SR 43 beings at an intersection with US 78/SR 10/SR 17 north of Thomson in McDuffie County. It heads north-northeast, crossing over the Little River on the Raysville Bridge. On this bridge, it crosses into Lincoln County just east of the meeting point of McDuffie, Wilkes, and Lincoln counties. It continues to the north-northeast, and intersects SR 220 in the southern portion of the county, just south-southwest of Loco. It continues its routing and curves to the northwest into Lincolnton. In the city, SR 43 intersects SR 47. The two highways travel concurrently for about to the west. Farther to the west, they meet US 378. At this intersection, SR 43 and SR 47 diverge; SR 43 travels concurrently with US 378 eastbound, and SR 47 travels concurrently with US 378 westbound. US 378/SR 43 remain concurrent to the South Carolina state line, where SR 43 meets its northern terminus and US 378 continues to McCormick, South Carolina.
History
The highway that would eventually become SR 43 was established between 1930 and 1932 as SR 70 from Lincolnton to the South Carolina state line. At this time, the highway was under construction. In early 1934, SR 70 was extended south-southwest to US 78/SR 10/SR 17 north-northwest of Thomson. By the end of 1937, the segment of SR 70 from Lincolnton to the South Carolina state line had a "sand clay or top soil" surface. In 1938, a small portion of the highway southwest of Lincolnton had a "completed hard surface". Late in 1941, all of SR 70 was redesignated as SR 43. The next year, the segment northeast of Lincolnton had a completed hard surface. Between 1946 and 1948, the segment from the southern terminus to a point southwest of Lincolnton had a "sand clay, top soil, or stabilized earth" surface. About five years later, the segment southwest of Lincolnton was shifted eastward. The highway now entered Lincolnton from the south, as it does today. The old path was redesignated as part of SR 220. The new path of the highway, from the Little River crossing to Lincolnton was hard surfaced. The next year, the segment from the southern terminus to the Little River crossing was hard surfaced.
State Route 43 Bypass was a bypass route of SR 43 in the city of Lincolnton. It started at an intersection with SR 43 and SR 47. It curved to the north-northwest and reached its northern terminus, an intersection with US 378/SR 43. Between 1963 and 1966, SR 43 Spur was designated on this same path. In 1970, SR 43 Spur was redesignated as SR 43 Byp. In 2015, SR 43 Byp. was decommissioned.
State Route 43 Connector is a connector route of SR 43 just to the east of the city limits of Lincolnton. It is known as Old Petersburg Road for its entire length. It begins at an intersection with SR 47 east of the city. It travels to the northwest and meets its northern terminus, an intersection with US 378/SR 43 northeast of the city, in a place known as Wright's Crossing. It was built in 1999.
State Route 43 Spur was a spur route of SR 43 that existed in Lincolnton. Between 1963 and 1966, SR 43 Spur was established from an intersection with SR 43 and SR 47 and curved to the north-northwest. It then met its northern terminus, an intersection with US 378/SR 43. In 1970, it was redesignated as SR 43 Byp.
