Since a substantial portion of the arguments regarding the bi-state I-87 corridor concern the fact that US 58 does in fact provide a shorter route from Newport News points to both I-95 and I-85, ostensibly the destination or at least the next leg of commercial (and other) traffic movements in the south/west direction from that port area, I deemed it appropriate to actually initiate a thread concerning US 58 itself. Went back through Mid-Atlantic threads; the only one specifically citing that route concerned some sinkholes about 3 years ago. Now -- whether the dueling VA posters elect to use this thread to outline the pros and cons of this corridor's status or potential remains to be seen (the argument might well remain in the I-87 thread in Southeast, where the majority of that corridor resides) -- but it does provide a place for Mr. Kozel and others to elucidate what they can glean about the position of VDOT and its political handlers regarding this corridor -- and possibly whether any significant official attention has been paid to possible upgrades.
And if anyone wants to talk about historical aspects of the corridor as well, please, have at it! But a number of us are a bit weary of the endless and often pointless back-and-forth about these regional issues (I once likened it to Monty Python's classic "Argument Clinic" sketch), so this additional topic is intended to be a place for an informed discourse about the US 58 corridor as a stand-alone concept. I can only hope that this thread will proceed with a bit more decorum and discussion of actual facts and policies instead of a locale for more two-way sniping.
Posters -- the ball's in your court; try to keep it civil!
There had been a thread in the Fictional Highways section that discussed various US-58 concepts, including a conceptual alignment I had done of a US-58 freeway between Suffolk and I-85, though never finished the area near Emporia. Some other posters including froggie and Beltway also presented concepts for relocations / upgrades near Suffolk and Emporia.
If you're interested to read through it - https://www.aaroads.com/forum/index.php?topic=20535.0
By all means, I'm glad to have a dedicated thread to the US-58 corridor that often mixes in with the I-87 thread, and hopefully clean up any future / potential mess in that thread.
US 58, to me, is a fun drive across southern Virginia. Unfortunately, there is always going to be a "dead spot" that's never improved, and that's the portion between Independence and Damascus. Even though the road is four lanes from Hillsville through Galax to Independence, the preferred through route is obviously I-77 to I-81. I also don't think anything will ever be done to improve the route from Bristol to Jonesville. Alternate US 58 is already four lanes most of the way from Abingdon to Jonesville, and the portion of US 58 between Duffield (where US 58 and 421 split from 23) and Jonesville is an improved two-lane with passing lanes on the biggest hills.
I've driven the whole route from Cumberland Gap to Virginia Beach, but never all at once. My most recent journey across it involved going from Hillsville to South Boston, so I could access US 360 to begin my clinch of it.
When the missing portions (roughly east of Hillsville to Meadows of Dan, and then the segment from the end of the Meadows of Dan bypass to Stuart) are done, it will be an even better route.
I've driven the portion from Damascus to the VA 16 intersection near Volney just once, and don't care to repeat the drive. I've done Gate City to Bristol a couple of times, but if I'm going to Bristol I will either take Alt. 58 from Norton to Abingdon and then south, or will stay on 23 (or use VA 224/TN 93) and dip into Tennessee and then take 11W north).
If I ever have need to go to the Hampton Roads area again, I'd much rather take US 58 or US 460 than I-64. Too much north (from home to hit 64)/south (WV Turnpike)/north again (I-81 concurrency) out-of-the-wayness involved.
US 58 "˜Suicide Strip' is replaced with a new divided highway | 1991 (https://www.pilotonline.com/history/vp-nk-back-suicide-strip-0412-20200406-x5k6nzlpybcbxo7tgajdexvnuu-story.html)
Quote(https://www.pilotonline.com/resizer/jTXdoo0hHsxQZflYZgIFgmEazkU=/800x490/top/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-tronc.s3.amazonaws.com/public/WSHIVVP3UZDKFCJWAQ4HUOC2XY.jpg)
1991
After a brief roadside ceremony, a new four-lane divided highway with a grassy median opens on U.S. 58 replacing the dangerous "Suicide Strip," a 22-mile undivided highway from Courtland to Emporia. The undivided highway averaged one accident every six days between 1970 and 1990 with 107 deaths and more than 1,000 injuries. The $42.9 million road widening project follows years of pressure from local residents. The stretch of roadway is a vital east-west trade route that carries an estimated 7,355 vehicles a day, many of them heavy trucks. Before the median was built, trucks and cars routinely collided head on.
