Segment 3 |
Where: US 52/I-74 interchange, south of Mt. Airy, Surry County to Winston-Salem Northern Beltway interchange in Rural Hall, Forsyth CountyLength: 24 MilesNeeded: Upgrade to Interstate StandardsSigned as:
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From the end of the I-74 freeway near Mt. Airy, I-74 is to use the current US 52 freeway to just north of Winston-Salem. This freeway was originally built in 1960s and is not up to current interstate standards1 (Interstates have higher specifications than normal freeways, some of specs include (at least) 12' wide lanes, 12 foot wide right shoulders, 10 foot wide left shoulders, 36 foot (in rural areas) or 10 foot medians (urban or mountainous areas), and design speeds of either 60 mph (urban) or 70 mph (rural). (For more about interstate standards, see this AASHTO page).
Early Attempt to Sign US 52 as Interstate 74
When the routes for I-73 and I-74 were finally agreed to in 1996, NCDOT asked that US 52 be signed as Interstate 74 south to NC 65 (where I-74 is to be routed off onto the eastern half of the Winston-Salem Northern Beltway, See the I-74 Segment 4 page) and the US 52 freeway through Winston-Salem to I-40 signed as 'Temporary I-74.' This last proposal was rejected by AASHTO, however, which suggested that this part of US 52 could simply be signed 'To I-74'.2 The FHWA then refused to allow NCDOT to sign the rest of US 52 as I-74 because the road was not to interstate standards, nor Future I-74 because projects to upgrade the road were unfunded. Instead, they allowed NCDOT to sign the route as a 'Future I-74 Corridor.' An example of one of these signs is below. In order for NCDOT to sign the route at least as Future I-74, projects to improve the freeway must be funded in the state's transportation program. A project to upgrade the highway had been listed in the yearly State Transportation Improvement Program (STIP) documents starting in 1999, but as unfunded. That project, No. I-4404, to upgrade the roadway to interstate standards was estimated to cost $101 million for both right-of way and construction.3 Given the revised NCDOT STIP procedure enacted in 2012 that only funded highway projects with construction to start within the next ten years are listed, this project has not appeared since, up through the latest Draft 2026-2035 STIP released in January 2025.
NCDOT Studying Other Alternatives
In the Draft STIP released in September 2012, a new listing appeared for this segment, a scheduled Feasibility Study (No. FS-1209A) to look further into the best ways of upgrading the 21.3 mile corridor to interstate standards.4 Looking through NCDOT's list of feasibility studies after 2012, there has been no listing for FS-1209A (or under I-4404), indicating that this study was never released. In reality, the highway's shoulders in Forsyth and Stokes Counties are actually quite close to interstate standard widths, after a recent upgrading of the road. In 2010 further construction work was done to upgrade the shoulders along with repaving the highway. The southern end of these projects were near the location of the planned Winston-Salem Northern Beltway (near NC 65). US 52 south of there is being upgraded to remove some of the problem interchanges, but this project to bring the road up to interstate standards is unrelated to I-74, go to my Interstate 285 page for more details. In 2011, a new interchange was opened up on US 52 in the town of King. The interchange and roadway 1/4 mile surrounding it were built to interstate standards (see photos below). Further projects to replace currently substandard bridges in both Forsyth and Stokes are underway or planned including the replacing of the bridge carrying NC 65 (Bethania-Rural Hall Road) over US 52. Work started in 2017 and upgraded US 52 around the bridge from mile markers 114 to 116 as part of the project building the Winston-Salem Northern Beltway . Work was completed in late 2019.5
New Moneys Move Up Beltway Interchange
Work, but not US 52 Upgrade
In the fall of 2015, NC Governor McCrory announced changes made to the state's budgeting process that allows for greater funding for NCDOT construction projects. Among the projects highlighted to be completely funded was the Winston-Salem Northern Beltway (see I-74 Segment 4) which would meet US 52 as part of a revised NC 65 interchange. With the approval of the newly funded projects by the Board of Transportation in January 2016, NCDOT scheduled a Design-Build project (R-2247ED) to reconstruct the NC 65 exit for the future US 52/Northern Beltway interchange to be let on September 20, 2016 and to start later in the fall of 2016.6 In 2018, NCDOT announced it had moved up the schedule for completing the Eastern Section of the Beltway and let contracts to build the remaining formerly unfunded sections from US 311 to US 52. Work is to be completed by 2023. An NCDOT official in discussing the awarding of the contract to build the I-74/US 52 interchange said that upgrading US 52 to interstate standards, though a