North Carolina Highway 226

North Carolina Highway 226 (NC 226) is a primary state highway in the U.S. state of North Carolina. Traveling northsouth through Western North Carolina, it connects the cities and towns of Grover, Shelby, Marion, Spruce Pine and Bakersville. It also a scenic byway in the South Mountains area and connects with the summer colony of Little Switzerland, via NC 226A.

North Carolina Highway 226 marker

North Carolina Highway 226

Route of NC 226 highlighted in red
Route information
Maintained by NCDOT
Length101.0 mi[1] (162.5 km)
Existed1961–present
Tourist
routes
South Mountain Scenery
Major junctions
South end US 29 near Grover
Major intersections
North end SR 107 at the Tennessee state line
Location
CountryUnited States
StateNorth Carolina
CountiesCleveland, Rutherford, McDowell, Mitchell
Highway system
NC 225 NC 226A

Route description

NC 226 in downtown Grover

NC 226 begins at US 29, in Grover, approximately 211 feet (64 m) from the South Carolina state line. Through downtown Grover, it goes northwesterly, through Patterson Springs, to Shelby. In concurrency with US 74, it stays south of the downtown area, then splits with US 74 continuing north to Metcalf, where it becomes the South Mountain Scenery scenic byway. The byway, which stretches 33 miles (53 km) along NC 226 to Marion, is designated for its extensive views of the South Mountains.[2] Traversing through this rural area of farmlands and forest, NC 226 goes the through Campcall and Polkville before leaving Cleveland County, uneventful through Rutherford County, and crosses over US 64 on one of the earliest grade separated interchanges in the state before reaching the Dysartsville community in McDowell County.[3][4]

Soon after crossing under I-40 (exit 86), NC 226 begins its concurrency with US 221 bypassing west of downtown Marion on a four lane divided freeway. At the US 70 intersection, travelers can follow highway signs to Mount Mitchell, the highest peak east of the Mississippi River. In Woodlawn, NC 226 splits from US 221, which continues towards Linville. A one-mile (1.6 km) from the intersection, in Turkey Cove, NC 226 breaks-off the first of two alternate routes; NC 226A travels the historic Etchoe Pass Road, as it climbs, with several hairpin turns, up Grassy Mountain to Little Switzerland. The routing NC 226 takes, along Cox Creek, is shorter and less curvy than the alternate route, but it has a steep grade which require trucks to stay slow when they descend; one runaway truck ramp and several turn-offs are along this stretch. At Gillespie Gap, the alternate route rejoins NC 226. As it crosses under the Blue Ridge Parkway, it also crosses the Eastern Continental Divide and the county line into Mitchell.[5]

North from the Gillespie Gap, NC 226 goes through the Grassy Creek community before entering Spruce Pine. After a short concurrency with US 19E, it continues northwesterly towards Bakersville, passing by and through the communities of Minpro, Penland, Normanville and Ledger. Near Bakersville, the second alternate route breaks-off; NC 226A, along Mine Creek Road, provides a bypass route instead of going through downtown area, reconnecting at Loafers Glory. In Bakersville, NC 226 connects with NC 261, which continues to Roan Mountain. West of Bakersville, NC 226 connects with NC 197, in Red Hill, then goes north to Honeycutt. Following along Big Rock Creek to Buladean, it then goes northwesterly alongside Spring Creek before ascending Iron Mountain. At Iron Mountain Gap (3,727 ft (1,136 m)), NC 226 crosses the Appalachian Trail as it enters Tennessee and continues as SR 107 towards Erwin.[6]

History

Established in 1961 as a renumbering of NC 26.[7] In 1966, NC 226 was removed from downtown Shelby, rerouted from Earl Street onto US 74 Bypass to Polkville Road.[8] In 1994, NC 226 was moved with US 221 onto a new bypass west of Marion, leaving US 221 Business. In 2000, NC 226 was realigned onto new road west of downtown Spruce Pine.[9]

North Carolina Highway 26

North Carolina Highway 26 marker

North Carolina Highway 26

LocationGroverTN State Line
Length101.4 mi[10] (163.2 km)
Existed1921–1961

The first NC 26 was established as an original state highway in 1921. It traversed from the South Carolina state line, near Pineville, north along Park Road into downtown Charlotte. Leaving the downtown area via Statesville Avenue, it continued north through Huntersville, Davidson, Mooresville, Statesville, Elkin, Sparta, and finally Twin Oaks, before finally reaching the Virginia state line. In both border states, the highway continued with the number 26.[11]

In 1927, US 21 was assigned in concurrency with all of NC 26, except for a few miles south of Pineville. In 1933, US 521 was assigned to the remaining piece of NC 26.[12] In 1934, the first NC 26 was decommissioned, and the route remained US 21 and US 521. [13]

The second NC 26 was quickly reestablished in late 1934, replacing NC 19 from US 221 in Woodlawn, north through Little Switzerland, Spruce Pine, Bakersville, Red Hill, and then finally west to US 19W/US 23 in Sioux.[13] In 1940, NC 26 was rerouted north from Red Hill to the Tennessee state line. Also in 1940, NC 26 was extended south, overlapping with US 221 to Marion; it then replaced NC 190 through Polkville and Shelby, ending at US 29 in Grover.[14] Around 1947, NC 26 was moved onto new road bypassing Little Switzerland; the old route became NC 26A. In 1956, NC 26 was moved onto new road near Dysartville, removing a concurrency with US 64 and establishing one of the earliest grade-separated intersections in the state. In 1961, NC 26 was renumbered to NC 226, because of the coming establishment of Interstate 26.[7]

