Image of NC Interstate 74 shield (from Shields Up!) Segment 6

Portion of 2021-2022 NCDOT State Transportation Map, Triad Inset showing I-74 in the High Point area

Where:  US 311 High Point 'East Belt' Bypass, North Main Street, High Point, to South of I-85, Guilford County

Length:  11 Miles

Completed: November 22, 2010

Highway signed as: Image of NC I-74 shield (from Shields Up! 

 

Go to Photos (New ones added 11/7/22)             Go to Videos (New 2/9/22)

Segment Information

Completing the Route to Business 85

Segment 6 is part of I-74's second fully signed section in NC and is co-signed with US 311 on what is referred to as the "East Belt" bypass of High Point. The project to build this segment (Number R-609) was broken up into three parts.1 Part one, from where the US 311 freeway from Winston-Salem originally ended at Main Street (now Exit 65, former Bus. 311) to NC 68, Eastchester Drive (photo below), almost 2 miles in length, was completed in 1997. The second part, 4.5 miles from NC 68 to US 29/70 (Business Loop I-85), was opened on November 20, 2004 after a delay of nearly a year.2 Once this section was completed, US 311 was re-routed along the completed bypass to Business 85 and then south to its old route. The exits on both parts were first numbered based on US 311 mileposts, but were renumbered in 2008 to I-74 based mileposts (See the I-74 Exit List), to match those put up at the same time along Segment 5. Though some initial news reports indicated NCDOT was not planning to sign the highway as I-74 until the freeway was completed to US 220 (I-73)3, documents posted by NCDOT for the last section contract letting in late 2006 included detailed plans showing the placement of I-74 signage along the entire stretch of the East-Belt at the conclusion of the project. Though the final segment opened in November, some of the I-74 signs were not placed on the previous completed sections until December 2010.4

Finishing the Route to I-85

The Right-of Way acquisition phase for the third part (6.7 miles from Business 85 across I-85 to Tuttle Road, SR 1920 near Archdale) was delayed a year, to 2003, due to environmental concerns about the road's path being near the new Randleman Reservoir, a future drinking water source for Greensboro.5,6 Complicating matters, for the 2007 contract letting this segment was split into smaller pieces with part of the contract (a one mile piece east of I-85 to Tuttle Road) assigned to the contract for the next NCDOT project (R-2606), officially called the US 311 Bypass (see I-74 Segment 7). The winning contractor, Blythe Construction put in a combined bid ($104 million) for both projects. Construction started on May 31, 2007, three years after first scheduled.7 There was a ceremonial groundbreaking for the project on July 16, 2007, as described in the official NCDOT press release.8 According to the NCDOT press release noting the contract was approved, the tentative completion date was set for May 2011. However, NCDOT announced in March 2010 that the road would open by that November, 6 months early (even though it was originally supposed to be completed in 2007).10 The 2009-2015 STIP indicated total costs for building this entire segment at $242.8 million.1 The new I-85 interchange was near the pre-existing NC 62 exit, so traffic would use collector/distributor (C/D) ramps to access both NC 62 (now Exit 113A) and I-74/US 311 (Exits 113B and C)from I-85.4 In May 2008, for construction of the I-85 interchange, the ramp from NC 62 to I-85 South was closed and because I-74 passes under I-85, it was necessary to build the C/D ramps for the future I-74 interchange first and then, in October 2008, place I-85 traffic in both directions temporarily on these ramps so that new bridges could be constructed to take I-85 over I-74.11 The new bridges were completed in April 2010 and NCDOT re-opened the original I-85 lanes during April and May. The remaining six months of construction were spent bringing the I-74 roadway to completion.7 For photos documenting the construction of the third section from 2007 to 2010, go to the I-74 Segment 6 Construction Photo Page.

