U.S. Route 74

U.S. Route 74
Route information
Length:	497 mi (800 km)
Existed:	1927 – present
Major junctions
West end:	I-75 at Cleveland, TN
	US 23 / US 441 at Dillsboro, NC I-40 near Asheville, NC I-26 at Columbus, NC I-85 at Kings Mountain, NC I-77 / US 21 at Charlotte, NC US 1 in Rockingham, NC US 15 / US 401 / US 501 at Laurinburg, NC I-74 / I-95 / US 301 at Lumberton, NC US 701 at Whiteville, NC US 17 at Wilmington, NC
East end:	Wrightsville Beach, NC
Highway system
United States Numbered Highways List • Bannered • Divided • Replaced ← SR-73 TN I-75 → ← NC 73 NC NC 75 →

U.S. Route 74 is an east–west United States highway that runs for 497 miles (800 km) from Cleveland, Tennessee to Wrightsville Beach, North Carolina.

Route description

Tennessee

Established in 1987, US-74 western terminus is exit 20 on I-75 in Cleveland. After 1.5 miles (2.4 km), it is overlapped with US-64 for the remaining 42.3 miles (68.1 km) in Tennessee before entering North Carolina (a total of 43.8 miles (70.5 km)).

Signage for US-74 is poor, as it appears more as an after-thought by TDOT. Most highways that cross US-74 will typically only mention US-64 instead; I-75 even ignores US-74 at its terminus, showing instead a connector to US-64. Unconfirmed if US-74 actually continues as a hidden highway west into Chattanooga and ends at I-24/I-75 interchange.

North Carolina

From the Tennessee state line, US 74 traverses across the southern portion of the state, connecting the cities Asheville, Charlotte, and Wilmington, for a total of 451.8 miles (727.1 km).

Western North Carolina

Established in 1987, US 74 was overlapped on pre-existing highways in the region, specifically the: Appalachian Highway (at-grade expressway, except in the Nantahala Gorge) and the Great Smoky Mountains Expressway (controlled-access freeway, which is broken in three sections along the route). 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, Andrews, Bryson City, Cherokee, Sylva, and 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.

At mile marker 108, it begins a 19 miles (31 km) overlap with I-40 till Asheville, where it switches partners with I-26 for an additional 36 miles (58 km) of interstate overlap. At Columbus, it separates with I-26, going east, on the Solon David Smart Memorial Highway, towards Shelby.

Metrolina

In Cleveland County, the freeway downgrades to an expressway. US 74 then goes through the city of Shelby, notorious for its traffic tie-ups; and then nearby Kings Mountain, where it returns to freeway grade. After the Interstate 85 weave intersection, it downgrades again to an expressway through the city and downtown area of Gastonia. Entering Mecklenburg County, the highway becomes known as Wilkinson Boulevard; in Uptown Charlotte, it becomes the John Belk Freeway; then followed promptly as Independence Freeway/Boulevard before exiting Mecklenburg county. Between Matthews and Monroe, the highway is known for its chronic rush hour traffic tie-ups; this is where the proposed new toll road, the Monroe Bypass, will be established to alleviate the traffic problem. After the city of Monroe (more specifically after US 601), the highway quickly becomes less stressful; the cities of Wingate and Wadesboro follow before crossing the Pee Dee River.

Sandhills

In Rockingham, US 74 meets up with Future I-74 at mile marker 311; it will continue along the same route till Bolton. Majority of the highway in the Sandhills region is at freeway grade; however only the American Indian Highway, a 19 miles (31 km) section, is at Interstate standards allowing a true concurrency I-74. This is one of only two instances (along with proposed I-41 in Wisconsin) of similarly-numbered U.S. and Interstate routes being designated on the same road.

Cape Fear

After Lumberton, the US 74 overlaps with US 76, which will continue mostly together till Wrightsville Beach, where US 74 will dead-end north and US 76 will dead-end south. The highway connects the cities and towns of Whiteville, Lake Waccamaw, and Wilmington. The road through the Cape Fear region is flat, surrounded by parts of the Green Swamp.

Scenic byways

Nantahala Byway is an 43-mile (69 km) byway from Marble to Whittier; it is known for its scenic views of the Nantahala Gorge, The Great Smoky Mountain Railroad, and the whitewater rafting on the Nantahala River . US 74 overlaps 38 miles (61 km) of the byway from Marble to Bryson City. The byway also overlaps with US 19 and US 129.

Alternate names

Though the highway is commonly known as "US 74" throughout the state of North Carolina and "US-64" (or ignored) in Tennessee, the highway does have other known names it uses locally in areas.

