North Carolina Highway 109

North Carolina Highway 109 (NC 109) is a north–south state highway in North Carolina. It primarily connects small towns in the central Piedmont region of the state. The 117-mile (188 km) route is a two-lane road for most of its length, but the segment between Winston-Salem and Thomasville is being upgraded to a divided 4-lane highway, as it is a major route between the two cities. The central segment of NC 109 passes through the Uwharrie Mountains and the Uwharrie National Forest.

North Carolina Highway 109
Route of NC 109 in red
Route information
Maintained by NCDOT
Length	105.9 mi (170.4 km)
Existed	1928–present
Tourist routes	Grassy Island Crossing
Major junctions
South end	SC 109 at the South Carolina line near Mount Croghan
	US 52 / US 74 / NC 742 in Wadesboro US 64 near Thomasville I-85 in Thomasville I-85 Bus. / US 29 / US 70 in Thomasville
North end	I-40 in Winston-Salem
Location
Counties	Anson, Richmond, Montgomery, Randolph, Davidson, Forsyth
Highway system
North Carolina Highway System Interstate U.S. State Scenic ← NC 108 → NC 110

Route description

NC 109 directional signs at the NC 62 western terminus in Thomasville

North Carolina Highway 109 begins at the North Carolina-South Carolina border north of Ruby, South Carolina. NC 109 intersects its first road, Long Pine Church Road (Secondary Road 1220 or SR 1220) about a mile north of the border. NC 109 continues north from there to Wadesboro. NC 109 enters Wadesboro on Camden Road. The road intersects NC 742 and runs a short concurrency with the road. In downtown Wadesboro NC 109 intersects US 52/US 74/NC 742. NC 109 continues north from the intersection out of Wadesboro along N Greene Street. As the road goes further to the north it crosses the Pee Dee River into Richmond County.[1][2]

After crossing into Richmond County NC 902 intersects Grassy Island Road (SR 1148). The road passes through the rural area going almost directly north towards Mount Gilead. The last intersection along NC 109 in Richmond County is with Jack Currie Road, right before the road heads into Montgomery County.[1][2]

NC 109 enters rural Montgomery County and continues towards the north. When the road enters Mount Gilead on Wadesboro Boulevard it intersects NC 731 and then bypasses downtown. As NC 109 comes around the north side of Mount Gilead it intersects NC 73 and then leaves the town. About a mile after leaving Mount Gilead the road enters the Uwharrie National Forest. NC 109 intersects NC 24/NC 27 inside the national forest. NC 109 runs a concurrency with NC 24/NC 27 until Troy. In Troy NC 109 turns left to continue back north along N Bilhen Street. NC 109 crosses the Uwharrie River before going through Eldorado and entering Randolph County. NC 109 enters and leaves Randolph County within a half a mile and then enter Davidson County.[1][2]

History

North Carolina Highway 515

North Carolina Highway 515
Location	SC state line–Mount Gilead, NC
Length	41.1 mi[3] (66.1 km)
Existed	1923–1934

North Carolina Highway 515 (NC 515) was established as a new primary routing from NC 51, in Mount Gilead, to NC 74, three miles (4.8 km) to the northwest. In 1928, NC 515 was extended south to US 74/NC 20 in Wadesboro. The road was extended to its final southern terminus at the South Carolina state line.[4] In 1934, most of NC 515 was renumbered to NC 109. The only part that was not renumbered to NC 109 was the segment from NC 74 to NC 51; which became part of NC 73.

Future

NCDOT conducted a project study to improve the safety of NC 109 between Thomasville and Winston-Salem in 2012. Various improvements were identified, including the use of the Superstreet concept.[5]

Major intersections

County	Location	mi	km	Destinations	Notes
Anson	​	0.0	0.0	SC 109 south (Camden Road) – Mount Croghan	Continuation beyond South Carolina state line
	Wadesboro	13.1	21.1	NC 742 south (Chesterfield Road) – Chesterfield, SC	South end of NC 742 concurrency
		13.9	22.4	US 52 / US 74 / NC 742 north (Caswell Street) – Morven, Lilesville, Polkton, Ansonville	North end of NC 742 concurrency
Richmond	No major junctions
Montgomery	Mount Gilead	33.0	53.1	NC 731 / NC 109 Bus. north (Allenton Road) – Norwood, Candor	NC 109 Bus hidden designation
		33.4	53.8	NC 73 / NC 109 Bus. south (Main Street) – Albemarle, Ellerbe	NC 109 Bus hidden designation
	​	41.5	66.8	NC 24 west / NC 27 west – Albemarle, Charlotte	South end of NC 24/NC 27 concurrency
	Troy	45.0	72.4	NC 24 east / NC 27 east / NC 109 Bus. north (Albemarle Road) – Biscoe, Carthage	North end of NC 24/NC 27 concurrency
		45.8	73.7	NC 109 Bus. south (Eldorado Street)
Randolph	No major junctions
Davidson	Handy	64.3	103.5	NC 49 – Concord, Asheboro	Diamond interchange
	Denton	69.5	111.8	NC 47 east (Bombay Road)	South end of NC 47 concurrency
		69.7	112.2	NC 47 west (Salisbury Street) – Linwood, Lexington	North end of NC 47 concurrency
	Gordontown	79.4	127.8	US 64 – Lexington, Asheboro	Diamond interchange
	Thomasville	85.9	138.2	I-85 – Charlotte, Greensboro	Diamond interchange; exit 103 on I-85
		86.3	138.9	NC 62 east (Cloniger Drive) – Archdale, Climax	Western terminus of NC 62
		89.0	143.2	I-85 Bus. / US 29 / US 70 – Lexington, Salisbury, Greensboro
Forsyth	Winston-Salem	103.0	165.8	I-40 – Clemmons, Walkertown, Greensboro	Diamond interchange; exit 195 on I-40
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi       Concurrency terminus

