Segment 1

Where: I-77, Virginia Border to Exit 101, Surry County

Length: 4.5 Miles

Status: COMPLETE

Signed as:

Segment Information

I-74 enters North Carolina signed with I-77 for its first four and 1/2 miles. This segment was completed easily in April 2001 with the addition of 2 I-74 signs, one each direction to what was previously just I-77 (see eastbound photo below). Signage at the I-77 interchange, both on I-77 North and I-74 West (including new 2021 sign plans for the Winston-Salem Northern Beltway section), implies I-74 goes as far as Wytheville, Virginia, (the termination point of the route according to AASHTO) but the interstate was, and is still not, signed north of the North Carolina border by Virginia. I-74 East leaves I-77 southbound as a left exit (see below).

Exit Renumbering?

In sign plans released for the letting of the final contract for the Eastern Section of the Winston-Salem Northern Beltway in August 2022, it appeared NCDOT wanted to change the exit number from one based on I-77 mileage, to that with I-74 mileage:

Image of plan for new exit number for I-74 exit off of I-77 in
Surry County using I-74 mileage, NCDOT August 2022

Sign plan showing proposed replacement of Exit 101 tab to Exit 5 tab for I-74 exit off of I-77.

Is this an attempt to have I-74 be the dominant interstate here? This is the current MUTCD guidance, but NCDOT has let other interstate's in similar circumstances, I-85 between Greensboro and Orange County when I-40 was routed onto it, keep their existing exit numbers. NCDOT also appears to want traffic to 'stay' on I-74 for the next exit, NC 89, since it will also change the auxiliary sign from using the next I-77 exit to using the next I-74 one:

Image of plan for auxiliary sign for NC 89 exit switching numbers
to the one on I-74 vs. I-77 in Surry County, NCDOT August 2022

The auxiliary sign for the Vineyard Tours is to change its number to that on I-74.

As part of the exit renumbering, the current I-77 mile markers would be removed and replaced by I-74 markers. Here's the sign plans for each of the 4 markers in each direction to be installed heading east:

Image of sign location plan for proposed I-74 1 Mile markers on I-74/I-77
in Surry County, NCDOT August 2022

Proposed location for I-74 Mile 1 markers and removal of existing I-77 Mile 104 markers near Virginia border.

Image of sign location plan for proposed I-74 2 Mile markers on I-74/I-77
in Surry County, NCDOT August 2022

The proposed location for I-74 Mile 2 markers is just west/north of the Maple Grove Church Road bridge.

Image of sign location plan for proposed I-74 3 Mile markers on I-74/I-77
in Surry County, NCDOT August 2022

Proposed location for I-74 Mile 3 marker eastbound is beyond the state border weigh station.

Image of sign location plan for proposed I-74 4 Mile markers on I-74/I-77
in Surry County just prior or after I-74/I-77 interchange, NCDOT August 2022

Proposed location for I-74 Mile 4 markers prior to the I-74/I-77 split headed east/south.

As of the end of 2025, however, it is unclear whether these changes will happen. This project was tied to that of exit renumbering along US 52 which occurred earlier, in May, sooner than expected than at the completion of the Beltway project in late 2026 (for those recent sign updates see I-74 Segment 3). No changes have been seen on I-77 with regards to mile markers or signage through December (see photos below).¹ Perhaps NCDOT changed its mind since it would affect only 1 exit number headed south and could be confusing to drivers on I-77 having mileposts suddenly changing and going in the opposite direction where I-74 runs with it. It would also probably force Virginia to go along and change exit numbers to I-74 based mileage north to I-81 when or if they decide to sign I-74 to lessen driver confusion at the state line.

"Drive" this Segment Using Google Maps Street View (Updated 1/11/26)

I-74 West: From Prior to I-77 South Exit Ramp (Dec. 2025)

I-74 East/I-77 South: From the Virginia/North Carolina Border (Sept. 2024)

Segment photos (NEW 1/11/26)

Images from December 2025 Google Maps Street View taken along I-74 / I-77:

Unchanged exit number for I-74 East exit southbound seen from I-74 West/I-77 North.

Unchanged Mile 102 marker on I-74 West/I-77 North after the I-74 on-ramp.

Photos taken by Adam Prince on I-77 in late June 2025:

The 3/4 Mile advance sign for the I-74 East exit on I-77 North at NC 89.

There is a West I-74/North I-77 pull through sign at the I-74 East exit.

The 1/2 Mile advance sign for the I-74 East exit on I-77 South still has its old exit numbers.

2024 PHOTOS

Screen grab images from Big Rig Travels video made on December 11, 2024:

Image of East I-74/South I-77 reassurance markers still in place
after the Rest Area on-ramp in Surry County, Google Maps Street View image, December 2024 The original East I-74/South I-77 reassurance markers are still in place after the Rest Area on-ramp just across the Virginia border, though the ones in the other direction were taken down, see photo below. Video taken during a rainy day.

Image of 1/2 Mile advance overhead sign for East I-74/South I-77 ramp
split, showing no change in exit numbers heading south in Surry County, Google Maps Street View image, December 2024 The exit signs for I-74, here for the 1/2 Mile advance, had not been changed to reflect the sign plans above. Based on new signage seen in Segment 3 photos, this may not happen, if it all, until 2026.

EARLIER PHOTOS

(Hover over for Larger Image)

Photo of I-74/I-77 Shields (courtesy of H.B. Elkins) Image of large East I-74 and South I-77 shields after crossing into North Carolina, Photo courtesy of H.B. Elkins

Photo of I-74 Exit signage on North I-77 at Exit 100 Signage along I-77 North Approaching the I-74 Exit (photo courtesy of Adam Prince)

Photo showing exit signage at the Split of South I-77 and East I-74 Approaching the split of I-74 East from I-77 South near Mt. Airy.

The only construction on this segment since it has been signed was a project to repave this section of I-77 let in 2012 and completed in 2014. The Welcome Center was also renovated, but disappointingly still has signs indicating its just the I-77 Welcome Center. Here's the pair of large West I-74 and North I-77 shields after the merge put up when I-74 was completed to US 52 from Google Maps Street View in September 2019. An updated image from 2021 shows that these signs have been removed:

I-74 and I-77 reassurance markers after I-74 West merge with
I-77 North in Surry County, Google Maps Street View image, September 2019

Comment: Virginia should sign I-74 along I-77 up to I-81 to make this southeastern portion of I-74 a true interstate Interstate. AASHTO's official I-74 route, approved in 1996, starts the interstate at the I-77/I-81 intersection east of Wytheville and then down I-77 south to North Carolina. This probably can wait until after US 52 is signed as I-74 completing the route beyond Winston-Salem to at least Rockingham.