• American Indian Highway - official North Carolina name of the 19 miles (31 km) section of I-74/US 74 in Robeson County (mile marker 191-213). It is named to honor the large American Indian population in Robeson County.
• Andrew Jackson Highway - official North Carolina name of US 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). Signage is found throughout the entire route, overlapping other official North Carolina dedicated sections.
• Appalachian Highway - road name of the expressway sections in Cherokee, Graham, Swain, Jackson, and Haywood counties.
• Causeway Drive - road name on Harbor Island in Wrightsville Beach.
• Eastwood Road - road name in Wilmington.
• G R Kindley Freeway - official North Carolina name of US 74/I-74 along the Rockingham-Hamlet bypass. It is named in honor of the former mayor of Rockingham (approved: September 8, 2000).
• Great Smoky Mountains Expressway - Road name of the freeway sections in Swain, Jackson, and Haywood counties.
• Independence Boulevard/Freeway - Road name east of Uptown to Mecklenburg county line, named after nearby Independence Park.
• James Arthur Callahan Freeway - official North Carolina name of a 2.7-mile (4.3 km) section of US 74/I-26 in Rutherford County (approved: May 10, 1992).
• John Belk Freeway - official North Carolina name of US 74/I-277, from I-77/US 21 to Independence Boulevard, in Uptown Charlotte. It is named in honor of John M. Belk, who was mayor of Charlotte from 1969-1977 (approved: September 11, 1981).
• Martin Luther King Jr. Parkway - road name in Wilmington.
• Laurinburg Bypass - road name of freeway that bypasses around Laurinburg.
• Lumina Avenue - road name in Wrightsville Beach.
• Salisbury Street - road name connecting Causeway Drive and Lumina Avenue in Wrightsville Beach.
• Solon David Smart Memorial Highway - official North Carolina name of highway in Polk and Rutherford Counties (approved: December 1, 2000).
• W Cliff Martin Highway - official North Carolina name of US 74 from Union County line to Wadesboro, in Anson County (approved: May 2, 1997).
• Wilkinson Boulevard - road name west of Uptown to Mecklenburg county line.

