U.S. Highway 74 Eastbound in Eastern North Carolina
U.S. 74 is a major east-west highway that traverses the state of North Carolina. The highway reaches its end in Wrightsville Beach at a cul-de-sac, over 400 miles from the point where U.S. 74 enters the Tarheel State from neighboring Tennessee. This page details the travels of U.S. 74 (eastbound) through Brunswick and New Hanover Counties in the vicinity of Wilmington and Wrightsville Beach.
As of June 2005, U.S 74 follows U.S. 76 and U.S. 17 along the south edge of downtown Wilmington. Once the Martin Luther King Jr. Parkway is completed on the north side of Wilmington in September 2005, the route of U.S. 74 will be shifted onto that route, offering a new connection between U.S. 76, U.S. 421, and U.S. 17. These photos represent the configuration of U.S. 74 prior to the anticipated completion of Martin Luther King, Jr. Parkway. For the latest information on getting around Wilmington, visit Wilmington Today.
U.S. Highway 74-76 East - Brunswick County
U.S. 74-76, merged since Chadborn, follow an expressway-freeway alignment through southeastern North Carolina. The highway is designated part of Future Interstate 74 between Chadborn and Bolton, and the state of North Carolina plans to designate U.S. 74-76 between Bolton and the Cape Fear River Bridge as part of an eastern extension of Interstate 20. U.S. 17 travels south to Bolivia, Shallotte, and Myrtle Beach. U.S. 17 north merges onto U.S. 74-76 east toward Wilmington. Photo taken 06/01/05.
This reassurance shield assembly is posted prior to the point where U.S. 17 northbound traffic merges onto eastbound U.S. 74-76. Photo taken 06/01/05.
The interchange between U.S. 17 and U.S. 74-76 is a trumpet interchange. U.S. 17-74-76 remains as a freeway until it approaches the bridge over the Cape Fear River. The next exit along eastbound is the junction with North Carolina 133/North Carolina Secondary 1472 to Leland, Southport, and Oak Island. Photo taken 06/01/05.
U.S. Highway 17 North and U.S. Highway 74-76 East
After U.S. 17 north and U.S. 74-76 east merge together, they continue along the four-lane freeway en route to Wilmington. There are two exits (Junction North Carolina 133 south and Junction U.S. 421/North Carolina 133 north) between the merge and the Cape Fear River Bridge. The Cape Fear River serves as the county line, separating Brunswick County from New Hanover County. Photo taken 06/01/05.
Northbound U.S. 17 and eastbound U.S. 74-76 reaches the offramp for North Carolina 133, which connects to secret North Carolina 1472 (Village Road) east into Leland and Belville. North Carolina 133 follows a two-lane highway, paralleling the west bank of the Cape Fear River from U.S. 17 south to North Carolina 87. North Carolina 87 continues south to end in Southport, near the Southport-Fort Fisher Ferry, while North Carolina 133 angles southwest to Oak Island. Photo taken 06/01/05.
Briefly, North Carolina 133 merges onto U.S. 17-74-76 northeastbound, but it will depart the freeway at the next interchange, which also serves as a connection to U.S. 421/North Carolina 133. U.S. 421/North Carolina 133 travel north to serve the U.S.S. North Carolina Battleship Memorial, then connects to the Parsley Street Bridge over the Cape Fear River. This second bridge carries North Carolina 133 and Future U.S. 74 east into Wilmington. (U.S. 74 will be rerouted onto the Parsley Street Bridge once the Martin Luther King, Jr. Parkway is completed in September 2005). U.S. 421, meanwhile, continues north to meet the third crossing of the Cape Fear River: Future Interstate 140/U.S. 17 Bypass, which is planned for completion only a few months after this photo was taken. Photo taken 06/01/05.
In the greater Wilmington area, U.S. 421 begins its journey northwest toward Michigan City, Indiana. U.S. 421 is a very long route that serves much of the Southeast, Mid-Atlantic, and Midwest on a path parallel to U.S. 52. U.S. 421 and U.S. 52 intersect twice, once in Winston-Salem and again in Indianapolis, Indiana (the second intersection is part of the Interstate 465 beltway). Photo taken 06/01/05.
Note that the connection to Interstate 40 is recommended via U.S. 421 north to North Carolina 133 north, with a possible connection via Future U.S. 74/Martin Luther King, Jr. Parkway. While North Carolina 133 exits here, U.S. 421 south merges onto U.S. 17 north and U.S. 74-76 east, creating a "wrong way" multiplex of the four routes (this is called "wrong way" because the signs say that you are going north and south on two routes at one time. Photo taken 06/01/05.
U.S. Highway 17 North, U.S. Highway 74-76 East, U.S. 421 South
After the U.S. 421/North Carolina 133 interchange, this mileage sign provides the distance to Carolina Beach and Kure Beach via U.S. 421 south. Wrightsville Beach, which is served by U.S. 74-76, is not mentioned on this sign, nor are any other beaches served by U.S. 17 and its auxiliaries, such as Topsail Beach in Pender County. Photo taken 06/01/05.
