Editing Interstate 26

{{Short description|Interstate Highway mostly in the Carolinas}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=October 2019}}
{{Use American English|date=August 2023}}
{{Infobox road
| country = USA
| type = I
| route = 26
| map = {{maplink|frame=yes|plain=yes|frame-align=center|frame-width=290|frame-height=290|type=line|from=Interstate 26.map}}
| map_custom = yes
| map_notes = I-26 highlighted in red
| length_mi = 328.09
| length_ref = <ref name="fhwa">{{Cite web |last=Starks |first=Edward |date=January 27, 2022 |title=Table 1: Main Routes of the Dwight D. Eisenhower National System of Interstate and Defense Highways |url=https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/planning/national_highway_system/interstate_highway_system/routefinder/table01.cfm |access-date=August 9, 2023 |work=FHWA Route Log and Finder List |publisher=[[Federal Highway Administration]]}}</ref>
| direction_a = West
| terminus_a = {{Jct|state=TN|US|11W|US|23}} in [[Kingsport, Tennessee|Kingsport, TN]]
| junction = {{plainlist|<!-- Major junctions only; Only 5-8 most major intersections and cities belong here; please read [[WP:USRD/STDS]] for more info -->
* {{Jct|state=TN|I|81}} in [[Kingsport, Tennessee|Kingsport, TN]]
* {{Jct|state=NC|I|40|I|240}} in [[Asheville, North Carolina|Asheville, NC]]
* {{Jct|state=SC|I|85}} near [[Spartanburg, South Carolina|Spartanburg, SC]]
* {{Jct|state=SC|I|385}} near [[Laurens, South Carolina|Laurens, SC]]
* {{Jct|state=SC|I|20}} near [[Columbia, South Carolina|Columbia, SC]]
* {{Jct|state=SC|I|77}} near [[Columbia, South Carolina|Columbia, SC]]
* {{Jct|state=SC|I|95}} near [[Bowman, South Carolina|Bowman, SC]]
}}
| direction_b = East
| terminus_b = {{Jct|state=SC|US|17}} in [[Charleston, South Carolina|Charleston, SC]]
| states = [[Tennessee]], [[North Carolina]], [[South Carolina]]
}}
'''Interstate&nbsp;26''' ('''I-26''') is a main route of the [[Interstate Highway System]] in the [[Southeastern United States]]. Nominally east–west, as indicated by its even number, I-26 runs from the junction of [[U.S. Route 11W|US Route&nbsp;11W]] (US&nbsp;11W) and [[U.S. Route 23|US&nbsp;23]] in [[Kingsport, Tennessee]], generally southeastward to [[U.S. Route 17|US&nbsp;17]] in [[Charleston, South Carolina]].<ref name="Google">{{Google maps|url=https://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&hl=en&geocode=6310337734879748054,36.588650,-82.574130%3B14384335689451893313,32.799754,-79.945133&saddr=Exit+57+%4036.588650,+-82.574130&daddr=32.799721,-79.945064&mra=dme&mrcr=0&mrsp=1&sz=16&sll=32.799703,-79.942682&sspn=0.008153,0.014462&ie=UTF8&ll=34.759666,-80.057373&spn=4.079227,7.382813&z=7 |title= Overview Map of I-26 |access-date=February 15, 2008}}</ref> The portion from [[Mars Hill, North Carolina]], east (compass south) to [[Interstate 240 (North Carolina)|I-240]] in [[Asheville, North Carolina]], has signs indicating FUTURE I-26, because the highway does not yet meet all of the [[Interstate Highway standards]].

Northward from Kingsport, US&nbsp;23 continues to [[Portsmouth, Ohio]], as [[Corridor B (Appalachian Development Highway System)|Corridor B]] of the [[Appalachian Development Highway System]], and beyond to [[Columbus, Ohio]], as [[Corridor C (Appalachian Development Highway System)|Corridor C]]. In conjunction with the Columbus–[[Toledo, Ohio|Toledo]] corridor in Ohio formed by [[Interstate 75|I-75]], US&nbsp;23, and [[Ohio State Route 15|State Route&nbsp;15]] (SR&nbsp;15), I-26 forms part of a mostly high-speed four-or-more-lane highway from the [[Great Lakes]] to the Atlantic Coast at [[Charleston, South Carolina]].

