US 74 Route Change (1998-01-30) |publisher=North Carolina Department of Transportation |date=January 30, 1998 |access-date=August 31, 2014}}</ref>

'''Independence Boulevard''' and '''Independence Expressway''' are two major interconnected roads in [[Mecklenburg County, North Carolina|Mecklenburg County]], [[North Carolina]] that carry US 74. Originally constructed in the 1940s and early 1950s, Independence Boulevard was the city of [[Charlotte, North Carolina|Charlotte]]'s first [[Limited-access road|expressway]]. The road has undergone numerous realignments, extensions, upgrades, truncations, and renamings since the mid-20th century.

 

 

Major changes to Independence Boulevard occurred in the 1980s. A portion of West Independence Boulevard was converted from expressway to [[limited-access road|limited-access freeway]] and made a part of the '''John Belk Freeway''' and Interstate 277. The portion west of [[Interstate 77 in North Carolina|Interstate 77]] was renamed '''Wilkinson Boulevard'''. A new intersection with I-277 (which would also connect to the [[North Carolina Highway 16|Brookshire Freeway]] that was upgraded as part of the I-277 project) was constructed and the connecting freeway along with the updated portion of East Independence Boulevard was given the name Independence Freeway; US 74 was shifted to this new alignment. After the massive transportation revamp, a few disconnected segments of the original Independence Boulevard remained. These segments were later reorganized and given the names Carson Boulevard, Stonewall Street, and South Independence Boulevard; the latter was downgraded to a surface street and renamed Charlottetown Avenue in 2007 to prevent confusion with the unconnected East Independence Boulevard. In 2021, Stonewall Street was renamed to Brooklyn Village Avenue to honor a Charlotte neighborhood that had been demolished for expansion of the Uptown area.

 

==Future==

In [[Graham County, North Carolina|Graham County]], NCDOT has proposed to relocate US 74 onto a new divided four-lane highway from [[Robbinsville, North Carolina|Robbinsville]] to Stecoah. This new routing will feature controlled at-grade intersections, viaduct and tunnel (at Stecoah Gap).<ref>{{cite map |publisher= North Carolina Department of Transportation |url= http://www.ncdot.gov/download/projects/publichearings/a9_rdy_phm_psh1_red.pdf |format= PDF |title= US 74 Relocation, from US 129 to NC 28: Roll 1 of 2 |access-date= April 21, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite map |publisher= North Carolina Department of Transportation |url= http://www.ncdot.gov/download/projects/publichearings/a9_rdy_phm_psh2_red.pdf |format= PDF |title= US 74 Relocation, from US 129 to NC 28: Roll 2 of 2 |access-date= April 21, 2014}}</ref> At a cost of $383 million, right-of-way acquisition is scheduled to begin in 2014 and construction to begin in 2016; however, this is subject to reprioritization. The project is part of an overall project to bypass the current routing through the [[Nantahala Gorge]], where bottlenecks are common along the two-lane highway through protected valley area within the [[Nantahala National Forest]]. The overall project, from [[Andrews, North Carolina|Andrews]] to [[Almond, North Carolina|Almond]], would complete a four-lane expressway from [[Cherokee County, North Carolina|Cherokee County]] to [[Asheville, North Carolina|Asheville]].<ref>{{cite web |author= Staff |url= http://www.ncdot.gov/projects/US74Relocation/ |title= US 74 Relocation Project |publisher= North Carolina Department of Transportation |access-date= April 21, 2014}}</ref>

 

