| NC 160 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Route information | ||||
| Maintained by NCDOT | ||||
| Length: | 14.9 mi[1] (24.0 km) | |||
| Existed: | 1942 – present | |||
| Major junctions | ||||
| South end: | SC 160 at the SC line near Tega Cay, SC | |||
| I-485 in Charlotte I-77 / US 21 in Charlotte |
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| North end: | NC 49 in Charlotte | |||
| Location | ||||
| Counties: | Mecklenburg | |||
| Highway system | ||||
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North Carolina Highway 160 is a primary state highway in the state of North Carolina. The highway runs north–south, connecting the Steele Creek neighborhood, Charlotte/Douglas International Airport, and Uptown Charlotte.
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NC 160 begins at the South Carolina border, where SC 160 ends near Tega Cay, South Carolina. From the state line, the route heads northwards, crossing South Tryon Street (NC 49) for the first time 2 miles (3.2 km) inside North Carolina.
NC 160 winds its next five or six miles 10 miles (16 km) going through southwest Charlotte's industrial district. The main intersection with NC 160 in this area, known as Steele Creek, is at Westinghouse Boulevard; at this point, the route bears the street name Steele Creek Road.
Continuing north, NC 160 crosses over Seddon Rusty Goode Freeway (I-485, Exit 4). One mile after crossing 485, NC 160 crosses into Charlotte's city limits again and enters the city's airport area, where Charlotte/Douglas International Airport is located. After entering the area, NC 160 darts east-by-northeast onto West Boulevard, leaving Steele Creek Road (which briefly continues as Dixie Road) to head to the greater airport. NC 160 is the only way to access the Airport Police, the North Carolina Air National Guard station and the Charlotte Aviation Museum.
One mile after leaving the airport area, NC 160 crosses over Billy Graham Parkway (formerly US 521), which is part of Charlotte Highway 4. NC 160 goes on a few more miles through the urban area of west Charlotte before crossing over the Bill Lee Freeway (I-77/US 21). At this interchange (Exit 9A), there are only exits from the southbound lanes of the freeway and entrances onto the northbound lanes of the freeway. To access I-77/US 21 southbound or to access NC 160 from northbound I-77/US 21, one must take an alternate route like Remount Road (Exit 8).
NC 160 continues on a northeasterly direction toward Uptown Charlotte. Its eastern terminus is at South Tryon Street (NC 49) nearly one mile southwest of center city. The road, West Boulevard, continues on as East Boulevard at this terminus. Turning north on NC 49 will take the driver to Uptown (downtown).
Established in 1942 as a new primary routing, NC 160 was a mere 2 miles (3.2 km), connecting NC 49 to SC 160 on the South Carolina state line. Before its establishment, it was a secondary road connecting to then SC 211 (1939-1942).[2][3] Between 1956-58, NC 160 was extended north along Steele Creek Road and Morris Field Drive to Wilkinson Boulevard (US 29/US 74). In 1967, NC 160 was rerouted east along West Boulevard to its current north terminus at NC 49 near Uptown Charlotte. In the late-1970s, the section near the Charlotte/Douglas Airport was moved slightly south to allow airport expansion.[4][5]
The entire route is in Charlotte, Mecklenburg County.
| Mile[1] | Destinations | Notes | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | NC 49 (South Tryon Street) – York | |||
| 7 | I-485 – Pineville, Huntersville | |||
| 11.3 | Billy Graham Parkway – Charlotte/Douglas Int'l Airport | |||
| 13.6 | To I-77 to US 21 (Remount Road) |
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| 14.3 | I-77 north / US 21 north – Statesville | Southbound exit and northbound entrance | ||
| 14.9 | NC 49 (South Tryon Street) | NC 160 ends | ||
| 1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi Concurrency terminus • Closed/Former • Incomplete access • Unopened |
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