NCRoads.com: N.C. 86 (original) (raw)

History:

NC 86 was born in 1940 as a renumbering of NC 14. At that time NC 86 began at NC 54 (just W. Main St now) Carrboro.
By 1944, NC 86 was extended with NC 54 to US 15-501 in Chapel Hill.
In 1956 or 1957, NC 86 was rerouted entirely south of Hillsborough. NC 86 was placed on its current route to Chapel Hill, still ending at US 15A-501A/NC 54A but from the north instead of the west. The old route became today's SR 1009 Chapel Hill Rd.
In 1956 or 1957, NC 86 was given a north bypass around Yanceyville (at first without US 158) and was placed on a new alignment northwest to Virginia. This left behind US 158 through Yanceyville (now Main St) and a substantial SR 1500 "Old NC 86" through Providence and Purlear.
Between 1963-68, NC 86 was rebuilt to bypass Gatewood at the Virginia State Line, leaving behind SR 1563.
In 1981 (bridge dates), NC 86 was given bypasses of Hightowers and the SR 1004 area.
Between 1985-87, NC 86 was extended south through Chapel Hill to its current end, replacing US 15-501 Bus.

The first NC 86 was born in late 1937 as a renumbering of NC 38. It ran from US 17 Folkstone east to Sneads Ferry along today's Folkstone Rd (not modern NC 172), then headed north on today's NC 172 to the New River.
In late 1940, NC 86 was renumbered as NC 172.