subject of state highway planners, was still a long-term project. He mentioned the need to widen shoulders, upgrade certain bridges, and that the hilly terrain in some areas might have to be leveled. He gave no timetable for this work.7 In another newspaper article in July of 2019, NCDOT Pat Ivey, the division engineer for the N.C. Department of Transportation in Forsyth County also expressed that updating US 52 was a long-term project but that ?At the very least, (we should have) enough ?future? signage to where everyone will know this is I-74 (see Sign Plans below).?8 There have been a few bridge upgrade projects which have included shoulder widening in the vicinity including an interchange upgrade to the King/Tobaccoville exit at the Forsyth/Stokes County line, a bridge in Stokes County and another bridge in Surry County (see photos below). As part of the contract building the Beltway, substandard shoulders along US 52 between the future interchange and the upgraded highway at the King/Tobaccoville exit in Forsyth County were widened in the early summer of 2021 (see April 2023 Street View photos below) as part of a project that also repaired some of the concrete roadway slabs. As part of the same project US 52 is being widened to 3 lanes between the Beltway and Westinghouse Road and the road brought up to interstate standards. Traffic was to be moved onto the new southbound (Future I-74 East) lanes between Westinghouse Road and NC 65 the weekend of May 4-5, 2024 (see Photos below). A project to upgrade the US 52 bridges over Toms Creek in Surry County with interstate standard versions began in the summer of 2024. US 52 already has interstate standard shoulders in that county south/east of Exit 136, Cook School Road, meaning only a 4 mile segment between there and the I-74 exit in Mt. Airy would need future shoulder widening. A division contract in Stokes County to repave 7.5 miles of US 52 between Main Street in King and the Little Yadkin River bridges was let in April 2024, which included shoulder reconstruction but did not include widening.
No other projects were listed as funded for further improvements to US 52 in Stokes and Surry Counties however in the Final 2024-2033 STIP released in June 2023, meaning, officially, no upgrade work is planned until after 2033. A list of potential projects and their quantitative scores for the 2026-2035 STIP was released in May 2024. It includes 3 upgrade to interstate standards projects for US 52. The first from NC 65 (Exit 118) to the King/Tobaccoville interchange, currently Exit 123. This project calls for upgrading the route to interstate standards and widening it to 3 lanes in each direction (much of this has already been accomplished south of Westinghouse Road, Exit 120, as part of the project building the Beltway interchange, as discussed above). The cost is estimated at $136 million, but may include the work between Exits 120 and 118. The second is from Exit 123 to SR 1147 (Perch Road), Exit 129 that would bring the freeway to interstate standards by adding 12' paved right shoulders, 4' paved median shoulders, interchange improvements, and intermittent bridge replacements. The cost is estimated at $62.5 million. The third would perform similar work in Surry County from the Stokes County line to the current I-74 exit in Mt. Airy, that is estimated to cost $154 million. None of these projects though scored particularly well under NCDOT's cost-benefit formulas at the state level (67.91, 60.15 and 51.14) to indicate that they would be included in the next STIP. This became a fact when the Draft 2026-2035 STIP was released in late January 2025. As it appears no, I-74 will not be signed until at least after 2035.
SIGN PLANS
In August 2022, NCDOT released plans for the letting of the last segment of the I-74 section of the Winston-Salem Northern Beltway. Among those plans were new exit numbers to be assigned to US 52 based on I-74 mileage. They were not, however, signing the route as I-74. That is to wait until after the last sections are completed. Instead they are to place Future I-74 signs along the route in both directions. On February 26, 2025 NCDOT announced that work had begun on creating foundations along US 52 that would hold new signage with I-74 mileage based exit numbers, new mile marker would be installed as well. Work placing the signs would start a week or two after the foundations would be installed, most likely by early April. However, photos taken along the corridor by contributor Adam Prince in late March did not show any new signs, sign foundations or new exit numbers. Here is the 1 Mile advance sign for the King/Tobaccoville exit:
Plan for Future I-74 sign to go up along both sides of US 52.
The plans show that I-74 will get
the new number (18), exiting itself, similar to what happens with I-73 in
Greensboro. Perhaps this will change when I-74 is routed along US 52.
The plans for the 1 1/4 Miles
advance sign for Cook School Road, to be Exit 20, though the 2025 press release says it will be Exit 21.