Quote from: sprjus4 on April 07, 2020, 02:01:44 AM
US 58 "˜Suicide Strip' is replaced with a new divided highway | 1991
(https://www.pilotonline.com/history/vp-nk-back-suicide-strip-0412-20200406-x5k6nzlpybcbxo7tgajdexvnuu-story.html)Quote(https://www.pilotonline.com/resizer/jTXdoo0hHsxQZflYZgIFgmEazkU=/800x490/top/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-tronc.s3.amazonaws.com/public/WSHIVVP3UZDKFCJWAQ4HUOC2XY.jpg)
1991
After a brief roadside ceremony, a new four-lane divided highway with a grassy median opens on U.S. 58 replacing the dangerous "Suicide Strip," a 22-mile undivided highway from Courtland to Emporia. The undivided highway averaged one accident every six days between 1970 and 1990 with 107 deaths and more than 1,000 injuries. The $42.9 million road widening project follows years of pressure from local residents. The stretch of roadway is a vital east-west trade route that carries an estimated 7,355 vehicles a day, many of them heavy trucks. Before the median was built, trucks and cars routinely collided head on.
I have many memories of this stretch from when I was a kid. It was indeed very dangerous, my pops had a few close calls driving us through here. A lot of people used to pass others over the solid yellow lines (the no passing zones) and it made our travels pretty scary.
It's actually pretty funny to me how the stretch between Emporia and South Hill was 4 lanes before the stretch between Emporia and Courtland was.
Quote from: plain on April 07, 2020, 03:52:44 AM
I have many memories of this stretch from when I was a kid. It was indeed very dangerous, my pops had a few close calls driving us through here. A lot of people used to pass others over the solid yellow lines (the no passing zones) and it made our travels pretty scary.
It's actually pretty funny to me how the stretch between Emporia and South Hill was 4 lanes before the stretch between Emporia and Courtland was.
Because it was a high-quality 2-lane highway, with wide lanes, decent shoulders and not with much horizontal curvature, and as the article said "carries an estimated 7,355 vehicles a day," which was low enough that it was a pleasant enough drive and had no congestion issues to speak of. The "many trucks" was not really the case, it was about 10%. Clearly lower priority to widen than the other section that you named.
Quote from: Beltway on April 07, 2020, 07:20:14 AM
Quote from: plain on April 07, 2020, 03:52:44 AM
I have many memories of this stretch from when I was a kid. It was indeed very dangerous, my pops had a few close calls driving us through here. A lot of people used to pass others over the solid yellow lines (the no passing zones) and it made our travels pretty scary.
It's actually pretty funny to me how the stretch between Emporia and South Hill was 4 lanes before the stretch between Emporia and Courtland was.
Because it was a high-quality 2-lane highway, with wide lanes, decent shoulders and not with much horizontal curvature, and as the article said "carries an estimated 7,355 vehicles a day," which was low enough that it was a pleasant enough drive and had no congestion issues to speak of. The "many trucks" was not really the case, it was about 10%. Clearly lower priority to widen than the other section that you named.
Per the 1990 VDOT traffic log (http://www.virginiadot.org/info/resources/AADT_1990.pdf) the stretch with 7355 vehicles was 22% trucks (19% if you don't include "single unit trucks"). Don't know what constitutes heavy truck traffic but for context, in 1990 I-81, which is widely considered truck-heavy, was 25-30% truck traffic.
Basically, it was not the "road itself" causing all the crashes and deaths but the inability of motorists properly driving. There were many times in my youth when, living in the Hampton Roads area, we would use US 58 west to take weekend trips to the mountains or visiting friends in Burlington, NC. Traffic was not heavy and, as Beltway has said, the truck traffic was very low. We had no problems, mostly because my father paid attention while driving and, being that he grew up in the Syracuse area, he was used to driving on two-lane quality NY state highways as well as the county highways.
Some of the crashes occurred because motorists were pulling onto US 58 from the side roads and did not properly judge how far another vehicle was from them. I remember reading about at least five such crashes in the Virginian-Pilot back in the late 1970's-1980's.
It was not a "heavily traveled" corridor back in the 1970's and early 1980's. It, however, did start becoming more traveled starting in the late 1980's for some reason (Franklin bypass?), necessitating the upgrade. Now, it is a lot safer to drive.
Not to get into the "US 58/I-95 vs I-87" discussion/debate/argument, and I may have posted this before, depending on how one motorist wants to drive from Raleigh to Hampton Roads (and vice versa), it doesn't matter which way is quicker. A motorist is going to drive whichever way they want to--or however their GPS tells them :D.
Each route has its own merit. Those living in western Chesapeake, Portsmouth, and Suffolk are more than likely going to use US 58/I-95 to get to Raleigh. Those living in Norfolk, Virginia Beach, and central and southern Chesapeake may want to use I-87, in the obvious far-off future, to get to Raleigh. However, if there was an Interstate highway proposal to "cut both the corners", the above mentioned discussion would not last for 50+ pages over two or three threads.
