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U.S. Highway 74 Eastbound in Western North Carolina

U.S. Highway 74 East
Approaching the northern terminus of North Carolina 141 on U.S. 19-129 north & U.S. 74 eastbound at Marble. North Carolina 141 travels south from Marble six miles to Peachtree and eight miles to junction U.S. 64 near Brasstown. Photo taken 09/12/04.
U.S. 19-129 north & U.S. 74 east at North Carolina 141. The state highway links the three-way overlap with Hayesville via U.S. 64 eastbound from its south end and Tri County Community College. The village center of Marble lies to the north via SR-1519. Photos taken 09/12/04.
Reassurance markers for U.S. 19-74-129 posted after Marble and North Carolina 141. U.S. 74 is signed as the Appalachian Highway throughout most of Western North Carolina. Andrews lies five miles ahead. Photo taken 09/12/04.
U.S. 19-129 north & U.S. 74 eastbound as they near the town of Andrews in eastern Cherokee County. Departing ahead is the U.S. 19 Business loop of Main Street through downtown. Photo taken 09/12/04.
U.S. 19 Business (Main Street) travels 2.9 miles through Andrews south of the U.S. 19-74-129 bypass north of town. The loop also serves Valleytown east of downtown and its connnection with SR-1505. SR-1505 stems east from Andrews to the Nantahala Dam and Lake area at Aquone. Photo taken 09/12/04.
A set of traffic signals govern the western terminus intersection of U.S. 19 Business (Main Street) with U.S. 19-129-74 and SR-1428 to the left. Photo taken 09/12/04.
Traveling on U.S. 19-129 north & U.S. 74 eastbound after the U.S. 19 Business (Main Street) northern terminus near Valleytown. Seven miles separate Andrews from Topton and the Macon County line. Photo taken 09/12/04.
U.S. 129 branches northwest from U.S. 19 & 74 at the community of Topton. The federal highway travels ten miles west to Robbinsville where the highway joins North Carolina 143 briefly. U.S. 19 & 74 continue northeast into Swain County and Nantahala Gorge. Photo taken 09/12/04.
U.S. 129 continues from the North Carolina state line at Tapoco to Maryville and Knoxville, Tennessee where it ends at Interstate 40. The highway also provides connections with the Cherohala Skyway (North Carolina 143) to the Joyce Kilmer Memorial Forest and Fontana Village via North Carolina 28 south. Photo taken 09/12/04.
U.S. 19 north & 74 east continue as a two-lane highway three miles to Nantahala Gorge and ten miles to Wesser in southwestern Swain County from Topton. Photo taken 09/12/04.
Four miles north of Wesser is the U.S. 19 north & 74 east junction with North Carolina 28 near Almond. The state highway travels east from Stecoah 11 miles to Almond and its merge with the U.S. highway tandem. Photo taken 09/12/04.
North Carolina 28 straddles the Fontana Lake area between Almond and Fontana Village. Connections with North Carolina 148 at Stecoah link the state highway with Cheoah and Robbinsville at U.S. 129. The state highway ends 33 miles to the northwest at junction U.S. 129 near the Tennessee state line. Photo taken 09/12/04.
North Carolina 28 southbound joins U.S. 19 north & 74 east for three miles between here and Lauada. North Carolina 28 travels 24 miles west to Fontana Village in northern Graham County. Photo taken 09/12/04.
U.S. 19 north, U.S. 74 east, and North Carolina 28 southbound reassurance shield assembly and mileage sign posted after their merge near Almond. U.S. 74 comprises the main east-west highway between Interstate 40 west of Asheville and the Tennessee state line. U.S. 19 & 74 split four miles ahead outside of Bryson City. Photo taken 09/12/04.
Two miles east of the split with North Carolina 28 at Lauada is the partition of U.S. 19 northbound for Bryson City. Before that split is the beginning of the Great Smoky Mountains Expressway for U.S. 74 eastbound. The designation applies to both the freeway and divided highway segments of the federal highway between Lauada and junction Interstate 40 at Clyde. Photo taken 09/12/04.