Junction list

North Carolina

County	Location	Mile	Exit	Destinations	Notes
Cherokee		12		NC 294 – Suit, Hiwassee Dam
		14		NC 60 – Culberson
		15		US 19 south (Blairsville Highway) / US 129 south – Blairsville	South end of US 19/129 overlap
	Murphy	20		US 19 Bus. north (Hiwassee Street)
		20.5		US 64 east – Hayesville, Franklin	East end of US 64 overlap
		23		US 19 Bus. south (Pleasant Valley Road)
	Marble	29		NC 141 south
	Andrews	34		US 19 Bus. north (Main Street) Airport Road – Western Carolina Regional Airport
		37		US 19 Bus. south (Main Street)
Graham	Topton	44		US 129 north (Tallulah Road) – Robbinsville	North end of US 129 overlap
Swain	Almond	59		NC 28 north (Mtn. Waters Scenic Byway) – Robbinsville, Fontana	North end of NC 28 overlap; also to Fontana Dam
	Lauada	62		NC 28 south – Franklin	South end of NC 28 overlap
		64	64	US 19 north (Alarka Road)	North end of US 19 overlap; begin of Great Smoky Mountains Expressway
	Bryson City	67	67	Bryson City, Great Smoky Mtns Nat'l Park
		69	69	Hyatt Creek Road – Ela
	Whittler	72	72	Whittler
Jackson		74	74	US 441 north – Cherokee	North end of US 441 overlap
		81	81	US 23 south / US 441 south – Dillsboro, Franklin, Atlanta	South end of US 19/441 overlap, Eastbound listed as exit 81A Eastbound exit 81B has no signage, goes to Rufus Robinson Road
	Sylva	83	83	Sylva	Grindstaff Cove Road
		85	85	US 23 Bus. to NC 107 – Sylva, Western Carolina University
Haywood	Balsam	94		Blue Ridge Parkway
	Waynesville	98	98	US 23 Bus. – Waynesville
		100	100	Hazelwood Avenue
		102	102	US 276 – Waynesville, Brevard
	Lake Junaluska	103	103	US 19 south – Maggie Valley	South end of US 19 overlap
		104	104	US 23 Bus. / NC 209 – Lake Junaluska, Waynesville, Hot Springs
		105	105	West Jones Cove
	Clyde	106	106	US 19 north / US 23 north – Clyde	North end of US 19/23 overlap
		107	107	East Jones Cove
		108	108	I-40 west – Knoxville	West end of I-40 overlap; end of Great Smoky Mountains Expressway
US 74 overlaps with Interstate 40 (exits 27 to 46A) and Interstate 26 (exits 31B to 67)
Polk	Columbus	161	161	I-26 east to NC 108 – Tryon, Spartanburg	East end of I-26 overlap
		163	163	NC 108 – Columbus, Mill Spring
		167	167	NC 9 – Mill Spring, Lake Lure, Chimney Rock, New Prospect
		170	170	Pea Ridge Road
Rutherford		173	173	Union Road
		178	178	US 221 / US 74 Bus. – Rutherfordton, Spartanburg
	Forest City	181	181	US 74A to US 64 – Spindale
		182	182	US 221 Alt. – Forest City
		184	184	Old Caroleen Road
		187	187	Henrietta, Caroleen, Ellenboro
		189	189	NC 120
Cleveland	Mooresboro	191		US 74 Bus. west – Forest City
	Shelby	198		NC 226 north (Polkville Road) – Polkville, Marion	North end of NC 226 overlap
		199		US 74 Bus. east (Marion Street)
		201		To NC 18 to NC 150 – Gaffney	Signage only shows TO NC 18, ignoring NC 150 overlap
		201.5		NC 226 south (Earl Road) – Grover	South end of NC 226 overlap
		203		NC 180 (Post Road) – Gaffney
		204		US 74 Bus. west (Marion Street)
	Kings Mountain	209		US 74 Bus. east (Shelby Road) – Moss Lake
		212		Oak Grove Road
		213		NC 216 (Piedmont Avenue) – Kings Mountain, Cherryville
		214		NC 161 (Cleveland Avenue) – Bessemer City
Gaston		215		US 74 Bus. west (King Street) – Kings Mountain I-85 / US 29 south – Spartanburg	Westbound entrance and eastbound exit South end of US 29 overlap; eastbound US 74 goes between I-85 for almost a mile
	Gastonia	220		NC 274 north (Bessemer City Road) – Bessemer City	North end of NC 274 overlap
		222		US 321 (Chester Street/York Street)	North-south US 321 divided on one-way streets
		223		NC 274 south (Broad Street)	South end of NC 274 overlap; train tracks in medium of road
		224		NC 279 (New Hope Road)
		224.5		Aberdeen Boulevard – To Cox Road/Shopping Mall
	Belmont	231		NC 7 (Main Street)	To Belmont Abbey College
		231.5		NC 273 (Park Street) – Mount Holly
		232		NC 7 west (Catawba Street)
Mecklenburg	Charlotte	235		I-485 – Pineville, Huntersville
		236		Little Rock Road – Charlotte/Douglas Int'l Airport
		237		Boyer Street/Billy Graham Pkwy – Charlotte/Douglas Int'l Airport
		239.5		US 29 north (Morehead Street)	North end of US 29 overlap
		240		I-77 / US 21 – Statesville, Columbia	South end of I-277 overlap
		US 74 overlaps with Interstate 277 (exits 1A to 2B)
		242	242	I-277 / NC 16 north (Brookshire Freeway)	North end of I-277/NC 16 overlap
		243	243	NC 27 west (Charlottetowne Avenue)	Westbound exit and eastbound entrance, west end of NC 27 overlap This was originally a westward extension of Independence Boulevard until June 18, 2007
		244	244	Briar Creek Road – Bojangles' Coliseum	Exit also for Ovens Auditorium
		245	245A	Wendover Road
		245	245B	Eastway Drive
		246	246	NC 27 east (Albemarle Road)	Eastbound entrance and westbound exit, east end of NC 27 overlap
	Matthews	252		NC 51 (Matthews Township Parkway) – Matthews, Mint Hill
		254		I-485 – Pineville, Concord
Union	Monroe	265		Concord Avenue
		265.5		US 601 north / NC 200 south (Skyway Drive) – Fairview, Mineral Springs	North and South end of US 601 and NC 200 overlap
		266		NC 200 north – Unionville	North end of NC 200 overlap
		268		US 601 south – Pageland	South end of US 601 overlap
	Marshville	276		NC 205 (Elm Street/White Street) – New Salem	Brief NC 205 overlap
Anson	Polkton	285		NC 218 west (Williams Street) – New Salem, Mint Hill
	Wadesboro	285		US 52 north / NC 742 north – Albemarle, Anson County Airport	North end of US 52 and NC 742 overlap
		293		NC 109 (Greene Street) / NC 742 south – Mount Gilead	South end of NC 742 overlap
		295		US 52 south – Cheraw	South end of US 52 overlap
		304		NC 145 south – Morven, Chesterfield
Richmond		306	306	US 74 Bus. – Rockingham
		308	308	Galestown Rd. – Cordova
		311	311	US 1 to US 220 – Rockingham, Southern Pines, Cheraw	West end of Future I-74 overlap
		316	316	NC 177 – Hamlet
		319	319	NC 38 east – Bennettsville
		320	320	NC 381 – Hamlet, Gibson
		321	321	US 74 Bus. – Hamlet	Westbound exit and eastbound entrance
Scotland	Laurel Hill	329		NC 144 east (Morgan Street)
US 74 overlaps with Interstate 74 (exits 181 to 213)
Robeson		373		NC 72 west (Wilmington Highway) – Lumberton, Red Springs
		374		NC 130 west – Fairmont	West end of NC 130 overlap
Columbus	Evergreen	380		NC 242 (Haynes Lennon Highway) – Bladenboro
	Chadbourn	385		US 74 Bus. east / NC 130 east / NC 410 – Chadbourn, Bladenboro	East end of NC 130 overlap
		387		US 76 west – Chadbourn, Fair Bluff	Westbound entrance and eastbound exit, west end of US 76 overlap
		390		Union Valley Road – Union Valley
	Whiteville	392		US 701 – Whiteville, Clarkton
		395		US 74 Bus. west / US 76 Bus. west – Whiteville	Also to NC 214
	Bolton	410		NC 211 – Clarkton, Bolton, Supply
		413		NC 214 west – Bolton, Lake Waccamaw	Western terminus of NC 214
	Freeman	417		NC 11 north – Sandyfield	Southern terminus of NC 11
	Delco	422		NC 87 north – Riegelwood	North end of NC 87 overlap
	Maco	426		NC 87 south – Bishop	South end of NC 87 overlap
Brunswick	Leland	421		Lanvale Road – Leland
		435		US 17 south – Town Creek, Winnabow	South end of US 17 overlap
		436		NC 133 south – Belville, Southport	South end of NC 133 overlap
		438		US 17 Bus. south / US 76 east / US 421 – Wilmington, Carolina Beach	North and Southeast end of US 17 Bus., 76 and 421 overlap
New Hanover	Wilmington	439		US 17 / US 421 north – Clinton, Hampstead	North end of US 17 and 421 overlap
		440		3rd Street – Downtown Wilmington
		441		McRae Street	Eastbound exit only
		441.5		NC 133 north – Hightsville	North end of NC 133 overlap
		442		23rd Street/Airport Boulevard – Wilmington International Airport
		444		Kerr Avenue
		445		US 117 / NC 132 north to I-40 – Castle Hayne, Burgaw US 117 / NC 132 south to US 421 – Port of Wilmington, Carolina Beach
		446		US 17 Bus. (Market Street) – Wilmington, Ogden
		448		US 76 west (Military Cutoff Road) – Wilmington	West end of US 76 overlap
	Wrightsville Beach	449		US 76 east (Causeway Drive)	East end of US 76 overlap
		450		Lumina Avenue	End of US 74 is 1.8 miles (2.9 km) from intersection, north on Lumina Avenue
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi      Concurrency terminus •      Closed/former •      Incomplete access •      Unopened

