U.S. 220 travels as a freeway northward from Cave Spring (pop. 24,941) and U.S. 220 Business to Virginia 24 (Elm Avenue). At the Exit 6 diamond interchange with Elm Avenue, U.S. 220 upgrades as part of Interstate 581 through the city of Roanoke. Depicted here is the Exit 6 diamond interchange southeast of downtown. Photo taken 07/24/04.
Begin Interstate 581 northbound shield assembly posted below the Elm Avenue (Virginia 24) overpass. Exit numbers are unique in that they count down as one travels northbound. Additionally exits retain cardinal direction suffixes instead of alphabetical. Photo taken 07/24/04.
Peering at the downtown skyline of Roanoke (pop. 94,911) from the northbound lanes of Interstate 581 & U.S. 220. As of 2000, the metropolitan area of Roanoke (pop. 235,932) includes Botetourt County, Craig County, Franklin County, Roanoke County, Salem, Roanoke and the Town of Vinton. Photo taken 07/24/04.
The first northbound reassurance shield of Interstate 581 on U.S. 220 northbound near the downtown Roanoke viaduct. The six-lane freeway elevates above the city street grid and associated railroad lines within the vicinity of Tazewell and Campbell Avenues. Photo taken 07/24/04.
Looking westward at Downtown Roanoke from the Interstate 581 & U.S. 220 viaduct. Pictured from left to right is the Wachovia Building, the Sun Trust Building, the Wachovia Tower, and the Roanoke Higher Education Center. Photo taken 07/24/04.
The full cloverleaf interchange between Interstate 581 & U.S. 220 and U.S. 460 serves the Roanoke Civic Center, home of the Roanoke Express ECHL franchise and Roanoke Dazzle NBDL franchise. The venue is also home to regional trade shows and concerts. Tickets for Roanoke Civic Center events can be purchased here. Photo taken 07/24/04.
Interstate 581 & U.S. 220 northbound at the Exit 4E off-ramp to U.S. 460 eastbound & U.S. 11 Alternate-Virginia 116 northbound (Orange Avenue) and the Roanoke Civic Center. U.S. 460 intersects U.S. 11-U.S. 220 Business-U.S. 221 (Williamson Road) just east of Exit 4. There U.S. 11 Alternate ends and U.S. 221 & U.S. 220 Alternate join U.S. 460 along Orange Avenue eastward toward the Roanoke city line. Photo taken 07/24/04.
Traffic departs Interstate 581 & U.S. Highway 220 northbound for U.S. 460 (Orange Avenue) at the Exit 4W loop ramp. U.S. 460 & Virginia 116 overlap 2.3 miles along Orange Avenue between Lafayette Street and U.S. 11-221-220 Alternate (Williamson Road). The tandem skirt the northern reaches of the Roanoke central business district west of the freeway. Photo taken 07/24/04.
Roanoke Regional Airport is served by the next three interchanges of Interstate 581 & U.S. 220 (Exits 3C, 3E-W, 2N-S). Photo taken 07/24/04.
0.75-mile guide sign for Exit 3C (Valley View Boulevard) posted at the Liberty Road overcrossing of Interstate 581 & U.S. 220. The off-ramp to Valley View Boulevard opened to traffic in the early 2000s to provide an alternate route to the Roanoke Regional Airport. The exit consists of a half diamond interchange with no northbound return access. Photo taken 07/24/04.
Valley View Boulevard travels north from Exit 3C to junction Virginia 101 (Hershberger Road) and Aviation Drive. Pictured here is the northbound off-ramp to the Valley View Boulevard connector road. Photo taken 07/24/04.
Like Exit 4E/W with U.S. 460, Exit 3E/W consists of a full cloverleaf interchange. Interstate 581 & U.S. 220 intersects Virginia 101 (Hershberger Road), an arterial/expressway with off-ramps to the Roanoke Regional Airport. Photo taken 07/24/04.
Exit 2E leaves Interstate 581 & U.S. 220 northbound for Virginia 101 (Hershberger Road) eastbound. Hershberger Road carries the state route one mile eastward to U.S. 11 & Virginia 118 (Williamson Road). Off-ramps exist for a nearby shopping center, Valley View Boulevard south, and Aviation Drive north. Photo taken 07/24/04.
