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Descending from the U.S. 19 & 23 under crossing to the West Jones Cover off-ramp of Exit 105. U.S. 19 & 23 (Carolina Boulevard) traffic merges onto U.S. 74 westbound here. Photo taken 08/13/04. |
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U.S. 19-23 south & 74 westbound at Exit 105 (West Jones Cove). The off-ramp serves residential areas between West Canton and Lake Junaluska via Jones Cove and Sohes Cove Roads. Photo taken 08/13/04. |
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Reassurance shield assembly for U.S. 19-23 south & 64 Truck-74 west posted after the Exit 105 (Jones Cover Road) off-ramp. U.S. 74 is referred to and signed as the Appalachian Highway throughout western North Carolina. Photo taken 08/13/04. |
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Exit 104 represents the joint terminus of U.S. 23 Business (Asheville Road) and North Carolina 209 (Crabtree Road). North Carolina 209 travels north from U.S. 19-23-74 to Lake Junaluska, junction Interstate 40, and Crabtree. Photo taken 08/13/04. |
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U.S. 23 Business loops into Waynesville between Exits 104 and 98 along Asheville Road, Main Street, and Balsam Road. Also signed for Exit 104 is the North Carolina 209 control point of Hot Springs where the state highway meets U.S. 25 & 70. Photo taken 08/13/04. |
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Three miles after their merge, U.S. 19 southbound departs the Great Smoky Mountain Expressway for Dellwood, Maggie Valley, and Cherokee. The federal route travels generally in an east-west fashion between Waynesville and its return to U.S. 74 at Bryson City. Photo taken 08/13/04. |
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U.S. 19 follows a winding scenic two-lane highway between Maggie Valley and the tourist destination town of Cherokee. The 23-mile drive is not advised for trucks due to the grades and curvature of the roadway. Use U.S. 74 west to U.S. 441 north as an alternate to Cherokee in lieu of U.S. 19. Photo taken 08/13/04. |
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U.S. 19 Truck shields posted on the U.S. 23 south & 64 Truck-74 west after their partition with U.S. 19 south. The truck route continues west along the Great Smoky Mountain Expressway to U.S. 441 north at Exit 74. Photo taken 08/13/04. |
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U.S. 276 (Dellwood Road) interchanges with U.S. 23 & 64 Truck-74 at Exit 102 north of Waynesville. The federal route overlaps with U.S. 19 west of Lake Junaluska to the north of the Great Smoky Mountain Expressway. Photo taken 08/13/04. |
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U.S. 276 eastbound follows Russ Avenue into downtown Waynesville where the highway joins U.S. 23 Business (Main Street). From Waynesville U.S. 276 continues east to Woodrow, Springdale, Cruso, and Brevard. The two-state highway ends ten miles to the north at junction Interstate 40 (Exit 20). Photo taken 08/13/04. |
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One mile north of the Hazelwood Avenue off-ramp at the Sylvan Street undercrossing. Exit 100 consists of a split-diamond interchange with Elysinia & Hazelwood Avenues west of downtown Waynesville. Photo taken 08/13/04. |
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They don't call them the Great Smoky Mountains for nothing... Photo taken 08/13/04. |
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U.S. 23 south & 74-64 Truck westbound at the Hazelwood Avenue off-ramp. Elysinia Avenue carries motorists from SR-1177 east to Sulphur Springs Road and Hazelwood Avenue. Photo taken 08/13/04. |
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Exit 98 serves West Waynesville and Hazelwood via connections with Balsam Road (U.S. 23 Business) and Hendrick Street. The diamond interchange represents the southern return of the U.S. 23 Business loop through Waynesville. Photo taken 08/13/04. |
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U.S. 23 south & 74-64 Truck west transition into an at-grade facility west of Hazelwood on the drive to Saunook and the Jackson County line. Pictured here is the scene near the intersection with SR-1158 at Saunook. The overpass in the background carries Old Balsam Road over U.S. 23 & 74. Photo taken 08/13/04. |
