Virginia 895 is the Pocahontas Parkway, connecting Interstate 95 and Virginia 150 in the west with Interstate 295 in the east. The sole interchange is for Virginia 5/New Market Road about midway along the corridor.
Perspective from Virginia 895 East
There is no access to Virginia 895 from southbound Interstate 95; the only access is from eastbound Virginia 150/Chippenham Parkway and northbound Interstate 95. Due to the height of the bridge, the approaches from these two roads are very steep, with this view available on the transition from northbound Interstate 95 to eastbound Virginia 895. The bridge structure and height above the James River is visible from this bridge. Photo taken 06/02/03.
Upon reaching the top of the transition ramp, the traffic from northbound Interstate 95 merge with traffic from eastbound Virginia 150 to form eastbound Virginia 895. Almost immediately, the new route passes high above the James River. Photo taken 06/02/03.
At the top of the James River bridge, look upriver toward downtown Richmond. This sign bridge is situated there, as the toll plaza is located immediately after the bridge. Photo taken 06/02/03.
This is the first eastbound Virginia 895 shield, posted on the James River Bridge. This is one of the highest points in Richmond metropolitan area, thus affording a fantastic view of the area. Photo taken 06/02/03.
After crossing the James River, Virginia 895 reaches the toll plaza. The left lanes have a commuter pass system for automatic toll collection without stopping, and the right lanes are for cash only customers. Photo taken 06/02/03.
At the time this photo was taken, the toll road for a single car is $1.50. Cash only lanes are to the right. Photo taken 06/02/03.
The first exit on eastbound Virginia 895 is Junction Virginia 5. Note that there are no exit numbers on this highway, but this exit is near Milepost 5. Note that the mileposts decrease from south to north (or west to east), which is contrary to how mileposts are typically counted. Photo taken 06/02/03.
Virginia 5 is New Market Road, following the James River on the northeast bank between Williamsburg and Richmond. In addition, this exit serves Laburnum Avenue, a surface boulevard that bypasses downtown Richmond to the north and east. It returns to Interstate 95 and U.S. 1-301 in north Richmond. Photo taken 06/02/03.
Laburnum Avenue northeast connects to Richmond International Airport; this is a more direct route from Virginia 895 than Interstate 295 or U.S. 60/Virginia 33-156. Photo taken 06/02/03.
Eastbound Virginia 895 at Junction Virginia 5/New Market Road and Laburnum Avenue to Richmond International Airport. Photo taken 06/02/03.
Virginia 895 east shield on the Pocahontas Parkway after the Virginia 5 exit. Photo taken 06/02/03.
The only other exit on eastbound is the eastern terminus of Virginia 895/Pocahontas Parkway at Junction Interstate 295. Photo taken 06/02/03.
Although the new toll road has been open awhile, there really was not that much traffic on the day this picture was taken. Photo taken 06/02/03.
Interstate 295 is the main north-south bypass of the Richmond metropolitan area. North Interstate 295 leads to Interstate 64 to Hampton Roads/Norfolk and Interstate 95 to Fredericksburg and Washington. South Interstate 295 leads to Hopewell, Emporia, Rocky Mount, and Miami. Photo taken 06/02/03.
As noted earlier, traffic for east Interstate 64 should use north Interstate 295. The exit to northbound is taken from the left lane, and the exit to southbound is from the right lane. Photo taken 06/02/03.
Instead of using these small Interstate 64 trailblazer signs, perhaps it should have also been on the overhead signs. Virginia 895 is partially designed to reduce the load for traffic from northbound Interstate 95 to eastbound Interstate 64 and thus relieve the downtown interchange. Photo taken 06/02/03.
The lane assignments are clarified by this overhead sign on eastbound Virginia 895 as it approaches Interstate 295. Photo taken 06/02/03.
In this photo, the eastbound lanes separate from the westbound lanes. The transition ramp from Interstate 295 to westbound Virginia is visible. Photo taken 06/02/03.
Eastbound Virginia 895 at Junction Interstate 295. Photo taken 06/02/03.
These shields are located at the gore point between the two directions, and an Interstate 64 shield is included for clarity on how to reach that route. While this marks the eastern terminus of Virginia 895, the transition ramp onto northbound is actually almost a mile long in its own right! Photo taken 06/02/03.
