Site Navigation Delaware District of Columbia Maryland New Jersey Pennsylvania Virginia West Virginia     Virginia 195 - Downtown Expressway Virginia 195 East Virginia 195 begins after the merge of Interstate 195 south and Virginia 146 east. The freeway constitutes the Downtown Expressway, a tolled facility levying 50 cents to all passenger vehicles. The toll plaza itself resides between Allen Avenue and Randolph Street overpasses ahead of the U.S. 1-301 off-ramp (Exit 2A). Photo taken 10/14/01. Four eastbound lanes depart the Downtown Expressway toll plaza at the Randolph Street overcrossing. The right-hand lane becomes exit only for U.S. 1-301 (Belvidere Street). An upcoming exits sign displays the final three interchanges of Virginia 195 eastbound. Photo taken 10/14/01. Traffic to U.S. 1-301 (Belvidere Street) departs the Downtown Expressway at the Harrison Street overpass. The ramp itself connects with adjacent Idlewood Avenue five blocks west of Belvidere Street. Note the old style "Thru Traffic" pull-through panel placed over the travel lanes. Photo taken 10/14/01. Downtown Expressway eastbound at the ramp departure of Exit 2B for Byrd and 2nd Streets. Above is the U.S. 1-301 overcrossing. Byrd Street overtakes Idlewood Avenue alongside Virginia 195 eastbound between Belvidere Street to U.S. 60 (9th Street). Photo taken 10/14/01. With the departure of Exit 2B (2nd Street) behind, Virginia 195 reduces to four overall lanes on the final approach to U.S. 60 and Interstate 95. Attached to the 3rd Street high above is the 0.25 mile guide sign for the final mainline off-ramp (Exit 2C). Traffic to U.S. 60 utilizes a ramp to nearby Byrd Avenue at 7th Street. Photo taken 10/14/01. Virginia 195 enters a tunnel system between 7th Street and 9th Street (U.S. 60). Featured at the 7th Street structure is a guide sign for Interstate 64 destined motorists. Interstate 95 merges onto Interstate 64 westbound one mile north of the Virginia 195 eastern terminal. Photo taken 10/14/01. The final stretch of Virginia 195 sees the Downtown Expressway elevate high above U.S. 360 (14th Street) and adjacent railroad lines below. The junction between Virginia 195 and Interstate 95 (Exits 3A/B) compose a high-level stack interchange due to the placement adjacent to the James River. Photo taken 10/14/01. Virginia 195 draws to a close at the partition of traffic to Interstate 95 north and south. 23 miles to the south Interstate 95 reaches the northern terminus of Interstate 85 at Petersburg (pop. 33,740). Interstate 95 & 64 end their three mile overlap five miles to the northwest. Photo taken 10/14/01. Virginia 195 West After departing from Interstate 95, northwestbound Virginia 195/Downtown Expressway enjoys a brief double-decked section as it closely parallels the James River for the first fraction of a mile. The route then separates into a normal configuration upon reaching the U.S. 60/Canal Street interchange. Photo taken 06/01/04. This mileage sign provides the distance to the next three exits along northwestbound Virginia 195 as it enters a brief tunnel under Tenth Street and U.S. 60/Manchester Bridge. These exits are: U.S. 1-301/Belvidere Street; Meadow Street; and Virginia 161/Boulevard. Photo taken 06/01/04. This view shows the freeway emerging from the Tenth Street Tunnel along northwestbound Virginia 195/Downtown Expressway. Photo taken 06/01/04. Northwestbound Virginia 195 reaches the exit ramp for U.S. 1-301, Belvidere Street. U.S. 1-301/Belvidere Street pass just west of the city center of Richmond and the State Capitol, but Belvidere Street passes by Virginia Commonwealth University and Monroe Park. Use U.S. 1-301 south to cross the Robert E. Lee Bridge over the James River. U.S. 1-301 remain merged heading southbound until reaching the city of Petersburg. Photo taken 06/01/04. The next exit along northwestbound is Meadow Street, 0.75 mile. Meadow Street marks the western terminus of Virginia 195 and the southern terminus of Interstate 195. Photo taken 06/01/04. The exit for Meadow Street is located immediately after the 50-cent toll collected after the Harrison Street overpass. After the toll plaza, the state highway ends and Interstate 195 begins as a toll-free freeway. Photo taken 06/01/04. Page Updated July 10, 2004.