Bryson City next three exits sign posted on U.S. 19 north & 74 eastbound. Exits 64 (U.S. 19), 67, and 69 serve the Swain County seat to the north. The first of three freeway segments for U.S. 74 begins ahead to bypass Bryson City to the south. The second segment bypasses Sylva and the third bypasses Waynesville and Clyde. Photo taken 09/12/04.
Ascending toward the Exit 64 interchange with U.S. 19 (Alarka Road) on U.S. 19 north & 74 eastbound. U.S. 19 follows Alarka Road north from the Great Smoky Mountains Expressway two miles into Bryson City itself. The federal highway continues from there along the Tuckasegee River to Ela and Birdtown. Photo taken 09/12/04.
U.S. 19 provides the main route to Cherokee and the Great Smoky Mountains National Park from the west and south. The highway intersects U.S. 441 in the resort town of Cherokee five miles south of the west end of the Blue Ridge Parkway. The Blue Ridge Parkway travels east from U.S. 441 to Balsam Gap, Beech Gap, and the Asheville area in western North Carolina. Photo taken 09/12/04.
The partition of U.S. 19 north from U.S. 74 eastbound at Exit 64. The Great Smoky Mountains Expressway bypasses the Bryson City, Ela, and Whittier area along a ten-mile freeway between U.S. 19 (Alarka Road) and U.S. 441. Exits 67, 69, and 72 ahead provide connections to U.S. 19 as well. Photo taken 09/12/04.
Exit 67 is the preferred route to U.S. 19 for the Great Smoky Mountains National Park on U.S. 74 eastbound. SR-1188 stems north from the diamond interchange to U.S. 19 (Main Street) as Spring Street). The surface highway crosses the Tuckasegee River as Slope Street into downtown Bryson City. Photo taken 09/12/04.
U.S. 74 eastbound at the Exit 67 off-ramp for downtown Bryson City and the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. U.S. 19 follows the southern banks of the Tuckasegee River at Bryson City before crossing on the way to Ela, Birdtown, and Cherokee. The federal highway merges with U.S. 441 at Cherokee nine miles to the east of town. Photo taken 09/12/04.
U.S. 74 itself kisses the southern banks of the Tuckasegee River between Exits 67 and 69. At Exit 69, Hyatts Creek Road interchanges with the Great Smoky Mountains Expressway south of Ela. Photo taken 09/12/04.
Like Exit 67, Exit 69 also provides a direct connection between U.S. 74 and U.S. 19 for Cherokee and the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Hyatts Creek Road crosses the Tuckasegee River at Ela before ending at the federal highway five miles west of Cherokee. Photo taken 09/12/04.
U.S. 74 eastbound at the Exit 69 diamond interchange with Hyatts Creek Road. The north-south roadway travels 1.8 miles north from Falls Branch Road and the Great Smoky Mountains Expressway to junction U.S. 19 at Ela. Photo taken 09/12/04.
Exit 72 of the Great Smoky Mountains Expressway serves the community of Whittier along the Swain / Jackson County line. Intersecting the freeway here is SR-1195, a short connector roadway between U.S. 19 (Ela Road) and U.S. 74. Photo taken 09/12/04.
Eastbound at the Exit 72 trumpet interchange with SR-1195 at Whittier. SR-1195 follows the Tuckasegee River 2.2 miles northwest from U.S. 74 to U.S. 19 (Ela Road). Photo taken 09/12/04.
The final interchange of the Bryson City freeway segment of U.S. 74 composes the merge of U.S. 441 southbound onto U.S. 74 eastbound at Exit 74. U.S. 441 follows a divided highway five miles south from U.S. 19 and Cherokee to the Great Smoky Mountains Expressway outside of Qualla. Photo taken 09/12/04.
