Permanent Closure Marks Major Step in Rutherfordton’s $190M Bypass Project on U.S. 221

Traffic in Rutherfordton will look different starting this week as the U.S. 221 Bypass project advances to one of its most visible milestones: the permanent closure of the Old U.S. 221 North intersection with the current U.S. 221.

At 10 a.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 24, crews from the N.C. Department of Transportation (NCDOT) and Wright Brothers Construction Company, Inc. will close the intersection just south of Thompson Road, near the Dollar General and R-S Central High School, the town announced on Monday.

Once the closure takes effect, Old U.S. 221 will no longer connect to U.S. 221. Drivers will instead need to use alternate routes, including Rock Road via Broyhill Road or the new Rock Road alignment off Highway 64.

NCDOT officials said the change is necessary as crews finish work in the area and prepare to shift traffic onto the new bypass in the coming months, according to a press release from town officials. It is another sign that a project decades in the making is beginning to reshape the county’s transportation map.

A New Phase in a Long Road

The U.S. 221 bypass has been under discussion for more than 20 years, but real momentum only arrived within the last five. Local leaders and state officials have repeatedly described the bypass as “transformative” for Rutherford County, both for safety and for economic growth.

The road, once completed, will be closed an 8-mile, four-lane divided highway stretching from Roper Loop Road on the north end to U.S. 74 on the south. It will feature a mix of “super street” intersections — such as those already seen on the lower section of U.S. 221 near Harris Elementary — and grade-separated interchanges more familiar to interstate highways.

New exits are planned at Highway 64 and Charlotte Road, while other high-volume routes will see redesigned intersections to improve traffic flow.

Strategic Corridor

Rutherfordton officials emphasized that the project is not only local in nature but regional in its importance.

“The overall project is part of a larger strategic corridor vision to connect I-85 and I-40, as well as to make provisions for access to US 74,” town leaders wrote in a 2022 statement. “This corridor opens up a vital link to the I-85 corridor, the Inland Port of Greer, as well as the I-40 link to Eastern NC, ultimately increasing the flow of goods through our community and making strides in economic development.”

In addition to freight movement, the town noted the bypass will reduce traffic congestion on already-strained roads: U.S. 64, U.S. 221, U.S. 74, Alternate U.S. 74, and College Avenue. By drawing through-traffic away from Rutherfordton’s downtown, the bypass is expected to make Main Street safer for pedestrians and more attractive for business and civic improvements.

Early State Commitment

Well before construction began, state leaders identified the bypass as a priority. In October 2019, NCDOT announced that Build N.C. bond funds would be used to jump-start the project after statewide budget constraints had temporarily delayed it.

That announcement unlocked both engineering and right-of-way acquisition. The department set two contracts in motion:

• Charlotte Road to Roper Loop Road (3.5 miles): Contract awarded in July 2020, with construction beginning shortly after, at an estimated cost of $92 million.

  
  

• U.S. 74 to Charlotte Road (4.5 miles): Right-of-way acquisition in 2020, construction began in 2023, with an estimated cost of $97 million.

  
  

A Town Preparing for Change

For Rutherfordton leaders, the bypass has always been about more than traffic relief. The town has tied the project directly to its which envisions growth corridors, land-use changes, and new business opportunities that the bypass will bring.

The town also pointed to increased development pressure expected near Charlotte Road and Mountain Street, areas already marked as “growth opportunity zones” in planning documents.

Immediate Impacts

The intersection that is closing this week has long been a key route for commuters, school traffic, and shoppers heading toward Marion or into Rutherfordton’s downtown. Its closure will reroute traffic in the short term, though officials stress the change is necessary to prepare the bypass for use.

Earlier this month, another milestone was reached when the intersection of Railroad Avenue and East Mountain Street reopened, easing access for nearby neighborhoods and businesses.

Looking Ahead

Construction crews are preparing to shift traffic onto sections of the new bypass later this year, with full completion anticipated in summer 2027.

When finished, the bypass will span nearly 8 miles, connecting U.S. 221 at Roper Loop Road to U.S. 74 west of Rutherfordton. Officials say it will:

• Reduce congestion downtown.

  
  

• Improve safety and efficiency for local and regional drivers.

  
  

• Provide better freight connections to I-85, I-40, and beyond.

  
  

• Support business growth near Charlotte Road and the Rutherfordton Business Park.

  
  

NCDOT and the town have emphasized that while the project is disruptive now, it represents a once-in-a-generation infrastructure investment.

“Every closure and detour gets us one step closer to opening the bypass,” the town said in a release. “We appreciate the community’s cooperation as we make these final connections.”

Balancing Growth and Identity

Even as construction nears its final stages, town leaders continue to stress that the bypass is not just about moving cars. It is about shaping Rutherfordton’s future while preserving its identity and becoming closer than ever to becoming a reality.