Special routes of U.S. Route 74

Add links
Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

U.S. Route 74 marker

Special routes of U.S. Route 74
Highway system

Several special routes of U.S. Route 74 exist. In order from west to east they are as follows.

Existing

Asheville–Forest City alternate route

Main article: U.S. Route 74 Alternate (Asheville–Forest City, North Carolina)
U.S. Highway 74A
LocationAsheville–Forest City, NC
Length60 mi[1] (97 km)
Existed1994–present

U.S. Route 74 Alternate (US 74A) was established in 1994, replaced the old mainline US 74 route when US 74 was moved onto the Solon David Smart Memorial Highway and I-26. The alignment of US 74A varies greatly from the current parent route. US 74A traverses through downtown Asheville, goes through the mountain resort communities of Chimney Rock and Lake Lure, continues to Ruth, passes between the towns of Rutherfordton and Spindale, and bypasses Forest City to the south. US 74, joins I-40 eastbound west of Asheville, and switches onto I-26 eastbound through Fletcher, bypassing most of urban Asheville. Continuing along a southeasterly course, the parent US 74 passes by Hendersonville and splits from I-26 at Columbus; after passing south of Rutherfordton, US 74 meets the eastern terminus of US 74A.[2]

US 74A is concurrent with US 64 from Ruth in the east through Lake Lure, where NC 9 joins, and Chimney Rock; the three routes separate in Bat Cave. NC 9 splits to the north, US 64 to the south; US 74A alone continues west from that point. In Asheville, US 74A has many concurrencies; US 70 is concurrent with US 74A in east and downtown Asheville and Interstate 26, I-240, US 19/US 23 are concurrent with US 74A west of downtown. Near US 74A's western terminus, US 19/US 23 are concurrent with US 74A. NC 81 overlaps with US 74A for a short 1-mile (1.6 km) segment in southeast Asheville. Between Asheville and Gerton, US 74A bears the street name Charlotte Highway. East of Gerton, the road is named the Gerton Highway until arriving at Bat Cave. Through towns and cities, the road takes various names including Main Street and Railroad Avenue.

US 74A is overlapped by two North Carolina scenic byways: Drovers Road (Asheville to Bat Cave) and Black Mountain Rag (Bat Cave to Lake Lure).[3]

Major junctions
CountyLocationmi[1]kmExitDestinationsNotes
BuncombeAsheville0.000.00
 US 19 / US 23 south (Smokey Park Highway south) / I-40 / US 74 – Canton		Western end of US 19/US 23 concurrency; western terminus; I-40 exit 44; highway continues south as US 19/US 23.
3.25.1
 NC 63 north (Leicester Highway) – Leicester
4.06.4



 I-240 west to Future I-26 / I-40		Southern end of I-240/I-26 concurrency
4.47.13BWestgate Parkway / Resort DriveExit numbers follow I-240.
4.87.74A
UNC Asheville, Weaverville, Woodfin
Northern end of I-26 and US 19/US 23 concurrencies; western end of US 70 concurrency
5.08.04BPatton Avenue – DowntownNo westbound exit
5.58.94CMontford Avenue / Haywood Street
6.09.75A US 25 (Merrimon Avenue)Eastbound entrance includes direct entrance ramp from Woodfin Street.
6.210.0
 I-240 east – Oteen		Eastern end of I-240 concurrency; I-240 exit 5B
6.510.5
 NC 694 north (Town Mountain Road)		Southern terminus of NC 694
Beaucatcher Tunnel
7.512.1 I-240I-240 exit 6; access to I-240 east via Chunns Cove Road
8.012.9US 70 east (Tunnel Road east)Eastern end of US 70 concurrency
8.714.0
 NC 81 west (Swannanoa River Road west) – Biltmore Forest		Western end of NC 81 concurrency
10.016.1
 NC 81 east (Swannanoa River Road east) – Swannanoa		Eastern end of NC 81 concurrency
10.516.9
 I-240 west		Western end of I-240 concurrency; I-240 exit 8
11.017.7
 I-240 ends / I-40 – Statesville, Knoxville		Eastern end of I-240 concurrency; I-240 exit 9; I-40 exit 53
11.819.0 Blue Ridge ParkwayRight-in/right-out interchange in both directions
HendersonBat Cave28.746.2
 NC 9 north – Black Mountain		Western end of NC 9 concurrency
28.846.3
 US 64 west – Hendersonville		Western end of US 64 concurrency
RutherfordLake Lure36.057.9
 NC 9 south – Mill Spring		Eastern end of NC 9 concurrency
Rutherfordton52.083.7 US 221 – MarionInterchange
Ruth52.584.5
 US 64 east – Morganton		Eastern end of US 64 concurrency
US 221A – Spindale, Forest City
SpindaleOakland Road
Spindale		Interchange; eastbound signage
Interchange; westbound signage
Forest City60.096.6 US 74 – Columbus, Asheville, ShelbyInterchange; eastern terminus
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi

Rutherfordton–Forest City business loop

Business plate.svg
U.S. Highway 74 Business marker
U.S. Highway 74 Business
LocationRutherfordton – Forest City, NC
Length21.5 mi[4] (34.6 km)
Existed1960–present
US 74 Business at the Cleveland/Rutherford County line

U.S. Route 74 Business (US 74 Bus) was established in 1960 as a renumbering of US 74A, it traversed along Washington Street and Charlotte Road in Rutherfordton. In December 1970, US 74 was extended east through Spindale, Forest City, and Ellenboro when US 74 was placed on new freeway bypass.[5] In 1994, US 74 was moved south onto a new alignment towards Columbus, converting the old mainline into US 74A; as a result, US 74 Business was rerouted in Rutherfordton to go south in concurrency with US 221 to the US 74 freeway.[6]


CountyLocationmi[4]kmDestinationsNotes
Rutherford​0.00.0
 US 74 / US 221 south – Columbus, Shelby, Chesnee		South end of US 221 overlap
US 221A / NC 108 west – Marion, Columbus
North end of US 221/US 221A overlap
6.210.0
US 74A – Ruth, Forest City
US 221A
south (Broadway Street)		South end of US 221A overlap
​12.820.6Bostic Sunshine Highway – Bostic
Cleveland​20.132.3
 NC 120 south – Cliffside
Mooresboro21.534.6 US 74 – Columbus, Shelby
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi

Shelby business loop

Business plate.svg
U.S. Highway 74 Business marker
U.S. Highway 74 Business
LocationShelby, North Carolina
Length6.2 mi[7] (10.0 km)
Existed1960–present

U.S. Route 74 Business (US 74 Bus) was established in 1960 as a renumbering of US 74A, following Marion Street and Warren Street. In December 1971, the eastern portion of Warren Street was changed, forcing eastbound US 74 Business to be rerouted north on DeKalb Street then onto Marion Street.[8]

The entire route is in Shelby, Cleveland County.

mi[7]kmDestinationsNotes
0.00.0 US 74 / NC 226 – Forest City, Columbus, Polkville
1.52.4
 NC 18 / NC 150 west (Lafayette Street) – Fallston		West end of NC 150 overlap
3.25.1
 NC 150 east (Cherryville Road) – Cherryville		East end of NC 150 overlap
4.87.7 NC 180 (Post Road)
6.210.0 US 74 – Kings Mountain, Gastonia, Charlotte
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi

Kings Mountain business loop

Business plate.svg
U.S. Highway 74 Business marker
U.S. Highway 74 Business
LocationKings Mountain, North Carolina
Length5.4 mi[9] (8.7 km)
Existed1984–present

U.S. Route 74 Business (US 74 Bus) was established in 1984, it was a renumbering of the old mainline US 74 through Kings Mountain. US 74 Business begins at US 74 west of Kings Mountain. The route is routed along Shelby Road into the town. US 74 Business runs through the downtown of area Kings Mountain before reaching US 74 again on the eastern side of Kings Mountain.


