US 64 Bypass in Asheboro, NC Now Open

Prior to COVID, my family and I would go to the North Carolina Zoo pretty much every month or so. One of the time-consuming parts of the drive was the traffic lights and traffic on Dixie Drive (US 64) in Asheboro, which would easily add a few extra minutes and near misses to our drive.

This would all change on December 18, 2020, when a new 14.4-mile freeway carrying US 64 and bypassing Dixie Drive to the south opened. The Asheboro Bypass, decades in the making, and the 1.7-mile Zoo Connector will make traffic to the Zoo and also through and around Asheboro better.

On December 22nd, on an unrelated trip, I was able to travel the new bypass and take a number of photos. All of the photos are going west on US 64. For my entire flickr set, head here.

Approaching the eastern terminus of the Asheboro Bypass. What is interesting is that the old route - now Business US 64 - continues straight while the bypass loops around and over the highway.

The overpass in the background is what carries the new bypass over Business 64.

The NC 42 interchange.

What most likely will be the most used interchange on the bypass. The Zoo Connector leads directly to the entrance of the North Carolina Zoo which is one of the most popular tourist attractions within the state.

The next three photos are from the new bypass' interchange with Interstates 73/74 and US 220.

The interchange with NC 49 will also be heavily used as NC 49 and US 64 is a regularly used alternative between Raleigh and Charlotte. The Asheboro Bypass will improve the travel time using this route by eliminating numerous traffic lights.

The western terminus of the Asheboro Bypass. The highway reduces to two lanes just beyond the curve. US 64 continues west towards I-85 and Lexington at this point.

Needless to say, this will be a great time saver for our trips to the Zoo or even to Raleigh. The road is a nice easy drive; hopefully, we can get back to the Zoo soon!

Comments

Abandoned US Route 40 in the Truckee River Canyon

Within the Truckee River Canyon in the Sierra Nevada range numerous abandoned portions of US Route 40 can be found alongside modern Interstate 80. This segment of highway was opened during 1926 as a bypass of the Dog Valley Grade which carried the early North Lincoln Highway and Victory Highway. The corridor of the Truckee River Canyon State Highway would be assigned as US Route 40 when the US Route System was commissioned during November 1926. During 1958 the segment of Interstate 80 between Boca, California and the Nevada state line was complete. When Interstate 80 opened east of Boca numerous obsolete portions of US Route 40 were abandoned. Some of these abandoned segments have been incorporated into the Tahoe-Pyramid Trail. Part 1; the history of US Route 40 in the Truckee River Canyon The Truckee River Canyon for centuries has been an established corridor of travel known to native tribes crossing the Sierra Nevada range. The first documented wagon crossi...

Former US Route 50 and the Pioneer Route Lincoln Highway on Johnson's Pass Road

Johnson's Pass Road is one of the oldest highway corridors in California. Johnson's Pass was part of the Lake Tahoe Wagon Road as it was completed during 1856 over the Sierra Nevada. The pass would later be incorporated into the Pioneer Branch of the Lincoln Highway in 1913 and US Route 50 in 1926. Johnson's Pass Road would be bypassed by a new alignment of US Route 50 over Echo Summit in 1938. A replacement of the Meyers Grade east of Johnson's Pass would be opened to traffic in 1947. Johnson's Pass Road remains accessible to traffic and is still signed by the Lincoln Highway Association. Pictured as the blog cover is the view from the top of Johnson's Pass Road overlooking modern US Route 50 and Lake Tahoe. Part 1; the history of Johnson's Pass Much of the history of what become the Lake Tahoe Wagon Road is discussed in the September 1950 California Highways & Public Works during its Centennial Edition. The or...

Former California State Route 41 past Bates Station

When California State Route 41 was commissioned during August 1934 it was aligned along the then existing Fresno-Yosemite Road north of the San Joaquin River. Within the Sierra Nevada foothills of Madera County, the original highway alignment ran past Bates Station via what is now Madera County Road 209, part of eastern Road 406 and Road 207. Bates Station was a stage station plotted during the early 1880s at what was the intersection of the Coarsegold Road and Stockton-Los Angeles Road. The modern alignment bypassing Bates Station to the east would be reopened to traffic during late 1939. Part 1; the history of California State Route 41 past Bates Station Bates Station was featured as one of the many 1875-1899 Madera County era towns in the May 21, 1968, Madera Tribune . Post Office Service at Bates Station is noted to have been established on November 23, 1883 and ran continuously until October 31, 1903. The postal name was sourced...

Gribblenation

Search This Blog