The Highways of North Carolina
N.C. 74 
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Photo: A genuine piece of old NC 74 on the Swift Island Bridge (Chris Curley)
NC 74
N.C. 74  12 miles
The Road: Begins at US 52 near Rural Hall and ends at US 421/NC 150 Kernersville, all within Forsyth County.
Towns and Attractions: Forsyth Co: None
History: NC 74 First appeared in a June 2014 link under the NCDOT proposed route changes page. NC 74 was confirmed in signing plans released in August 2014 for the segment of the northeastern Winston-Salem Beltway between US 421 at what will be Exit 12 north to US 158 Reidsville Rd. This freeway segment opened in September 2020. This is the 2nd NC 74.
In December 2020, NC 74 was extended west to US 311.
In November 2022, NC 74 was extended west to NC 66 near Rural Hall.
In November 2023, NC 74 was extended west to US 52.

2021-22 Official
NC 74 open from US 421 to US 158
2021-22 Official
2023-24 Official
NC 74 extended to NC 66
2023-24 Official

The first NC 74 was an original state highway that began at NC 15 (now just NC 73) Concord and headed east on today's NC 73 to Mt. Pleasant and Albemarle (used Old Concord Rd near Millingport and Main St through Albemarle), then NC 73 to Pee Dee. From there is used "Old NC 27" to Wadeville, then NC 109 to Troy, then NC 24-27 to Biscoe and Carthage before using Union Stage Rd and US 15-501 to end at NC 50 (current US 1) south of Tramway.
In 1927, NC 74 from Carthage to Tramway was renumbered as part of NC 75 (now US 15-501).

1926 Official
NC 74 east of Carthage
1926 Official
1929 Official
NC 75 replaces NC 74
1929 Official

In 1927 or 1928, NC 74 was extended west as new primary highway along today's McGill St, Poplar Tent Rd, a small bit of today's NC 73 and Mayes Rd to end at NC 26 (now NC 115) Caldwell.
In 1930, NC 74 was rerouted from Concord to Caldwell, using Mayes Rd and today's NC 73 all the way in to Concord.
About 1932, NC 74 was rerouted off of Old Concord Rd near Millingport and put on today's NC 73.
In 1933, NC 74 was extended north on US 21/NC 26 to Cornelius, then west as new primary routing to end at NC 271 (current NC 16) Triangle.
In 1934, NC 74 was rerouted away from Caldwell and instead over today's Davidson-Concord Rd to Davidson.
In late 1934, NC 74 was renumbered as NC 73 from Triangle to Pee Dee and NC 27 from Pee Dee to Carthage.

1924 Official
NC 74 original end at Concord
1924 Official
1929 Official
NC 74 extended to US 21
1929 Official
1930 Official
NC 74 straightened out west of Concord
1930 Official

1930 Official
NC 74 extended to NC 271
1933 Official
1936 Official
NC 73 replaces NC 74 on the western end
1936 Official

1933 Official
NC 74 Albemarle to Carthage
1933 Official
1935 Gen Drafting
NC 27 extended to Carthage
1935 Gen Draft

Comment: NC 74 will remain signed on any completed segments of this part of the beltway until it connects to an actual interstate, presumably I-40. Then it will become part of I-74.
This gives North Carolina a rare dynamic of having an I-74, a US 74, and a NC 74. Texas may be the only other state that has ever had this (69).

Last Update: 6 January 2024

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