The Highways of North Carolina
U.S. 129 
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U.S. 129  66 miles
The Road: Begins at the Georgia State Line at Bellview (Cherokee County) and ends at the Tennessee State Line near Tampoco (Swain County).
Nationally the route runs from US 19-27A-98 Chiefland, FL to I-40 Knoxville, TN.
Towns and Attractions: Cherokee Co.: Murphy, Marble, Andrews  
Macon Co.: Nantahala National Forest  
Graham Co.: Robbinsville, Santeetlah Lake  
Swain Co.: None  
History: US 129 was born in late 1934 as an addition to US 19 from Georgia to Topton, and replaced NC 108 through Robbinsville to Tennessee.

1924 Official
Original NC 108 through Robbinsville
1924 Official
1936 Official
US 129 erases NC 108
1936 Official

Between 1939-44, US 19-129 was removed from Cherokee SR 1394 near Topton.
About 1952, US 19 was routed off Martins Creek Rd onto current US 19-129 from Georgia to Murphy.

1948 Rand McN
US 19 original Murphy approach
1948 Rand McN
1952 Shell
US 19-129 rerouted to Murphy
1952 Shell


Between 1958-62, US 129 was placed on a bypass of Robbinsville, leaving behind SR 1106 (some of this is now NC 143 Business).

1957 Graham County
US 129 through Robbinsville
1957 Graham County
1962 Graham County
US 129 bypasses Robbinsville
1962 Graham County

Between 1969-72, US 129 was rebuilt onto new alignments around Lake Santeetlah, leaving behind a bunch of Old US 129 loops - SRs 1139, 1140, 1141, 1142, 1143, 1144, 1147, and an extended SR 1242.

1968 Graham County
US 129 original Santeetlah routing
1968 Graham County
1972 Graham County
US 129 rebuilt Santeetlah routing
1972 Graham County

In 1979, US 19-129 was placed on a new bypass of Andrews leaving behind US 19 Business.
About 1980, US 19-129 was placed on a new bypass of Murphy (leaving behind US 19 Bus) and a lot of new alignment connecting to the Andrews Bypass.

1978-79 Official
US 19-129 through Murphy and Andrews
1978-79 Official
1979-80 Official
US 19-129 bypasses Andrews
1979-80 Official
1980 Official
US 19-129 bypasses Murphy
1980-81 Official


Note that the 1980 Official labeled US 129 Business but the 1980 Cherokee County Map only shows US 19 Business.

Comments: US 129 is more famous for its Tennessee routing as the Tail of the Dragon which has oodles of curves in a short distance.

Last Update: 23 June 2012

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