CountyLocationmi[9]kmDestinationsNotes
ClevelandKings Mountain0.00.0 US 74 – Shelby, Gastonia
2.03.2Kings Mountain Boulevard
4.06.4 NC 216 (Battleground Avenue) – Grover, Cherryville
4.67.4 NC 161 (Cleveland Avenue) – Bessemer City, York
Gaston​5.48.7
 US 74 east – Gastonia, Charlotte		Eastbound exit and westbound entrance
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi

Monroe Expressway

Main article: Monroe Expressway
right-of-way acquisition already completed, construction was originally to begin in October 2012; however, because of several environmental issues and litigation, the project was delayed until May 2015.[13][14] On November 27, 2018, the Monroe Expressway opened to traffic.[15]

The Monroe Expressway uses

automatic license plate recognition. Tolls are collected per gantry, seven in total, which are located between each exit along the bypass. As of July 24, 2018, the total trip rate is $2.54 with valid transponder and $3.92 via bill by mail.[16][17]

The entire route is in Union County.

LocationmikmExitDestinationsNotes
Stallings—
 US 74 west – Charlotte		Continuation as US 74
Hemby Bridge257Indian Trail–Fairview Road – Hemby Bridge, Indian Trail
Indian Trail259Unionville–Indian Trail Road – Lake Park
Monroe260Rocky River Road
264 US 601 (Concord Highway) – Monroe, Concord
266 NC 200 (Morgan Mill Road)
Wingate270Austin Chaney Road – Wingate
​18.7230.13—
 US 74 east – Rockingham		Continuation as US 74
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi

Rockingham–Hamlet business loop

Business plate.svg
U.S. Highway 74 Business marker
U.S. Highway 74 Business
LocationRockingham – Hamlet, NC
Length15.0 mi[18] (24.1 km)
Existed2003–present

U.S. Route 74 Business (US 74 Bus) was established in 2003 as a renumbering of the mainline US 74 through Rockingham and Hamlet.[19]

The entire route is in Richmond County.

Locationmi[18]kmDestinationsNotes
​0.00.0
 I-73 north / I-74 / US 74 – Asheboro, Monroe, Lumberton
Rockingham2.03.2Cartledge Creek Road
5.58.9 US 220 – Asheboro, Cheraw
5.89.3
 US 1 south (Hancock Street) – Cheraw
Hamlet11.017.7 NC 177 (King Street) – Cheraw
12.019.3
 NC 38 south (Louis Breeden Boulevard) – Bennettsville
​13.020.9
 NC 381 south – Gibson
​15.024.1

 US 74 / Future I-74 east – Laurinburg		Eastbound exit and Westbound entrance
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi

Laurinburg–Maxton business loop

Business plate.svg
U.S. Highway 74 Business marker
U.S. Highway 74 Business
LocationLaurinburg – Maxton, NC
Length12.4 mi[20] (20.0 km)
Existed1967–present

U.S. Route 74 Business (US 74 Bus) was established in 1967 as a renumbering of mainline US 74 through Laurinburg. In 1984, it was extended east replacing mainline US 74 through Maxton.[21]


CountyLocationmi[20]kmDestinationsNotes
Scotland​0.00.0

 I-74 west / US 74 west – Hamlet, Rockingham		Westbound exit and eastbound entrance
Laurinburg1.32.1
 NC 79 south (Gibson Road) – Gibson
2.03.2
US 501 – Aberdeen, Raeford, McColl
2.84.5
US 501 Bus.
(Main Street)
​5.89.3 I-74 / US 74 – Hamlet, Rockingham, Whiteville
RobesonMaxton9.815.8

 NC 71 north / NC 130 south (Patterson Street) – Red Springs, Raemon
​12.420.0
US 74 Alt. east – Laurinburg, Whiteville
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi

Maxton–Lumberton alternate route

Alternate plate.svg
U.S. Highway 74 Alternate marker
U.S. Highway 74 Alternate
LocationMaxton – Lumberton, NC
Length15.5 mi[22] (24.9 km)
Existed2007–present

U.S. Route 74 Alternate (US 74 Alt) was established in 2007 when mainline US 74 and I-74 were realigned to a new freeway south of the old route, between Maxton to near Lumberton.[23][24] The route, just south of the banks of the Lumber River, goes through mostly farmland. In between, NC 710 connect travelers to Pembroke, where the University of North Carolina at Pembroke is located. Highway signs along the route are signed as "Alternate" or "ALT" above US 74; as opposed to US 74A, which is used in Western North Carolina.

The entire route is in Robeson County.

Locationmi[22]kmDestinationsNotes
​0.00.0
US 74 Bus. west – Maxton, Laurinburg
​5.08.0 NC 710 – Pembroke, RowlandTo University of North Carolina at Pembroke
Lumberton15.524.9 I-74 / US 74 – Whiteville, Wilmington
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi

Chadbourn–Whiteville business loop

Business plate.svg
U.S. Highway 74 Business marker
U.S. Highway 74 Business
LocationChadbourn – Whiteville, NC
Length12.3 mi[25] (19.8 km)
Existed1975–present

U.S. Route 74 Business (US 74 Bus) was established in 1975 to replace the old mainline US 74 through

US 76 Business.[26]

The entire route is in Columbus County.

Locationmi[25]kmDestinationsNotes
​0.00.0


 Future I-74 / US 74 west / NC 130 north / NC 410 – Laurinburg, Bladenboro, Whiteville		West end of NC 130 and north end of NC 410 overlap
US 76 Bus. – Fair Bluff, Whiteville
West end of US 76 Bus. overlap
2.13.4
 NC 410 south (Brown Street) – Chadbourn, Tabor City		South end of NC 410 overlap
US 701 / NC 130 east (Powell Boulevard) – Tabor City, Clarkton, Elizabethtown
East end of NC 130 overlap
9.515.3
US 701 Bus.
(Pinckney Street/Madison Street)		Roundabout
​12.119.5
 NC 214 east (Sam Potts Highway) – Hallsboro
​12.319.8
 Future I-74 / US 74 / US 76 – Wilmington, Laurinburg
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi

Future

Shelby Bypass

Main article: Shelby Bypass
By-pass plate.svg
U.S. Highway 74 Bypass marker
U.S. Highway 74 Bypass
LocationShelby, North Carolina
Length18.5 mi[27] (29.8 km)

U.S. Route 74 Bypass (US 74 Byp.) is the future designation of the Shelby Bypass; currently being constructed in phases. The designation, listed on NCDOT documents, has not been submitted/approved by AASHTO.[28]

First segment opened in April 2020 from US 74, east of Mooresboro, to NC 226 (Polkville Road).[29] In June 2025, the second segment was opened, extending the bypass to NC 150 (Cherryville Road). The last segment of the bypass will reunite with US 74 east of Shelby, near Long Branch Road, with an anticipated completion date in 2029.[27]

Former

Rutherfordton alternate route

U.S. Highway 74A marker
U.S. Highway 74A
LocationRutherfordton, North Carolina
Length2.2 mi[30] (3.5 km)
Existed1949–1960

U.S. Route 74 Alternate (US 74A) was established in 1948 or 1949, it followed the original US 74 route through Rutherfordton, as the mainline US 74 was placed on a new bypass route through Ruth. Traversing along Washington Street and Charlotte Road, it was renumbered US 74 Business in 1960.[2]

Shelby alternate route

U.S. Highway 74A marker
U.S. Highway 74A
LocationShelby, North Carolina
Length6.2 mi[7] (10.0 km)
Existed1936–1960

U.S. Route 74 Alternate (US 74A) was established in 1936 as a new primary routing using Marion Street through Shelby; paralleling mainline US 74, which was on Warren Street. Around 1949, US 74 was moved onto new bypass south of Shelby; US 74A was thus extended on both directions. As part of this development, US 74A was split west on Marion Street and east on Warren Street. In 1960 it was renumbered to US 74 Business.[2]

