A Different Mecklenburg Saga, Part 4: Charlotte back to almost Salisbury

Welcome to Charlotte.


The crosswalks near the Hall of Fame are made of checkers.


Walking.


Hey, what's that over there?


This intersection had 12-8-8 signals. Charlotte uses black fronts and yellow backs on its signals, but the only 12-8-8s I saw were here.


Almost looks like a milepost, doesn't it?


Charlotte's well out of hurricane range, but it still has Evacuation Route signs for, you know, whenever downtown needs to be evacuated for whatever reason.


Rail crossing.


AT&T building with a BellSouth label scar still visible.


Chiquita headquarters is part of NASCAR headquarters. NASCAR doesn't own them; they just lease some floors.


I-277 trailblazer.


Now leaving. We stayed at the Hall of Fame for about two hours. It was only 1 PM at this point.


I-277 and US 74 overlap on the Belk.


Not much of I-277 left once you get on it.


We'll call it a clinch.


Back on I-77, now heading northbound.


And now we're back on I-85.


Enjoy your affordable Swedish crap.


Traffic jam at I-485.


The construction begins again.


Poplar Tent was the funniest road name I saw.


Lane shift.


Somewhere in Cabarrus County.


There's no US 29 signage with NC 152 on I-85 northbound because you meet US 29 before you get there.


I-85 opens up to four lanes northbound.


Back soon for the conclusion.

A Different Mecklenburg Saga, Part 3: Salisbury to Charlotte

Getting into Salisbury now, US 52 prepares to leave I-85.


But US 601 takes its place.


Look at that crooked NC 152 shield.


Dale Earnhardt Boulevard has been NC 3 since shortly after his death. Before that it was NC 136; a sign on I-85 northbound still has that route's number.


US 601 leaves I-85 and joins US 29.


Greenout. US 601 used to continue north with US 29 here.


More construction.


What used to be Speedway Boulevard is now Bruton "I have more money than anyone else in Charlotte" Smith Boulevard. It was changed to kiss his butt honor him when he threatened to move Charlotte Motor Speedway a few years ago.


I-485 is Charlotte's outer beltway. We're getting close now.


Weird speed limit sign.


NC 24 is its longest state route.


Big ol' signal towers.


Coming up is I-77. Statesville Ave/Rd is old US 21.


But first, traffic.


The I-85/77 interchange is a pretty interesting setup.


Directional signs for popular attractions in Uptown Charlotte.


I-277, the inner beltway. It's an interesting little route, as you'll see. It's signed both North/South and Inner/Outer because it does a 3/4 loop around uptown, carrying US 74 and NC 16 (yet another multi-state route) in spots.
Going around from the Brookshire to the Belk now.

In part 4, we finally reach our destination.