History

"American Indian Highway" controversy

In Robeson County, the highway is designated "American Indian Highway", a name that was the brain child of Robert M. Chavis, the Wolfclan chief of the NC Tuscarora; Cherokee Indians of Robeson County, and Nottoway Nation, whom authored the name in the late 1990s. American Indian people of Robeson county NC had attempted to remove Andrew Jackson's name from the highway for some sixty years. Knowing that the new HWY 74 was to come Robert M. Chavis started a campaign to change the name to American Indian Highway. Mr. Chavis did this in honor of all the Indian people that had lost their lives along the Trail of Tears during the Indian Removal Act of the 1830s that was authored by Andrew Jackson. Robert M. Chavis was cited in many newspapers across North Carolina stating that the name should be changed, because that name on this section of road was tantamount to having a major road named Adolf Hitler that ran across a Jewish State or county. Robert Chavis with the help of the Tuscarora East of the Mountains obtained the information on how to attempt the name change from Rep. Ronnie Sutton and the NC-DOT. Then Robert Chavis presented orally the concerns, reasons for the name change to all the cities of Robeson county and the Robeson County Commissioners. Mr. Chavis' presentations convinced all these governmental bodies to sign on to the name change. Once he obtained approval from these entities he presented the name change to the NC-DOT. Rep. Ronnie Sutton supported the name change at the state level and the name change was approved by the NC-DOT. The new signs of American Indian Highway were placed on the new sections of I-74 once the highway construction was completed. in recognition of Jackson's anti-Indian policies.