This is the only quadplex reassurance shield assembly along northbound U.S. 17, eastbound U.S. 74-76, and southbound U.S. 421. This is the approximate location of the proposed new eastern terminus of Interstate 20, should the freeway be constructed this far east. It is also possible that Interstate 20 may travel north on U.S. 421, then cross into Wilmington via the Parsley Street bridge. This has not yet been decided, and such a designation may be a long time away, especially since South Carolina has not agreed to extend an Interstate that currently ends in its state. Photo taken 06/01/05.
The highway leaves Brunswick County and enters New Hanover County, and the Cape Fear River Bridge (a lift bridge) comes into view. Photo taken 06/01/05.
The lift bridge that carries U.S. 17-74-76-421 over the Cape Fear River was constructed in the 1950s or 1960s, but no precise opening date is known. The central section lifts between the two towers, allowing for more vertical clearance for larger ships to pass under the bridge. Photo taken 06/01/05.
This traffic signal regulates traffic crossing the lift bridge. Whenever the lights turn red, the lift raises the central portion of the bridge over the river and any river traffic. Photo taken 06/01/05.
The deck of the bridge is metal grating, and it can be slippery during rainstorms or any kind of moist weather. The grating also seems to create an undulating ride over the central part of the bridge. Photo taken 06/01/05.
After the truss portion of the bridge, U.S. 17-74-76-421 reaches its first Wilmington exit: the link to the State Port, one of two in North Carolina (the other state port is in Morehead City near the eastern end of U.S. 70). Use this exit to follow Front Street and Burnett Boulevard south to River Road and Shipyard Boulevard (U.S. 117). Photo taken 06/01/05.
Northbound U.S. 17 and Eastbound U.S. 74-76 reaches the exit for Front Street south to the State Port. The next exit is the connection to Business U.S. 17 north to downtown Wilmington and U.S. 421 south to Carolina Beach, Kure Beach, and Fort Fisher. Photo taken 06/01/05.
U.S. 17-74-76-421 shifts onto Dawson Street, which carries the eastbound/northbound lanes (Wooster Street carries the opposite direction). This sign assembly shows a left turn on 3rd Street follows Business U.S. 17 north into downtown, with a connection via 3rd Street to the Parsley Street Bridge, North Carolina 133, and MLK Parkway (future U.S. 74). The sign also shows "To U.S. 117," which is a reference to its former routing. To U.S. 117 north, stay on U.S. 17-74 northeast to College Road (Jct North Carolina 132/U.S. 117). Photo taken 06/01/05.
U.S. Highway 74-76 East - Vicinity of Wrightsville Beach
U.S. 74-76 east cross the Intracoastal Waterway via this drawbridge. Maintained by the United States Army Corps of Engineers, the Intracoastal Waterway offers a commercial and recreational waterway along the Atlantic Ocean between Key West, Florida, and Boston, Massachusetts. The waterway connects existing waterways between the mainland and barrier islands, and it includes some sections that were dredged or created by the Army Corps in the 20th Century. Various boats and ships use the waterway because it has a minimum depth of 12 feet. For more, visit the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway Association official site. Photo taken 05/29/05.
The drawbridge control center comes into view on the right (south) side of U.S. 74-76 eastbound as they cross over the Intracoastal Waterway. Traffic bound for U.S. 74 east should stay in the left lane, while traffic for U.S. 76 east should use the right lane. Photo taken 05/29/05.
U.S. 74 turns northeast via Salisbury Street, while U.S. 76 heads southeast via Causeway Boulevard. Beach access is available all along Lumina Avenue, which runs the length of the populated sections of the island (with some gaps on the south end), so both U.S. 74 and U.S. 76 are good options for reaching the Atlantic Ocean beach. Photo taken 05/29/05.
U.S. Highway 74 East - Wrightsville Beach
After using Salisbury Street to connect to Lumina Avenue in downtown Wrightsville Beach, U.S. 74 turns north on Lumina Avenue to the northern end of the island. The orange and blue sign with a green number sign indicates the numbered beach accesses from the street network to the ocean. Photo taken 05/29/05.
This beach access ramp includes a small parking area that accommodates 20 or so cars. That is not much capacity, especially since on-street parking is heavily regulated and restricted to identified parking spaces. Photo taken 05/29/05.
Beautiful homes such as this abound on the beach property in Wrightsville Beach. Photo taken 05/29/05.
This cul-de-sac represents the eastern terminus of U.S. 74, at the northern end of Lumina Avenue. Photo taken 05/29/05.
Here is a better view of the cul-de-sac, which is modestly landscaped with palm trees. Note that there is no END U.S. 74 shield, unlike its counterpart at the south end of the island. Photo taken 05/29/05.
Figure Eight Island is visible in the distance from the north end of Lumina Avenue. Photo taken 05/29/05.
Public Beach Access #1 is located here at the north end of the island. Photo taken 05/29/05.