The
plans for the 1/4 Mile advance sign for the Pilot Mountain Left Exit on US 52 South, to be Exit 21.
The
plans for the exit and gore signs for the NC 268 Exit on US 52 North, to be Exit 23, though, again the NCDOT 2025 announcement
has a different number, 24.
The plans for the 1/4 Mile
advance sign for the Pilot Mountain State Park Left Exit on US 52 South, to be Exit 26. Though NCDOT now says 27.
The
plans for the 1 Mile advance sign for the Pinnacle exit on US 52, to be Exit 28, or perhaps now 29.
The plans for the exit and gore
sign for the King/Tobaccoville exit on US 52 South, which was to be Exit 33, but now is 35.
The plans for the 1 Mile advance
sign for the Moore-RJR Drive exit on US 52, which was to be Exit 34, but now is 36.
The exit sign for Westinghouse Road (current Exit 120) was not part of the design-build contract for the Beltway
interchange with US 52 and had no published sign plans. The 2025 press release indicates it will become Exit 39 and the
US 52 exit number will match that on NC 74 West, 41.
Comment: Instead of the planned Future I-74 signs, NCDOT should put up 'To East I-74' or 'To West
I-74' trailblazer signs paired with US 52 reassurance markers when the Beltway is completed in 2026 to connect
the route to the surrounding completed I-74 signed segments. AASHTO approved them to do just this in 1997. This would
provide a continuous freeway route with I-74 signs from the Virginia border south to beyond Rockingham.
[Currently, as part of the signage upgrade to the then US 311 freeway
when it officially became I-74 in 2014, signs were added to both US 52
South prior to I-40 and to I-40 West prior to the US 52 exit which
listed 'To I-74 Use (the I-40 East or US 52 North) Exit, see Segment 5 page for photo.]
Future I-74 West at US 52: Prior
to US 52 North Exit (April 2024)
Future I-74 East at King/Tobaccoville Exit: Prior
to US 52 South Off-Ramp (September 2024)
Future I-74 East at Westinghouse Road Exit: Prior
to US 52 South Off-Ramp (September 2024)
Future I-74 West at NC 65: From
new US 52 North Off-Ramp to NC 65 (September 2024)
NEW-Driving US 52 South as part of Big Rig Travels Wytheville to Haw River Live Stream Video, taken on Dec. 11, 2024. US 52 segment starts about 45 minutes into the video.
Video Driving US 52 (Future I-74) from Mt. Airy through Winston-Salem on the way to Welcome, NC on I-285 by Driving Around NC, posted April 22, 2024. Construction along US 52 at the Winston-Salem Northern Beltway is seen around the 28 minute mark.
Dashcam video from TJElevatorfan of US 52 and NC 74 East showing US 52 Beltway interchange construction, posted March 16, 2024
Taken during the summer of 2021. Judge for yourself how close the segment is to Interstate standards.
US 52 North:
Exits
111 to 120
Exits 120 to 129
Exits
129 to 141 (Includes part of Andy Griffith Pkwy)
US 52 South: Exits 141 to 129 Exits 129 to 120 Exits 120 to 111 (Includes part of Future I-285)
*** NEW PHOTOS ***
The overhead 1/2 Mile
advance APL for US 52 South prior to the NC 65 off-ramp.
Overhead signage at the split of US 52 South at the beginning of NC 74 East/Winston-Salem
Northern Beltway.
New overhead 1/4 Mile advance for
Westinghouse Road on US 52 North after the NC 65 on-ramp, this is more like 1/2 mile from the exit though.
Newly placed North US 52 North reassurance
marker after the NC 65 on-ramp, will the West I-74 marker be installed next to it, or will both appear on a small green sign?.
Overhead exit sign, and exit only
banner, for Westinghouse Road on US 52 North.
New overhead signs at the ramp
for the Westinghouse Road exit. Notice the new US 52 exit (image was
taken in the rain, unfortunately) is numbered with US 52 mileage, not
the planned new I-74 mileage, suggesting that renumbering may not happen
until I-74 is signed on the Beltway in 2026.
Back of a new overhead sign
northbound for the Westinghouse Road exit seen heading south onto the
new 3-lane version of US 52 South which starts at the end of the on-ramp
ahead.
The
start of NC 74 East/Winston-Salem Northern Beltway at the split with US
52 South, notice there is currently no gore sign at this location.
New overhead signs at the ramp
for the NC 65 exit. Currently there are no overhead signs mentioning
this exit approaching on US 52 South, only the preexisting ground
mounted versions.