Special routes

Mount Gilead business loop

North Carolina Highway 109 Business
Location	Mount Gilead, North Carolina
Length	0.50 mi[6] (0.80 km)
Existed	1968–present

North Carolina Highway 109 Business (NC 109 Bus) was established between 1963-1968 as a renumbering of NC 109, via Allenton Street (overlapped with NC 731) and Main Street (overlapped with NC 73). Its designation is hidden or unmarked as it only appears in state and county maps.[7]

Troy alternate route

North Carolina Highway 109A
Location	Troy, North Carolina
Length	1.5 mi[8] (2.4 km)
Existed	1953–1960

North Carolina Highway 109 Alaternate (NC 109A) was established around 1950-1953 as a renumbering of mainline NC 109, which was placed on a new bypass alignment west of Troy. The route traverses on Albemarle Road, West Main Street, North Main Street, Smitherman Street and Eldorado Street.

Troy business loop

North Carolina Highway 109 Business
Location	Troy, North Carolina
Length	1.5 mi[8] (2.4 km)
Existed	1960–present

North Carolina Highway 109 Business (NC 109 Bus) was established in 1960 as a rebannering of NC 109A through downtown Troy; has changed little since.

Thomasville alternate route

North Carolina Highway 109A
Location	Thomasville, North Carolina
Length	3.2 mi[9] (5.1 km)
Existed	1936–1960

North Carolina Highway 109 Alaternate (NC 109A) was established in 1936 as a new alternate routing of NC 109 along Fisher Ferry Road and Main Street.

Thomasville business loop

North Carolina Highway 109 Business
Location	Thomasville, North Carolina
Length	3.2 mi[9] (5.1 km)
Existed	1960–1971

North Carolina Highway 109 Business (NC 109 Bus) was established in 1960 as a rebannering of mainline NC 109A. In 1971, mainline NC 109 was aligned on new road further east; its old alignment along Denton Road was downgraded to secondary road, thus NC 109 Bus was decommissioned as a result.[10]

References

1. Google (March 2014). "North Carolina Highway 109" (Map). Google Maps. Google. Retrieved March 2014. Check date values in: |access-date= (help)
2. State Transportation Map (Map) (2013–14 ed.). Cartography by North Carolina State Tax Commission. North Carolina Department of Transportation. 2013.
3. Google (November 10, 2014). "North Carolina Highway 515" (Map). Google Maps. Google. Retrieved November 10, 2014.
4. State Highway System of North Carolina (PDF) (Map). Cartography by NCDOT. North Carolina Department of Transportation. 1930. Retrieved May 18, 2014.
5. Staff. "NCDOT: NC 109 Improvements". North Carolina Department of Transportation. Retrieved September 5, 2012.
6. Google (November 23, 2013). "NC 109 Business - Mt. Gilead" (Map). Google Maps. Google. Retrieved November 23, 2013.
7. Montgomery County - Supplement 2 (PDF) (Map). North Carolina Department of Transportation. Retrieved November 23, 2013.
8. Google (November 23, 2013). "NC 109 Business - Troy" (Map). Google Maps. Google. Retrieved November 23, 2013.
9. Google (November 23, 2013). "NC 109 Business - Thomasville" (Map). Google Maps. Google. Retrieved November 23, 2013.
10. "NC Route Changes (1971-02-04)" (PDF). North Carolina Department of Transportation. February 4, 1971. p. 3. Retrieved November 23, 2013.

External links

• Media related to North Carolina Highway 109 at Wikimedia Commons
• NCRoads.com: N.C. 109
• NCRoads.com: N.C. 109A
• NCRoads.com: N.C. 109 Business
• North Carolina Highway Begins/Ends - NC 109