U.S. Route 29 in North Carolina

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U.S. Highway 29

US 29 highlighted in red
Route information
Maintained by NCDOT
Length168 mi[1] (270 km)
Existed1927–present
Major junctions
South end US 29 at the South Carolina line near Blacksburg
North end US 29 at the Virginia line near Danville
Location
CountryUnited States
StateNorth Carolina
CountiesCleveland, Gaston, Mecklenburg, Cabarrus, Rowan, Davidson, Randolph, Guilford, Rockingham, Caswell
Highway system
NC 28 NC 30

U.S. Highway 29 (US 29) is a United States Numbered Highway that runs for 168 miles (270 km) from the South Carolina state line, near Blacksburg, to the commonwealth of Virginia, near Danville. It is signed with north–south cardinal directions, but is actually a northeast and southwest diagonal highway throughout the state. The route serves the North Carolina Piedmont, including the cities of Charlotte, Salisbury, High Point, and Greensboro. From Salisbury to Greensboro, US 29 spends roughly a third of its length in the state being concurrent with US 70.

Route description

US 29 starts in Grover as a two-lane rural road where it intersects with North Carolina Highway 226 (NC 226) shortly after. It then turns into a four-lane boulevard as it heads to Kings Mountain, briefly overlapping with NC 216 as it merges into Interstate 85 (I-85), sharing a concurrency with the Interstate. It then exits I-85 at exit 10A running together with US 74. US 29/US 74 then overlaps with NC 274 for two miles (3.2 km) as the three routes head toward Gastonia. In downtown Gastonia, US 29/US 74/NC 274 intersects with US 321 with NC 274 splitting off on South Broad Street. US 29/US 74 then meets NC 279 before going into Lowell, McAdenville, and Belmont where US 29/US 74 meets NC 7 and then I-485 before going to Charlotte. US 29/US 74 offers access to Charlotte Douglas International Airport before intersecting with Billy Graham Parkway. Here, US 29/US 74 is named Wilkinson Boulevard. At Morehead Street, US 29 splits from US 74 where US 29 briefly overlaps with NC 27 and then intersects I-77. Afterward, US 29 splits from NC 27 where it meets NC 49 as the two routes go around Bank of America Stadium and go along Graham Street through Uptown Charlotte.

Afterward, US 29/NC 49 turns into a boulevard going east on Dalton Avenue and then north on Tryon Street. Eventually, US 29/NC 49 intersects Old Concord Road where the Lynx Blue Line runs between the northbound and southbound lanes. At University City Boulevard, NC 49 splits from US 29 with NC 49 going around the southern part of the University of North Carolina at Charlotte (UNC Charlotte) campus, and US 29 going around the west. Here, the Lynx Blue Line goes under the northbound lanes of US 29 to offer access to UNC Charlotte while US 29 continues as a boulevard toward Concord. Before doing so, it intersects with I-485 once again. Before heading toward Concord, US 29 offers access to Charlotte Motor Speedway before meeting at an interchange with George Liles Parkway. It then briefly overlaps with US 601 and NC 73 in western Concord before US 601 splits to run concurrently with I-85 and NC 73 splitting to head toward downtown Concord. From here, US 29 runs north through Kannapolis. US 29 then goes through Landis and China Grove, briefly overlapping with NC 152 east of China Grove.

US 29 then heads toward Salisbury where, west of downtown Salisbury, it beings to run concurrently with US 70 serving as Salisbury's Main Street. After going through downtown Salisbury, US 29/US 70 offers access to both Spencer and East Spencer before crossing over the Yadkin River. Afterward, US 29/US 70 then merges into I-85/US 52 as the four highways all run together for roughly two miles (3.2 km). At exit 87, US 29/US 52/US 70 splits from I-85 with and briefly joins I-285 and I-85 Business (I-85 Bus.). West of Lexington, US 52 and I-285 split away from US 29/US 70/I-85 Bus. where US 29/US 70/I-85 Bus. goes around the northern edge of Lexington where the three routes briefly overlap with US 64 before heading toward Thomasville.

Exiting Thomasville, US 29/US 70/I-85 Bus. then goes south of High Point and north of Trinity and Archdale before intersecting I-74 southeast of High Point. Following this, US 29/US 70/I-85 Bus. once again runs together with I-85 proper before splitting at the interchange with I-73/US 421. US 29/US 70/I-85 Bus. then merges into I-40 running together with US 220 south of Greensboro. The now five, simultaneously running highways (US 29, US 70, US 220, I-40, and I-85 Bus.) go around southern Greensboro before US 29/US 70/US 220 splits from I-40/I-85 Bus. going north around eastern Greensboro as a controlled-access highway named O. Henry Boulevard. As US 29/US 70/US 220 intersects Wendover Avenue, US 70 and US 220 split from US 29 with US 70 going east along Wendover Avenue and US 220 going west.

