Editing Interstate 73 (section)

{{Short description|Interstate in North Carolina}}
{{Redirect|I-73|the Japanese submarine|Japanese submarine I-73|the British destroyer|HMS Stanley (I73)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2025}}
{{Use American English|date=April 2022}}
{{Infobox road
|country=USA
|type=I
|route=73
|map = {{maplink|frame=yes|plain=yes|frame-align=center|frame-width=290|frame-height=290|type=line|from=Interstate 73.map}}
|map_custom = yes
|map_notes = I-73 highlighted in red
|established=1997
|length_mi= 101.1
|length_ref=<ref>{{cite web |first = Kevin |last = Adderly |date = January 30, 2018 |publisher = [[Federal Highway Administration]] |url = https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/planning/national_highway_system/interstate_highway_system/routefinder/table01.cfm |title = Table 1: Main Routes of the Dwight D. Eisenhower National System of Interstate and Defense Highways as of December 31, 2017 |work = Route Log and Finder List |access-date = April 10, 2018 |archive-date = September 19, 2023 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20230919225606/https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/planning/national_highway_system/interstate_highway_system/routefinder/table01.cfm |url-status = live }}</ref><ref name=google>{{google maps | url=https://maps.google.com/maps?saddr=Rte+220+N%2FUS-220+N&daddr=Joseph+M+Bryan+Blvd&hl=en&ll=35.710838,-79.670105&spn=1.942389,3.56781&sll=36.117788,-79.907813&sspn=0.015098,0.027874&geocode=FbG1FgIdZ9c--w%3BFX4gJwIdb588-w&mra=dme&mrsp=1&sz=16&t=p&z=9 | title=Interstate 73 in North Carolina | access-date= October 26, 2013}}</ref>
|direction_a=South
|terminus_a={{Jct|state=NC|I|74|US|74|US-Bus|74|dab3=Rockingham}} near [[Rockingham, North Carolina|Rockingham]]
<!-- Major junctions only; Only 5-8 most major intersections and cities belong here; please read [[WP:USRD/STDS]] for more info -->
|junction={{plainlist|
*{{Jct|state=NC|US|64|NC|49}} in [[Asheboro, North Carolina|Asheboro]]
*{{Jct|state=NC|I|74}} near [[Randleman, North Carolina|Randleman]]
*{{Jct|state=NC|I|85|US|220|US|421}} in [[Greensboro, North Carolina|Greensboro]]
*{{Jct|state=NC|I|40|I|840|US|421}} in Greensboro}}
|direction_b=North
|terminus_b={{Jct|state=NC|US|220|NC|68}} near [[Stokesdale, North Carolina|Stokesdale]]
|states=[[North Carolina]]
}}
'''Interstate&nbsp;73''' ('''I-73''') is a north–south [[Interstate Highway]], currently located entirely within the US state of [[North Carolina]]. It travels {{convert|93.5|mi|km}}, from northwest of [[Rockingham, North Carolina]] to northeast of [[Stokesdale, North Carolina|Stokesdale]], providing a freeway connection to [[Greensboro, North Carolina|Greensboro]] and [[Asheboro, North Carolina|Asheboro]]. Other than a short {{convert|9.5|mi|km|abbr=on}} segment near the [[Piedmont Triad International Airport]] west of Greensboro, the interstate runs concurrently with at least one other route.<ref>{{cite news |first = Bruce |last = Siceloff |title = I-40 Bypass Opens in Greensboro |work = [[The News & Observer]] |location = Raleigh, North Carolina |date = February 21, 2008 |page = b5 |oclc = 11750106 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |first = Taft |last = Wireback |title = Old I- 40 Gets Back on Track |work = [[News & Record]] |location = Greensboro, North Carolina |date = September 16, 2008 |page = A1 |issn = 0747-1858 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |first = Tricia L. |last = Nadolny |title = Mapping by Car |work = News & Record |location = Greensboro, North Carolina |date = July 31, 2009 |page = A1 |issn = 0747-1858 }}</ref><ref name="Hall">{{cite news |first = Tony |last = Hall |title = State Making Good Progress on Interstates |work = News & Record |location = Greensboro, North Carolina |date = March 28, 1997 |page = B2 |issn = 0747-1858 }}</ref><ref name="Ellerbe">{{cite news |first = Tom |last = MacCallum |title = Ellerbe Bypass Opens After Years of Construction |work = [[Richmond County Daily Journal]] |location = Rockingham, North Carolina |date = January 8, 2008 }}{{page needed |date=August 2012}}</ref>

I-73 was planned to be a much longer corridor, defined by various federal laws to run from [[Myrtle Beach, South Carolina]], to [[Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan]]. North Carolina continues to build sections of the route, while [[South Carolina]] has shown support for building it but is still searching for funds. However, once active projects are completed, it will only run from Myrtle Beach to the North Carolina-[[Virginia]] state line along [[U.S. Route 220]]. [[Michigan]] abandoned the project in 2001, diverting the funds to safety improvement projects along the corridor instead.<ref name="Stiles A1">{{cite news |first = Linda |last = Stiles |title = Funds for I-73 Instead Will Be Used to Repair Routes&nbsp;127, 223 |date = June 13, 2001 |work = [[Jackson Citizen Patriot]] |page = A1 |oclc = 9939307 }}</ref> [[Virginia]] completed initial planning, but also abandoned the project in 2024 due to lack of funding. [[Ohio]] did not show interest in the project, as its corridor is either served by existing freeways or four-lane highways. [[West Virginia]] is building its section, mostly along [[U.S. Route 52|US&nbsp;52]], as a four-lane [[divided highway]], but not meeting the [[Interstate Highway standards]].<ref>{{cite web |title = Is I-73 Still Coming to Michigan? |url = https://witl.com/i-73-michigan/ |website = 100.7 WITL |access-date = June 19, 2024 |language = en |date = March 25, 2024 |archive-date = June 19, 2024 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20240619230220/https://witl.com/i-73-michigan/ |url-status = live }}</ref>

Associated with these plans are those for the extension of [[Interstate 74|I-74]] from [[Cincinnati]] to Myrtle Beach, with several highway overlaps contemplated.