I 795 and I 74

Route
I 540 East, US 64 East, NC 39 South, US 264 East, I 795 South, NC 222 East, US 117 Alt South, US 117 Alt North, NC 222 West, I 795 South, US 117 South, US 13 South, I 95 South, NC 711 North, NC 710 East, I 74 West, US 74 West, US 1 North, US 220 North, NC 211 East, NC 705 North, NC 24/27 East, US 15/501 North, US 1 North, I 440 East, US 70 West
Notes
This was the most productive roadgeek trip that I have been on in ages. Adam Prince, Robert Malme and sent out to see if I 795 is signed yet and to check out the new section of US 74 ( Future I 74 ) just opened south of Pembroke and the US 220 ( I 73/74 ) Ellerbe Bypass.

The signs on I 795 were put up on November 28 2007. All of the US 117 shields on the highway proper have been replaced with I 795 shields. The shields on the NC 42 interchange were also replaced. However, farther south, the US 117 shields on interchanges were not replaced yet. The BGS on US 264 still shows US 117, so you have to know to take the US 117 exit to stay on I 795.

We were surprised to find that the new section of US 74 is signed as I 74. In fact, all of the signage and exit numbers on US 74 on the Maxton and Laurinburg bypasses have been changed to I 74. Just after exit 207, there is an END I 74 sign. The new exits are:

• 207 - US 74 Business - West Laurinburg
• 208 - NC 79
• 209 - US 15/501/401 North
• 210 - US 15/401 South
• 211 - US 501 South
• 212 - Highland Road
• 213 - US 74 Business
• 216 - Airport Road
• 217 - NC 71
• 220 - US 74 Alt/Bus
• 223 - Cabinet Shop Road
• 226 - NC 710

The six mile stretch from 220 to 226 is a bit restricted. For eastbound travel on US 74, all traffic is forced to exit at exit 220. The exit is a partial cloverleaf. Exit 220A exits onto US 74 Business, west to Maxton. Exit 220B exits onto US 74 Alternate, east to Pembroke. There is an on-ramp from US 74 Business onto I 74/US 74 East. The ramp has a light board sign saying " Local Traffic Only - Open to NC 710". Thus, eastbound traffic must exit on 220A , cross Business US 74 and take the ramp back onto the Interstate. Continuing east on US 74 Alternate, there is one US 74 Alternate sign, then the road is signed US 74 mainline. Thus there are two US 74 mainlines, the old road, which will be US 74 Alternate when I 74/US 74 is finished to I 95, and the new multiplex with I 74.

For westbound travel on old US 74, there is no signage for the new freeway, until you get to exit 220. On NC 710 East from Pembroke, the old US 74 intersection is marked US 74 mainline. On NC 710 West from Rowland, the interchange is signed I 74/US 74 West, with no signage for US 74 East.

Construction on the US 220 Ellerbe Bypass is proceeding apace. We were able to get close enough to see some signage on the highway. The first quirk is that the exit from US 220 into Ellerbe on current US 220 is signed US 220 Business. Old US 220 north of the new freeway is signed US 220 Alternate. It was assumed that US 220 Alternate would just be extended south to Rockingham. In fact, at Tabernacle Road, which is the first exit south of the end of the current freeway, there is a street sign for US 220 Alternate. The signage indicates that current US 220 will be US 220 Business through Ellerbe and US 220 Alternate north of that. This means that the old US 220 will be Business through Ellerbe, Alternate from Norman to south of Asheboro and Business through Asheboro to Randleman. Why can't it all be Alternate US 220?

The second quirk is that the new freeway, which is an extension of I 73/74 / US 220 is signed as US 220/ Future I 73 / Future I 74. The new freeway is identical to the current freeway, in that it ends at US 220, which is NHS. Is this an admission that the current signage of I 73/74 is incorrect?

The following exits are signed on the bypass:

• 8 - Business US 220 - Ellerbe
• 13 - Hayward Parker Road
• 16 - NC 73
• 18 - Norman
• 22 - Tabernacle Church Road
• 24 - Alternate US 220
  

Results
Clinched I 74 in NC, NC 711. Mileage on US 74, US 13, US 117.