New construction projects and the removal of US 311 for 2018

In the February 2018 NCDOT advertised for two construction projects along and adjacent to this segment. The first is the building an extension of Greensboro Road that will start just east of the I-74 interchange near High Point. Part of the project will be updating the signage for I-74. When the sign plans came out, there was something of a surprise:

Image of NCDOT sign plan for I-74 trailblazers at site of new Greensboro Rd interchange in High Point Image of NCDOT sign plan for new interchange on-ramp signs for new Greensboro Rd in High Point

The plans called for only retaining the I-74 signs (thus removing of the US 311 shields) and the new on-ramp signage only listed I-74. It seemed US 311 was either being removed or re-routed. The answer came in March when NCDOT announced it wanted to truncate US 311 to High Point due to the confusion of having 2 signed routes in different directions. High Point city officials supported the move.12 AASHTO approved NCDOT's application which calls for the removal of all US 311 signage from the segment by the end of 2018.13 The other construction project, the revising of the NC 68 High Point interchange, let in June 2018, also has signage that will reflect the removal of US 311, and that I-40 will be removed from the NC 68 exit signs:

Image of NCDOT sign plan for revised interchange with NC 68 in High Point
Image of new exit sign plans by NCDOT for revised NC 68 interchange in High Point

While US 311 signs were removed from the Forsyth County section of I-74 (see I-74 Segment 5) in April 2020, signage remained in Guilford and Randolph Counties. Work crews started removing the signage in late July 2020 to the Business 85 exit,14 the remainder were not taken down until the spring of 2021.

Here are traffic camera images taken in 2020 and 2021, showing progress building the new I-74 East ramp and bridge at Eastchester Drive (Future US 70/NC 68), the contractor is currently completing work on the new southbound bridge (January 2021):

The bridge was open for traffic on August 2:

NCDOT traffic camera image showing new westbound section of future US 70 bridge over I-74 in 
                                                High Point open to traffic, August 2021

Approaches to the new portion of the bridge received their final paving on July 30, 2021:

NCDOT traffic camera image showing final paving of new westbound section 
      of future US 70 bridge over I-74 in High Point, July 2021

Work on the bridge nears completion, May 13, 2021:

NCDOT traffic camera image of bridge construction of Eastchester Avenue over I-74 in High Point

Work on the bridge continues, January 4, 2021:

Image from NCDOT traffic camera showing progess completing Eastchester Drive bridge over I-74 in High Point, taken January 4, 2021

The ramp was opened on August 5, 2020:

NCDOT traffic camera image of I-74 East overhead guide signage at opened ramp from NC 68 South/Future US 70 West in High Point

Here's further construction going on in September creating a longer exit ramp for the I-74 West ramp:

NCDOT traffic camera image of construction at ramp to I-74 West on NC 68 South, Future US 70 West in High Point

Prior to the I-74 East ramp opening:

NCDOT traffic camera image of Eastchester Drive/I-74 interchange under construction in August 2020

Earlier image showing placement of future I-74 ramp signs along Eastchester Drive (US 70/NC 68):

NCDOT traffic camera image showing installation of future overhead ramp guide signs for new ramps
                                                 to I-74 from Eastchester Drive, July 2020

Earlier image from April 25, 2020 showing progress with that construction project:

NCDOT traffic camera image of construction at the NC 68 interchange on I-74 in High Point, taken 
                                             April 25, 2020

Traffic camera image from early November 2020 showing progress on the future US 70 West/NC 68 South bridge:

NCDOT traffic camera image of progress building new Eastchester Drive bridge over I-74 in 
                                                 High Point, November 2020

"Drive" This Segment watching RoadwayWiz videos from the Summer of 2021 (New)

I-74 East, Exits 63 to 75 (Includes some of Segment 5)            I-74 West, Exits 75 to 65


"Drive this Segment Using Google Maps Street View (Updated)

I-74 East at North Main Street: From Just Before Exit 65 Off-Ramp (August 2021)

I-74 East at Business 85/US 29/US 70: From Volleyball Interchange On-Ramp (August 2021)

I-74 West at I-85: From On-Ramp to I-85 North (August 2021)

I-74 West at NC 68: Just Before Exit 67 Off-Ramp (July 2021)

Images taken along I-74 East in October 2022


Image of East I-74 pull through sign with blank space from removed South US 311 information on I-74 
        East in High Point, October 2022Pull through sign approaching Johnson Street exit with South US 311 information removed.