==Route description==
{{Lengths table|length_ref=<ref name="fhwa" />}}
|-
|[[Interstate 26 in Tennessee|TN]]
|{{Convert|54.45|mi|km|disp=table}}
|-
|[[Interstate 26 in North Carolina|NC]]
|{{Convert|52.69|mi|km|disp=table}}
|-
|[[Interstate 26 in South Carolina|SC]]
|{{Convert|220.95|mi|km|disp=table}}
|-
|Total
|{{Convert|328.09|mi|km|disp=table}}
|}

I-26 is a diagonal Interstate Highway, which runs northwest–southeast. The extension north of Asheville is mostly north–south. Where I-26 crosses the [[French Broad River]] in Asheville at the Jeffrey Bowen Bridge (previously known as the Smoky Park Bridge), the highway runs in opposite directions from its designations. (I-26 westbound actually goes east. I-26 [[concurrency (road)|runs concurrently]] with [[Interstate 240 (North Carolina)|I-240]], so that I-240 eastbound and I-26 westbound are the same route.) When the extension was made in 2003, the [[exit number]]s in North Carolina were increased by 31 to reflect the new [[Mileage-based exit numbering|mileage]]. The part that it shares with I-240 is signed as both I-240 and I-26 but follows the I-240 exit numbering pattern.

I-26 has signs with an extra FUTURE sign above (and in the same style as) the EAST and WEST signs from Asheville north to [[Mars Hill, North Carolina]], because the older US&nbsp;23 [[freeway]] does not yet meet all of the [[Interstate Highway standards]]. The [[Shoulder (road)|road shoulders]] remain substandard or nonexistent along short sections of the route. A rebuild and relocation is also planned in Asheville to avoid some tight [[interchange (road)|interchanges]].

===Tennessee===
{{Main|U.S. Route 23 in Tennessee}}
[[File:Bald-mountains-I-26-tn1.jpg|right|thumb|I-26 approaching the [[Bald Mountains]] near [[Erwin, Tennessee]]]]
The [[exit number]]s in Tennessee were formerly numbered backward—increasing from east (physically south) to west (physically north)—because this highway was formerly signed north–south as US&nbsp;23 (and [[Interstate 181 (Tennessee)|I-181]]). Although this is consistent with the south-to-north numbering conventions, this exit numbering was changed on all 284&nbsp;signs along I-26 to be consistent with the rest of the east-to-west-numbered highway in March 2007. The remaining I-181 signs north of [[Interstate 81|I-81]] were also replaced with I-26 signs at that time.

For its entire length in Tennessee, I-26 shares the route with US&nbsp;23. The route is named the James H. Quillen Parkway, after [[Jimmy Quillen]], a past member of the [[US House of Representatives]] for Tennessee.

In Tennessee, US&nbsp;23 runs south from the [[Virginia]] state line for {{convert|1|mi|km|spell=in}} to [[Kingsport, Tennessee|Kingsport]]. I-26 begins at the junction of US&nbsp;23 with [[U.S. Route 11W|US&nbsp;11W]] (which is locally named Stone Drive) northwest of the city. After about {{convert|1000|yd|m}}, I-26 crosses the [[Holston River|South Fork Holston River]] before swinging around to a generally southeast path through [[Sullivan County, Tennessee|Sullivan County]]. It reaches its major interchange with I-81 at exit&nbsp;8A, southwest of [[Colonial Heights, Tennessee|Colonial Heights]].

Shortly after entering [[Washington County, Tennessee|Washington County]], it reaches the northwest part of [[Johnson City, Tennessee|Johnson City]] and also serves as a local transit route as it makes its way around the north and eastern parts of the city. It begins to travel through more obviously mountainous terrain before turning to travel in a south direction. Entering [[Carter County, Tennessee|Carter County]] briefly, it passes exit&nbsp;27 before entering the [[Cherokee National Forest]] and [[Unicoi County, Tennessee|Unicoi County]]. From this point, it passes through part of the [[Blue Ridge Mountains]], first the [[Unaka Range]] and, later, as it passes [[Erwin, Tennessee|Erwin]], between exits&nbsp;34 and 40, the [[Bald Mountains]]. It meets the [[Nolichucky River]] just after milemarker&nbsp;38 and travels along its southeast bank before crossing it immediately before exit&nbsp;40.