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The Blue Ridge Parkway straddles the Haywood and Jackson County lines between Beech Gap and Soco Gap. The scenic two-lane highway is open to passenger vehicles only and is maintained by the National Park Service. Photo taken 08/13/04. |
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There are no at-grade intersections between the Blue Ridge Parkway and intersecting routes. Rather a series of connecting ramps link the parkway with adjoining roads nearby. Depicted here is the Blue Ridge Parkway access roadway from U.S. 23 south & 74 west. The parkway itself begins at U.S. 441 at the Great Smoky National Park to the northwest. The roadway continues from there east northeast along the Appalachian Spine to the Shenandoah Mountains of northern Virignia. Photo taken 08/13/04. |
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U.S. 23 south & 74-64 Truck westbound at the high level overpass of the Blue Ridge Parkway at Balsam Gap. A small guide sign directs U.S. 23 north & 74 eastbound motorists eminating from the Blue Ridge Parkway to a u-turn ramp lane. Photo taken 08/13/04. |
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Auxiliary guide sign for Exit 85 (U.S. 23 Business), Southwestern Community College, and East Sylva on U.S. 23 south & 74 westbound. The Great Smoky Mountains Expressway again upgrades to limited access standards to bypass Sylva to the north. U.S. 23 Business (Asheville Highway) begins at Exit 85 and travels into downtown Sylva. Photo taken 09/12/04. |
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One-mile guide sign for the southbound beginning of U.S. 23 Business (Asheville Highway) on U.S. 23 south & 74 west. U.S. 23 Business intersects the northern terminus of North Carolina 107 (East Main Street) in downtown Sylva. The state route travels from Sylva southward to Tuckasegee and Cahsiers into northwestern South Carolina from there. Photo taken 08/13/04. |
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Cullowhee, off North Carolina 107 to the east, is the home of Western Carolina University. U.S. 23 Business intersects North Carolina 107 1.4 miles to the southwest. Four miles south of Sylva is Cullowee and the WCU campus. Photo taken 08/13/04. |
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Reassurance shield assembly for U.S. 23-74-64 Truck posted after the U.S. 23 Business (Exit 83) interchange. The overpass in the background carries Old U.S. 19 between Sylva and Foster. Photo taken 08/13/04. |
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The Great Smoky Mountain Expressway encircles Sylva to the north between U.S. 23 Business and Grindstaff Cove Road (Exit 83). The partial-cloverleaf interchange of Exit 83 serves downtown Sylva via Grindstaff Cover Road and Maple Street south to U.S. 23 Business (Mill Street). Photo taken 08/13/04. |
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U.S. 23 south & 74-64 Truck westbound at the Grindstaff Road off-ramp (Exit 83). Grindstaff Road dead ends at the north end of the Exit 83 interchange. Photo taken 08/13/04. |
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Mileage sign for the Great Smoky Mountains National Park area towns of Cherokee and Bryson City on U.S. 23 south & 74-64 Truck westbound. Photo taken 08/13/04. |
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U.S. 23 departs the Great Smoky Mountain Expressway for U.S. 441 south to Dillsboro, Franklin, and North Georgia. The federal route overlaps with U.S. 441 81 miles through to Hollywood, Georgia. U.S. 23 provides the most direct route between Sylva, Waynesville, and Asheville to the Atlanta metropolitan area. Photo taken 08/13/04. |
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The Great Smoky Mountain Railroad consists of a tourist railroad between Bryson City and Dillsboro. Use Exit 81 for U.S. 23 & 441 southbound for the attraction. SR-1383 passes underneath U.S. 23-74-64 Truck here otherwise. Photo taken 08/13/04. |
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Where U.S. 23 departs the Great Smoky Mountain Expressway, U.S. 441 joins. The federal route travels north from Athens to Cornelia, Georgia where it joins U.S. 23. U.S. 23 & 441 travel 20 miles south to junction U.S. 64 at the Macon County seat of Franklin. There a U.S. 441 Busines loops into downtown. Photo taken 09/12/04. |
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Sign bridge posted at the U.S. 23 southbound departure of U.S. 74-64 Truck westbound at Exit 81. U.S. 23 & 441 enter Dillsboro directly from the Great Smoky Mountains Expressway. U.S. 441 northbound merges onto U.S. 74 & 64 Truck west ahead for an eight-mile overlap. Photo taken 08/13/04. |
