U.S. Route 29 in Virginia

This article is about the section of U.S. Route 29 in Virginia. For the entire route, see U.S. Route 29.

U.S. Route 29 marker

U.S. Route 29
Route information
Maintained by VDOT
Length: 248.00 mi[1] (399.12 km)
Existed: 1931 – present
Major junctions
South end: US 29 near Reidsville, NC
 

US 58 in Danville
US 460 near Lynchburg
I64 near Charlottesville
US 250 in Charlottesville
US 33 near Ruckersville
US 522 near Culpeper
US 17 near Warrenton
US 15 in Gainesville
US 50 in Fairfax

I66 in Arlington
North end: US 29 in Washington, DC
Highway system
SR 28SR 30
I664SR 785SR 895

U.S. Route 29 (US 29) is a major northsouth route in the Commonwealth of Virginia. It covers 248 miles (399 km) from the North Carolina border at the city of Danville to the Key Bridge in Washington, D.C.. US 29 roughly bisects Virginia into eastern and western halves, and along with Interstate 81 in western Virginia, and 85/95 farther east, provides one of the major northsouth routes through the Commonwealth.

For much of its length, US 29 in Virginia is known as the Seminole Trail. Through Northern Virginia, it is known as Lee Highway, except in Falls Church, where it acts as the east/west divider for city streets and is called North or South Washington Street. On April 7, 1993 the Virginia General Assembly officially designated the entire length of US 29 from the North Carolina border to the Potomac River as the "29th Infantry Division Memorial Highway" in honor of that Army unit, which, along with the 1st Infantry Division, formed the spearhead of the American infantry that landed on the morning of 6 June 1944 on Omaha Beach in Normandy as part of the invasion of France to liberate that country during World War II. These divisions next fought their way across France, and into Germany. In addition, the name of this highway serves to honor many members of the Virginia Army National Guard who serve as part of this National Guard Division today. Signs indicating this designation have been placed periodically on both sides of US 29.

For most of its route through Virginia, US 29 has been constructed to be at least four lanes along its route, with the two short exceptions being where the highway passes through Manassas National Battlefield Park, where it is two lanes wide for approximately three miles, and through Fairfax and Arlington counties, where it is sometimes wider.

US 29 entering Virginia from North Carolina; The Bus/Byp split, Bus. entering, and Byp. entering.

US 29 in Virginia has probably the most highway by-pass routes in the entire state, having eleven of these around various cities and towns. These bypasses are around Danville, Chatham, Gretna, Hurt-Altavista, Lynchburg-Madison Heights-Amherst, Lovingston, Charlottesville, Madison, Culpeper, Remington, and Warrenton. In addition, Interstate 66 serves for the most part as a by-pass of Manassas and also Fairfax and Arlington.

Route description

US 29 enters Virginia in Danville from North Carolina, immediately splitting into business and by-pass routes. US 29 joins the Danville Expressway and US 58 around the east side of Danville, entering Pittsylvania County, and re-merging with the business route north of town in Blairs. Along the southeastern quadrant of the Danville Expressway between the North Carolina border and US 360, the route is designated as part of unsigned State Route 785 for 7.39 mi (11.89 km).[2] Created c.2000, SR 785 is numbered in contradiction to the conventional system of numbering in the state, where primary routes are numbered less than 600 and secondary routes at or above this number. It is numbered as such because it is part of the planned Interstate 785, which will run south along US 29 to Interstate 85 in Greensboro, North Carolina, and is only one of two routes of this type. The other is Route 895 in Richmond for similar reasons.

View north along US 29 in Lovingston

US 29 then continues north where it splits into business and by-pass routes for Chatham, Gretna, and Hurt before entering Campbell County.

US 29 outside of Gainesville, Virginia

The next major city is Lynchburg. US 29 joins the US 460 by-pass of Lynchburg, splitting from it just before entering Amherst County. US 29 again by-passes Madison Heights and Amherst as an expressway, and enters Nelson County and passes the town of Lovingston and enters into Albemarle County. The route then continues north to Charlottesville, intersecting Interstate 64 and by-passing downtown Charlottesville. US 29 rejoins its congested business route just north of downtown, continuing north as a 6 lane road through Charlottesville's business district. Past Charlottesville, it converts back to 4 lanes and continues through Greene and Madison Counties, and then turns north-east toward Culpeper. US 15 joins US 29 around Culpeper, and heads to Warrenton, entering Northern Virginia.

