 I-274 first appeared on NCDOT planning maps in the early 2000s, but was later disused for over a decade since.On May 20, 2019, American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) approved a request to establish Future I-274.Justification given by the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) was that the section would satisfy a great need to alleviate congestion in Winston-Salem and connect the western portion of the urbanized area.