Segment 18  |
Where: US 74/76 from US 76 Exit west of Whiteville to Near NC 211 Exit East of WhitevilleLength: Approx. 23 MilesNeeded: Upgrade to Interstate StandardsWhen: After 2033Current Highway Signed as:
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I-74 is to use the existing 9-mile US 74/76 Whiteville Bypass freeway
and an upgraded continuation for 14 more miles further east along the
current US 74/76 expressway to near the current exit with NC 211. The
US 74/76 Bypass freeway around Whiteville has a 70 MPH speed limit but
would need to be upgraded to Interstate Standards to be signed as I-74
(a couple signs indicate it is a Future I-74 Corridor).
West
of Whiteville, a similar piecemeal approach is being taken to
upgrade US 74/76 to freeway standards as with Segment
17 to the east. A
new interchange was constructed for NC 211 in 2010 (see photo
below).1 When
I-74 mile markers were put up along US 74/76 in 2012, continuing on to
Delco, (mile 270), 12 miles to the east, the NC 211 exit was given the
number 258. The Final 2020-2029 STIP released in September 2019 has
three projects listed as intersection to interchange/grade separation
upgrades east of the Whiteville Bypass. Project R-5749 is upgrading
the intersection with SR 1001, Hallsboro Road to an interchange at a
cost of $6.3 million. This project started on April 25, 2018 and the
exit was opened on June 12, 2020 two months ahead of its expected
opening.2 It pushes the US 74-76 freeway three miles
further east. Here's a photo of the completed Hallsboro Road bridge
from NCDOT:2
Here's a couple photos while the interchange was being constructed, taken after the girders were installed over US 74/76 for the future Hallsboro Road bridge, taken by J. Austin Carter:
When plans were released for the Hallsboro Rd contract in January 2018,
they indicated the exit number for the interchange would be 248:6
NCDOT announced on July 11, 2022 that Project R-5820 which will upgrade the intersection with SR 1735, Chauncey Town Road to an interchange starting in August 2022 (accelerated from 2025) was awarded to BMCO Contractors. This project is now combined with Project R-5819 that will replace the intersection with SR 1740, (Old Lake Road) with a bridge, for a $44 million cost for both projects.3 On October 25, 2018, NCDOT held a public meeting outlining the plans for this project. Here's a map of the proposed Chauncey Town Road interchange presented at the meeting:4
The work will also include constructing 2 roundabouts south of US 74/76 where both roads intersect NC 214 and extending Georgia Road to Old Lake Road. When the project was advertised on May 24, 2022, sign plans indicated that the new exit in this location, to be called Lake Waccamaw, will be numbered 252:
Construction started in August 2022 and as of November 15, 2024 was over 3/4 complete at 77.0%. The interchange opened, however, in November 2024 (see photos below) with additional surrounding roadway work to continue into the new year. The project is currently scheduled to be completed by January 2026.5 In the summer of 2012, NCDOT replaced the US 74 mileposts with I-74 mileposts along this stretch, continuing them from Segment 17, 13 miles beyond the NC 211 exit to Delco at Mile 271. It is unknown whether this was a hedge in case the route ends up going to Wilmington instead of Myrtle Beach.
LATEST PHOTOS
Taken by David Gallo along US 74/76 East in December 2024:
Entering the work zone in Lake Waccamaw prior to the Old Lake Road bridge.
The new 1 Mile advance sign for the Lake Waccamaw exit.
Heading under the completed Old Lake Road bridge with the bridge at the Lake Waccamaw exit in the distance.
The new 1/2 Mile advance for the Lake Waccamaw exit.
The completed Chauncey Town Road bridge at the Lake Waccamaw exit.
EARLIER 2024 PHOTOS
Taken by Nick Zachetti at future Lake Waccamaw interchange on US 74/76 (Future I-74) on July 31, 2024:
Ramps for future interchange have now been paved, to the right, and bridge for Chauncey Town Road has been built over US 74/76 (Future I-74).
Graded ramps have been constructed for the future NC 72/NC 130 West interchange.