EARLIER IN 2024
Screen grabs from video from Big Rig Travels traveling north on US 52 (Future I-74 West) on October 7, 2024.
Heading
north on US 52 towards the Westinghouse Road exit, work still continuing
on the left to complete the permanent lanes.
View
across US 52 South at Westinghouse Road showing interchange being used
as storage area for future overhead sign support posts.
Google Maps Street View images from September 2024. These were taken prior after the opening of the new US 52 South lanes but prior to the final alignment at the Beltway exit:
Traffic
now using permanent US 52 South/Future I-74 East lanes beyond the
Westinghouse Road exit.
Some
median work remaining to be completed along US 52 South/Future I-74
East beyond the Westinghouse Road exit.
Construction continues in the
median approaching the merge from the Westinghouse Road exit.
End
of median construction at end of merge from the Westinghouse Road exit.
The VMS is the first advance sign for the NC 74 / Beltway exit.
Completed
roadway currently striped for two lanes, will be expanded to 3 when work
on the Beltway interchange is completed.
The future left lane heading
south is more obvious approaching the 1/2 mile advance sign for NC 65.
The
1/2 Mile advance 'sign' for the NC 74 East Beltway exit with the split
of lanes approaching.
Approaching
the split of roadways between NC 74 (Future I-74) to the left, still
using the future westbound roadway, and US 52 to the right.
The
Street View vehicle using the completed US 52 South exit side at the
split with the Winston-Salem Beltway / NC 74 East.
Screen grabs of images taken from Google Maps Street View along US 52 north of the Winston-Salem Northern Beltway interchange, heading northbound in April 2024:
US
52 North lanes still using future C/D ramp from Winston-Salem Northern
Beltway beyond the NC 65 exit as US 52 South uses the future permanent
north lanes.
A
temporary merging traffic sign approaching the on-ramp from NC 65 along
the future C/D ramp from the Winston-Salem Northern Beltway.
A
permanent barrier has been installed to separate US 52 North traffic
using the future C/D ramp from current US 52 South using the future
permanent northbound lanes.
US
52 North approaching the end of the future C/D ramp with now temporary
concrete barriers separating traffic from US 52 South.
US
52 North at the end of the future C/D ramp merging onto the permanent US
52 North (Future I-74 West) lanes.
A
new temporary 1 Mile advance sign for Westinghouse Road on US 52 North.
Half the future northbound lanes being used for US 52 South traffic.
More
concrete barriers separate the permanent northbound lanes from the part
being used for US 52 South traffic.
More
construction is needed to complete the future northbound lanes
approaching the Westinghouse Road exit.
Completed
landscaping can be seen along the right shoulder approaching the
Westinghouse Road exit.
Approaching
the Westinghouse Road exit on US 52 North (Future I-74 West).
A
new temporary exit sign for Westinghouse Road on US 52 North. A groove
for the permanent median barrier can be seen between the two temporary
concrete barriers on the left.
Approaching
the end of the Beltway construction zone on US 52 North. Turning
around...
US
52 South lanes at the Westinghouse Road on-ramp starting their
transition over to use half of the nearly completed new US 52
North lanes.
Work
continues on completing the new US 52 South (Future I-74 East) lanes
after the Westinghouse Road exit, still not all paved.
A
closer look at the future US 52 South lanes still being graded after the
Westinghouse Road exit.
The
start of paving of the future US 52 South lanes starts about 1/2 mile
from the Westinghouse Road exit.
One
of the future US 52 South lanes has gotten some preliminary paving
approaching 1/2 mile from the NC 65 exit.
Construction
trucks traveling along the future US 52 South lanes.
Guardrail
work has been completed on this part of the future US 52 South lanes,
being used here as a parking lot for project workers.
The
future US 52 South (I-74 East) lanes become fully paved as you get
closer to the NC 65 exit. Meanwhile, a VMS still serves as an advance
sign for the NC 74/Beltway exit.
The
old NC 65 exit sign still stands while the pavement of the future lanes
appears completed to the right.
A
truck travels along the future exit ramp for NC 65 exit seen while
approaching the current exit ramp.
A
closer look at paving along the future NC 65 exit ramp to the right of
the current exit gore sign.
The
future US 52 South (I-74 East) lanes are still only graded after the NC
65 exit. Meanwhile, traffic on the current lanes is splitting between US
52 and the NC 74 Beltway.