Image of East I-74 pull through sign with blank space from removed South US 311 information on I-74 
        East in High Point, October 2022Signage at the recently revamped NC 68 interchange (see photos below). The exit sign should soon be updated to reflect that US 70 also now runs along Eastchester Drive.


Image of East I-74 reassurance marker mistakenly joined by a South US 311 one after Greensboro Road
        exit on I-74 East in High Point, October 2022Just when you thought US 311 had disappeared from High Point, this new sign mysteriously appeared in the fall of 2022. This is aftern the Greensboro Road exit, probably an in-kind replacement gone wrong.


Image of signage at the soon to be former Business 85/US 29 and 70 interchange on I-74 
        East in High Point, October 2022Pull through sign at the current Business 85/US 29/US 70 exit with South US 311 information removed. The right hand sign should look similar soon with Business 85 and US 70 removed.


Images from Google Maps Street View taken in July and August 2021 showing removal of US 311:

Signage on I-85 for the I-74 interchange:

Overhead signage on C/D ramp from I-85 North with US 311 shields removed, Google Maps Street View 
        image, August 2021Overhead signage on C/D ramp along I-85 North at the ramp for I-74 East with US 311 shields removed.


Overhead signage on C/D ramp from I-85 North with US 311 shields removed, Google Maps Street View 
        image, August 2021Overhead signage further up on C/D ramp along I-85 North at the ramp for I-74 West exit , again with US 311 shields removed.


Overhead signage for C/D ramp from I-85 South for I-74 exits with US 311 shields removed, Google Maps Street View 
        image, August 2021Now heading south, the removed US 311 makes for widely spaced I-74 and NC 62 shields ahead of the entrance for the C/D ramp along I-85 South.


Overhead signage on C/D ramp from I-85 South at I-74 West exit with US 311 shields removed, Google Maps Street View 
        image, August 2021No US 311 shields on the C/D ramp overheads at the I-74 West exit on I-85 South.


Overhead signage on C/D ramp from I-85 South for I-74 East exit with US 311 shield removed, Google Maps Street View 
        image, August 2021Finally, the removed US 311 at the I-74 East exit.


Signage on I-74 at I-85:

Pull through overhead sign for I-74 East at I-85 interchange without former US 311 shield, 
        Google Maps Street View image, August 2021Pull through sign for I-74 East with blank area formerly occupied by US 311 South.


At the (soon to be former) Business 85 exit:

Overhead signage at Business 85 North interchange with I-74 with blank space for former US 311 
        signs, Google Maps Street View image, August 2021 Overhead signage at the "Volleyball" interchange for I-74 exit ramps headed north. Blank space for former references to US 311.


Overhead signage at Business 85 South interchange with I-74 with blank space for former US 311 
        signs, Google Maps Street View image, August 2021 Corresponding overhead signage headed south. More blank spaces for former US 311 shields.


Further along I-74 in Guilford County:

The now standalone West I-74 reassurance marker following the I-85 exit, Google Maps Street View 
        image, August 2021Now standalone West I-74 reassurance marker following the I-85 exit.


The now standalone West I-74 reassurance marker following the I-85 exit, Google Maps Street View 
        image, August 2021 West I-74 pull through sign without US 311 following the Business I-85 exit.


Reassurance marker for I-74 East without taken down South US 311 partner after MLK Jr. Drive exit in
        High Point, Google Maps Street View image, August 2021 Tipped standalone I-74 East reassurance marker following MLK Jr. Drive exit.


Trailblazer for I-74 West on Greensboro Road east without taken down corresponding US 311 North
        sign, Google Maps Street View image, July 2021 A West I-74 reassurance marker on Greensboro Road no longer paired with North US 311.


West I-74 reassurance marker after Greensboro Road exit no longer paired with US 311 South, Google Maps Street View image, July 2021 Standalone West I-74 reassurance marker after Greensboro Road exit.


At the NC 68 (Future US 70) interchange:

Overhead signage on ramp for NC 68 exit, Google Maps Street View image, July 2021 New overhead signage on the ramp from I-74 West, this will need to be replaced once US 70 signed along with NC 68.


