| NC 126 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Route information | ||||
| Maintained by NCDOT | ||||
| Length: | 23 mi[1] (37 km) | |||
| Existed: | 1940 – present | |||
| Major junctions | ||||
| West end: | US 70 in Nebo | |||
| East end: | NC 181 in Morganton | |||
| Location | ||||
| Counties: | McDowell, Burke | |||
| Highway system | ||||
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North Carolina Highway 126 is a primary state highway in the U.S. state of North Carolina. It runs from US 70, in Nebo, to NC 181, in Morganton.
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NC 126 has changed little since it was established in 1940, thus the entire route has lots of curves as it bends around Lake James. It serves primarily to connect the people that live on the north-side of Lake James to Marion and Morganton; secondary as a scenic route and access to Lake James State Park.
Pisgah Loop Scenic Byway is a 47-mile (76 km) loop byway, not recommended for recreational vehicles and bus with four-wheel drive required for unpaved portions. NC 126 makes up the southern section of the byway (5 miles (8.0 km)), it is noted for being part of the Overmountain Victory Trail Commemorative Motor Route and nearby Lake James State Park. Other roads and highways that make-up the loop are: Fish Hatchery Road (S.R. 1254 & 1240), NC 181, NC 183, and Old NC Highway 105 (S.R. 1238, the entire road is unpaved).[2]
| County | Location | Mile[1] | Destinations | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| McDowell | Nebo | 0 | US 70 – Marion, Morganton | NC 126 begins |
| Burke | 7.5 | Old NC Highway 105 | Unpaved road, begin of Pisgah Loop Scenic Byway overlap | |
| 12.5 | Fish Hatchery Road | end of Pisgah Loop Scenic Byway overlap | ||
| Morganton | 23 | NC 181 – Linville, Newland | NC 126 ends | |
| 1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi Concurrency terminus • Closed/Former • Incomplete access • Unopened |
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In 1933, NC 126 was established between US 258/NC 12, near Snow Hill, to US 17/NC 30 Wilmar. It was quickly replaced by an extension of NC 102.[3]
The current NC 126 was established in 1940 as a renumbering of NC 105 from the community of Longtown[4] to the city of Morganton. In 1954, NC 126 was extended west, replacing NC 105 southern portion from Longtown to Nebo, while the northern section was decommissioned and exists today as unpaved road known as Old NC Highway 105.[3][5]