North Carolina Highway 143
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NC 143 |
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West end: | TN 165 | ||||||||
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Major junctions: |
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Counties: | Graham | ||||||||
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NC 143 is known as the Cherohala Skyway, a National Scenic Byway and part of the North Carolina Highway System. Along the Skyway's entire length, it crosses through the Cherokee National Forest and the Nantahala National Forest.
[edit] Route
The North Carolina portion runs along from TN 165 at the Tennessee border east to U.S. Route 129 in Robbinsville before continuing along Sweetwater Road to NC 28 in Stecoah. (The Cherohala Skyway officially ends at Secondary Road 1127.)
[edit] History
The Cherohala Skyway segment in North Carolina was completed in 1996 at a cost of $100,000,000, making it the most expensive North Carolina highway project to date [1] The original concept of a scenic highway was envisioned as early as 1958. In 1962, Congress allocated money for the first phase of construction; 34 years later, it was completed.