US 29, now all alone, goes through the northeastern suburbs of Greensboro where it intersects with I-785 and will run concurrently with I-785 past the Virginia state line once modifications to the existing US 29 are completed. After meeting I-785, US 29 is largely rural with Reidsville being the last town served along the route. Here in Reidsville, US 29 intersects with US 29 Bus. with the latter acting as beltline stretching around western Reidsville. Afterward, US 29 heads northeast to Virginia just southwest of Danville.

History

Established in 1927, it ran from the South Carolina state line to US 74 in Kings Mountain, with a concurrency with NC 205. In 1929, NC 205 was removed.

US 29's first extension was in 1932, following US 74/NC 20 east into Charlotte. It then replaced US 170 from Charlotte to the Virginia state line. In 1937, it replaced a stretch of NC 7 going between Kings Mountain and Gastonia. The old route briefly became alternates for both U.S. Highways before becoming NC 161 and NC 274.

In 1938, US 29 was moved onto a new bypass around KannapolisChina Grove, leaving US 29A on the old route. In 1948, the routes were switched. In 1952, US 29 was moved onto new bypasses around Lexington and Thomasville, leaving behind US 29A in both cities. In 1957, US 29 was moved onto its modern route from Thomasville to Jamestown, old route became part of NC 62 and US 70A.

In 1957 or 1958, US 29 was moved onto new bypass west of Reidsville, leaving US 29A (later US 29 Bus.) through Reidsville. Also around same time, US 29 was moved onto new bypass east of Kings Mountain, extending NC 216 over its old route; then in Charlotte, it moved onto I-85 between Little Rock Road (exit 32) and the University City area (exit 42), old route through Charlotte as US 29 Bus. In 1961 or 1962, US 29 was moved back further to NC 273 going onto I-85, but, surprisingly, in 1963, US 29 was placed back on its original route through Charlotte again. Similar action also in Salisbury, where, in 1960, US 29 was moved onto I-85, then, in 1964 or 1965, it was moved back through town.

In 1973, US 29 was placed on a new freeway bypass east of Reidsville; its old bypass route was reverted to US 29 Bus., while the old US 29 Bus. through Reidsville was removed. Between 1980 and 1982, the freeway from Reidsville was extended into Virginia.

U.S. Route 170

U.S. Highway 170

LocationCharlotte, North CarolinaVirginia state line
Length141.1 mi[2] (227.1 km)
Existed1926–1932

U.S. Highway 170 (US 170) was an original U.S. Highway, established in 1926. It began at the intersection of Trade and Tryon streets in Charlotte, traversing northeast, in concurrency with NC 15 to Concord, Kannapolis, and Salisbury. Northeast of Salisbury, it was overlapped with NC 10 to Lexington, High Point, and Greensboro; via High Point Road to Lee Street, to Fairground Avenue, to Spring Garden Street, to Aycock Street, to West Market Street, to Greene Street, and finally to Summit Avenue, where it began its overlap with NC 70 heading northeast to Browns Summit. Heading northeast, it went through Reidsville, Ruffin, and finally Pelham before crossing into Virginia toward Danville and eventually Lynchburg. In 1932, US 29 joined in concurrency with US 170. Later on, the US 170 designation was removed, leaving US 29 on the route.

Future

The freeway stretch of US 29 traveling southwest from Greensboro to Lexington is currently also signed as I-85 Bus. and US 70. On October 5, 2019, the North Carolina Department of Transportation submitted an application to the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials, and was granted approval, for the removal of the I-85 Bus. designation from the freeway[3] and the rerouting of US 70 between Greensboro and Thomasville,[4] leaving US 29 on the route. This plan, according to the state, will simplify overhead signage on the freeway and eliminate route redundancies.

