I-66, Virginia

[amroad17]

For quite a while I have always wondered why Virginia built the isolated three mile stretch of I-66 from Marshall to Delaplaine back in 1962.  It was not near any other section of I-66 under construction or finished (such as around Centerville).  It looked "out of place" on maps.  It was just by itself.  I see now how it fit into the grand scheme of things, but back then, even into the mid-1970's, it looked like a freeway that just appeared out of nowhere.  I did remember travelling on it in 1972 with my parents on the way to travel Skyline Drive.  You were on a two lane highway out of Marshall that morphed into the I-66 freeway, drove for three miles, then morphed back into the two-lane VA 55.  Just a bit odd.

My question is, does anyone here on the forum have an answer as to why that section of I-66 was built independent from the rest of I-66?  This always caught me as one of the odd decisions in the history of highway building.  Any answer, or opinion, would be greatly appreciated.

[Mapmikey]

So far I have been unable to dig up anything explicit on this.  Kozel's site does not mention any backstory on that segment.

CTB Minute Archives show that this segment was receiving construction funds by March 1955 (see pg. 73 of http://www.virginiadot.org/meetings/minutes_pdf/CTB-03-1955-01.pdf) with the knowledge that it was part of the National Interstate System.  i couldn't find readily any deliberations or rationale about which segments were done earliest.

My guess is that this segment came early because of the one-lane bridge on current F-185 which VA 17-55 were using prior to this freeway segment's opening.  But that may only have been a small factor.

Historic Aerials has a satellite view of this isolated segment, exactly as described by the OP:
http://www.historicaerials.com/aerials.php?scale=989&lon=-77.92889564664125&lat=38.89860444226724&year=1965

Mapmikey

[ixnay]

So far I have been unable to dig up anything explicit on this.  Kozel's site does not mention any backstory on that segment.

CTB Minute Archives show that this segment was receiving construction funds by March 1955 (see pg. 73 of http://www.virginiadot.org/meetings/minutes_pdf/CTB-03-1955-01.pdf) with the knowledge that it was part of the National Interstate System.  i couldn't find readily any deliberations or rationale about which segments were done earliest.

My guess is that this segment came early because of the one-lane bridge on current F-185 which VA 17-55 were using prior to this freeway segment's opening.  But that may only have been a small factor.

Historic Aerials has a satellite view of this isolated segment, exactly as described by the OP:
http://www.historicaerials.com/aerials.php?scale=989&lon=-77.92889564664125&lat=38.89860444226724&year=1965

Mapmikey

I rode as a passenger that once-isolated stretch of 66 in 1984 on a vacation (by then 66 was complete from the TR Bridge all the way to 81).  Thanks, Mapmikey.

ixnay

[cpzilliacus]

My question is, does anyone here on the forum have an answer as to why that section of I-66 was built independent from the rest of I-66?  This always caught me as one of the odd decisions in the history of highway building.  Any answer, or opinion, would be greatly appreciated.

The explanation I have heard is that this was a bypass of metropolitan Marshall, Va. for U.S. 17 and Va. 55 traffic. 

[Mapmikey]

My question is, does anyone here on the forum have an answer as to why that section of I-66 was built independent from the rest of I-66?  This always caught me as one of the odd decisions in the history of highway building.  Any answer, or opinion, would be greatly appreciated.

The explanation I have heard is that this was a bypass of metropolitan Marshall, Va. for U.S. 17 and Va. 55 traffic. 

The 1962 segment was entirely west of Marshall...

Mapmikey

[cpzilliacus]

My question is, does anyone here on the forum have an answer as to why that section of I-66 was built independent from the rest of I-66?  This always caught me as one of the odd decisions in the history of highway building.  Any answer, or opinion, would be greatly appreciated.

The explanation I have heard is that this was a bypass of metropolitan Marshall, Va. for U.S. 17 and Va. 55 traffic. 

The 1962 segment was entirely west of Marshall...

I recall it starting (at the east end) at Winchester Road (U.S. 17), which would seem to be a Marshall bypass.

[Mapmikey]

1965 satellite:

http://www.historicaerials.com/aerials.php?scale=989&lon=-77.92889564664125&lat=38.89860444226724&year=1965

Mapmikey

[amroad17]

The "metropolis" of Marshall. 

Yes, the freeway did begin west of Marshall.  I-66 bypasses Marshall to the south now.

[cpzilliacus]

1965 satellite:

http://www.historicaerials.com/aerials.php?scale=989&lon=-77.92889564664125&lat=38.89860444226724&year=1965

Mapmikey

I should also have qualified that by saying it was in the early 1970's when I first rode that "orphan" section of I-66.