Overhead signage for I-74 West on NC 68 North (Future US 70 East), Google Maps Street View image, July 2021 New overhead signage for the I-74 West ramp on NC 68 North (Future US 70 East). No blank space because sign was put up with no reference to US 311.


Overhead signage for I-74 East on NC 68 South (Future US 70 West), Google Maps Street View image, July 2021 The overhead sign for the I-74 East ramp on NC 68 South (Future US 70 West). The one seen in the traffic camera images above.


West of the NC 68 exit

Pull through sign sharing 1/2 mile advance for Johnson Street exit with blank for reference to South US 311 Business) without corresponding US
        311 signs, Google Maps Street View image, August 2021 Overhead signage at the 1/2 Mile advance for the Johnson Street exit on I-74 East. Blank space for former reference to South US 311.


Pull through sign for I-74 East at Main Street exit (Former US 311 Business) without corresponding South US
        311 shield, Google Maps Street View image, July 2021 Overhead signage at the North Main Street Street exit on I-74 East. Again a blank space for former reference to South US 311.


Trailblazer for I-74 East at Main Street exit (Former US 311 Business) without corresponding US
        311 signs, Google Maps Street View image, July 2021 I-74 West and East trailblazers at East I-74 ramp, no more references to US 311.


Photos from the construction of this Segment from 2004 to 2010 (Hover over for larger image)

Section 1, Exit 65 (Main Street) to Exit 67 (Eastchester Drive)

Photo of I-74 signage placed at beginning of East Belt when Completed to 
I-85 in November 2010Signage at the start of the 'East Belt' after the entire freeway was completed in November 2010 (Photo Courtesy of Adam Prince (AP)) (10/28/10) The US 311 shield was removed from the sign in the spring of 2021.


Photo of signage at Main St on I-74 East after tornado in the spring of 
2010This is how signage appeared in the Spring of 2010 after a tornado had blown off the original signs, only a new sign for Exit 65 was put up, the former sign has Business US 311, but the route was decommissioned in the fall of 2009. (4/6/10)


Photo of ramp accessing US 311 North from Main Street in High Point, Oct.
 2011Sign assembly heading north on Main Street in High Point. Anyone driving straight beyond the light enters ramp to US 311 North (Despite what the signs on the right say, I-74 West ends currently ends at this interchange, the route beyond is signed Future I-74/North US 311). (10/13/11) This was formerly US 311 (and briefly US 311 Business) before the East Belt was completed to Business 85.


Photo of updated signage at the Johnson Street Exit on I-74 East near High 
Point, Nov. 2010, Courtesy of Adam PrinceSignage was updated prior to the Johnson Street exit in November 2010 to reflect the new I-74 designation (AP). (11/28/10)


Photo of signage on I-74 Westbound at Johnson St in High Point, Nov. 
2010, Courtesy of Adam PrinceIn contrast, the sign was not changed after Exit 66 going westbound, because currently I-74 ends westbound at Exit 65, though there's no sign to signify this (as opposed to the eastern end, see below). (AP 11/28/10).


Section 2, Exit 67 (Eastchester Drive) to 71B (Business 85/US 29/US70)

Photo of exit signage on West I-74 approaching the NC 68 interchange in High 
Point, Oct. 2011West I-74/North US 311 signage approaching the NC 68 interchange (Exit 67) in October 2011. (10/13/11)


Photo of NC 68 ramp to Future I-74 West/US 311 North in High Point, Nov. 2004 Looking northbound on NC 68 at the US 311 (Future I-74) interchange in the fall of 2004. There was a sign assembly before the entrance ramp indicating a control city of Greensboro for US 311 South. (Winston-Salem is the control city northbound) (11/21/04).