Junction list

CountyLocationmi[1]kmExitDestinationsNotes
ClevelandGrover0.000.00
US 29 south – Blacksburg
Continuation from South Carolina
0.030.048
NC 226 north – Shelby
2.23.5
NC 216 south (Battleground Road) – Kings Mountain National Military Park
South end of NC 216 overlap
3.55.6
NC 216 north (Battleground Road) – Kings Mountain
North end of NC 216 overlap
3.96.34
I-85 south – Spartanburg
South end of I-85 overlap; southbound exit and northbound entrance
5.28.45Dixon School Road
Kings Mountain8.012.98 NC 161 – Kings Mountain
Gaston9.515.310A
I-85 north – Charlotte
North end of I-85 overlap
Gastonia10.717.2
US 74 west – Kings Mountain, Shelby
West end of US 74 overlap
15.424.8
NC 274 north (Bessemer City Road) – Bessemer City
North end of NC 274 overlap
17.027.4 US 321 (Chester Street/York Street)North-south US 321 divided on one-way streets
17.528.2
NC 274 south (Broad Street)
South end of NC 274 overlap; train tracks in medium of road
19.030.6 NC 279 (New Hope Road)
19.230.9Aberdeen Boulevard – To Cox Road/Shopping MallNorthbound exit and southbound entrance
Belmont25.440.9 NC 7 (Main Street)To Belmont Abbey College
26.242.2 NC 273 (Park Street) – Mount Holly
27.143.6
NC 7 west (Catawba Street)
MecklenburgCharlotte27.444.1Sloans Ferry Bridge over the Catawba River
29.747.8 I-485 – Pineville, Huntersville
31.350.4 Little Rock Road – CLT Airport
32.452.1 Boyer Street to Billy Graham Parkway (Charlotte Route 4) – CLT Airport
35.056.3
US 74 east (Wilkinson Boulevard)
East end of US 74 overlap
35.857.6
NC 27 west (Freedom Drive)
West end of NC 27 overlap
36.258.3
I-77 / US 21 north – Statesville
36.759.1

NC 27 east / NC 49 south (Morehead Street)
East end of NC 27 and south end of NC 49 overlap
38.061.2 I-277 / NC 16 (Brookshire Freeway)
44.070.8

To I-85 south / I-85 Connector – Gastonia
44.671.8
NC 49 north (University City Boulevard) – Harrisburg
North end of NC 49 overlap
45.773.5 NC 24 (W.T. Harris Boulevard)
48.377.7 I-485 – Matthews, Huntersville
CabarrusConcord50.681.4Bruton Smith BoulevardIntersection at Charlotte Motor Speedway, to Concord Mills
56.490.8
US 601 south (Warren C. Coleman Boulevard) – Monroe
South end of US 601 overlap
58.794.5
NC 73 west (Davidson Highway) – Davidson
West end of NC 73 overlap
59.095.0
NC 73 east (Church Street)
East end of NC 73 overlap
60.096.6
I-85 / US 601 north – Charlotte, Salisbury, Greensboro
North end of US 601 overlap
Kannapolis62.199.9 NC 3 (Dale Earnhardt Boulevard)
63.3101.9Lakeview Street / East First Street
RowanChina Grove69.4111.7
NC 152 west (Church Street) – Downtown
West end of NC 152 overlap
70.0112.7


NC 152 east to I-85 / US 601 – Rockwell, Greensboro
East end of NC 152 overlap
Salisbury76.8123.6
US 70 west / US 601 (Jake Alexander Boulevard)
West end of US 70 overlap
77.4124.6
NC 150 west (Mooresville Road)
West end of NC 150 overlap
78.8126.8Innes Street
Davidson84.8136.5Yadkin River
85.2137.182
I-85 / US 52 south – Charlotte
Permanently closed as of April, 2010[5][6][7][8]
86.0138.484

I-85 / US 52 south / NC 150 east – Charlotte
South end of I-85/US 52 and east end of NC 150 overlap
87.0140.085Clark RoadPermanently closed as of November, 2012[9]
88.4142.386Belmont Road
Lexington90.1145.087
I-85 north / I-285 begin / I-85 BL begin – High Point, Greensboro
North end of I-85 and south end of I-285/I-85 Bus overlap; northbound exit and southbound entrance
91.1146.684


NC 47 east to I-85 north
To Davidson County Airport
92.0148.185Green Needles Road
93.2150.086Salisbury Road – Downtown Lexington
94.2151.687
I-285 / US 52 north – Winston-Salem
North end of I-285/US 52 overlap; northbound exit and southbound entrance
95.2153.2Old US 64
95.7154.0
US 64 west – Mocksville
West end of US 64 overlap
96.6155.5 NC 8 (Winston Road) – Lexington, Winston-Salem
97.5156.9
US 64 east / Main Street – Asheboro
East end of US 64 overlap
Thomasville104.8168.7Lexington Avenue – ThomasvilleNorthbound exit and southbound entrance
107.2172.5 NC 109 (Salem Street) – Thomasville, Winston-Salem
108.9175.3 NC 68 (National Highway) – Thomasville, West High PointTo Piedmont Triad International Airport
RandolphHigh Point110.0177.0Old Thomasville Road – High Point
Guilford110.7178.2Prospect Street
111.8179.9West Green Drive
112.6181.2Surrett Drive
113.2182.2Main Street – High Point
114.5184.3 I-74 / Brentwood Street – Winston-Salem, AsheboroBrentwood Street has a separate exit northbound; three-level diamond interchange
115.6186.0Baker Road
116.7187.8Kivett Drive – East High Point
Greensboro119.3192.0Vickery Chapel Road / Guildford College Road – Jamestown
120.8194.4118
I-85 south / I-85 BL end – Salisbury, Charlotte
South end of I-85 and north end of I-85 Bus. overlap
121.8196.0119Groometown Road to Grandover ParkwaySouthbound exit incorporated with exit 33
122.6197.3120A
33