Bessemer City alternate route

U.S. Highway 74A marker
U.S. Highway 74A
LocationBessemer City, North Carolina
Length10.0 mi[31] (16.1 km)
Existed1937–1938

U.S. Route 74 Alternate (US 74A) was established in 1937, this alternate route, along with

US 29A, followed the old routing from Kings Mountain to Gastonia, via Bessemer City. A year later, it was renumbered as NC 161 and NC 274.[2]

Monroe alternate route 1

U.S. Highway 74A marker
U.S. Highway 74A
LocationMonroe, North Carolina
Length0.4 mi[32] (640 m)
Existed1949–1952

U.S. Route 74 Alternate (US 74A) was established between 1945 and 1949, it was set up as an inner bypass of downtown Monroe, via Jefferson Street. It was decommissioned in 1952 when US 74 moved out of the downtown area, converting the old route, along Charlotte Avenue and Franklin Street, into the second alternate route.[2]

Monroe alternate route 2

U.S. Highway 74A marker
U.S. Highway 74A
LocationMonroe, North Carolina
Existed1952–1954

U.S. Route 74 Alternate (US 74A) was established in 1952, it replaced the old mainline US 74 through downtown Monroe, via Franklin Street and Charlotte Avenue. In 1953, it was rerouted along Skyway Drive when US 74 was completely realigned onto new bypass routing between Matthews and Monroe. In 1954, it was decommissioned.[2]

Rockingham alternate route

U.S. Highway 74A marker
U.S. Highway 74A
LocationRockingham, North Carolina
Existed1953–1957

U.S. Route 74 Alternate (US 74A) was established between 1951 and 1953, after US 74 was rerouted south of downtown Rockingham. The alternate route followed the old alignment along Washington Street and Rockingham Road. In 1957 it was decommissioned.[2]

Leland alternate route

U.S. Highway 74A marker
U.S. Highway 74A
LocationLeland, North Carolina
Length0.14 mi[33] (230 m)
Existed1936–1975

U.S. Route 74 Alternate (US 74A) was established in 1936, it replaced mainline US 74 through an intersection in Leland, while the mainline was moved just off to the right on Village Road. At 0.14 miles (0.23 km), it was the shortest alternate route. It was unsigned throughout its existence,[citation needed] but was marked on state and county maps up until 1975, when NCDOT downgraded it to secondary road status.[34]

Wrightsville Beach alternate route

U.S. Highway 74A marker
U.S. Highway 74A
LocationWrightsville Beach, North Carolina
Existed1938–1940

U.S. Route 74 Alternate (US 74A) was established by 1938 as new primary routing, it went from Causeway Drive south along Waynick Boulevard, ending on the south-end of Wrightsville Beach; making it a spur route of US 74. By 1940, it was replaced by an extension of US 76.[2]

