The first mainline Interstate 74 interchange within the Tarheel
State is the Exit 6 partial cloverleaf interchange at Pine Ridge. North Carolina 89 intersects the freeway
between the village of Bottom and city of Mount Airy (pop. 8,484). Photo taken 10/05/01.
Interstate 74 eastbound at the Exit 6 ramp departure of North
Carolina 89 (Pine Street). The east-west state highway also intersects Interstate 77 nearby at Exit 100.
Photo taken 10/05/01.
Continuing beyond the Exit 6 partial cloverleaf interchange on
Interstate 74 eastbound. Depicted here is a reassurance shield posted between North Carolina 89 and the diamond
interchange at Red Brush Road. Photo taken 10/05/01.
Two-mile guide sign for Exit 11 (U.S. 601) on Interstate 74
eastbound. The upcoming junction is one of three situated between Mount Airy and White Plains (pop. 1,049).
The north-south federal highway travels 7.5 miles south of the freeway to the town of Dobson (pop. 1,457).
Photo taken 10/05/01.
Entering the Exit 13 partial cloverleaf interchange of Interstate
74 eastbound. Park Drive intersects the east-west freeway here, traveling between nearby Siloam Road and U.S.
601 (Rockbridge Street) in Mount Airy. Photo taken 10/05/01.
The Mount Airy segment of Interstate 74 draws to a close
in two miles at the Exit 17 merge with U.S. 52 southbound. U.S. 52 predates Interstate 74 as a freeway between
the city of Winston-Salem (pop. 185,776) and Mount Airy. Photo taken 10/05/01.
One-half mile guide sign for Exit 17 (U.S. 52 north). The junction
between the two freeways composes a trumpet interchange. The mainline of Interstate 74 eastbound defaults onto
U.S. 52 southbound otherwise. Future Interstate 74 corridor signs are posted along the federal highway between
Exit 17 and the city of Winston-Salem. Upgrades to this freeway to Interstate standards are required before
Interstate 74 signs can be placed. Photo taken 10/05/01.
Interstate 74 eastbound at the merge with U.S. 52 southbound
(Exit 17). Note the space allocation for the eventual placement of an Interstate 74 shield on the pull-through
panel. Downtown Mount Airy lies 5.5 miles to the northwest. Mt. Airy/Surry County Airport also resides to the
northeast of this junction. Photo taken 10/05/01.
Interstate 74 end shield, posted at the merge with U.S. 52.
32 miles separate this location with downtown Winston-Salem via U.S. 52. Eventually Interstate 74 will continue
southeastward of Winston-Salem to High Point (pop. 85,839) and Randleman (pop. 3,557) where it will merge with the existing Interstate 73 & 74
at Asheboro (pop. 21,672). Photo taken 10/05/01.
Interstate 74 West
One mile east of the merge onto Interstate 77 northbound,
Interstate 74 westbound intersects North Carolina 89 (Exit 6). A partial cloverleaf interchange composes the
junction between the two highways. North Carolina 89 links Interstate 74 & 77 with the city of Mount Airy
and western Surry County via Lower Gap Road and Pine Street. Photo taken 10/05/01.
Two lanes facilitate Interstate 74 westbound motorists onto
Interstate 77 north and south. The final five miles of Interstate 74 within the Tarheel State are shared with
Interstate 77 through to the Virginia state line. There are no interchanges between here and the state border.
Photo taken 10/05/01.
The only existing set of Interstate 74 & 77 west/northbound
reassurance shields, posted just north of the Exit 101 merge of Interstate 74 onto Interstate 77. The next
departure point is situated six miles to the north at Exit 1 (Lamsburg Road) near Lamsburg, Virginia.
Photo taken 10/05/01.