Extension into Tennessee

In 1987, several highways west of Asheville were given the designation U.S. 74. This served several purposes: one number, rather than several, designated the main highway between Asheville and the Tennessee line. The other was to eliminate the designation of U.S. 19-A, used on the original U.S. 19 since 1948, when a road through Maggie Valley was improved and designated as U.S. 19. A bypass of Waynesville was finished in the 1960s, along with bypasses of Sylva and Dillsboro and of Bryson City in the 1970s. All were given the name U.S. 19A until the U.S. 74 renaming in 1987.

Independence Boulevard

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

Ben Douglas, former mayor of Charlotte and member of the North Carolina State Highway Commission, helped lead the push for the urban highway project in the 1940s that would become Independence Boulevard. In 1946, Charlotte voters passed a referendum in favor of a $200,000 bond issue to fund the project; this was coupled with over $2 million in federal funding. The expressway was to be named after Independence Park that was largely demolished to make way for the road; the name suggestion was coined by City Clerk Lillian Hoffman on May 4, 1949 after a previous suggestion naming it after the current mayor, Herbert Baxter, was rejected. Construction commenced in the late 1940s and the new expressway which traversed east–west along the southern part of the city opened in two parts; the first opened to traffic in 1949 and the other opened in 1950. US 74 and NC 27 were subsequently shifted from their central business district alignments to the new expressway.

Major changes to Independence Boulevard occurred in the 1980s. A portion of West Independence Boulevard was converted from expressway to limited-access freeway and made a part of the John Belk Freeway and Interstate 277. The portion west of Interstate 77 was renamed Wilkinson Boulevard. A new intersection with I-277 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.

The freeway and bus lanes of Independence Freeway were extended to Albemarle Road in 2005. The limited-access road extension has caused numerous businesses along the corridor to leave the area and vacate their commercial real estate, resulting in brownfield land.

Future

In addition to the expected concurrency with I-74 east of Rockingham, another controlled-access facility, called the Monroe Connector / Bypass, is also in the plans for U.S. 74. The bypass will run from Charlotte to Marshville, North Carolina, relieving traffic on the current alignment between these two cities. Several environmental issues have delayed this project for a number of years. The North Carolina Turnpike Authority has awarded the project and construction is scheduled to begin in October 2012.

There are also plans to build three new interchanges on Independence Boulevard. They will be located at Sharon-Amity Road, Idlewild Road and Conference Drive. Currently, all three junctions are signalized at-grade intersections.

A bypass of Shelby, North Carolina (west of Charlotte) is also planned. Once completed, U.S. 74 will be a continuous freeway from Waynesville, North Carolina (west of Asheville) to Kings Mountain and points east, pending the completion of those projects.

A 4-Lane Expressway with a tunnel and viaduct running from Almond in Swain County to Andrews, NC around Robbinsville is in the planning stages. The road presently runs through Nantahala Gorge and is a bottleneck with two lanes, as on each end of the Gorge is a 4-lane highway presently, and the new highway would clear the bottleneck and make Robbinsville more accessible to the outside world and Cherokee County to the rest of North Carolina. This plan has been marked with controversy, however, as it would disrupt the environment, spoil some views, and be the first four lane highway in Graham County.

In popular culture

U.S. Route 74 was the inspiration for the song "Distraction #74," by the North Carolina band The Avett Brothers.^{[citation needed]}

Photo gallery

• 

  Great Smoky Mountains Expressway through Waynesville (2006-10-01).

• 

  The Charlotte Skyline from Independence Freeway (2008-07-01).

• 

  I-277/US 74 directional signs at Stonewall Street, Charlotte (2009-10-18).

See also

• Bannered routes of U.S. Route 74
• Broad River
• Cape Fear River
• Catawba River
• Crowders Mountain State Park
• French Broad River
• Hiwassee River
• Lake Wylie

• Lumber River
• Lumber River State Park
• Nantahala Gorge
• Nantahala National Forest
• Nantahala River
• Pee Dee River
• Qualla Boundary
• USS North Carolina (BB-55)

External links

• NCRoads.com: US 74
• NCRoads.com Annex: US 74-A