U.S. Route 50 in West Virginia

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

U.S. Route 50 marker

U.S. Route 50

Map

U.S. Route 50 in West Virginia, in red

Maintained by WVDOH
Length 196.20 mi[1] (315.75 km)
Existed 1926–present
West end US 50 / SR 32 in Belpre, OH
Major intersections I-77 in Parkersburg
US 19 in Clarksburg
I-79 in Clarksburg
US 250 near Grafton
US 119 in Grafton
East end US 50 near Brookside
West end US 50 in Gormania
Major intersections US 220 in New Creek
East end US 50 towards Winchester, VA
Country United States
State West Virginia
Counties Wood, Ritchie, Doddridge, Harrison, Taylor, Preston; Grant, Mineral, Hampshire

U.S. Route 50 (US 50) in West Virginia runs from the border with Ohio to Virginia, passing briefly through Garrett County, Maryland, and following the Northwestern Turnpike. Prior to the U.S. Highway System it was West Virginia Route 1 and in the 1930s, the road was not finished in Maryland. Today the section of US 50 from Clarksburg to Parkersburg on the Ohio River is part of Corridor D of the Appalachian Development Highway System.

For much of its length, Route 50 roughly parallels the North Bend Rail Trail and crosses the trail at three places.[2]

Route description[edit]

Western segment[edit]

US 50 crosses the Ohio River on a bridge, with Blennerhassett Island in the middle of the river. It continues as a freeway with two interchanges at Route 892, and runs concurrently with Route 68 starting at the second interchange up to where it exits and heads into downtown Parkersburg. US 50 stays on the southern shore of the Little Kanawha River, intersecting Route 14 and then after crossing the river, Route 47 and Route 618 before becoming a divided expressway at the I-77 interchange. US 50 then briefly turns south before heading east through the forest. South of Deerwalk, the route runs concurrently with Route 31 for a few miles. In Ellenboro, US 50 has an interchange with Route 16, providing access into the town; an intersection with Route 74 does the same for Pennsboro, and several miles later, Route 18 for West Union. Route 23 intersects the highway west of East Salem and Bristol.[3]

Upon entering Clarksburg, there is a diamond interchange with US 19 and Route 20 before US 50 passes through the town as a freeway, with several interchanges, including another with Route 20. After an interchange with I-79, US 50 becomes Main Street, passing through the city of Bridgeport and intersecting Route 131 and passing south of the North Central West Virginia Airport. The route intersects Route 279 and then runs concurrently with US 250 until just before US 50 enters Fetterman and then Grafton. US 50 intersects US 119 in the eastern part of the city before continuing east through Thornton and curving through the mountains to Evansville. Route 92 briefly runs concurrently with the highway, and Route 26 intersects the route near Fellowsville. After several miles through the forest, Route 72 briefly runs concurrently with the highway before US 50 continues east into Aurora and intersects Route 24. Then, US 50 crosses into Maryland.[3]

Eastern segment[edit]

View east along US 50 east of WV 93 in Claysville, Mineral County

View west along US 50 and north along US 220 (Northwestern Pike) near Paterson Creek in Burlington, Mineral County

US 50 crosses back into West Virginia over the north bank of the Potomac River. After passing through Gormania, the highway continues through the forest, and runs concurrently with Route 42 from near Mount Storm to near Hartmansville. Near Claysville, the route intersects Route 93, and Route 972 intersect US 50 near New Creek. US 220 runs concurrently with US 50 through Ridgeville, Markwood, and Burlington. At Junction, US 220 splits off to the south, and Route 28 continues east with US 50 through Mechanicsburg and through the river plain. In the town of Romney, US 50 goes through downtown, while Route 28 continues north. The highway goes through Shanks and Frenchburg, as well as Augusta; Route 29 runs concurrently through Pleasantdale. US 50 continues east through Hanging Rock and Loom, crossing the Cacapon River in Capon Bridge. US 50 then continues into Virginia.[4]

US 50 eastbound at WV 29 near Pleasantdale

Water crossings[edit]

Historic sites[edit]

Mineral County[edit]

Hampshire County[edit]

Major intersections[edit]

References[edit]

External links[edit]

KML is not from Wikidata