Traffic
back on the permanent US 52 South (I-74 East) lanes approaching the NC
65 bridge. Construction vehicles sit along the unopened section.
A
temporary barrier separates the completed future NC 74 East lanes from
US 52 South heading under the NC 65 bridge.
The
future site of the split of US 52 South from the NC 74 (Future I-74)
East Winston-Salem Northern Beltway lanes beyond the NC 65 bridge.
EARLIER PHOTOS
Photos of construction around the newly opened US 52 interchange with the Winston-Salem Northern Beltway from screen grab images from a video by Driving Around NC in late April 2024:
Looking
south after the Westinghouse Road exit at median construction still
ongoing as part of the Beltway interchange project.
US 52 traffic still using future northbound lanes while permanent south
lanes are being paved between Westinghouse Road and the NC 65 exit.
Temporary
VMS still being used for 1/2 Mile advance for NC 74 East/Winston-Salem
Beltway exit. Permanent southbound lanes to the right were opened over
the weekend of May 4-5 (with, hopefully some permanent signs).
Permanent
southbound lanes appear to have had final layer of pavement approaching
the NC 65 exit on US 52 South (Future I-74 East). This ramp was also
shut down the weekend of May 4-5 to allow for the tie in of the new
southbound lanes with the NC 65 ramp.
Approaching
the NC 65 exit with left side VMS indicating approach of NC 74
East/Beltway exit ramp still using future I-74 West lanes.
Continuing
on the current US 52 South lanes at the split from the NC 74/Beltway
lanes just after the NC 65 exit.
EARLIER PHOTOS
Photos of construction around the newly opened US 52 interchange with the Winston-Salem Northern Beltway with screen grab images from a video by TJElevatorfan from March 2024:
US 52 North still restricted to 2
lanes as southbound traffic still is using part of the northbound lanes.
Notice also no change to the exit number.
Closer
to Westinghouse Road southbound traffic is no longer using part of US 52
North and the construction of a permanent median barrier has begun.
US
52 North (Future I-74 West) lanes are largely completed at the
Westinghouse Road exit.
Turning around...
View
from the Westinghouse Road exit ramp to US 52 South, they still have not
made enough progress to pave the future third lane and appear to still
be grading part of it.
A closer look of the continuing
work along the US 52 South lanes, the current lanes still heading over
to use part of the northbound ones.
More grading work being done
beyond the 1 Mile advance sign for the NC 65 exit on US 52 South.
A portable VMS still being used
as one of the advance signs for one of the upcoming exits.
Arrows
for the NC 74 East/Beltway exit appearing in the left lane prior to the
NC 65 exit.
A closer look at the lane
configuration of US 52 South at NC 65, two lanes for US 52 and one for
traffic heading for the Beltway.
View now heading
off of US 52 South to the Beltway, a yellow line restricting the exit to
one lane, traffic still using the future US 52 North lanes.
Earlier Photos
Photos of construction north of the newly opened US 52 interchange with the Winston-Salem Northern Beltway with screen grab images from a video by Tar Heel Dashcam from December 2023 and by Mark David Moore taken on December 15, 2023:
While the roadway is completed
approaching the ramp from NC 65 on US 52 North, the roadway is still
restricted to 2 lanes in this direction due to the partial use of the
lane for southbound traffic between here and the Westinghouse Road exit.
A newly placed 1 Mile advance
sign for the Westinghouse Road exit moved to beyond the shoulder of the
widened roadway.
The US 52 North roadway
approaching the Westinghouse Road exit. Part of the future right
shoulder currently being used as a travel lane.
A lack of vegetation along the
new shoulder of US 52 North approaching the Westinghouse Road exit.
The Westinghouse Road exit sign,
with a center mounted (and temporary?) Exit 120 tab along US 52 North.
Turning around at the exit...
Taken from the end of the
Westinghouse Road exit ramp, the future US 52 South/I-74 East lanes are
still being graded, meaning any paving will probably now not take place
until the spring.
A temporary 2 Mile advance sign for the recently opened NC 74
East/Winston-Salem Northern Beltway exit, the permanent signage awaiting
the completion of the eastbound lanes.
A temporarily placed 1/2 Mile advance sign for the the NC 65 exit, the
permanent signage also awaiting the completion of the eastbound lanes.
Another temporary VMS advance sign for the NC 74 exit, the eastbound
lanes seem to still need grading on the other side of the guardrail.
