U.S. 52
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Photo: US 52 North quietly entering North Carolina (Doug Kerr)
| U.S. 52 153 miles | ||||
| The Road: | Enters from South Carolina at McFarlan (Anson County) and leaves into Virginia above Mt. Airy (Surry County). Nationally the road runs from S-10-3 Charleston, SC to the Canadian Border at Portal, ND. | Towns and Attractions: | Anson Co.: Morven, Wadesboro, Pee Dee Nat'l Wildlife Refuge
Stanly Co.: Norwood, Albemarle, New London, Richfield Cabarrus Co.: None Rowan Co.: Rockwell, Granite Quarry, Salisbury Davidson Co.: Lexington, Welcome Forsyth Co.: Winston-Salem, Stanleyville Stokes Co.: King Surry Co.: Hanging Rock State Park, Pilot Mountain, Mt. Airy |
History: |
Although an original US route, US 52 did not come to North Carolina until September 1934 (AASHO) when it was extended south from Bluefield WV. It replaced US 601 from South Carolina to Salisbury; added to US 29-70 to Lexington; replaced US 121 through Winston-Salem to Virginia above Mt. Airy.
In 1935 or 1936, US 52 was removed from Riverside Rd and Pee Dee St between Rocky River and Norwood Also in 1935 or 1936, US 52 was removed from Glenmore Rd/Old Route 80 between Misenheimer and Gold Hill. By 1936, US 52 was using Morven-Morgan-Washington-Caswell-Salisbury through Wadesboro. Initially it used Morven-Morgan-Greene-Caswell-Salisbury In 1937 or 1938, US 52 was removed from Dalton Rd through Kimg to Dalton; Dalton Loop; Old VFW Rd at Pinnacle; Old Winston Rd from Pinnacle to Pilot Mountain and placed on today's Old US 52 from King to Pilot Mountain. About 1941, US 52 was removed from Trading Ford Rd and Old Salisbury Rd between the Yadkin River and Lexington and placed on modern US 29-52-70 to the south side of Lexington. Between 1945-49, US 52 was placed on one-way splits in downtown Winston-Salem. NB used the original routing on Main St. SB used Liberty St around to W 1st St back over to Main. Also, US 52 was removed from Indiana and Cherry St and placed on Patterson Av out to Stanlyville.
About 1949, US 52 was given a bypass of Pilot Mtn, leaving behind US 52-A (now just Main St).
About 1952, US 52 was placed on the Lexington Bypass around to NC 8. The old route through Lexington became US 29A-70A (now just Main St) and part of NC 8 (now 3rd St/Salem St south of 5th).
In 1953, US 52 was given its bypass of Mt Airy, leaving behind US 52-A (now US 52 Bus except downtown is just Main St). Between 1954-57, US 52 was given one-way splits in Salisbury. NB used Innes/Lee to Liberty and SB used Liberty/Depot to Innes, creating a backwards dynamic. Then both directions used Liberty between Lee and US 29-70. US 52 was removed entirely from Innes between Lee and US 29-70 and from US 29-70 from Innes to Liberty. Also between 1954-57, US 52 was removed from Old Fancy Gap Rd north of Mt. Airy.
In 1956 or 1957, US 52 was removed from central Wadesboro using new routing to the east up to US 74 (Caswell St) routing through town.
Also between 1956 and 1957, US 52 was removed from Pinkston-River Rd above Cedar Hill and removed from Old Route 80 north of Morven. In 1960, US 52 was moved from Main St to Old Salem Rd in the Salem College area. In 1962, US 52 NB in Winston-Salem was changed from Main-Liberty to Main St-5th St-Liberty. About 1964, US 52 was placed on new freeway from Winston-Salem to west of Pilot Mountain, leaving behind Patterson Ave/University Pkwy, NC 66 through Rural Hall and the substantial Old US 52. In Winston-Salem, the freeway extended south to below today's US 421. NB US 52 was changed to run on Main St, then east on today's 40 Bus, then north on the new freeway. SB left the N-S Expwy at Liberty St and continued south as before. In April 1970 (NCDOT), US 52 was placed on I-85 from Salisbury to the Yadkin River leaving behind unnumbered Innes St, the one-way splits, and US 29-70.
In December 1973 (NCDOT), the N-S Expwy was finished south to the Davidson County line and US 52 was put on it, leaving behind S. Main St/Liberty.
In June 1981 (NCDOT), US 52 was given its bypass of New London leaving behind SR 1817 Main St, a bit of NC 8 and SR 1632.
In January 1982 (NCDOT), US 52/NC 8 was moved onto more new freeway between Winston-Salem and Lexington in two steps, bypassing Midway and Old US 52. In September 1985 (NCDOT), US 52 was given its current Albemarle Bypass utilizing some of NC 24-27. The old route through town was made SR 1645 for a time but is now US 52 Business. In August 1992 (NCDOT), US 52 was placed on its current freeway to the Lexington Bypass further west of town, leaving behind US 29-70 and more NC 8. This freeway also bypassed Welcome and more Old US 52. Official maps showed the Welcome bypass open before the rest of the new freeway to US 29-70.
In May 1996 (NCDOT), US 52 was removed from SR 1200 Salisbury St between US 74 and NC 742 in Wadesboro. Instead US 52 followed US 74 further west then used new construction to NC 742. In Oct 2010 (NCDOT), US 52 was rebuilt south of Albemarle swinging west, then replaced the northernmost mile of NC 138. The old 52 south of NC 24-27 became SR 1837.
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Comments: |
US 52 from Mt Airy to Winston-Salem is slated to be I-74 and from Winston-Salem to I-85 is now I-285.
US 52 is signed North-South in North Carolina and has been as far back as I can remember. US 52 is the answer to the trivia question: What is the only route to exist in North Carolina and North Dakota? The Old US 52 routing north of Stanlyville has some overpasses. Mt. Airy is best known as the inspiration for the fictitious town of Mayberry on the Andy Griffith Show. The 1964 Official Map cover is a picture of the US 52 freeway looking at Pilot Mountain. |
Last Update: 4 April 2025
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