I-85 north / US 421 south to I-40 east – Durham, Sanford




I-73 north / US 421 north to I-40 west / Groometown Road – Winston-Salem
North end of I-85 overlap; southbound exit and northbound entrance
123.5198.834Holden Road
124.4200.235
A-B
A:


US 220 south to I-73 south – Asheboro
B:


US 220 north to I-40 west – Coliseum Area
No southbound exit 35B
124.9201.035CRehobeth Church Road / Vandalia Road
125.9202.6219

I-40 west / US 220 south – Winston-Salem
West end of I-40 overlap; no northbound exit
126.1202.9220Randleman RoadLeft southbound entrance
126.7203.9221South Elm-Eugene Street – Downtown Greensboro
127.9205.8222Martin Luther King Jr. Drive
128.2206.3223
I-40 east – Durham, Raleigh
East end of I-40 overlap; northbound exit and southbound entrance
128.6207.0Florida StreetNorthbound exit and entrance only
129.4208.2



To I-40 east / I-85 north / Gate City Boulevard
Northbound exit and entrance only
130.2209.5Market StreetTo North Carolina A&T State University
130.6210.2Sullivan StreetNorthbound exit and entrance only
130.8210.5Bessemer Avenue
131.1211.0

US 70 east / US 220 north (Wendover Avenue) - TO Summit Avenue
East end of US 70 and north end of US 220 overlap
131.9212.3Summit Avenue – Greensboro DowntownSouthbound exit and Northbound entrance only
132.4213.116th Street
132.9213.9Cone Boulevard
135
I-785 south / I-840 – Raleigh, Charlotte
Greensboro Urban Loop
136.0218.9Hicone Road
137.9221.9Reedy Fork Parkway- TO Summit Avenue
140.9226.8 NC 150 – Brown Summit
141.9228.4Benaja Road
Rockingham144.7232.9

US 29 Bus. north
Reidsville148.5239.0149

NC 87 to US 158 west (Freeway Drive) – Reidsville, Burlington
149.6240.8150Barnes Street – Reidsville Downtown
152.1244.8153 US 158 / NC 14 (Freeway Drive) – Reidsville, Eden, Yanceyville
155.5250.3156Narrow Gauge Road
158.3254.8159


US 29 Bus. to NC 87 north – Ruffin
Ruffin160.6258.5161

US 29 Bus. south (Mayfield Road)
Caswell164.2264.3165Law Road
166.7268.3167 NC 700 (Shady Grove Road) – Eden
168.3270.9169


US 29 Bus. north / US 58 west – Danville, Martinsville
Interchange at Virginia state line


US 29 north / US 58 east – Lynchburg, South Boston
Continuation into Virginia
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi

See also

References

  1. ^ a b Google (March 26, 2019). "US 29" (Map). Google Maps. Google. Retrieved March 26, 2019.
  2. ^ Google (July 12, 2013). "U.S. Route 170" (Map). Google Maps. Google. Retrieved July 12, 2013.
  3. ^ Transportation Advisory Committee (July 2019). "Removal of 'Business 85'". High Point Urban Area Metropolitan Planning Organization. Retrieved January 30, 2020.
  4. ^ Special Committee on U.S. Route Numbering (October 6, 2019). "2019 Annual Meeting Report to the Council on Highways and Streets" (PDF) (Report). Washington, DC: American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 23, 2019. Retrieved January 30, 2020. "Ballot" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on October 23, 2019.
  5. ^ "NCDOT: I-85 Corridor Improvement Project". Retrieved June 19, 2011.
  6. ^ Minn, Karissa (April 9, 2010). "Safety concerns lead to closing of Wil-Cox Bridge; no timeframe on reopening". Salisbury Post. Archived from the original on July 15, 2011. Retrieved February 18, 2011.
  7. ^ "NC 150 Route Change (2012-03-01)" (PDF). North Carolina Department of Transportation. March 1, 2012. Retrieved May 26, 2013.
  8. ^ NC 150 Route Change (2012-01-04) (PDF) (Map). North Carolina Department of Transportation. January 4, 2012. Retrieved May 26, 2013.
  9. ^ Staff (July 27, 2011). "NCDOT to close Clark Road entrance and exits ramps on I-85 north, section of Snider Kines Road in Davidson County starting Monday". Project Details. North Carolina Department of Transportation. Retrieved December 26, 2012.

External links


U.S. Route 29
Previous state:
South Carolina
North Carolina Next state:
Virginia