 The highway is four lanes between Sylva and Western Carolina University in Cullowhee, and two lanes beyond.Between WCU and Cashiers (about ), the highway is a winding mountain road, and continues in this manner all the way to the South Carolina state border.Before it was straightened and bypassed around Cullowhee in 1978-1981, the road followed the Tuckasegee River through Cullowhee, and went along the opposite edge of Western Carolina University.