US 29 / 15 is joined by US 17 south of Warrenton in Fauquier County, and continues around the town, with US 17 splitting off. US 29/15 continues mostly eastward to Gainesville where US 15 splits and US 29 intersects Interstate 66 for the first time. US 29 continues into Fairfax County, where it passes along the boundary of the city of Falls Church, where the road has two different names. The portion of the street running northbound is located in the City of Falls Church is called Washington Boulevard, and has different street addresses than the other side running southbound in Fairfax County, where it is named Lee Highway. The road continues into Arlington, having intersected I-66 five more times before crossing into the District.

History

The portion of what is now US 29 from the North Carolina state line to Warrenton was named the Seminole Trail by an act of the Virginia General Assembly on February 16, 1928. Although it was apparently not part of the National Auto Trails initiative early in the 20th century, the Seminole Trail is believed to have originated as part of an effort to promote the road as a through-route to Florida, home of the Native American Seminole tribe. Many road maps of the 1930s and 1940s list the Seminole Trail on highways in Virginia, the Carolinas, Georgia and ultimately Florida.

The Gainesville Interchange project is taking place at interchange between Lee Highway (US 29) and Interstate 66. The project is to include interchanges at many other heavily traveled roads in the area due to the rapid growth in development in Gainesville and Haymarket. Reasoning for this is because of the lack or road development to accommodate the new heavy traffic in the area. The plan includes an interchange design to ease traffic flow on Lee Highway on to I-66. Lee Highway is also planned to be widened. There will also be an interchange at the junction with Linton Hall Road (SR 619). What was once a two-lane country road is now a four lane suburban highway. The project started in early 2007 and is expected to be completed in 2013. As of June 2010 the interchange between I-66 and US 29 is complete. Land has been acquired by VDOT at the intersection of US 29 and Linton Hall Road/SR 619. The project was completed in 2014.

Charlottesville Bypass

A western Route 29 bypass around Charlottesville was originally proposed in 1979. Engineering and environmental work on the project began in late 1984 and the location was approved by the Commonwealth Transportation Board in 1990.

This bridge carried Route 29 across the Buffalo River until its destruction by Hurricane Camille in 1969.

Acquisition of right of way for the project began in 1991 and continued until 2001. No additional right of way has been purchased since then. VDOT owns 36 properties that are currently leased and occupied.

In 1998 a lawsuit was filed challenging the project, alleging that the environmental impact review of the project violated the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). In 2001 the federal court ruled in favor of VDOT on the suit but required the agency to complete a Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement addressing the road's impacts on the South Fork Rivanna Reservoir and the mitigation to minimize those impacts. That document was completed and accepted by the Federal Highway Administration in 2003.

In 1996 the Charlottesville-Albemarle Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) inserted language into its Transportation Improvement Program that prevented additional funds from being allocated to construction of the Western Bypass. That language was removed by the MPO Policy Board in July 2011. [3]

All activities on the Route 29 Charlottesville Bypass project were suspended in March 2014 following notification from the Federal Highway Administration that a new Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement would be required before the environmental process could be completed. The new Supplemental EIS was required due to the history of litigation and controversy associated with the project. [4]

Major intersections

CountyLocationmikmDestinationsNotes
City of Danville I785 / US 29 south Greensboro, Charlotte
SR 785 begins
Southern terminus of US 29 in Virginia; North Carolina state line

US 29 Bus. north / US 58 west Danville, Martinsville
interchange; south end of US 58 overlap
Corning Driveinterchange; southbound exit and northbound entrance
Elizabeth Streetright-in/right-out intersection with no direct access across US 29
SR 86 (South Main Street) Yanceyville, Chapel Hillinterchange
SR 737 (Goodyear Boulevard)interchange
River Park Drive - Dan Daniel Memorial Parkinterchange

US 58 east / US 360 / US 58 Bus. west (South Boston Road) Danville, South Boston, Richmond
SR 785 ends
Future I785 ends
interchange; north end of concurrency with US 58
Pittsylvania SR 41 (East Franklin Turnpike) to SR 360 Danville, Halifaxinterchange