Screen shots from video by Driving Around NC traveling through the Lake Waccamaw interchange construction zone, posted on March 30, 2024:
Entering the Lake Waccamaw construction zone on US 74/76 West.
Dirt mound behind current Old Lake Road along US 74/76 East for future bridge construction.
Support piers now on both sides of US 74/76 West for future Old Lake Road bridge.
Completed interstate standard roadway between Old Lake Road and Chauncey Town Road on US 74/76 West.
Reduction to one lane on US 74/76 West approaching Chauncey Town Road.
Future off-ramp for the Lake Waccamaw interchange on US 74/76 West being constructed on the right.
Approaching the future Chauncey Town Road bridge over US 74/76, prior to the current intersection requiring right turns in each direction.
A closer look at the Chauncey Town Road bridge under construction.
Construction vehicles at the future on-ramp from the Lake Waccamaw interchange to US 74/76 West.
The end of the interstate standard freeway at the end of the Lake Waccamaw construction zone on US 74/76 West.
PHOTOS FROM 2023:
Taken by David Gallo along US 74/76 West in September 2023:
Approaching the site of the future Old Lake Road bridge, a completed bridge support can be seen in the distance.
Approaching the site of the current Old Lake Road bridge, detour to turn left is necessary since a bridge support has been built in the median.
The completed future bridge supports at the current Old Lake Road intersection.
Approaching the current Chauncey Town Road intersection, the sign pointing to the former left turn, now closed.
The current ramp to Chauncey Town Road with landscaping for bridge construction behind.
View of Chauncey Town Road bridge construction across the median along US 74/76 East.
Signage for the detour route for the closed left turn lane for Chauncey Town Road, to be removed after construction is completed.
EARLIER PHOTOS
Taken by David Gallo, July 2023:
Traveling through the current Chauncey Town Road intersection on US 74/76 East with bridge construction underway.
View of the current Chauncey Town Road intersection at US 74/76 West from eastbound roadway.
Signs for the current Chauncey Town Road intersection on US 74/76 East to the right beyond the bridge construction.
Construction equipment along US 74/76 East prior to Old Lake Road.
Crane behind newly completed support for future Old Lake Road bridge on US 74/76 East.
Taken by Adam Prince on July 26 and 29, 2023:
US 74/76 East passing through future site of Chauncey Town Road bridge and interchange.
US 74/76 East passing the temporary turnaround used for traffic heading from the Chauncey Town Road intersection to US 74/76 West.
US 74/76 East passing a crane being used for construct a support for the future Old Lake Road bridge.
Now on US 74/76 West approaching the site of the future Lake Road bridge from the other direction.
View from US 74/76 West of future Chauncey Town Road bridge and interchange under construction.
EARLIER PHOTOS
Taken by David Gallo in June 2023:
Future ramp from Chauncey Town Road interchange being graded along US 74/76 in Lake Waccamaw.
Temporary exit sign in place approaching current intersection with Chauncey Road along US 74/76 East in Lake Waccamaw.
Concrete barriers along US 74/76 East prior to temporary reduced conflict turnaround ramp for Chauncey Town Road.
Grading and culvert work beginning future ramp from Chauncey Town Road to US 74/76 West.
Construction crane in the median at future site of the Old Lake Road bridge over US 74/76 (Future I-74).
PREVIOUS PHOTOS
Google Maps Street View images along US 74/76 in the vicinity of the completed Boardman interchange from May 2023:
The 1 mile advance sign heading east.
The exit sign.
The gore sign with the exit number for Hallsboro Road, 248.
Hallsboro Road images from May 2022:
The signage approaching the ramp to US 74/76 East.
The signage for the westbound ramp, should Lumberton also be mentioned? Perhaps Whiteville?
PREVIOUS PHOTOS (Taken 6/2/23)
Google Maps Street View images along US 74/76 in the vicinity of the Lake Waccamaw interchange project from May 2023:
Widened shoulders, graded median and paved roadway mark the start of the Lake Waccamaw interchange work zone on US 74/76 East.