The future I-74 Easy/US 52 South
lanes can be seen behind the temporary exit sign for NC 65, the current
ramp crossing between concrete barriers.
A closer look at the NC 65 exit
ramp crossing the future lanes of I-74 East prior to the split with US
52 South.
South/East traffic using future I-74 West lanes approaching the
temporary split between the lanes for the NC 74 East/Winston-Salem
Northern Beltway and US 52 South, the permanent split will be after the
NC 65 bridge.
EARLIER PHOTOS
Images from Google Maps Street View along US 52 from NC 65 to Westinghouse Road, from June 2023 (*Latest 12/4/23):
*View looking from the NC 65
bridge at construction taking place currently in the US 52 median just
north/west of the future Beltway interchange.
Grading for the additional lanes
along US 52 South continues approaching the exit ramp to NC 65.
More grading underway even closer
to NC 65.
Now heading north. Both a
temporary and permanent gore sign are seen on the ramp to NC 65, future
I-74 West lanes still under construction to the left.
Future I-74 West/US 52 North
lanes being graded after the NC 65 exit ramp.
Less grading of the future I-74
West/US 52 North lanes can be seen on the left approaching the on-ramp
from NC 65.
US 52 North using the future
on-ramp from NC 65 awaiting the completion of the future I-74 West lanes
heading towards Westinghouse Road.
Current US 52 North approaching
the merge with the future I-74 West lanes.
Grading underway on interstate
standard roadway with future third lane between NC 65 and Westinghouse
Road.
Graded future third lane of I-74
West/US 52 North continues towards Westinghouse Road.
Landscaping work continues along
as well on US 52 North approaching Westinghouse Road.
The future third lane of I-74
West/US 52 North has been paved near Westinghouse Road.
Paved lane becomes a future exit
only lane on US 52 North at Westinghouse Road.
Images from Google Maps Street View showing progress in modernizing bridges in this segment, from April 2023:
View of
completed new bridge over US 52 in Stokes County looking north (west on
I-74). Notice the interstate standard shoulders in vicinity of the
bridge.
View of same
bridge looking south (east on Future I-74).
View of another newish bridge over US 52 in Surry
county looking south (east on Future I-74). Shoulders also widened in
the vicinity.
EARLIER PHOTOS
Image taken from Google Maps Street View from April 2023 driving south between Westinghouse Road and the NC 65 exit:
Widening of US 52 after the Westinghouse Road exit
as part of the Winston-Salem Northern Beltway interchange project.
While some landscaping has been completed work to
widen the roadway ahead of the Winston-Salem Northern Beltway
interchange continues.
Widening of US 52 South continues, still much work
to do before new lane can be paved.
Work can also be seen along US 52 North when not
hidden by concrete barriers.
The 1/2 Mile advance sign for the NC 65 sign awaits
a more permanent replacement after the widening project is
complete.
Looks like an additional new lane is being added to
the Future I-74 roadway for the NC 65 exit.
As seen earlier, much work needs to be done on
completing the grading of the future lanes prior to the NC 65 exit
before paving can start.
Not much new to be seen from the NC 65 to the
future Beltway exit than when I drove through last October, except for
the start of some clearing and grading prior to the NC 65 ramp.
EARLIER PHOTOS
Taken during road trip around Winston-Salem on October 14, 2022:
US 52 North lanes after the NC 65 bridge with NC 65
on-ramp traffic to the right, road being widened as part of the
Winston-Salem Beltway interchange project.
Truck
trailers line ramp from NC 65 below completed landscaping and noise
walls along US 52 North (Future I-74 West).
A closer look at the completed noise walls
approaching the merge with the NC 65 on-ramp.
Merging with the NC 65 exit ramp on US 52 North
(Future I-74 West).
Widening
of US 52 North (Future I-74 West) lanes continues on after the NC 65
exit.
Widening
of US 52 North (Future I-74 West) lanes between the NC 65 and
Westinghouse Road exits.
Nearing
the end of future widening of US 52 North (Future I-74 West) lanes at
the Westinghouse Road exit.
About to enter US 52 South (Future I-74 East) from
the Westinghouse Road exit, construction barrels line the ramp.
Widening of US 52 South beyond the Westinghouse
Road exit, new lane partially graded, but not paved yet.
Widening continues towards the NC 65 exit, 1 mile
advance sign seen in the distance. Landscaping looks mostly complete.
