End of historic US highway 170

View a map showing this route.
Picture
Summa
1926-1932
  • North: Lynchburg, VA
  • South: Charlotte, NC
Picture
c. 1927, National Map Co.
US 170 was among the original routes of 1926.  It was a north/south route, so the fact that it was given an even number was somewhat unusual.  US x21 would have been a better choice... but in its defense, it was dual-signed with US 70 between Greensboro and Salisbury NC (a distance of about 50 miles).  US 170 was a short-lived route: it was swallowed up when US 29 was extended northward from Kings Mountain NC.  This map suggested the north end may have been on 12th Street at Main Street in Lynchburg:
Picture
c. 1929, Automobile Blue Book
This photo was taken looking northeast on 12th.  Historically, the crossroad (Main) carried US 60 traffic, and US 170 ended at this junction:
Picture
Karner, May 2013
In Charlotte, the south end of US 170 was on Tryon Street at Trade Street.  Today this intersection is known to locals as "The Square", and it marks the epicenter of the city:
Picture
Karner, May 2013
Research and/or photo credits: Martin Karner; Dale Sanderson; Michael Summa
Page originally created 2005;
last updated Aug. 15, 2019.