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Great Smoky Mountains Expressway proclimation sign posted with U.S. 74 west & 441 northbound reassurance shields. The freeway transitions back into an at-grade surface highway between Dillsboro and Exit 74 outside of Whittier. Photo taken 09/12/04. |
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At Exit 74 U.S. 441 northbound leaves U.S. 74 west for the resort town of Cherokee and the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. U.S. 441 is the only highway to cross into Tennessee within the national park itself. The highway is quite scenic on the drive between Cherokee, Smokemont, and Gatlinburg, Tennessee. Photo taken 08/13/04. |
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The southern end of the Blue Ridge Parkway occurs at U.S. 441 near the Great Smoky Mountains National Park boundary. The parkway travels east from there to Waterrock Knob and Browning Knob before intersecting U.S. 23-74-64 Truck at Balsam Gap. Photo taken 08/13/04. |
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U.S. 441 northbound departs the Great Smoky Mountain Expressway for the five-mile drive to Cherokee. Cherokee is home to lodging, food, the Harrahs Casino, and tourist attractions. The town in conjunction with Bryson City are the best places to stay for visiting the Great Smoky National Park. The Cherokee Indian Reservation encompasses much of the land that U.S. 441 traverses through between Exit 74 and the Great Smoky Mountains. Photo taken 08/13/04. |
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The second of five interchanges of the Bryson City segment of the Great Smoky Mountains Expressway serves the community of Whittier. Exit 72 consists of a trumpet interchange with SR-1195 south of Whittier. Photo taken 08/13/04. |
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SR-1195 spurs two miles north from U.S. 74 & 64 Truck to U.S. 19 (Ela Road) in Whittier itself. U.S. 19 stays north of the Tuckasegee River through Birdtown, Whittier, Ela, and Bryson City. Photo taken 08/13/04. |
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Exits 69, 67, and 64 serve the Swain County seat of Bryson City. The town lies on the Tuckaseegee River east of Fontana Lake. Photo taken 08/13/04. |
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The one-mile guide sign for Exit 69 (Hyatt Creek Road) resides ahead of the Owle Road overpass on U.S. 74 & 64 Truck westbound. Hyatt Creek Road travels north from Falls Branch Road across the Tuckaseegee River to Ela and junction U.S. 19 (Ela Road). Photo taken 08/13/04. |
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U.S. 74 & 64 Truck descend quickly into the Tuckaseegee River at a 5% grade between the Owle Road over crossing and Exit 69 diamond interchange. Photo taken 08/13/04. |
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Use Exit 69 as an alternate route to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and Cherokee by way of U.S. 19 (Ela Road) northbound. The federal highway travels 5.5 miles east from Ela to Cherokee and junction U.S. 441 Business. Photo taken 08/13/04. |
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Great Smoky Mountains Expressway westbound at the Exit 69 off-ramp for Hyatts Creek Road. SR-1168 parallels U.S. 74 & 64 Truck between Hyatts Creek Road and U.S. 19 along the south banks of the Tuckaseegee River. Photo taken 08/13/04. |
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Mileage sign for Andrews and the Cherokee County seat of Murphy posted after the Exit 69 interchange on U.S. 74 & 64 Truck west. Photo taken 08/13/04. |
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Exit 67 serves downtown Bryson City from the Great Smoky Mountains Expressway. Spring Street travels south from U.S. 19 (Main Street) to U.S. 74 & 64 Truck as SR-1188. Photo taken 08/13/04. |
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U.S. 74 & 64 Truck westbound at SR-1188 / Spring Street (Exit 67). Spring Street travels 0.75 miles to U.S. 19 (Main Street) from the Exit 67 diamond interchange. From there U.S. 19 overtakes Spring Street for two blocks before turning west again at the Slope Street bridge across the Tuckaseegee River. Photo taken 08/13/04. |