U.S. 441 traverses the Great Smoky Mountains themselves between Cherokee and Gatlinburg, Tennessee. The scenic highway provides the main highway between western North Carolina and Pigeon Forge, Tennessee. However U.S. 441 is not open to commercial traffic through the Great Smoky Mountains National Park itself. Photo taken 09/12/04.
Eight miles east of their merge is the split of U.S. 441 south from U.S. 74 eastbound at Dillsboro. The tandem share a four-lane divided surface highway between the Bryson City and Sylva freeway segments of the Great Smoky Mountains Expressway. Where U.S. 441 southbound departs, U.S. 23 northbound enters its overlap with U.S. 74 eastbound to Waynesville. Photo taken 09/12/04.
Like U.S. 19 to the west, U.S. 441 is also signed as a through route to the city of Atlanta, Georgia. The federal highway overlaps with U.S. 23 into north Georgia with both highways providing access to the Interstate 985 corridor at Gainesville. The pair enter Dillsboro directly south of U.S. 74 Exit 81A. Photo taken 09/12/04.
20 miles separate Exit 81A from the Macon County seat of Franklin via U.S. 23 & 441 southbound. The pair comprises a four-lane highway on the 37-mile drive to the Georgia state line near Norton. U.S. 23 & 441 join U.S. 64 for two miles outside of Franklin itself on the way. Photo taken 09/12/04.
U.S. 23 north & U.S. 74 eastbound proclamation sign and shield assembly for the Great Smoky Mountains Expressway posted after their merge at Exit 81A. U.S. 23 & 74 bypass the town of Sylva to the north. Photo taken 09/12/04.
Exits 83 and 85 serve the town of Sylva on the Great Smoky Mountain Expressway eastbound. U.S. 23 Business travels through the heart of town between Dillsboro and Exit 85 via Haywood Road, Mill Street, Main Street, and Asheville Highway. Photo taken 09/12/04.
Exit 83 provides access into downtown Sylva via Grindstaff Cove Road southbound. The north-south highway stems northward 0.5 miles as Maple Street to junction U.S. 23 & 74. Photo taken 09/12/04.
U.S. 23 north & 74 eastbound at the Exit 83 partial-cloverleaf interchange with Grindstaff Cove Road. Grindstaff Cove Road dead ends shortly north of the freeway with no outlet. Photo taken 09/12/04.
The aforementioned U.S. 23 Business returns to U.S. 23 via Asheville Highway and east Sylva. The loop provides access to North Carolina 107 (E. Main Street) and West Carolina University to the southwest. North Carolina 107 begins in Sylva and heads two miles south to junction North Carolina 116 outside of Webster and four miles from there to Cullowhee and the Western Carolina University Campus. Photo taken 09/12/04.
The Great Smoky Mountain Expressway eastbound at the Exit 85 off-ramp to U.S. 23 Business south (Asheville Highway) and North Carolina 107 (E. Main Street). 24 miles of North Carolina 107 carry drivers south from Sylva to Forest Hills, East Laport, Tuckasegee, Glenviie, and Cashiers (junction U.S. 64). From there the state highway continues another eight miles to South Carolina 107. Photo taken 09/12/04.
Ten miles east of Sylva is the U.S. 23 & 74 junction with the Blue Ridge Parkway. The two-lane controlled access highway passes over the Great Smoky Mountains Expressway in this scene at Balsam Gap. An access road links the two highways one quarter mile ahead. The parkway is not open to commercial vehicles and is maintained by the National Park Service. Photo taken 09/12/04.
U.S. 23 & 74 again upgrade to a full freeway outside the Haywood County community of Waynesville. The Great Smoky Mountains Expressway bypasses the town to the west between U.S. 23 Business (Balsam Road) and Lake Junaluska. Pictured here is the one-mile guide sign for the Exit 98 diamond interchange with U.S. 23 Business (unsigned here). Photo taken 09/12/04.
