North Carolina Highway 51

NC Highway 51
Route information
Maintained by NCDOT
Length:	22.2 mi[1] (35.7 km)
Existed:	1934 – present
Major junctions
South end:	SC 51 near Fort Mill, SC
	I‑485 in Pineville US 74 in Matthews I‑485 in Mint Hill
North end:	NC 24 / NC 27 in Mint Hill
Location
Counties:	Mecklenburg
Highway system
North Carolina Highway System Interstate U.S. State Scenic ← NC 50 US 52 →

North Carolina Highway 51 (NC 51) is a primary state highway in the state of North Carolina. Entirely in Mecklenburg County, it connects the suburban towns of Pineville, Matthews and Mint Hill.

Route description

Though NC 51 begins at the state line, SC 51 is a short 1-mile-long (1.6 km) road that connects with US 21, near Fort Mill. Crossing the state line, NC 51 quickly becomes a four-lane road as it goes through the town of Pineville. After its first intersection with I-485, it enters the Charlotte city limits. In Charlotte, NC 51 crosses the busy intersections of Johnston Road and Providence Road, known for rush-hour traffic during the weekdays. In Matthews, NC 51 bypasses the main downtown area, followed by a semi-controlled interchanged with US 74 (Independence Boulevard). As the NC 51 enters Mint Hill, the road narrows to two-lane. NC 51 crosses intersects I-485 again, before ending at NC 24/NC 27 (Albemarle Road).^[2][1]

History

The first NC 51 was an original state highway that traveled from NC 20, in Rockingham, to NC 74, in Wadeville.^[3] In 1928, Rockingham to Ellerbe became an extension of NC 75.^[4] In 1934, NC 51 was decommissioned in favor of NC 73, between Ellerbe and Mount Gilead, and NC 109, between Mount Gilead and Wadeville.^[5]

The second and current NC 51 was established in 1934 as a renumbering of NC 276, between US 21/US 521, in Pineville, to NC 27, near Allen.^[5] In 1968, NC 51 was extended to the South Carolina state line, replacing a segment of US 21.^[6] In 1981, NC 51 was placed on new alignment in Pineville, abandoning an old routing along Lee Street and eliminating a short concurrency with US 521.^[7] In 1995, NC 51 was placed on new bypass north of downtown Matthews, marked as Matthews Township Parkway. The old alignment along Matthews-Mint Hill Road was downgraded to secondary road.^[8]

North Carolina Highway 276

NC Highway 276
Location:	Pineville-Allen, North Carolina
Length:	20.4 mi[9] (32.8 km)
Existed:	1930–1934

North Carolina Highway 276 (NC 276) appeared in 1930 as new primary routing from NC 26, in Pineville, to NC 27 , near Allen.^[4] In 1934, it was renumbered as the second NC 51.^[5]

Junction list

The entire route is in Mecklenburg County.

Location	mi[1]	km	Destinations	Notes
Pineville	0.0	0.0	SC 51 south – Fort Mill	South Carolina state line
	2.5– 2.8	4.0– 4.5	I‑485 – Matthews, Huntersville	I-485 exit 64
Charlotte	8.5	13.7	NC 16 (Providence Road) – Waxhaw
Matthews	13.1– 13.4	21.1– 21.6	US 74 (Independence Boulevard) – Charlotte, Monroe	Interchange
Mint Hill	18.9	30.4	NC 218 east (Fairview Road) / Wilgrove Mint Hill Road – Fairview	Western terminus of NC 218
	20.6– 20.7	33.2– 33.3	I‑485 – Matthews, Huntersville	I-485 exit 43
	22.2	35.7	NC 24 / NC 27 (Albemarle Road) – Charlotte, Albemarle
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi

References

1. Google (February 28, 2016). "North Carolina Highway 51" (Map). Google Maps. Google. Retrieved February 28, 2016.
2. Mecklenburg County, North Carolina (PDF) (Map). North Carolina Department of Transportation. August 2015. Retrieved February 28, 2016.
3. State Highway System of North Carolina (PDF) (Map). Cartography by NCSHC. North Carolina State Highway Commission. 1922. Retrieved February 28, 2016.
4. State Highway System of North Carolina (PDF) (Map). Cartography by NCSHC. North Carolina State Highway Commission. 1930. Retrieved February 28, 2016.
5. North Carolina Primary Highway System (PDF) (Map). Cartography by NCSHC. North Carolina State Highway and Public Works Commission. 1940. Retrieved February 28, 2016.
6. "Route Change (1968-10-25)" (PDF). North Carolina Department of Transportation. October 25, 1968. Retrieved February 28, 2016.
7. "Route Change (1981-04-01)" (PDF). North Carolina Department of Transportation. April 1, 1981. Retrieved February 28, 2016.
8. "Route Change (1995-02-20)" (PDF). North Carolina Department of Transportation. February 20, 1995. Retrieved February 28, 2016.
9. Google (February 28, 2016). "North Carolina Highway 276" (Map). Google Maps. Google. Retrieved February 28, 2016.

External links

• Media related to North Carolina Highway 51 at Wikimedia Commons
• NCRoads.com: N.C. 51
• NCRoads.com: N.C. 276