North Carolina Highway 143
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| Route information | ||||
| Maintained by NCDOT | ||||
| Length: | 38.3 mi (61.6 km) | |||
| Existed: | 1979 – present | |||
| Tourist routes: |
 Cherohala Skyway
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| Major junctions | ||||
| West end: |
 SR 165 at the TN line |
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 US 129 in Robbinsville
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| East end: |
 NC 28 near Stecoah
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| Location | ||||
| Counties: | Graham | |||
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| Location: | Robbinsville |
| Length: | 3.4 mi (5.5 km) |
| Existed: | 1997–present |
North Carolina Highway 143 (NC 143) is a primary state highway in the U.S. state of North Carolina. It runs from the Tennessee state line to NC 28, near the community of Stecoah. It is best known for its 18-mile (29 km) section of the Cherohala Skyway, shared with Tennessee State Route 165.
NC 143 begins at the Tennessee state line at Beech Gap, along the Unicoi Crest. For the next eighteen miles (29 km), known as the Cherohala Skyway, the highway stays along mostly the north-side of the Johns Knob, Little Haw Knob, Haw Knob, Hooper Bald, and Cedar Top, before descending at the Santeetlah Gap. The overall driving experience is similar to the Blue Ridge Parkway; it has the same maximum speed of 45 mph (72 km/h), and during winter the road is not maintained against snow and ice. At Snowbird Road, NC 143 Business begins going at a southerly route, through Milltown, into Robbinsville, as the mainline goes north.
The next eleven miles (18 km) of highway is completely different, as NC 143 goes along the southern banks of Lake Santeetlah, which has a lot of twist and turns, though not much on elevation changes. North of Robbinsville, it joins a concurrency with US 129 as it goes south into town. Within the town limits, the highway is called the Rodney Orr Bypass, named in honor of NASCAR driver Rodney Orr (approved on April 7, 1995). Meeting back with NC 143 Business, at Main Street, followed by US 129 split one-half mile (0.80 km) later continuing south towards Andrews; NC 143 continues east along Sweetwater Road out of town.
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