User:Ncchild/US 17-1

U.S. Route 17-1 (US 17-1) was an original U.S. Highway which ran from Wilmington, North Carolina to Petersburg, Virginia. The highway began at US 17 in Wilmington, North Carolina. In North Carolina, US 17-1 ran completely concurrent with NC 40. North of its southern terminus in Wilmington, US 17-1 generally followed the Atlantic Coast Line railroad between Wilmington and Weldon. The highway generally followed the modern-day US 117 corridor between Castle Hayne and Wilson. Southwest of Wilson, the highway met with the northern terminus of US 217 and turned to the northeast. US 17-1 serviced the cities of Wilson, Rocky Mount, and Halifax, before crossing into Virginia north of Pleasant Hill. In Virginia, the highway ran concurrent with VA 24 for much of its length in the state. It serviced the city of Emporia, where it met with US 58, before ending at US 1 in Petersburg, Virginia.

Wilmington to Goldsboro, NC
Between its foundation and 1931, the southern terminus of US 17-1 was located at an intersection at Fourth Street and Market Street in downtown Wilmington. Between those times, the highway continued north along Fourth Street until turning onto modern-day Nixon Street. In 1931, the southern terminus of US 17-1 was located at an intersection with US 17, North Carolina Highway 20 (NC 20), NC 30, and NC 40 in Wilmington, North Carolina, at the modern-day intersection of Third Street and Nixon Street. North of the intersection, US 17, NC 20, and NC 30 continued to the north and west to cross the Northeast Cape Fear River. US 17, NC 20, NC 30, and NC 40 all continued to the south toward Market Street toward Jacksonville (US 17 and NC 30), Carolina Beach (NC 20), and Wrightsville Beach (NC 20). US 17-1 began by briefly running to the east along Nixon Street for five city blocks. The highway then turned onto another street which ran to the northeast to cross Smith Creek and leave the downtown area of Wilmington.

US 17-1 followed modern-day Castle Hayne Road to the north until reaching the community of Castle Hayne. North of the center of the community, US 17-1 bore slightly to the northwest, following modern-day Old Bridgesite Road. Nearing the Northeast Cape Fear River, US 17-1 bore sharply to the northeast and crossed the river along a draw bridge. North of the river, US 17-1 met the southern terminus of NC 60 which ran to the northwest toward Clinton. US 17-1 continued to follow a northeast orientation until reaching Rocky Point, where it bore slightly to the northwest. The highway continued for 12 mi until reaching Burgaw. In downtown Burgaw, US 17-1 met NC 201 (NC 601 from 1926-1931). The two highways briefly ran concurrently to the northeast until NC 201 bore to the northeast along the modern-day alignment of NC 53. US 17-1 passed to the east of Watha before continuing north into Duplin County.

Entering into Duplin County, US 17-1 passed Wallace to the east, following a similar alignment to modern-day NC 11. The highway met NC 41 in Tin City, located east of Wallace. US 17-1 continued to the northeast until reaching Charity where it made a slight turn to the northwest. The highway neared Kenansville from the southwest and crossed a railroad owned by the Atlantic and Carolina Railroad. Southwest of the town, US 17-1 met NC 24 at an intersection. US 17-1 ran concurrently with NC 24 to the west, entering into downtown Warsaw along College Street. US 17-1 turned to the north at an intersection with Front Street, marking the end of the US 17-1/NC 24 concurrency.