North Carolina Highway 190

North Carolina Highway 190 marker

North Carolina Highway 190

LocationGroverBrindletown, NC
Existed1930–1940

Junction list

CountyLocationmi[1]kmDestinationsNotes
ClevelandGrover0.00.0 US 29 (M H Camp Highway) Blacksburg, Kings MountainSouth Carolina state line is 211 feet (64 m) south of intersection
Patterson Springs6.210.0
NC 180 south (Post Road) Gaffney
South end of NC 180 overlap
7.712.4
NC 180 north (Post Road) Morganton
North end of NC 180 overlap
Shelby10.016.1
US 74 east (Dixon Boulevard) Kings Mountain, Charlotte
East end of US 74 overlap
10.316.6 NC 150 (Dekalb Street)
10.516.9 NC 18 (Lafayette Street) Shelby, Gaffney
12.019.3

US 74 Bus. east (Warren Street)
12.720.4
US 74 west (Dixon Boulevard) Forest City, Columbus
West end of US 74 overlap
17.628.3Double Shoals Road
Polkville23.237.3
NC 182 east (Stagecoach Trail) Lawndale
Western terminus of NC 182
23.537.8
NC 10 east (Casar Road) Casar
To South Mountains State Park
Rutherford33.654.1Bostic Sunshine Highway Bostic
McDowell40.965.8 US 64 Rutherfordton, Morganton
Marion51.582.9 I-40 Asheville, MorgantonExit 86 (I-40)
52.584.5


US 221 south / US 221 Bus. north (Rutherford Road) Rutherfordton
South end of US 221 overlap
55.088.5Henderson Street Downtown Marion
55.789.6Tate Street
57.792.9 US 70 Old Fort, AshevilleTo Mount Mitchell State Park
58.393.8

US 221 Bus. south (Main Street)
To Lake James State Park
60.397.0Toms Creek Road
Woodlawn64.6104.0
US 221 north Linville
North end of US 221 overlap
65.8105.9
NC 226A north
69.8112.3
NC 226A south Little Switzerland
Mitchell69.9112.5 Blue Ridge Parkway
Spruce Pine74.5119.9
US 19E north Newland, Cranberry
North end of US 19E overlap
75.3121.2
US 19E south Estatoe, Burnsville
South end of US 19E overlap
78.1125.7Penland Road Penland
81.8131.6
NC 226A north (Mine Creek Road)
Bakersville84.7136.3
NC 261 north Roan Mountain
Loafers Glory87.2140.3
NC 226A south Micaville
Red Hill90.2145.2
NC 197 south Burnsville
South end of NC 197 overlap
90.4145.5
NC 197 north Erwin
North end of NC 197 overlap
101.0162.5
SR 107 west Erwin
Continuation into Tennessee; crosses through Iron Mountain Gap
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi

References

  1. Google (February 6, 2013). "North Carolina Highway 226" (Map). Google Maps. Google. Retrieved February 6, 2013.
  2. "North Carolina Scenic Byways" (PDF). North Carolina Department of Transportation. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 20, 2012. Retrieved March 22, 2016.
  3. Cleveland County, North Carolina (PDF) (Map). North Carolina Department of Transportation. November 2015. Retrieved March 22, 2016.
  4. Rutherford County, North Carolina (PDF) (Map). North Carolina Department of Transportation. September 2015. Retrieved March 22, 2016.
  5. McDowell County, North Carolina (PDF) (Map). North Carolina Department of Transportation. September 2015. Retrieved March 22, 2016.
  6. Mitchell County, North Carolina (PDF) (Map). North Carolina Department of Transportation. September 2015. Retrieved March 22, 2016.
  7. North Carolina County Road Survey 1968 (PDF) (Map). Cartography by NCSHC / USDOT / FHWA. North Carolina State Highway Commission – Planning and Research Department. 1968. Retrieved March 22, 2016.
  8. NC 226 Route Change (1966-01-07) (PDF) (Map). North Carolina Department of Transportation. January 7, 1966. Retrieved February 6, 2013.
  9. NC 226 Route Change (2000-05-26) (PDF) (Map). North Carolina Department of Transportation. May 26, 2000. Retrieved February 6, 2013.
  10. Google (June 24, 2014). "North Carolina Highway 26" (Map). Google Maps. Google. Retrieved June 24, 2014.
  11. State Highway System of North Carolina (PDF) (Map). Cartography by NCSHC. North Carolina State Highway Commission. 1922. Retrieved March 22, 2016.
  12. State Highway System of North Carolina (PDF) (Map). Cartography by NCSHC. North Carolina State Highway Commission. 1930. Retrieved March 22, 2016.
  13. North Carolina County Road Survey 1936 (PDF) (Map). Cartography by NCSHC / NCSTC / U.S. Bureau of Public Roads. North Carolina State Tax Commission. 1936. Retrieved March 22, 2016.
  14. North Carolina Primary Highway System (PDF) (Map). Cartography by NCDOT. North Carolina Department of Transportation. 1940. Retrieved March 22, 2016.
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