The remainder of I-26 in Tennessee passes through a sparsely populated area, at elevations of above {{convert|1800|ft|m}}, before reaching the [[North Carolina]] state line.

===North Carolina===
{{Main|Interstate 26 in North Carolina}}
[[File:Skyuka Mountain.JPG|thumb|I-26 and [[U.S. Route 74|US&nbsp;74]] in [[Polk County, North Carolina]]]]
As I-26 crosses the Bald Mountains after crossing the North Carolina–Tennessee state line, it travels through a relatively high-elevation rural area.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.blueridgeheritage.com/plan-your-trip/scenic-byways/i-26-scenic-highway/|title=I-26 Scenic Highway|website=Blue Ridge National Heritage Area|language=en-US|access-date=August 15, 2019}}</ref> At Sam's Gap, its reaches its highest elevation of {{convert|3760|ft|m}}.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.waymarking.com/gallery/image.aspx?f=1&guid=19924d8c-c790-4bdf-a629-293603aa321c |title=Sams Gap: NC/TN Border |publisher= Waymarking.com |access-date=November 27, 2011}}</ref> At Buckner Gap, I-26 reaches {{convert|3370|ft|m}} in elevation. For {{convert|2|mi|km|spell=in}} on each side of the state line, its elevation is at least {{convert|3000|ft|m}}.<ref>{{cite map |url=http://mapserver.mytopo.com/homepage/index.cfm?lat=35.95472&lon=-82.56083&scale=24000&zoom=100&type=1&icon=0&searchscope=dom&CFID=4710347&CFTOKEN=35330172&scriptfile=http://mapserver.mytopo.com/homepage/index.cfm&latlontype=DMS |publisher= Maptech |title= Sams Gap |access-date=November 27, 2011}}</ref>

It enters first the [[Walnut Mountains|Walnut]] and [[Bald Mountains|Bald]] mountains of the [[Appalachian Mountains]], passing through the [[Pisgah National Forest|Pisgah]] and [[Cherokee National Forest|Cherokee]] national forests as it does so, and then the [[Blue Ridge Mountains]]. Future I-26, which is not signed I-26 because it does not yet meet all interstate standards, then passes through [[Mars Hill, North Carolina|Mars Hill]] and [[Weaverville, North Carolina|Weaverville]]. After coming into [[Asheville, North Carolina|Asheville]] from the north, I-26 merges with [[Interstate 240 (North Carolina)|I-240]] and the two share the highway for {{convert|4.5|mi|km}}, crossing [[French Broad River]] in the process. The two highways then have a major [[Interchange (road)|interchange]] with [[Interstate 40|I-40]], where I-240 ends and [[U.S. Route 23|US&nbsp;23]] splits off to the east. I-26 leaves Asheville toward the south.

The land flattens substantially after entering the [[French Broad River]] [[drainage basin]] from [[Arden, North Carolina|Arden]], [[Fletcher, North Carolina|Fletcher]], and [[Hendersonville, North Carolina|Hendersonville]] to [[Flat Rock, Henderson County, North Carolina|Flat Rock]] in [[Henderson County, North Carolina|Henderson County]]. Then it crosses the [[Eastern Continental Divide]] at an elevation of {{convert|2130|ft|m}}, and it passes over the highest bridge in [[North Carolina]], the [[Peter Guice Memorial Bridge]], {{convert|225|ft|m}} above the [[Green River (North Carolina)|Green River]] between Flat Rock and [[Saluda, North Carolina|Saluda]]. I-26 heads down a six-percent grade for the next {{Convert|3|mi|km|spell=in}} through Howard Gap,  into [[Polk County, North Carolina|Polk County]], and intersects with [[U.S. Route 76 in North Carolina|US&nbsp;74]], a limited-access freeway near [[Columbus, North Carolina|Columbus]], at an elevation of around {{convert|1100|ft|m}}. Afterward, I-26 exits the state and heads about {{convert|20|mi|km}} to [[Spartanburg, South Carolina]], exiting the [[foothills]] of the Blue Ridge Mountains.