On April 10, 2023, a bill was introduced to further upgrade the entire stretch of US 74 from I-26 in [[Columbus, North Carolina|Columbus]], and I-85 in [[Kings Mountain, North Carolina|Kings Mountain]] to interstate highway standards.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Robinson |first1=Chuck |title=Bill proposes making North Carolina's U.S. 74 a future interstate |url=https://landline.media/bill-proposes-making-north-carolinas-u-s-74-a-future-i-26/ |access-date=17 May 2023 |work=Land Line |date=18 April 2023}}</ref> Most of the corridor is already a freeway with the exception of sections in [[Mooresboro, North Carolina|Mooresboro]] and [[Shelby, North Carolina|Shelby]] in [[Cleveland County, North Carolina|Cleveland County]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Pridgen |first1=Denise |title=Edwards introduces bill to designate part of US 74 a future interstate |url=https://wlos.com/news/local/edwards-introduces-bill-to-designate-part-of-us-74-a-future-interstate |access-date=13 July 2023 |work=WLOS |date=14 April 2023 |language=en}}</ref> Currently, a {{convert|18.5|mi|km|adj=on}} [[controlled-access highway]] is being constructed under the designation of [[Shelby Bypass|US 74 Bypass]] to bypass Shelby to the north. When completed, it will improve vehicle capacity along the US 74 corridor, reduce future traffic congestion, increase safety and improve roadway continuity between I-26 and I-85. Being built in six sections, the cost is estimated at $295.9 million and has been fully funded. Construction first began on Section AA in July 2013 and was completed in September 2016. The next two sections (AB and B) being started in July 2014 and ending in April 2018; an additional paving project for Section AB (listed as Section F) was completed in 2020 as well. Construction on Section C began in 2017 and is expected to be completed by June 2024. The final design as well as right-of-way purchase for sections D and E are underway and construction of these final sections is expected to begin by the end of 2023 and be completed by 2029.<ref>{{cite web |author= Staff |url= http://www.ncdot.gov/projects/us74bypass/ |title= US 74 Bypass (Shelby Bypass) |publisher= North Carolina Department of Transportation |access-date= April 21, 2014}}</ref>

 

In Mooresboro, there are plans to convert the last remaining at-grade intersections (US 74 Business/Lattimore Road/Academy Street) into an interchange, as well as improving the bridges over Sandy Run Creek. When the interchange and the rest of the Shelby Bypass are completed, US 74 will become a full freeway between I-26 in Asheville and I-85 in Kings Mountain. The project had been in the State Transportation Improvement Program since 2000, but activities on it were limited until funding was secured in 2018. Public input from the community on these improvements, which gave four alternatives construction plans (1, 1A, 2, and 2A) as well as three options for service roads, was requested from late August to early September 2022. In December 2022, NCDOT announced the findings from the responses given and later stated that they had chosen Alternative 1A. This alternative will transform the US 74 Business/Lattimore Road/Academy Street intersection with a parclo interchange that will include a roundabout on the ramps to and from eastbound lanes. Service road plans were not announced, but public feedback showed almost unanimous support for option 3. Right-of-way acquisition and construction began in 2023.<ref>{{cite web |author= Staff |url= https://publicinput.com/US74-Mooresboro |title= Public Input for US 74 Improvements in Mooresboro |publisher= North Carolina Department of Transportation |access-date= August 28, 2022}}</ref>

 

 

 

The US 74 corridor from [[Rockingham, North Carolina|Rockingham]] to [[Bolton, North Carolina|Bolton]] is being upgraded to interstate standards as part of the I-74 extension. Currently, the only segment that has been completed and been officially signed as I-74 is between [[Maxton, North Carolina|Maxton]] and [[Lumberton, North Carolina|Lumberton]]. This segment has an interchange with [[Interstate 95 in North Carolina|I-95]], which meant that it could be signed as an interstate since it connected to the interstate highway system. The other portions of the route are in various stages of planning.<ref>{{cite web |title=NCDOT: I-74 Feasibility Study - Project Highlights |url=https://www.ncdot.gov/projects/i-74-study/Pages/project-highlights.aspx |website=NCDOT |access-date=7 October 2023}}</ref>

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|notes=Western terminus of US 74; west end of I-75 overlap; exit numbers follow I-75; US 74 begins unsigned}}

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