SR 726 to US 29 Bus. Blairs, Danville
interchange; northbound exit and southbound entrance

US 29 Bus. south to SR 726 Blairs, Danville
interchange; southbound exit and northbound entrance
Chatham
US 29 Bus. north Chatham
interchange; northbound exit and southbound entrance
SR 57 Chatham, South Bostoninterchange
SR 685 Chathaminterchange

US 29 Bus. south to SR 57 west Chatham
interchange

US 29 Bus. north Gretna
interchange; northbound exit and southbound entrance
SR 40 Gretna, Rocky Mountinterchange

US 29 Bus. south Gretna
interchange; southbound exit and northbound entrance

US 29 Bus. north Hurt
interchange
SR 924 Hurtinterchange
Campbell SR 43 Altavista, Leesvilleinterchange
SR 714 Altavistainterchange
Altavista SR 711 (Clarion Road)interchange

US 29 Bus. south Altavista
interchange
Yellow Branch SR 24 (Colonial Highway) Evington, Rustburg, Smith Mountain Lake

US 460 west / US 29 Bus. north (Wards Road) Lynchburg, Roanoke
interchange; south end of concurrency with US 460
City of Lynchburg To SR 670 / Candlers Mountain Road / University Boulevard Liberty UniversityInterchange
US 501 north (Candlers Mountain Road) Buena Vistainterchange; south end of concurrency with US 501

US 501 south / US 460 Bus. west / US 501 Bus. north (Campbell Avenue) South Boston
interchange; north end of concurrency with US 501
Campbell US 460 east (Richmond Highway) Appomattoxinterchange; north end of concurrency with US 460
Amherst SR 210 west Madison Heights, Downtown Lynchburginterchange
SR 130 west Madison Heightsinterchange
Sweet Briar
US 29 Bus. Madison Heights, Amherst
interchange
Amherst US 60 Amherst, Lexington, Richmondinterchange

US 29 Bus. south / SR 739 Amherst
interchange; former SR 150 north
SR 739 (Napier Loop / Tye River Road)former SR 150 south
SR 151 north (Patrick Henry Highway) Piney River, Afton, Wintergreen
NelsonColleen SR 56 west (Tye Brook Highway) Piney RiverSouth end of concurrency with SR 56
Lovingston
US 29 Bus. north / SR 56 east (Front Street) Lovingston, Shipman
North end of concurrency with SR 56

US 29 Bus. south (Northside Lane) Lovingston
Woods Mill SR 6 west (River Road) Afton, WintergreenSouth end of concurrency with SR 6
SR 6 east (Irish Road) Scottsville, SchuylerNorth end of concurrency with SR 6
AlbemarleCrossroads SR 692 (Plank Road) Batesville, North Gardenformer SR 230 north
I64 Staunton, RichmondI-64 exit 118

US 29 Bus. north Charlottesville
interchange

US 250 west / US 250 Bus. east Waynesboro, Charlottesville, Ivy
interchange; south end of concurrency with US 250
To SR 601interchange; southbound exit and northbound entrance
Leonard Sandridge Road University of Virginianorthbound access only
SR 654 (Barracks Road)interchange
City of Charlottesville
US 250 east / US 29 Bus. south (Emmet Street) Richmond, University of Virginia
interchange; north end of concurrency with US 250
Albemarle
No major junctions
GreeneRuckersville US 33 (Spotswood Trail) Harrisonburg, Richmond
Burtonville SR 609 (Fredericksburg Road)former SR 243 west
Madison SR 230 west (WolftownHood Road) / SR 626 (Gibbs Road) StanardsvilleSouth end of concurrency with SR 230
SR 230 east / SR 231 south (Orange Road) Gordonsville, OrangeNorth end of concurrency with SR 230; south end of concurrency with SR 231

US 29 Bus. north / SR 231 north (South Main Street) Madison, Shenandoah National Park, Skyline Drive, Historic Downtown Madison
North end of concurrency with SR 231; northbound exit and southbound entrance
SR 687 (Fairground Road)former SR 27
SR 634 (Washington Street / Oak Park Road) Madison, Locust Daleformer SR 230