Northbound reassurance shields on the stretch between Virginia 101 and Virginia 117 (Peters Creek Road). The six-lane freeway skims the western reaches of the adjacent Roanoke Regional Airport en route to the Exit 2N/S cloverleaf interchange. Photo taken 07/24/04.
One half mile south of the Exit 2N off-ramp to Virginia 117 (Peters Creek Road) northbound. Virginia 117 loops eight miles along Peters Creek Road between U.S. 11 through the city of Roanoke.1 Photo taken 07/24/04.
Exit 2N carries motorists onto Virginia 117 (Peters Creek Road) northbound. Peters Creek Road intersects the north end of Virginia 118 (Airport Road) in 1.25 miles and U.S. 11 (Williamson Road) in 2.25 miles. Photo taken 07/24/04.
Entering the final mile of Interstate 581 on the approach to junction Interstate 81 (Exits 1N/S). Pictured here is a construction advisory sign for a truck restriction on Interstate 64 at Milepost 19. Roadwork in 2004 involves the reconstruction of the Jackson River bridges and construction of a permanent median barrier for Interstate 64 near Covington. The $11.5 million project began June 2002 and will complete by fall 2004.2 Photo taken 07/24/04.
The final reassurance shield of Interstate 581 resides within one half mile of the tri-level stack interchange with Interstate 81 (Exits 1N/S). U.S. 220 turns northward onto Interstate 81 for a seven mile overlap through to Cloverdale (pop. 2,986) and Daleville (pop. 1,454). Photo taken 07/24/04.
Interstate 581 draws to a close at the mainline split for Exit 1N (Interstate 81 & U.S. 220 north) and Exit 1S (Interstate 81 south). Salem joins Bristol as the control cities for Interstate 81 south. Salem is an independent city adjacent to Roanoke to the west. Lexington represents the Interstate 81 merge with Interstate 64 48 miles to the north. Photo taken 07/24/04.
Traveling the Exit 1S off-ramp onto Interstate 81 south. Passing above is the Interstate 81 & U.S. 220 southbound off-ramp to Roanoke and Interstate 81 northbound mainline. Although Salem and Bristol were mentioned on the Exit 1S overhead, Interstate 81 joins Interstate 77 62 miles to the southwest outside of Wytheville (pop. 7,804). Photo taken 07/24/04.
Interstate 581 & U.S. Highway 220 South
Interstate 581 & U.S. 220 southbound at the Exit 4E loop ramp onto U.S. 460 eastbound & U.S. 11 Alternate-Virginia 116 southbound (Orange Avenue) and the Roanoke Civic Center. Mill Mountain rises in the background. Photo taken 07/24/04.
U.S. 11 & U.S. 221-220 Alternate (Williamson Road) pass underneath the Interstate 581 & U.S. 220 viaduct between U.S. 460 (Orange Avenue) and Campbell Avenue. The three-quarter diamond interchange includes a two-pronged ramp (Exit 5) from Interstate 581 southbound onto Williamson Road and Wells Avenue westbound. Both roadways serve the downtown Roanoke area. Photo taken 07/24/04.
Continuing southbound on Interstate 581 & U.S. 220 onto a viaduct over Williamson Road, adjacent railroad tracks, and Campbell Avenue. Depicted here is the 0.75-mile overhead for the upcoming diamond interchange with Virginia 24 (Elm Avenue). Virginia 24 travels west from the town of Vinton into Roanoke where it ends at U.S. 221 & 220 Business. Photo taken 07/24/04.
Traffic to Virginia 24 (Elm Avenue) departs Interstate 581 & U.S. 220 southbound at the Tazewell Avenue undercrossing. Elm Avenue carries U.S. 221 through downtown Roanoke (pop. 94,911) between Main Street and 1st Street (U.S. 220 Business). Photo taken 07/24/04.
End shield and milepost zero for Interstate 581 southbound at the U.S. 220 undercrossing of Virginia 24 (Elm Avenue). The freeway of U.S. 220 (Future Interstate 73) continues a short distance to Cave Spring at the interchange with U.S. 220 Business (Franklin Road) and Virginia 419 (Electric Road). Photo taken 07/24/04.