U.S. 23 Business appears on the Exit 98 guide sign at the U.S. 23 north & 74 eastbound off-ramp to Balsam Road. The loop travels through the heart of town via Balsam Road, Main Street, and Asheville Road before returning at Exit 104. Photo taken 09/12/04.
The second of three Waynesville exits joins U.S. 23 & 74 with Hazelwood Avenue at Exit 100. Hazelwood Avenue travels east from the freeway to Sulphur Springs Road, Hyatt Street, and Brown Avenue before ending at U.S. 23 Business (Balsam Road) south of downtown. Photo taken 09/12/04.
Exit 100 departs U.S. 23 north & 74 eastbound for Hazelwood Avenue. A split diamond interchange occurs between Hazelwood Avenue and nearby Elysinia Avenue to the north for the Great Smoky Mountain Expressway. Photo taken 09/12/04.
Next in line for U.S. 23 north & 74 eastbound is the Exit 102 partial-cloverleaf interchange with U.S. 276 (Dellwood Road). U.S. 276 comprises a surface arterial between downtown Waynesville and junction U.S. 19 east of Dellwood. The federal highway ends ten miles to the north at Interstate 40 Exit 20 and Cove Creek. Photo taken 09/12/04.
Exit 102A leaves the Great Smoky Mountain Expressway for U.S. 276 (Dellwood Road) southbound into Waynesville. U.S. 276 is a two-state route between Cove Creek and Greenville, South Carolina. The highway sees Brevard signed as the second control city here for its routing through the Transylvania County seat at U.S. 64. Photo taken 09/12/04.
A loop ramp serves U.S. 276 (Dellwood Road) northbound via Exit 102B on U.S. 23 north & 74 eastbound. U.S. 276 merges with U.S. 19 south in two miles outside of Lake Junaluska. From there the two highways travel two miles to their split at Dellwood with U.S. 19 continuing westward another four miles to Maggie Valley. The Junaluska Assembly control point refers to Lake Junaluska Retreat and Conference Center. Photo taken 09/12/04.
U.S. 23 Business (Asheville Road) returns to U.S. 23 & 74 at Exit 104 north of Waynesville. Where the business loop ends, North Carolina 209 begins and commences its northward journey to Lake Junaluska en route to Hot Springs. U.S. 19 northbound merges onto the Great Smoky Mountain Expressway ahead of the Exit 104 partial-cloverleaf interchange ahead. Photo taken 08/15/04.
U.S. 19 & 23 north and U.S. 74 eastbound between U.S. 23 Business & North Carolina 209 and the West Jones Cove off-ramp (Exit 105). A pair of frontage roads coincide with the freeway between Exit 104 and Exit 105. Photo taken 08/15/04.
Exit 105 departs for West Jones Cove via the eastbound side frontage road (SR-1929). SR-1929 links U.S. 19-29-74 with Jones Cover Road to the west and Sohes Cover Road to the east. Photo taken 08/15/04.
U.S. 19 departs 1.5 miles after it joins the Great Smoky Mountain Expressway with U.S. 23 for Clyde, Canton, and Candler. The federal route pair follow Carolina Boulevard into downtown Clyde and the New Clyde Highway into West Canton and Canton. Note that U.S. 64 Truck appears from obscurity for the U.S. 74 connection to Interstate 40. Photo taken 08/15/04.
U.S. 74 eastbound enters the final mile of the Great Smoky Mountain Expressway ahead of its conclusion at Interstate 40 (Exit 27). U.S. 74 eastbound joins Interstate 40 east between Exit 27 and Interstate 26 at Asheville. The federal route remains attached to the Interstate system through to Columbus on Interstate 26 at Exit 67. Photo taken 08/15/04.