US 52 South (Future I-74 East) approaching the NC
65 exit.
Widening of US 52 South (Future I-74 East) about to
end at the NC 65 exit ramp.
Temporary signage at the NC 65 exit ramp for the
future Exit 38.
Now on the new US 52 South lanes approaching the NC
65 bridge.
New US 52 South and North (Future I-74 West) lanes
still under construction under the NC 65 bridge.
NC 65 exit on-ramp traffic merges with US 52 South
ahead of future Beltway interchange.
This US 52 pull through marks the future site of
the off-ramp for I-74 East heading for the Winston-Salem Northern
Beltway.
EARLIER PHOTOS
Images taken from Google Maps Street View approaching the future I-74/Winston-Salem Northern Beltway interchange, May 2022:
The NC 65 exit sign sits prior to its
original ramp, now 1/2 mile further down US 52 due to interchange
reconstruction. New NC 65 bridge in the distance.
View of new NC 65 exit sign after
entering US 52 South from new interchange ramp.
Heading toward the future I-74/Beltway exit after
going under new NC 65 bridge.
View
looking south from new NC 65 bridge toward location of future I-74/
Winston-Salem Northern Beltway interchange.
Looking
north at current exit ramp for NC 65 with future lanes for I-74 West/US
52 North beyond.
Photo from NCDOT Traffic Camera, taken on October 8, 2021:
Traffic
camera showing completion of shoulder widening work on US 52 just north
of the Future Beltway interchange.
Photos taken by Val Melvin on July 12 and 13, 2021:
Newly widened right shoulder along US 52 North
(Future I-74 West) after the Westinghouse Road exit in Forsyth County.
Another
view of widened shoulders further north.
Newly
widened shoulders along US 52 North ending at location of rebuilt bridge
where shoulders were brought up to interstate standards a couple years
ago (traffic backed up on US 52 South due to upcoming bridge demolition,
see photos below).
New
wider shoulders resume along US 52 North (Future I-74 West) just prior
to the Moore-RJR Drive exit.
New
wider shoulders continue along US 52 North (Future I-74 West) after the
Moore-RJR Drive exit to the previously reconstructed King-Tobaccoville
exit that is up to Interstate standards.
The previously
completed bridge over US 52 North (Future I-74 West) at the
King-Tobaccoville exit just prior to entering Stokes County.
Shoulders
along US 52 North (Future I-74 West) in Stokes County appear Interstate
standard.
View along US 52 North (Future I-74 West) of Pilot
Mountain.
Another
image of Pilot Mountain approaching the Pinnacle exit in Stokes County,
the roadway appears Interstate standard.
US
52 North (Future I-74 West) after the Pinnacle Exit and about to enter
Surry County.
The brown 1/2 Mile advance sign for Pilot Mountain
State Park.
The brown exit sign for Pilot Mountain State Park
is followed by a green gore sign. The exit number will change when this
becomes I-74 (which may require bringing this exit up to Interstate
standards).
The 1 Mile
advance sign for the NC 268 exit in Pilot Mountain, note the lack of an
exit tab, will make this exit easier to renumber.
The NC 268
exit sign on US 52 North (Future I-74 West) also lacks an exit tab.
Turning around and heading back on South US 52
(Future I-74 East) toward Winston Salem.
South US 52 (Future I-74 East) about to enter
Stokes County.
Bridge over US 52
in process of being demolished north of the Moore-RJR Drive exit in
Forsyth County (bridge was demolished over the week of July 26-30).
US 52 South (Future I-74 East) approaching the
Moore-RJR Drive exit.
Widened
shoulder along US 52 South (Future I-74 East) approaching the
Westinghouse Road exit.
Shoulder work continuing
on US 52 South (Future I-74 East) approaching the Westinghouse Road
exit.
Entering the Winston-Salem Beltway interchange work zone along US 52
South (Future I-74 East).
Earlier Photos
Taken by Val Melvin from Pilot Mountain, April 25, 2021:
Looking down at US 52 freeway as seen from top of
Pilot Mountain.
US 52 / Winston-Salem Northern Beltway interchange construction,
2019-2020
Projects are under way at the southern end of this segment to construct
future interchange with the Winston-Salem Northern Beltway
Photos taken along US 52 by David Johnson, September 11, 2020:
Construction
barrels at start of work zone along US 52 North for Winston-Salem
Beltway interchange construction.
More construction
barrels on both sides of the highway approaching the NC 65 exit.