References

  1. ^ a b "US 74A — Asheville-Forest City" (Map). Google Maps. Retrieved March 1, 2011.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h "NCRoads.com: U.S. 74-A". Retrieved August 16, 2012.
  3. ^ "NCDOT: Scenic Byways". Archived from the original on January 25, 2011. Retrieved March 1, 2011.
  4. ^ a b "US 74 Bus — Rutherfordton-Forest City" (Map). Google Maps. Retrieved March 1, 2011.
  5. ^ "US Route Changes (1970-12-03)" (PDF). North Carolina Department of Transportation. December 3, 1970. Retrieved July 10, 2014.
  6. ^ "Route Changes (1994-09-15)" (PDF). North Carolina Department of Transportation. September 15, 1994. Retrieved July 10, 2014.
  7. ^ a b c "US 74 Bus — Shelby" (Map). Google Maps. Retrieved March 1, 2011.
  8. ^ "US Route Changes (1971-12-01)" (PDF). North Carolina Department of Transportation. December 1, 1971. Retrieved July 10, 2014.
  9. ^ a b "US 74 Bus — Kings Mountain" (Map). Google Maps. Retrieved March 1, 2011.
  10. ^ Special Committee on U.S. Route Numbering (September 20, 2018). "2018 Annual Meeting Report to the Council on Highways and Streets" (PDF) (Report). Washington, DC: American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials. p. 3. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 5, 2018. Retrieved October 7, 2018.
  11. ^ Selected Alternative, Monroe Connector/Bypass (PDF) (Map). North Carolina Turnpike Authority. Retrieved April 21, 2014.
  12. ^ Henson, Christian (November 27, 2018). "The Charlotte Area's First Toll Road, the Monroe Expressway, Opens Tuesday". Charlotte, NC: Spectrum News. Retrieved November 27, 2018.
  13. ^ Staff. "Monroe Bypass". North Carolina Department of Transportation. Retrieved June 11, 2015.
  14. ^ "NCDOT Begins Construction on Monroe Expressway" (Press release). North Carolina Department of Transportation. May 28, 2015. Retrieved May 28, 2015.
  15. ^ Henson, Christian (November 27, 2018). "The Charlotte Area's First Toll Road, the Monroe Expressway, Opens". Charter Communications. Spectrum News Charlotte. Retrieved November 29, 2018.
  16. ^ "Monroe Expressway". North Carolina Turnpike Authority. Retrieved October 1, 2018.
  17. ^ Monroe Expressway Toll Rates 2018 (PDF) (Map). North Carolina Turnpike Authority. July 24, 2018. Retrieved October 1, 2018.
  18. ^ a b "US 74 Bus — Rockingham-Hamlet" (Map). Google Maps. Retrieved March 1, 2011.
  19. ^ "Route Changes (2003-02-17)" (PDF). North Carolina Department of Transportation. February 17, 2003. Retrieved July 10, 2014.
  20. ^ a b "US 74 Bus — Laurinburg-Maxton" (Map). Google Maps. Retrieved March 1, 2011.
  21. ^ "Route Changes (1984-11-01)" (PDF). North Carolina Department of Transportation. November 1, 1984. Retrieved July 10, 2014.
  22. ^ a b "US 74 Alt — Maxton-Lumberton" (Map). Google Maps. Retrieved March 1, 2011.
  23. ^ "I-74 Segment 16". Archived from the original on January 2, 2011. Retrieved October 30, 2010.
  24. ^ "Route Changes (2007-10-05)" (PDF). North Carolina Department of Transportation. October 5, 2007. Retrieved July 10, 2014.
  25. ^ a b "US 74 Bus — Chadbourn-Whiteville" (Map). Google Maps. Retrieved March 1, 2011.
  26. ^ "Route Changes (1976-02-01)" (PDF). North Carolina Department of Transportation. February 1, 1976. Retrieved July 10, 2014.
  27. ^ a b "New Segment of Shelby Bypass Is Open" (Press release). North Carolina Department of Transportation. June 16, 2025. Retrieved June 17, 2025.
  28. ^ "R-2702 Cleveland County, US 74 Shelby Bypass" (PDF). NCDOT. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 7, 2016. Retrieved March 6, 2016.
  29. ^ Sitzes, Rebecca (April 15, 2020). "New Segment of Bypass Open for Business". Shelby Star. Archived from the original on December 2, 2020.
  30. ^ "US 74A — Rutherfordton" (Map). Google Maps. Retrieved August 16, 2012.
  31. ^ "US 74A — Bessemer City" (Map). Google Maps. Retrieved August 16, 2012.
  32. ^ "US 74A — Monroe 1" (Map). Google Maps. Retrieved August 16, 2012.
  33. ^ "US 74A — Leland" (Map). Google Maps. Retrieved August 16, 2012.
  34. ^ "US Route Changes (09-01-75)" (PDF). Retrieved August 16, 2012.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special_routes_of_U.S._Route_74&oldid=1296088369"