Looks like the mile marker has been moved due to the widened shoulder while median work continues along US 74/76 East.
The future on-ramp to US 74/76 West from Lake Waccamaw is being built through the gap in the trees on the left.
The intersection with Chauncey Town Road on US 74/76 East is now partially hidden by soil being placed for the future bridge at the Lake Waccamaw interchange.
A closer look at the future Chauncey Town Road bridge site on US 74/76 East.
One of the temporary u-turn lanes to access US 74/76 West, this one after the Chauncey Town Road intersection.
Approaching the current Old Lake Road intersection on US 74/76 East to be removed as part of the interchange project.
The next u-turn lane after the Old Lake Road intersection allowing access to US 74/76 West.
After using the u-turn ramp, the existing Old Lake Road intersection is marked by an Exit sign on US 74/76 West.
Approaching the Old Lake Road intersection on US 74/76 East. The future shoulder being used as a right turn lane.
New pavement marks building of a temporary roadway for Old Lake Road to detour traffic from the future bridge to be built over US 74/76.
Earlier Photos
Images taken from Google Maps Street View, May 2022, going west to east:
The 1 Mile advance for the US 76 West exit at the end of the Whiteville Bypass. You can tell the exit tab was added after the signs were put up since the text at the bottom also includes the now unnecessary exit text.
The overheads at the split of US 74 and US 76 West, notice there is no exit tab.
The gore sign for the US 76 West exit.
The 1 Mile advance eastbound for the next exit, Union Valley Road. The NCDOT Feasibility Study for upgrading US 74 to interstate standards beyond NC 41 in Lumberton chose this exit as the end point.
The exit sign Union Valley Road on East US 74/76, apparently home of the Southeast Regional Industrial Park.
The Union Valley Road gore sign. Unlike the newer exits in Segment 17, there is no wider shoulders surrounding the exit ramps along the Whiteville Bypass.
The 1 mile advance sign for the Bypass US 701 exit in Whiteville.
The exit sign for the Bypass US 701 exit, road under construction.
The gore sign for the Bypass US 701 exit. Exit ramp partially closed.
Bypass US 701 widening construction in Whiteville seen from East US 74/76 bridge.
The pair of East US 74/76 reassurance marker after the Bypass US 701 exit at milepost 242 of Future I-74.
The 1 mile advance for the next exit, Business US 74/76.
The Business US 74/76 exit sign. Both routes only go west, in the reverse direction, signed for those who need to go back to Whiteville(?).
The 1 Mile advance sign for the New Hallsboro Road exit.
The exit sign for the New Hallsboro Road exit, it does resemble the sign plan seen above.
The gore sign for the Hallsboro Road exit.
View looking east from the Hallsboro Road bridge showing the interstate standard roadway in vicinity of the exit.
The freeway currently ends near mile marker 252 east of Hallsboro Road.
There is one more exit with an I-74 mileage exit number, for NC 211, here is the first and only advance sign (same case heading west). A Feasibility Study looking at the future route of I-74 between NC 211 and US 17, put the proposed interchange about a mile west of this location.
The NC 211 exit sign. Notice the return of the interstate standard shoulders.
The gore sign with the I-74 exit number, the last one in this segment.
Looking east from the NC 211 bridge, showing the interstate standard freeway between exit ramps.
Signage for the US 74/76 East on-ramp from NC 211 South.
The US 74/76 East freeway ends just after I-74 mile 259, just beyond the NC 211 exit, almost 30 miles away from Wilmington.
Here are the latest photos of the construction work on the Lake Waccamaw interchange project taken on December 23, 2022 by David Gallo:
Entering the work zone on US 74/76 East.
Portable message boards set up, but not activated along US 74/76 East.
The median approaching the future interchange site has been graded and the roadbed repaved.
A closer look at the median construction along US 74/76 East.
Site of the future interchange ramp to Chauncey Town Road from US 74/76 (Future I-74) East.
More graded median at the Chauncey Town Road intersection.
Graded area to be future on-ramp from Chauncey Town Road to US 74/76 (Future I-74) East.