Photo from High Point City Traffic Camera of NC 68/I-74 
interchange in May 2011View of the completed I-74/US 311, Eastchester Drive (NC 68) interchange from city of High Point traffic camera (5/18/11)


Photo of new route signage at the Kivett Drive exit in Nov. 2010, 
Courtesy of Adam PrinceView of new I-74/US 311 signage heading westbound before the Kivett Drive exit. (AP 11/28/10)


Photo of driving up Kivett Drive on-ramp to then US 311 South in July 2010View traveling up ramp from Kivett Drive to US 311 South (then Future I-74 East) in July 2010. The interchange has begun to show its age. (7/25/10)


Photo showing construction of Kivett Drive ramp to US 311 South in Oct. 2003Photo shows Kivett Drive ramp being constructed a year before it opened to US 311 South. (October 2003)


Photo of new I-74/US 311 signage in place at Kivett Drive after final 
section of East Belt highway was completed, Oct. 2011New signage in place on Kivett Drive heading west after the competion of the East Belt Highway in November 2010. (10/13/11)


Photo of exit signage for Kivett Drive exit on I-74 East, Oct. 2011Signage at Kivett Drive onramp to I-74 East. Not all the signs had been changed from the earlier photo below, particularly the street sign on the traffic light. (10/13/11)


Photo of the Kivett Drive bridge and interchange in High Point, Nov. 2004The US 311 Bypass (I-74) interchange and bridge over Kivett Drive in High Point almost a year later, the day after the bypass opened. (November 21, 2004)


Photo of I-74 and US 311 shields along the East Belt Freeway near Kivett Dr 
in Oct. 2011West I-74 and North US 311 shields heading toward Kivett Drive (Exit 70) in October 2011. (10/13/11)


Photo of exit signage along the East Belt with new exit numbers based on I-74 
mileage, Dec. 2008The then US 311 freeway westbound showing the replacement of exit numbers with those based on I-74 mileposts in December 2008. The placement of I-74 signs would have to wait until the third segment was completed in late November 2010. The Exit 70 sign was changed in 2015 when Kivett Drive was renamed Martin Luther King Jr Drive by the City of High Point.


Photo of newly renumbered exit signage along the High Point East Belt freeway 
in Dec. 2008View further down the US 311 freeway heading westbound showing new exit numbers in December 2008. (12/14/08)


Photo of westbound US 311 freeway signage near NC 68 interchange in Dec. 2008Continuing westbound on yet to be signed I-74 in December 2008 returning to the first segment built (The Exit 67 sign was modified to read To I-40 East in 2014 due to comments by drivers). (12/14/08)


Photo of signage for Business 85 exit on now completed High Point East Belt 
freeway in Oct. 2011Signage for Business 85 Exit 'Volleyball Interchange' on I-74 East, the empty bracket was for the former 'All Traffic Exit'' tab. (10/13/11)


Photo of signage for Business 85 exit before completed third section of High 
Point East Belt freeway, Dec. 2008The same exit signs approaching Business 85 heading eastbound when this was the end of the East Belt Freeway. (12/14/08)


Photo of signage for on-ramp to I-74 West from Business 85 South in Oct. 
2011Signage for ramps to I-74 East and West from Business 85 South 'volleyball' interchange showing post-opening signage. (10/13/11)


Photo of unopened ramp to I-74 West/US 311 North from Business 85 in Sept. 
2007Looking at the unopened ramp from I-74 West/ US 311 North in the Fall of 2007, which lead to the former construction area (September 2007).


Photo of I-74 exit signage on Business 85 South near High Point, by Chris Curley, May 2021Signage for I-74 exit on Business 85 South, after US 311 shield was removed after that route was decommissioned in 2020. Photo by Chris Curley on May 22, 2021.

Photo of I-74 exit signage on Business 85 South near High Point in Oct. 2011Signage for I-74 Exit on Business 85 South when first put up with US 311 shield. First exit sign is only 1/2 mile from the exit ramp. (10/13/11)


Section 3, Exit 71B (Business 85/US 29/US 70) to Exit 75 (I-85)

This section also includes photos summarizing final construction at each bridge over I-74 before the opening of the roadway in November 2010:15

1. Business 85 interchange - the unopened section of the interchange was completed in October 2010. Signs were added to the south (east) of Business 85 in early Nov. 2010, prior to the road opening on November 22.