I-26 has been deemed a scenic highway in North Carolina between its interchange with [[U.S. Route 19|US&nbsp;19]]/US&nbsp;23 N (exit&nbsp;9) and the North Carolina–Tennessee border.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://scenicbyways.info/byway/81459.html|title=America's Scenic Byways::Interstate 26 Scenic Highway|website=scenicbyways.info|access-date=August 15, 2019}}</ref> At Sam's Gap, the [[Appalachian Trail]] crosses under I-26. In addition, northbound travelers are able to see the [[Blue Ridge Parkway]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.romanticasheville.com/listing/explore/i-26-scenic-highway.htm|title=I-26 Scenic Highway|website=www.romanticasheville.com|access-date=August 15, 2019}}</ref>

===South Carolina===
{{Main|Interstate 26 in South Carolina}}
[[File:Interstate 26 in SC.JPG|thumb|Eastbound along I-26 in South Carolina near [[Prosperity, South Carolina|Prosperity]]]]
I-26 enters South Carolina just northeast of [[Landrum, South Carolina|Landrum]], traveling southeast. The first major city along its route is [[Spartanburg, South Carolina|Spartanburg]], where it intersects [[Interstate 85|I-85]]. Traveling through the [[Sumter National Forest]], it connects with [[Newberry, South Carolina|Newberry]] before entering the [[Columbia metropolitan area, South Carolina|Columbia metropolitan area]], where it connects to the southern terminus of [[Interstate 77|I-77]] in [[Cayce, South Carolina|Cayce]].

I-26 continues southeast to [[Orangeburg County, South Carolina|Orangeburg County]] where it intersects with [[Interstate 95|I-95]]. Between Cayce and [[Orangeburg, South Carolina|Orangeburg]], the highway goes up and down a few very long hills averaging about {{convert|100|ft|m}}. After I-95, the highway travels southeast over flat plains with little urbanization past [[Summerville, South Carolina|Summerville]] until it reaches its eastern terminus in [[Charleston, South Carolina|Charleston]].

I-26 is deemed a hurricane evacuation route in South Carolina. During hurricane evacuation, [[Contraflow lane reversal|lane reversal]] on I-26 will occur between its junctions with [[Interstate 526|I-526]] in Charleston and I-77 in [[Columbia, South Carolina|Columbia]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=April 2010 |title=Highway Evacuations in Selected Metropolitan Areas: Assessment of Impediments |url=https://ops.fhwa.dot.gov/tim/ |url-status=deviated |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170213233046/https://ops.fhwa.dot.gov/eto_tim_pse/reports/2010_cong_evac_study/fhwahop10059.pdf |archive-date=February 13, 2017 |access-date=August 9, 2023 |publisher=[[Federal Highway Administration]]}}</ref> This is to aid travelers leaving the Charleston area. Lane reversal on I-26 has been used, such as during evacuations for [[Hurricane Florence]] in September 2018.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.postandcourier.com/news/lanes-reversed-for-evacuations-but-i--near-charleston-carried/article_b008121c-b56f-11e8-8634-c72d7065542d.html|title=Lanes reversed for evacuations, but I-26 near Charleston carried half the normal traffic|last1=Slade|first1=David|last2=Jackson|first2=Angie|date=September 11, 2018|website=Post and Courier|language=en|access-date=August 15, 2019}}</ref>