US 29 Bus. south (North Main Street) / SR 722 (Fishback Road) to SR 231 north Madison
Culpeper
US 29 Bus. north / SR 299 south Culpeper
interchange

US 15 south / US 15 Bus. north Culpeper, Orange
interchange; south end of concurrency with US 15
US 522 / SR 3 Mineral, Fredericksburginterchange
Inlet
US 15 Bus. south / US 29 Bus. south Culpeper, Brandy Station
interchange

US 15 Bus. north / US 29 Bus. north (Remington Road) Remington
Fauquier
US 15 Bus. south / US 29 Bus. south (James Madison Street) Remington
SR 28 north (Catlett Road) / SR 657 (Kings Hill Road) Manassas, Warrenton-Fauquier Airport
Opal US 17 south (Marsh Road) / SR 687 (Opal Road) to I95 Fredericksburginterchange; south end of concurrency with US 17

US 15 Bus. north / US 17 Bus. north / US 29 Bus. north / SR 880 (Lord Fairfax Road) Warrenton, Lord Fairfax Community College Fauquier Campus
Warrenton SR 643 (Meetze Road / Lee Street) Warrentoninterchange

US 17 north / US 15 Bus. south / US 29 Bus. south to I66 west / I81 / US 211 west Winchester, Warrenton, Luray
interchange; north end of concurrency with US 17
Buckland SR 215 east (Vint Hill Road) Vint Hill Farms Station, Lake Brittle
Prince William US 15 north (James Madison Highway) LeesburgNorth end of concurrency with US 15
Gainesville SR 55 west (John Marshall Highway) / SR 619 east (Linton Hall Road) Haymarket, Front RoyalInterchange under construction
I66 Front Royal, WashingtonI-66 exit 43
Manassas National Battlefield Park SR 234 (Sudley Road) to I66 Visitor Center, NVCC, Manassas
FairfaxBull Run SR 609 (Pleasant Valley Road)
Centreville I66 Washington, Front RoyalI-66 exit 52
SR 28 to I66 east Dulles Airport, Manassasinterchange
Braddock Road (SR 620) / Old Centreville Road (SR 898)
Willow Springs SR 645 (Stringfellow Road / Clifton Road) Clifton
SR 286 (Fairfax County Parkway) / SR 608 (West Ox Road) to I66interchange
Jermantown SR 655 south (Shirley Gate Road) / SR 665 (Waples Mill Road)
City of Fairfax US 50 west / SR 236 east (Fairfax Boulevard / Main Street) to I66 Old Town FairfaxSouth end of concurrency with US 50
SR 123 (Chain Bridge Road) to I66
US 50 east / SR 237 west (Fairfax Boulevard) / Old Lee HighwayFairfax Circle (traffic circle with cut-through); north end of concurrency with US 50; south end of concurrency with SR 237
FairfaxBlake Lane (SR 655) / Pickett Road
Merrifield SR 243 north (Nutley Street / SR 10272) to I66
Gallows Road (SR 650)
I495 Express southinterchange
City of Falls Church SR 338 east (Hillwood Avenue)
SR 7 (Broad Street)
ArlingtonEast Falls Church SR 237 east (Fairfax Drive)north end of concurrency with SR 237
To I66 west / Washington Boulevard
Glebewood SR 120 (North Glebe Road) Chain Bridge, Alexandria
Waverly Hills SR 309 west (Old Dominion Drive)South end of concurrency with SR 309; no left turn northbound
SR 309 east (Lee Highway) / to Lorcom LaneNorth end of concurrency with SR 309
CherrydaleLee Highway (SR 309 west)
Lyon Village I66 west Front Royal, Dulles AirportI-66 exit 72
SR 124 east (Spout Run Parkway)
Rosslyn I66 west Front Royal, Dulles AirportI-66 exit 74; southbound exit and northbound entrance
I66 east to I395 Washington, AirportI-66 exit 74
George Washington Parkway north to I495interchange; no southbound entrance
US 29 north- Washington, D.C.Northern terminus of US 29 in Virginia; District of Columbia boundary (Key Bridge over the Potomac River)
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi

See also

References

Route map: Bing / Google

KML is from Wikidata
U.S. Route 29
Previous state:
North Carolina
Virginia Next state:
District of Columbia
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