Photo of new exit sign gantries put up on Business 85 but still 
awaiting signs in Oct. 2010View of sign gantries for Business 85 needing signage in October 2010. View is looking along I-74 west where road curves crossing Business 85. (10/23/10)


Photo of view of Business 85 from I-74 westbound bridge in Oct. 2010View of Business 85 from unopened I-74 freeway westbound bridge in October 2010. The top of the van seen above is using the ramp to I-74 West. (10/24/10)


Photo of East I-74 overhead sign at Business 85 interchange in High Point, 
 Nov. 2011I-74 East signage at Business 85 interchange, the former end of the East Belt highway before November 2010. (10/13/11)


2. Baker Road Bridge - The new bridge was completed in early February 2010 after an 8 month project that started in June 2009. Traffic was put onto a temporary road to the north, completed in June therefore not requiring a detour until the new bridge was completed. Work started on the bridge in July 2009 and by the middle of January 2010 it appeared almost ready to open. Concrete for the roadbed had been completed and asphalt was being laid down to connect the bridge to the old road alignment, as seen in the photo below. The bridge was not opened to traffic though until early March, a delay probably due to weather problems preventing lane markings from being put down.

Photo of driving over newly opened Baker Rd bridge over I-74 in March 2010The view driving over the newly opened Baker Rd bridge, heading west, in March 2010. (3/10/10)


Photo of the final asphalt layer placed near the Baker Rd Bridge over I-74 in 
July 2010Before the opening of the bridge, a milestone was reached in July 2010 when the final asphalt layer for the latest part of the freeway met the previous segment's pavement layer, same sign gantries seen in Business 85 photo above. (7/25/10)


Photo of I-85 exit sign approaching Baker Rd Bridge on I-74 East in Oct. 2011I-85 exit sign on the opened I-74 East approaching the Baker Road Bridge in October 2011. (10/13/11)


3. Jackson Lake Road Bridge - This bridge was completed and opened to traffic at the end of November 2008.

Photo of Jackson Lake Rd Bridge after receiving its final coat of asphalt 
in April 2010This shows the roadway around the bridge after it received its final coat of asphalt in April 2010. (5/9/10)


Photo of Jackson Lake Rd Bridge south soon after it opened in Nov. 2008Here's the view of the bridge soon after it opened, heading south across it toward its intersection with NC 610. Work to consolidate the excavated material besides the roadbed continued through August 2009. (11/23/08)


Photo of approaching Jackson Lake Rd Bridge on I-74 East and I-85 
exit sign, Oct. 2011Approaching the Jackson Lake Road bridge on I-74 East with the second I-85 exit sign in October 2011. (10/13/11)


Photo of driving the under the unopened Jackson Lake Rd Bridge in 
October 2010Proceeding under the Jackson Lake Road bridge along the unopened I-74 East freeway in October 2010. Note completion of side and median guard rails but not line markings or placement of exit signs. (10/23/10)


Photo looking east from Jackson Lake Rd Bridge showing remaining landscaping 
work to be doneWhile most of the project had been completed looking east toward Kersey Valley Road, work appearef to still be needed for landcaping and water runoff a few months earlier in July 2010. (7/25/10)


Photo from NCDOT traffic camera of I-74 in the vicinity 
of the Jackson Lake Rd Bridge in May 2011View from traffic camera at Jackson Lake Road Bridge. Looking east on open I-74/US 311 in May 2011. (5/18/11)


Photo of sign for Business 85 exit off of I-74 west near the Jackson Lake 
Rd Bridge, Nov. 2010 Courtesy of Adam PrinceView along I-74 of roadway at exit sign for Business 85 heading westbound just after Jackson Lake Road Bridge. (AP-11/28/10)


Photo of I-74 West mile marker along unopened roadway in Oct. 2010Traveling along the unopened freeway in October 2010 heading west, note the I-74 mile marker, but lack of other signage placement. (10/23/10)


Photo of collection of future sign poles for the US 311/NC 62 exit in July 
of 2010Looking west in July 2010 at a pile of poles and other metal structures put together for one of the I-85/NC 62 interchange signs, not the sign above from 11/28/10, assembled in early August. (7/25/10)