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Robbinsville joins Andrews and Murphy on the U.S. 74 & 64 Truck westbound mileage sign. Robbinsville is the control point for North Carolina 28 north near Almond and U.S. 129 north at Topton. U.S. 129 merges onto U.S. 74 west 20 miles ahead. Photo taken 08/13/04. |
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U.S. 19 merges onto U.S. 74 & 64 Truck westbound at Exit 64 via Alarka Road. The federal highway travels Alarka Road south 3.1 miles out of Bryson City to the west end of the Great Smoky Mountains Expressway. Photo taken 08/13/04. |
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Traffic to U.S. 19 (Alarka Road) northbound departs U.S. 74 & 64 Truck ahead of their merge with U.S. 19 southbound. A convaluted trumpet interchange composes the junction between the two highways. Photo taken 08/13/04. |
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U.S. 19 & Blue Ridge Parkway shields and guide sign assembly posted at the end of the Exit 64 off-ramp from U.S. 74 & 64 Truck westbound. Photo taken 08/13/04. |
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U.S. 19 south & 74 westbound reassurance markers posted after their merge at Exit 64. The Great Smoky Mountain Expressway ends and the tandem continues westward two miles to Lauada and five miles overall as a four-lane at-grade divided highway. Photo taken 09/12/04. |
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North Carolina 28 joins U.S. 19 & 74 at Lauada for a three-mile cosigning westward toward Almond. The state highway enters the scene from Franklin, Iotia, and Wests Mill to the south. North Carolina 28 is part of a multi-state routing with Georgia 28 and South Carolina 28. Photo taken 09/12/04. |
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U.S. 19 south & 74 westbound reassurance shields and mileage sign. This assembly includes Andrews and Murphy for the federal highway tandem after their split with North Carolina 28. Photo taken 09/12/04. |
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A second shield assembly includes North Carolina 28 north and its control points of Fontana and Robbinsville. Use North Carolina 28 north to North Carolina 143 west to reach Robbinsville and junction U.S. 129. Photo taken 09/12/04. |
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A branch of Fontana Lake stems southward to U.S. 19-74 & North Carolina 28 one mile west of Lauada. The Little Tennessee River flows south from the lake to Franklin and Macon County. Photo taken 09/12/04. |
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The split of North Carolina 28 north from U.S. 19 south & 74 west is heralded with a full guide sign ahead of the partition. North Carolina 28 straddles the Fontana Lake area between Almond, Stecoah (junction North Carolina 143), and Fontana Village. Photo taken 09/12/04. |
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The Appalachian Highway branches west with North Carolina 28 from U.S. 74 near Almond. The five-lane roadway of U.S. 19 & 74 also continues with the state highway toward Stecoah. U.S. 19 south & 74 westbound are relegated to a two-lane highway from here southwest to Topton. Photo taken 09/12/04. |
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U.S. 19 south & 74 westbound at their split with North Carolina 28 north. Four mile separates the intersection with Wesser and 11 miles with Nantahala Gorge in southern Swain County. Photo taken 09/12/04. |
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U.S. 129 southbound joins U.S. 19 south & 74 west at Topton and from there the three routes travel seven miles west to junction U.S. 19 Business (Main Street) at Andrews. A guide sign is posted ahead of the Main Street split and U.S. 19-74-129 widerning to four lanes. Photo taken 09/12/04. |
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U.S. 19 Business southbound loops into downtown Andrews via Main Street. The business loop returns to U.S. 19-74-129 in 2.9 miles. Photo taken 09/12/04. |
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U.S. 19-129 south & 74 westbound reassurance shields posted on the Andrews bypass at the U.S. 19 Business east end. Note that the Appalachian Highway banner coincides with U.S. 74 again. Photo taken 09/12/04. |
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U.S. 19-129 south & 74 westbound at the Valley River crossing along the Andrews bypass. The highways remain four-laned for the 25-mile drive to their split near Ranger. Photo taken 09/12/04. |
Page Updated June 12, 2005.
