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:
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? 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:
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 will 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:
Proposed location
for I-74 Mile 1 markers and removal of existing I-77 Mile 104 markers near Virginia border.
The proposed
location for I-74 Mile 2 markers is just west/north of the Maple Grove Church Road bridge.
Proposed location
for I-74 Mile 3 marker eastbound is beyond the state border weigh station.
Proposed location for I-74 Mile 4 markers prior to the I-74/I-77 split headed east/south.
As of 2025, however,
it is unclear whether this change will happen. This project was tied to that of exit renumbering along
US 52 which occurred 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 July 11 (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 to September 2024)
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.
Screen grab images from Big Rig Travels video made on December 11, 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.
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.
Older Photos
(Hover over for Larger Image)
Image of large East I-74
and South I-77 shields after crossing into North Carolina, Photo
courtesy of H.B. Elkins
Signage along I-77 North
Approaching the I-74 Exit (photo courtesy of Adam Prince)
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:
Comment:
Virginia could 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 US 52 is signed as
I-74 completing the route beyond Winston-Salem to at least Rockingham.