==History==
Funding for I-26 in South Carolina was provided by the [[Federal-Aid Highway Act of 1956]]. The first section of I-26 was built in South Carolina between Columbia and Charleston. Construction started in 1957 and ended in 1969 with an {{Convert|11|mi|km|adj=on}} portion opening on September 7, 1960.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.postandcourier.com/archives/south-carolina-s-first-freeway-snapshots-from-the-past/article_1affbe1a-eeeb-5a18-a0d6-49a51ec8b053.html|title=South Carolina's first freeway, snapshots from the past|website=Post and Courier|date=January 15, 2014 |language=en|access-date=August 15, 2019}}</ref> By late 1960, I-26 was complete from Spartanburg to Columbia, and, in February 1969, I-26's construction from the South Carolina–North Carolina border to Columbia was completed at a cost of $118&nbsp;million (equivalent to ${{Formatprice|{{Inflation|US-GDP|118000000|1969}}}} in {{Inflation/year|index=US-GDP}}{{Inflation/fn|index=US-GDP}}).{{cn|date=November 2024}}

The first section of I-26 in North Carolina consisted of {{Convert|14|mi|km}} of the Interstate near Hendersonville, which opened in January 1967. I-26 between the South Carolina–North Carolina border and Asheville was completed in 1976 at a cost of $54.1&nbsp;million (equivalent to ${{Formatprice|{{Inflation|US-GDP|54100000|1976}}}} in {{Inflation/year|index=US-GDP}}{{Inflation/fn|index=US-GDP}}).<ref>{{Cite news |date=February 28, 1979 |title=221-Mile I-26 Longest Of State's Freeways. |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=goQsAAAAIBAJ&sjid=us0EAAAAIBAJ&pg=5942%2C5236712 |access-date=March 8, 2025 |work=Herald-Journal |location=Spartanburg, South Carolina |pages=5}}</ref>

The planning for an extension of I-26 from Asheville to I-81 near Kingsport started in 1987 to accommodate truckers traveling toward I-81 that were banned on [[U.S. Route 19|US&nbsp;19]] and [[U.S. Route 23|US&nbsp;23]]. I-26 from [[Mars Hill, North Carolina]], to the North Carolina–Tennessee border opened in August 2003 at a cost of $230&nbsp;million (equivalent to ${{Formatprice|{{Inflation|US-GDP|230000000|2003}}}} in {{Inflation/year|index=US-GDP}}{{Inflation/fn|index=US-GDP}}). Also, in 2003, the full extension of I-26 from the North Carolina–Tennessee border to I-81 was completed and opened.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.okroads.com/guides/i26.html|title=OKRoads – Interstate 26|website=www.okroads.com|access-date=August 15, 2019}}</ref>

===Interstate 181===
{{Infobox road small
|state=TN
|type=I
|route=181
|formed=1985
|deleted=2007
|location=[[Johnson City, Tennessee|Johnson City]]–[[Kingsport, Tennessee|Kingsport]], Tennessee
|length_mi=23.85
|length_ref=<ref>{{google maps|url=https://maps.google.com/maps?saddr=I-26+W&daddr=US-23+N&hl=en&ll=36.414652,-82.350769&spn=0.481288,0.891953&sll=36.308187,-82.337701&sspn=0.003765,0.006968&geocode=FQsGKgIdCJ4X-w%3BFffOLQIdM-YT-w&mra=me&mrsp=0,1&sz=18&t=p&z=11|title=Interstate 181 (Tennessee)|access-date=December 2, 2013 |link= no}}</ref>
}}

'''Interstate&nbsp;181''' ('''I-181''') was established in December 1985 as an Interstate designation of [[U.S. Route 23 in Tennessee|US&nbsp;23]], which was already built to Interstate standards in the 1970s. In Tennessee, I-181 traversed from [[U.S. Route 321|US&nbsp;321]]/[[Tennessee State Route 67|State Route&nbsp;67]] (SR&nbsp;67), in Johnson City, to [[U.S. Route 11W|US&nbsp;11W]]/[[Tennessee State Route 1|SR&nbsp;1]], in Kingsport, totaling {{convert|23.85|mi|km}}. US&nbsp;23 continued on both directions as Interstate grade to the Virginia line to the north and {{convert|15|mi|km}} south to [[Erwin, Tennessee|Erwin]]; by 1992, US&nbsp;23 was upgraded to Interstate grade south to Sam's Gap at the North Carolina line. All exit numbers were based on US&nbsp;23 mileage. On August 5, 2003, after completion of a {{convert|9|mi|km|adj=on|spell=in}} section in North Carolina, I-26 was extended west into Tennessee, replacing I-181 from Johnson City to [[Interstate 81|I-81]]; north of I-81, I-181 continued into Kingsport.<ref name=allen>{{cite news |url= http://www.mountainx.com/article/11472/The-political-history-of-I-26 |title= The Political History of I-26 |access-date= December 2, 2013 |date= July 16, 2003 |work= Mountain Xpress |first=Calvin |last=Allen |location= Asheville, NC}}</ref><ref name=AASHT2003>{{AASHTO minutes |year= 2003S |page= 11 |access-date= December 2, 2013}}</ref><ref name=AASHTO2006>{{AASHTO minutes |year= 2006S |page= 1 |access-date= December 2, 2013}}</ref>

