U.S. 48 and Virginia 55 enter the state of Virginia along Appalachian Redevelopment Corridor H near Lebanon Church. The two routes follow a two-lane highway, approaching Interstate 81 just west of Strasburg and near the western terminus of Interstate 66. Photo taken 06/01/04.
Eastbound U.S. 48 was only commissioned recently, in 2003. It does not show up on the 2003 official map of Virginia. Nevertheless, it is well-signed with Virginia 55 for its brief foray into the Commonwealth. This picture shows U.S. 48 approaching its eastern terminus at its junction with Interstate 81. U.S. 48 does not connect with U.S. 11. Photo taken 06/01/04.
Eastbound U.S. 48/Virginia 48 reach the ramp for northbound Interstate 81, which is the terminus of U.S. 48. Virginia 55 continues east into the town of Strasburg, which was founded in 1761 and incorporated in 1922. Located in the Shenandoah Valley, Strasburg played a role in the Civil War era, when Stonewall Jackson made Strasburg "the fountainhead of rail traffic for the South" by bringing railroad cars from the North to the South. Photo taken 06/01/04.
U.S. 48/Virginia 55 West
This is the first reassurance marker for U.S. 48 along westbound after the Interstate 81 interchange (Exit 296). The mileages are for Lebanon Church and Madisonville, West Virginia. Most of U.S. 48 is located within West Virginia. Photo taken 06/01/04.
View of U.S. 48/Virginia 55 Signage from Interstate 81 South
The next exit along southbound Interstate 81 is Exit 296, Junction U.S. 48 west (Appalachian Regional Development Corridor H) and Virginia 55 east/west, one mile. U.S. 48 is one of the newest U.S. routes, signed in 2003 as Virginia's section of Corridor H, an expressway under construction from Elkins, West Virginia, east to Strasburg via an alignment parallel to U.S. 219, West Virginia 93, West Virginia 42, West Virginia 55, and Virginia 55. While the highway remains incomplete in West Virginia, Virginia opted to use existing Virginia 55 for its segment of U.S. 48/Corridor H, with no immediate plans for upgrades. At the time this photo was taken, U.S. 48 only existed from this interchange west to the Virginia State Line. The West Virginia section of U.S. 48 will not be signed until Corridor H is completed. Photo taken 06/01/04.
Southbound Interstate 81 reaches Exit 296, Junction U.S. 48 and Virginia 55. For more on the construction progress of the U.S. 48/Corridor H progress, visit West Virginia's Corridor H. Once it is completed, the entire route from Elkins to Strasburg will be designated U.S. 48. Some have touted Corridor H as a future westerly extension of Interstate 66, but such a routing is unlikely initially since the highway will not be built to Interstate standards. However, longer-range upgrades are certainly possible. Photo taken 06/01/04.
Now on the offramp from southbound Interstate 81 to U.S. 48 west and Virginia 55 east/west, a left turn leads east on Virginia 55, while a right turn leads west on both Virginia 55 and U.S. 48. This interchange marks the eastern terminus of U.S. 48; U.S. 48 does not even reach U.S. 11, located a couple miles east of here in Strasburg. Because of the taller initial letter in "WEST U.S. 48," this sign assembly betrays how recently the U.S. 48 shield and banners were supplemented to this sign. As for Virginia 55, it follows U.S. 48 west, then becomes West Virginia 55 upon crossing the state line. Heading east, Virginia 55 enters Strasburg, then parallels Interstate 66 from Strasburg east to U.S. 29 at Gainesville via Front Royal. Photo taken 06/01/04.
