Original NC 51 and NC 74 in Montgomery/Richmond Co.

NC 73 replacing NC 51/74

In 1940, NC 73 west was trucated to NC 16 Triangle. Toluca to Newton became part of NC 10 and Newton to Denver became part of NC 16.

NC 113 and NC 271 Toluca to Triangle

NC 73 Toluca to Triangle

NC 73 truncated to Triangle

Also in 1940, NC 73 was extended east as new primary routing to US 15-501 Eastwood.

NC 75 Ellerbe to West End

NC 73 replaces NC 75

NC 73 extended to Eastwood

Between 1954-57, NC 73 was split into one-way alignments on the east side of Albemarle, with WB moving to Pee Dee Ave.
About 1963, NC 73 had to be rerouted for the creation of Lake Norman. Thus, NC 73's west end on NC 16 was moved 3 miles south near Lowesville. The Lincoln County side was essentially new construction and the old 73 east of Triangle became SR 1439 Unity Church Rd. On the Mecklenburg side, there was new construction from the bridge to Hicks Crossroads, then an upgrade to SR 2135. The old alignment became SR 2151 Jetton Rd.

NC 74 Triangle to Concord

NC 73 replaces NC 74

NC 73 rerouted around Lake Norman

About 1967, NC 73 was extended west to its current end at NC 27. From NC 16 west about halfway was new construction, while the remainder was a renumbering of some of NC 273.

NC 273 west towards Lincolnton

NC 73 extended to NC 27

Around 1968, NC 73 was rerouted in Albermarle to use US 52 south to the NC 24-27 bypass, then east back to the old 73. Main St east of US 52 became SR 1597.

NC 73 on one-way splits

NC 73 bypasses Albemarle

In 1979, NC 73 was rerouted at Cornelius to follow NC 115 south to Caldwell, then east as an upgrade to SR 2433 back to the initial NC 73 routing near Cabarrus County. The old route had followed NC 115 north to Davidson, then southeast on Davidson-Concord Rd.
Between 1980-82, Official Maps imply NC 73 was rerouted to avoid NC 115 altogether by extendeing NC 73 west over new routing to US 21, then north to NC 73 at its interchange with I-77. It is unclear if there was a 73 Business created from this.
In the late 1990s, Official maps imply the piece of NC 73 between US 21 and NC 115 was extended west again back to NC 73. Meanwhile the map shows the original NC 73 northeast to I-77 and possibly Cornelius as still primary (73 Business?) through the 1999 issue. I have a 1981 Champion map of the area that shows Sam Furr Rd open all the way west to NC 73 and it shows NC 73 on both routes.

NC 73 post-Lake Norman

NC 73 changes NC 115 direction

NC 73 moved to US 21?

NC 73 moved to US 21?

The 2008 Official shows NC 73 extended east of long-time US 220 to the new I-73/74, then duplexing north on the freeway to the NC 73 exit. However, signage in the field clearly shows NC 73 staying where it had been, along what is now US 220 ALT.

NC 73 historical routing

NC 73 moved onto the interstate?