The [[American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials]] (AASHTO) initially ruled against an extension of I-26 (as the number) along the remainder of I-181 to Kingsport since that would give a main route Interstate Highway (I-26) a so-called "stub end", not connecting to any other Interstate Highway, an international border, or a seacoast. In 2005, the numerical extension was enacted by the effect of the [[Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users]] (SAFETEA-LU), being signed into law on August 10. In March 2007, I-181 was officially decommissioned, as all signs and exit numbers were changed over to I-26's designation.<ref name=allen/><ref name=AASHT2003/><ref name=AASHTO2006/>

==Future==
The I-26 Connector in Asheville will relocate Interstate 26 across the [[French Broad River]], convert Patton Avenue along Bowen Bridges to local traffic and reroute I-240 along I-26 further north.<ref>{{cite news |last= Barrett |first= Mark |date= May 19, 2016 |title= Connector route taking traffic off Bowen Bridge picked |url= http://www.citizen-times.com/story/news/local/2016/05/18/connector-route-taking-traffic-off-bowen-bridge-picked/84564592/ |newspaper= [[Asheville Citizen-Times]] |access-date= May 19, 2016 }}</ref> The final contract for the main section, awarded to Archer–Wright Joint Venture, totalled $1.15 billion, the largest contract in the state's history. The design was selected May 15, 2024.<ref name=Hofmann>{{cite news|title=I-26 Connector contract the largest in NC history: Contractor Archer-Wright Joint Venture's $1.15B design was selected for the project|last=Hofmann|first=Will|work=[[Asheville Citizen-Times]]|date=May 23, 2024|via=ProQuest}}</ref>

==Exit list==
{{Main|U.S. Route 23 in Tennessee#Exit list|Interstate 26 in North Carolina#Exit list|Interstate 26 in South Carolina#Exit list}}

==Auxiliary routes==
* [[Interstate 126|I-126]] is a spur into [[Columbia, South Carolina|Columbia]] from the northwest; established in 1961, it shares complete concurrency with [[U.S. Route 76|US&nbsp;76]].
* [[Interstate 326|I-326]] was an unsigned designated spur to [[South Carolina Highway 48]] (SC&nbsp;48) in Columbia; approved in 1976, it was decommissioned in 1995 in favor of [[Interstate 77|I-77]].
* [[Interstate 526|I-526]] is a partial [[beltway]] of [[Charleston, South Carolina|Charleston]], running from [[U.S. Route 17|US&nbsp;17]] west of the city north to I-26 and back east and south to US&nbsp;17 in [[Mount Pleasant, South Carolina|Mount Pleasant]]; it was established in 1989 and features a business spur on its eastern terminus.

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Attached KML|display=title,inline}}
* {{Commons category-inline}}
* {{osmrelation-inline|183397}}
* [https://archive.today/20070616070426/http://www.tricities.com/tristate/tri/news.apx.-content-articles-TRI-2007-03-02-0001.html News article listing new I-26 exit numbers published March 2, 2007]
* {{cite news |last= Amberg |first= Rob |url= http://southernspaces.org/2007/i-26-corridor-change |title= I-26, Corridor of Change |work= Southern Spaces |date= June 5, 2007}}

{{interstates}}
{{I-26 aux}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:26}}
[[Category:Interstate 26| ]]
[[Category:Interstate Highway System]]
[[Category:Interstate Highways in Tennessee]]