Approaching site of the future bridge to carry Old Lake Road over US 74/76 (Future I-74) East.
Current intersection with Old Lake Road on US 74/76 East.
Closer look at construction work along Old Lake Road where it intersects US 74/76 (Future I-74) East.
Clearing at the site of the future Old Lake Road bridge over US 74/76 (Future I-74).
Approaching temporary reduced conflict intersection westbound turn lane after Old Lake Road on US 74/76 (Future I-74) East near end of work zone.
Construction barrels mark the start of the work zone along US 74.
The two intersections in the construction zone were recently reconstructed as reduced conflict intersection temporarily prior to start of interchange construction.
A closer look at one of the temporary improved intersections.
Trees cut down along US 74 in the work zone.
When all these projects are completed the Whiteville Bypass freeway will be extended another ten miles to the NC 211 exit and will make the entire US 74/76 section a freeway, though not an Interstate standard one, to the site NCDOT proposes that I-74 would then turn south toward South Carolina (see I-74 Segment 19).
Photo of NC 211 exit, east of US 74/76 Whiteville Bypass, with I-74 exit number, courtesy of Chris Curley. Note the still narrow shoulders though the road was rebuilt in the area of the exit.
Some Google Maps Street View images, taken in August 2019:
Here was a list of preliminary FY 2018-2027 STIP projects along I-74's official route along US 74/76 to NC 211,7 only the last two made it into the official STIP released in August 2017 and into the latest 2024-2033 Draft STIP updated in June 2022:
| Route | From / Cross Street: | To / Cross Street: | Project: |
| US 74 , US 76 | US 74 Business east of Whiteville | West of SR 1735 (Chauncey Town Road) | Upgrade Roadway to interstate Standards |
| US 74 , US 76 | West of SR 1735 (Chauncey Town Road) | East of SR 1740 (Old Lake Road) | Upgrade Roadway to interstate Standards |
| US 74 , US 76 | East of SR 1740 (Old Lake Road) | West of NC 211 | Upgrade Roadway to interstate Standards |
| US 74 , US 76 | SR 1735 (Chauncey Town Road) | Upgrade At-grade Intersection to Interchange | |
| US 74 , US 76 | SR 1740 (Old Lake Road) | Upgrade At-grade Intersection to Grade Separation |
In the fall of 2019, future funding on
the Chauncey Town Road and Old Lake Road projects was suspended,
along with I-74 related projects in Robeson County, due to NCDOT
budget problems brought on, according to NCDOT by the success of a
lawsuit against the agency for not paying for property along future
highway alignments which could cost them hundreds of millions of
dollars and fixing damages from many recent hurricanes. The
legislature had planned to work with NCDOT to fix some of the money
problems and as of early 2020 hoped to have funding for most
projects restored by the summer of 2020.8 However, this
was before the COVID-19 pandemic shutdown on nonessential business
and travel in the spring of 2020. With lower gas revenue
projections, NCDOT put most future projects on hold in May 2020,
indicating the current budget would be used to complete existing
projects first. After the NCDOT legislature did pass a bill assuring
future funding, these projects were put back in the funded category,
and their start was accelerated. The Draft 2024-2033 STIP released
in June 2022 kept the Chauncey Town Road and Old Lake Road projects
with their 2022 start dates, however it contained no other I-74
related projects for this segment, including one that would upgrade
the route to interstate standards. This was carried over in the
Final STIP released on June 6, 2023. This means any such project
would not begin until after 2033.
Travel through the construction zone for the Lake Waccamaw (around 1 hour in) on this Video by Driving Around NC, driving from Southport to Lumberton mostly on US 74/76 West, posted on March 30, 2024. (NEW)
Travel US 74/76 East (Future I-74) between Whiteville and Lake Waccamaw or between Lake Waccamaw and NC 211 (and beyond to Leland) on these videos by Tarheel Traveler made in June 2022.
US 74/US 76 East from just after The
Start of the Whiteville Bypass (August 2019)
US 74/US 76 West from just Prior
to The NC 211 Exit (August 2019)