New NC 65 bridge over
US 52 and relocated NC 65 exit ramp built as part of the Beltway
interchange project.
View of noise walls
being constructed along US 52 North north of the future Beltway
interchange along new exit ramp to NC 65.
To the right is the
future ramp that will carry I-74 West from the Beltway to US 52 North
with more noise walls.
Construction
continues along US 52 North to widen the highway after the interchange.
Work continues along
US 52 North after post-interchange distance sign showing 26 miles to
Mount Airy.
Widening work
continues along US 52 North until the Westinghouse Road exit.
Turning around at
Westinghouse Road, showing widening work along US 52 North.
Widening work along
US 52 South at end of ramp from Westinghouse Road.
Widening work along
US 52 South around 1-Mile advance sign for the NC 65 exit.
Looking across at
widening work along US 52 North.
Approaching the new
US 52 South exit ramp to NC 65 and the Beltway interchange work zone.
Passing the new US
52 South exit ramp to NC 65.
Approaching the new
NC 65 bridge over US 52. Notice the old exit ramp to the right beyond
the jersey barrier.
Driving under the
new NC 65 bridge over US 52. Work on the future Beltway interchange can
be seen to the right.
Supports for future
I-74/Beltway interchange over US 52 and grading of future ramp area to
the right of the southbound lanes.
A closer look at
the grading and clearing of the ground for the new interchange from US
52 South.
New southbound US
52 bridge over railroad tracks being constructed to right of current
lanes.
Closer look at
future southbound US 52 bridge over railroad tracks being constructed to
right of current lanes.
Southbound US 52
(and Future I-285) lanes beyond the Future Beltway construction zone.
Heading North on US 52, taken in June 2019:
The exit
sign for the Westinghouse Road, the first exit after the future Beltway
interchange. The shoulders here appear close to interstate standard.
The
exit sign for Moore-RJR Drive, the last exit in Forsyth County.
The
blue services sign for the Moore-RJR Drive exit showing that there is a
Sheetz along Future I-74.
The
exit sign for the King/Tobaccoville exit, at the start of the Interstate
Standard section surrounding the revised 2011 interchange/bridge (see
additional photos below).
The 1-Mile
advance sign for the Pinnacle exit, with the pinnacle of Pilot Mountain
seen in the distance.
New
bridges for crossing the Little Yadkin River in Pinnacle, built to
interstate standards along with surrounding roadway.
The gore sign for the
Pinnacle exit with the Pilot Mountain pinnacle in the distance. The
shoulders back to less than interstate standard width.
Brown
1/2 mile advance sign for Pilot Mountain State Park, the earlier signage
did not feature an exit number tab.
The
1-Mile advance sign for NC 268, all the advance signs do not have exit
tabs.
The only
place you'll find out the exit number for NC 268 is at the gore sign
heading north.
The
1-Mile advance sign for the Cook School Road exit with different length
support posts.
The
ground mounted 2-miles advance sign for I-74 West. The remaining signs
are overhead, see photos below.
The
1/4 mile advance for the left side Mount Airy exit, this will probably
have to be reconstructed before this section can become I-74.
View of Pilot
Mountain from Northbound US 52 Scenic Overlook, Stokes County. View
taken on 10/24/10, when freeway was undergoing rehabilitation including
extending the width of shoulders (using gravel) that may make the
signing of the route as I-74 easier to do in the future.
New signage at the
northern end of the segment at the US 52 Exit. This signage was placed
in the Summer of 2010 and corrects the previous sign which had the
duplicative words To I-77, To Wytheville. (10/24/10)
The signs at the US 52
ramp. The I-74 Exit sign was corrected too. The exit tab design makes it
easy to transfer the tab to the other sign (and revised to Exit 17) when
the segment is declared an interstate. (10/24/10)
Typical US 52 interchange
signage, this for US 52 South (Future I-74 East) in Pinnacle, current
Exit 129.
The then new 2011 bridge
over US 52 at King. The freeway surrounding the new interchange was
rebuilt to interstate standards.
View of US 52
North (Future I-74 West) after the King interchange bridge showing
modern interstate design of highway.
New exit signage for
modified King/Tobaccoville exit. The signs are up to standards, they
await new exit numbers when the freeway becomes I-74 East.
This is the
first 'Future I-74 Corridor' sign along US 52 South near Mt. Airy. Photo
courtesy of H.B. Elkins. (2004) (Still standing as of May 2018).