Photo of opened Jackson Lake Rd Bridge from opposite angle, Nov. 2009Here's a view of the opened bridge in November 2009 from another angle. (11/9/08)


4. Kersey Valley Road Bridge - This bridge was opened to traffic in October 2008.

Photo of completed Kersey Valley Rd Bridge after final layer of asphalt
asphalt was placed before I-74 freeway was opened, May 2010This view from May 2010 looks southwest along the curved bridge after the final layer of asphalt had been placed. (5/9/10)


Photo of Kersey Valley Rd Bridge shortly after it opened to traffic in Oct. 
2008 Approaching the newly opened bridge from the southwest in October 2008. A road off Kersey Valley called Dresden Road (where the truck is seen turning on the right) was used as a detour route and now is a dead end service road since the freeway excavation cut off access back to Kersey Valley Rd (see photo below).(10/31/08)


Photo of Kersey Valley Rd Bridge showing additional guardrails and construction 
progress on the I-74 freeway, July 2010This view of the bridge from July 2010 shows the addition of guardrails along the eastbound lanes, additional landscaping, plus the completion of the construction road seen a month earlier whose necessity will become apparent in a photo below. (7/25/10)


View of I-74 freeway showing progress on laying pavement for the future 
roadway, June 2010The view from June 2010 shows work had been completed on placing down the asphalt layers for the highways, though some landscaping and guardrail work remains. (6/20/10)


Photo of overhead exit signage at the I-74 East interchange with I-85 in Oct. 
2011Overhead signs at the I-74 East interchange with I-85. The interstate and interchange flyover ramps can be seen in the distance. (10/13/11) The US 311 shield was removed in the spring of 2021, after that route was decommissioned.


Photo of newly installed supports for I-85 exit signage fromm Dresden Road 
in July 2010The look south toward the interchange from Dresden Road shows a then new overhead exit sign assembly that was completed in July 2010 and awaited sign placement. (7/25/10)


Photo showing signage on I-85 ramps from unopened I-74, Oct. 2011View of signage on I-85 ramps from I-74 East. The I-85 south ramp leads to C/D lanes and the NC 62 exit. (10/13/11)


Photo of construction materials to be moved using unopened I-74 freeway and 
access road in July 2010View of the construction materials that can be moved using the freeway due to the construction of a temporary access road from the freeway toward Dresden Road in June and July 2010. (7/25/10)


Photo of view from Kersey Valley Rd Bridge of unopened I-74 freeway from 
direction of Jackson Lake Rd Bridge, May 2010View from the bridge looking northwest back toward the Jackson Lake bridge. This section was one of the most completed in May 2010. (5/9/10)


5. The I-85 / US 311 - I-74 interchange

Footings for bridge structures were completed over the summer of 2008 and C/D lanes constructed for the future interchange. Traffic was switched on I-85 in both directions onto the C/D lanes once they were completed in October 2008 so the I-85 road could be excavated for the I-74 freeway. Besides the I-85 bridges, a flyover ramp to carry I-74 East traffic to I-85 north was also constructed and the existing NC 62 exit ramps reconfigured. The original I-85 roadway reopened in mid-April 2010 six months before I-74 in November.

Image of 1 1/2 miles advance sign for I-74 exits without US 311 shield after decommissioning on I-85 
                                               North in High Point, by Adam Prince, April 2021NEW Photo of I-74 1 1/2 Miles advance sign after US 311 shield was removed, taken by Adam Prince in April 2021.

Photo of I-85/I-74 interchange under construction in Nov. 2009 showing the 
need for more walls and asphalt for the roadbedWork still remained on building the support walls for the I-85 roadway over I-74 in Nov. 2009, there also appears to be little asphalt on the southern roadbed after the flyover. (11/8/09)


Photo of new exit signage for I-74 and NC 62 interchange on I-85 South in 
May 2010New exit signs installed in the spring of 2010 on I-85 South, showing the NC 62 exit now designated 113A (old number 113 gore sign on right). (5/9/10)


