End of historic US highway 170

Note: since I don't have access to a comprehensive collection of historical road atlases, much of the info on this page is based on the research of Robert Droz; click here to view his site. Photo credits: Kipp Teague

US 170 was among the original routes of 1926, running from Lynchburg VA to Charlotte NC. In other words, it was a north/south route, so the fact that it was given an even number was somewhat unusual. I think US x21 would've been a better choice... but in its defense, it was co-signed with US 70 between Greensboro and Salisbury NC (a distance of about 50 miles). It was a short-lived route: it was swallowed up when US 29 was extended northward from Kings Mountain NC. The map below indicates the north end may have been on 12th at Main in Lynchburg:

Automobile Blue Book, c. 1929

The photo below was taken looking southeast on Main:

Teague, 2008

That was eastbound US 60, and to the right on 12th was the north beginning of US 170. In Charlotte, the south end of US 170 was on Tryon Street at Trade Street:

Google Maps Street View, 2008

This intersection is known to locals as "The Square", and it forms the epicenter of the city.