The Great Smoky Mountain Expressway partitions into one-lane ramps for Interstate 40 west to Knoxville and Interstate 40 & U.S. 74 east to Asheville. Asheville lies just 19 miles to the east. Knoxville 58 miles to the northwest. U.S. 64 Truck is implied along Interstate 40 and 26 to Hendersonville (Exit 49). Photo taken 08/15/04.
Traveling the U.S. 74 freeway eastbound in Polk County near the Exit 167 diamond interchange with North Carolina 9. North Carolina 9 is part of a multi-state route with South Carolina 9 between Spartanburg, South Carolina and Black Mountain. Photo taken 05/04/04.
One-half mile guide sign for Exit 167 and North Carolina 9. The state route enters the state 8.3 miles to the south en route to Kross Keys and Beulah at junction U.S. 74. Photo taken 05/04/04.
U.S. 74 eastbound at the North Carolina 9 off-ramp. Exit 167 is signed with the control points of New Prospect and Mill Spring. North Carolina 9 enters Mill Spring two miles to the west at junction North Carolina 108. Photo taken 05/04/04.
One mile west of the Pea Ridge Road partial-cloverleaf interchange (Exit 170) on U.S. 74 east. Pea Ridge Road serves rural environs of eastern Polk County between Pea Ridge and Cox Store. Photo taken 05/04/04.
Exit 170 is the last Polk County interchange of U.S. 74 eastbound. The freeway crosses the Green River, Rutherford County line, and the Broad River between Exits 170 (Pea Ridge Road) and 173 (Union Road). Photo taken 05/04/04.
Greenery abounds at the Exit 170 off-ramp to Pea Ridge Road on U.S. 74 eastbound. Pea Ridge Road travels 2.3 miles east to Cox Store and 3.8 miles north to its end at North Carolina 108 west of Pea Ridge itself. Photo taken 05/04/04.
U.S. 74 eastbound reassurance shield on the three mile drive between Pea Ridge and Union Roads. The four-lane freeway is quite scenic on its trek from Interstate 26 east to Mooresboro. Photo taken 05/04/04.
Nearing the Rutherford County line on U.S. 74 eastbound at the one-mile guide sign for Union Road (Exit 173). Union Road travels 2.7 miles north from its beginning at SR 2005 to the village of Union. Photo taken 05/04/04.
One half mile out from the Union Road diamond interchange on U.S. 74 eastbound. Like Pea Ridge Road to the west, Union Road also travels north from U.S. 74 to junction North Carolina 108. Union Road ends five miles to the north at the state highway. Photo taken 05/04/04.
U.S. 221 intersects the U.S. 74 freeway at Exit 178 six miles to the south of the Rutherford County seat of Rutherfordton (pop. 4,131). The federal highway provides the main route between Rutherfordton and the city of Spartanburg, South Carolina 28 miles to the south. Photo taken 05/04/04.
A diamond interchange composes the junction between U.S. 74 and 221 at Exit 178. U.S. 221 travels Main Street through Forest Hills and downtown Rutherfordton where the highway meets North Carolina 108 & U.S. 74 Business (Charlotte Road). Photo taken 05/04/04.
U.S. 74 eastbound as it nears Exit 181 with U.S. 74 Alternate. U.S. 74 Alternate spurs northwest from U.S. 74 as a full freeway to Spindale (pop. 4,022) and Rutherfordton while providing a direct link to the U.S. 64 corridor. The alternate route continues northwest with U.S. 64 to Lake Lure (pop. 1,027), Chimney Rock (pop. 175), and Bat Cave before ending at junction Interstate 40 & 240 at Asheville (pop. 68,889). Photo taken 05/04/04.
Exits 181 and 182 both serve the nearby town of Forest City (pop. 7,549) to the north. Use U.S. 74 Alternate west to Oakland Road or U.S. 221 Alternate (Broadway Street) for Forest City. Bethany Church Road passes over the U.S. 74 freeway ahead. Photo taken 05/04/04.