Photo showing I-85 overhead exit signs for the unopened I-74 interchange in 
Oct. 2010Approaching the I-74 interchange back in 2010 a month before it opened showing the completed signs covered over, the ramp was opened before the I-74 exit was completed to allow access to the NC 62 exit above. (10/23/10)


Photo of covered I-74 East and West exit signs from I-85 North, Oct. 
2010Overhead signs for the future I-74 east and west exit ramps covered over the month prior to freeway completion. (10/23/10)


Photo of signage at I-74 interchange off-ramp from I-85 South at sunset in 
Oct. 2011A view of the I-74 East ramp off of I-85 South in the setting sun in October 2011. (10/13/11)


Photo of covered sign for future I-74 East exit from I-85 in Oct. 2010Sign covered over for yet to open I-74 East ramp, through traffic must exit at ramp for NC 62 seen above, taken one month prior to freeway opening. (10/23/10)


Photo of I-74 West milemarker near I-85 interchange taken prior to the 
opening of the I-74 freeway in Oct. 2010Mile markers for I-74, here for mile 75 near the I-85 interchange, were installed in October 2010, these were continued onto the previously opened section of freeway to the west after this section was opened to traffic in late November 2010. (10/23/10)


Photo from I-74 East approaching the many ramps and bridges of the I-85 in 
October 2011Approaching the I-85 interchange bridges along eastbound I-74 nearly a year after road opened. There are a total of five bridges over I-74, though some are hidden in this photo. (10/13/11)


Photo taken traveling under the I-85 bridge along the unopened I-74 
freeway in Oct. 2010Traveling under I-85 along the unopened I-74 West freeway in October 2010. Note the lack of line markings and signs needed to still be put in place at that time. (10/23/10)


Photo of sign gantry still awaiting exit signs at I-85 interchange in 
Oct. 2010Traveling under sign gantry for I-85 interchange on unopened I-74 East freeway, same gantry sign as in photo in Kersey Valley Road section taken in July 2010. (10/23/10)


Photo of signs put up along I-74 but covered over months prior to the 
opening of the freeway in July 2010Photo from July 2010 showing sign assemblies, and signs had been put up, the future exit signs covered over. (7/25/10)


Photo of new exit sign at would become former US 311 exit 2 mile south of 
new interchange with I-74/US 311 in March 2010Further down I-85 South at the then US 311 Exit, a new overhead sign indicates a change of the planned Business 311 designation for Main St in High Point and its decommissioning to a secondary route designation when US 311 was moved to the new freeway. (3/10)


Photo of new sign assembly for I-74 West approaching the interchange on 
I-85 North in July 2010The next sign assembly for the I-74 West off-ramp along the I-85 North C/D ramps near High Point. (7/25/10)


Photo of some of the first signs being placed on I-85 North for the I-74 
interchange in May 2010Here are the first signs being put up for the new interchange on I-85 North, the NC 62 ramp also has received a new coat of asphalt. (5/9/10)


Photo of I-85 interchange signage approaching from I-74 West in Oct. 2011View of I-85 interchange signage from I-74 West in October 2011. (10/13/11)


Photo from City of High Point traffic camera showing I-85 ramp to 
-74 West, May 2011View of I-85 North C/D ramp and I-74 West exit from city of High Point traffic camera in May 2011. (5/18/11)


NCDOT changed the exit numbers in the Fall of 2008 along the open part of this segment to conform to those in the East Belt Freeway Contract Documents.3 The former US 311 numbers are in [  ]:

Exit 65 US 311 Business* High Point [25]
Exit 66 Johnston St [24]
Exit 67 NC 68 to I-40 Eastchester Drive [23]
Exit 69 Greensboro Rd [21]
Exit 70 Kivett Drive [20]
Exit 71A Green Street (WB only) [19B]
Exit 71 (71B WB) Bus. Loop 85/ US 27/ US 70 Thomasville Greensboro [19(A)]

*NCDOT submitted an application to AASHTO's U.S. Route Number Committee to eliminate the Business 311 designation along Main Street through High Point and return it to a secondary route status. This request was approved at the Fall AASHTO meeting in Los Angeles in late October 2009, signs were not changed until 2010.