The highway continued to the north, crossing through the community of Bowdens. Nearing Faison, US 17-1 began a slow curve to the northeast. US 17-1 passed through the downtown area of Faison, intersecting the northern terminus of NC 403. The highway exited Faison from the northeast and continued in a northeasterly orientation toward Calypso. US 17-1 crossed a railroad line of the Atlantic Coast Railroad 0.1 mi southwest of the town limits of Calypso. The highway passed through the central area of Calypso, continuing in a northeasterly direction. US 17-1 continued 1.9 mi before entering into Wayne County. The highway passed through the western area of Mount Olive and through the community of Dudley. US 17-1 intersected NC 102 south of Goldsboro. The intersection marked the western end of a concurrency between US 17-1 and NC 102 which continued to the city. North of the intersection, the highway temporarily turned to the northeast and crossed the Neuse River. US 17-1/NC 40/NC 102 entered into Goldsboro along George Street and intersected NC 402. The highway continued for a short distance before intersecting US 70/NC 10 at modern-day Ash Street. At the intersection, US 17-1/NC 40/NC 102 turned to the east to follow concurrently with US 70/NC 10 through downtown Goldsboro. At an intersection with Williams Street, US 17-1/NC 40 turned to the north to follow the street, ending the concurrency with US 70/NC 10/NC 102. US 17-1 continued north to leave Goldsboro. It passed through Pikeville and Fremont before entering into Wilson County.

Goldsboro, NC to Virginia
US 17-1 briefly followed a northeasterly alignment through Wilson County but turned to the north, southwest of Black Creek. Southwest of Wilson, US 17-1 intersected the northern terminus of US 217/NC 22. US 17-1 continued north for a brief period before turning to the northeast and entering Wilson from the southwest. In downtown Wilson, US 17-1 intersected NC 91/NC 58. US 17-1 exited Wilson to the east/northeast and followed a mostly easterly alignment until reaching NC 42. The intersection marked the western terminus of NC 42, and US 17-1 turned to the north, passing through Elm City.

Entering into Nash County, the highway largely paralleled the Nash County-Edgecombe County line. US 17-1 entered Rocky Mount from the south, intersecting NC 90 and NC 43 along split streets along Sunset Avenue and Thomas Street. NC 43 briefly ran concurrently along US 17-1/NC 40 to the north until bearing to the northwest toward Red Oak. The highway crossed through Battleboro and NC 44 in Whitakers. North of Whitakers, US 17-1 briefly crossed into Edgecombe County before entering into Halifax County. US 17-1 continued through Halifax County for 14 mi until intersecting NC 125, which continued southeast toward Scotlands Neck. US 17-1 proceeded north for 3 mi before intersecting NC 561 southwest of Halifax. The highway passed through the center of Halifax and continued north for 7 mi, largely adjacent to the Roanoke River located to the east. In Weldon, US 17-1 met NC 48, the western terminus of the US 17-1/NC 40/NC 48 concurrency. The highways ran concurrently for 2 mi toward Garysburg, crossing the Roanoke River. In Garysburg, US 17-1/NC 40 turned to the north, marking the eastern end of the NC 48 concurrency. The highway continued north for 7 mi, crossing through Pleasant Hill and intersecting NC 481. US 17-1 entered into Virginia north of Pleasant Hill. NC 40 ended at the North Carolina-Virginia state line, marking the northern end of the US 17-1/NC 40 concurrency which ran continuously since the southern terminus of US 17-1.

Virginia to Petersburg
At the North Carolina-Virginia state line, Virginia State Route 24 (SR 24) began, marking the southern end of the US 17-1/SR 24 concurrency. US 17-1/SR 24 continued north through Greensville County, intersecting SR 509 south of Emporia. US 17-1 entered into Emporia from the south and intersected US 58/SR 12 in the downtown area. The highway continued to the northeast, crossing into Sussex County. US 17-1 passed through Jarrat and met SR 48 southeast of Stony Creek. US 17-1/SR 24/SR 48 ran concurrently until Stony Creek, where SR 48 turned to the west. US 17-1 continued north for 8 mi, crossing into Prince George County. US 17-1/SR 24 met SR 35 east of Carson. At the intersection, SR 24 ended while SR 35 began a concurrency with US 17-1 to the north. US 17-1/SR 35 continued in a northerly/northwesterly direction, crossing into Petersburg County. The northern terminus of US 17-1 was located at an intersection with US 1, SR 10, SR 31, SR 35 in Petersburg, Virginia.