The 0.50-mile guide sign for Exit 181 (U.S. 74 Alternate) resides at the Doggett Road over crossing on U.S. 74 eastbound. U.S. 74 Alternate west merges with U.S. 64 west eight miles to the north at the village of Ruth (pop. 329). Photo taken 05/04/04.
U.S. 74 eastbound at the westbound beginning of U.S. 74 Alternate (Exit 181) at Forest City. U.S. 74 Alternate exists as a full freeway between here and Rutherfordton / Spindale six miles to the northwest. U.S. 221 Alternate cross paths with U.S. 74 within the next mile. Photo taken 05/04/04.
Eastbound at the folded diamond interchange with U.S. 221 Alternate (Broadway Street) in Forest City. The federal route parallels U.S. 221 to the east between Spindale, Forest City, Alexander Mills, Caroleen, Henrietta, Cliffside and Chesnee, South Carolina. Photo taken 05/04/04.
U.S. 74 eastbound departs the Forest City area at the Exit 183 diamond interchange with Old Caroleen Road. The 4.7 mile highway travels between Arlington Street in Forest City to U.S. 221 Alternate at Caroleen itself. Photo taken 05/04/04.
Exit numbers of U.S. 74 discontinue east of U.S. 221 Alternate (Exit 182) at present. Therefore the interchange with Old Caroleen Road is unnumbered. Use Old Caroleen Road north to connect with U.S. 74 Business (Main Street) and the Bostic Sunshine Road to Bostic (pop. 328) itself. Photo taken 05/04/04.
Ellenboro Henrietta Road interchanges with U.S. 74 four miles east of Old Caroleen Road. Pictured here is the one-mile guide sign for the diamond interchange including the control points of Henrietta, Caroleen, and Ellenboro. The abandoned CSX Railroad line passes over the freeway ahead. Photo taken 05/04/04.
Another abandoned branch of the CSX Railroad passes over U.S. 74 ahead of the would be Exit 187 off-ramp onto Ellenboro Henrietta Road. The rural highway travels 2.7 miles south to junction U.S. 221A at Avondale near both Caroleen and Henrietta. Northward the highway ends at Henrietta Street in Ellenboro (pop. 479) three blocks west of U.S. 74 Business (Main Street). Photo taken 05/04/04.
North Carolina 120 stems 0.75 miles south of U.S. 74 Business to junction U.S. 74 at Exit 189. The state highway continues another four miles southward to its end at U.S. 221 Alternate in Cliffside. Photo taken 05/04/04.
The aforementioned community of Cliffside is given an auxiliary guide sign for the Exit 189 diamond interchange. Photo taken 05/04/04.
At present the last freeway interchange of U.S. 74 eastbound exists at North Carolina 120. The highway transitions into an at-grade highway at Mooresboro (pop. 314) in 2.5 miles. Photo taken 05/04/04.
U.S. 74 Business (Ellenboro Road) merges onto U.S. 74 (Dixon Boulevard) eastbound at the end of the freeway. The federal highway crosses into Cleveland County between North Carolina 120 and U.S. 74 Business (Ellenboro Road). Photo taken 05/04/04.
U.S. 74 (Dixon Boulevard) eastbound at the first at-grade intersection east of the freeway. SR-1168 intersects the highway between Mooresboro and Lattimore (pop. 419). U.S. 74 continues another eight miles into the city of Shelby (pop. 19,477) ahead. Photo taken 05/04/04.
U.S. 74 & North Carolina 27 (Independence Boulevard) East
U.S. 74 eastbound as it departs the Interstate 277 John Belk Freeway near downtown Charlotte. Beginning here is the multi-lane Independence Boulevard. The divided highway begins as a freeway, with a partial "Y" interchange at North Carolina 27. The state highway merges onto the freeway in this photograph, sharing a 3.5 mile overlap through to North Carolina 24. Photo taken 10/05/01.

Page Updated June 12, 2005.