Quote from: Mapmikey on April 07, 2020, 08:13:22 AM
Quote from: Beltway on April 07, 2020, 07:20:14 AM
Because it was a high-quality 2-lane highway, with wide lanes, decent shoulders and not with much horizontal curvature, and as the article said "carries an estimated 7,355 vehicles a day," which was low enough that it was a pleasant enough drive and had no congestion issues to speak of. The "many trucks" was not really the case, it was about 10%. Clearly lower priority to widen than the other section that you named.
Per the 1990 VDOT traffic log (http://www.virginiadot.org/info/resources/AADT_1990.pdf) the stretch with 7355 vehicles was 22% trucks (19% if you don't include "single unit trucks"). Don't know what constitutes heavy truck traffic but for context, in 1990 I-81, which is widely considered truck-heavy, was 25-30% truck traffic.
1,618 truck AADT as opposed to about 10,000 truck AADT.
I could have looked that % before posting it, but today and back in the 1980s that section of US-58 had low enough truck volume that it didn't look 'truck busy' and nothing like the effect of I-81.
The highway actually flowed well enough and fast enough that it worked well with 2 lanes, other than the high head-on collision rate.
Quote from: amroad17 on April 07, 2020, 08:17:31 AM
It was not a "heavily traveled" corridor back in the 1970's and early 1980's. It, however, did start becoming more traveled starting in the late 1980's for some reason (Franklin bypass?), necessitating the upgrade. Now, it is a lot safer to drive.
The first focus was on building the bypasses. They were Suffolk completed in 1974, and Franklin, Courtland and Emporia completed as 2 lanes on 4-lane limited access R/W in the 1982 to 1986 range (I would need to look for some notes to get exact years). Each city had its own congestion or delay problems, minor compared to a large metro but annoying nonetheless.
Quote from: amroad17 on April 07, 2020, 08:17:31 AM
Not to get into the "US 58/I-95 vs I-87" discussion/debate/argument, and I may have posted this
The original poster created this thread specifically to separate the two, and Sprjus4 has complained repeatedly about the two being comingled.
Any plans to upgrade U.S. 58 east of Hillsville (here (https://www.google.com/maps/dir/36.760834,-80.6834349/36.722771,-80.5774937/@36.7408885,-80.7083138,14378m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m2!4m1!3e0)) and east of Meadows of Dan (here (https://www.google.com/maps/dir/36.73756,-80.392688/36.6598844,-80.2764731/@36.7070448,-80.3933022,14385m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m2!4m1!3e0))? Especially the descent from Meadows of Dan would seem to qualify for the Not Cheap award, given that the terrain there is quite rough.
Quote from: cpzilliacus on April 07, 2020, 02:46:33 PM
Any plans to upgrade U.S. 58 east of Hillsville (here (https://www.google.com/maps/dir/36.760834,-80.6834349/36.722771,-80.5774937/@36.7408885,-80.7083138,14378m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m2!4m1!3e0)) and east of Meadows of Dan (here (https://www.google.com/maps/dir/36.73756,-80.392688/36.6598844,-80.2764731/@36.7070448,-80.3933022,14385m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m2!4m1!3e0))? Especially the descent from Meadows of Dan would seem to qualify for the Not Cheap award, given that the terrain there is quite rough.
IIRC, VDOT plans on completing those segments to 4 lane divided highway over the next decade, likely on new location in areas.
Those are the last segments needed to complete a four lane divided highway between Norfolk and I-77, serving the towns and cities along the route and acting as a supplementary / alternative route to the current I-81 and I-64 preferred routing for long distance traffic, particularly trucks which are currently prohibited west of Stuart.
Quote from: sprjus4 on April 07, 2020, 04:07:50 PM
IIRC, VDOT plans on completing those segments to 4 lane divided highway over the next decade, likely on new location in areas.
Target completion FY 2025 per the SYIP
PC Description Route District Road System Estimate Previous FY20 FY21-25 Balance
(Values in Thousands of Dollars)
7534 RTE 58 - CORRIDOR DEVELOPMENT PROG - 4 LANES (CROOKED OAK) 0058 Salem Primary $168,500 $12,321 $8,696 $147,483 $0
17536 RTE 58 - CORRIDOR DEVELPMENT PROG - 4 LANES (LOVERS LEAP) 0058 Salem Primary $258,300 $17,500 $102,712 $138,088 $0
17537 RTE 58 - CORRIDOR DEVELOPMENT PROG - 4 LANES (VESTA) 0058 Salem Primary $98,300 $11,511 $31,919 $54,870 $0
Totals in Red. $525,100,000 total.
Search on Route 58 and scroll thru -- http://syip.virginiadot.org/Pages/allProjects.aspx
Quote from: Beltway on April 07, 2020, 06:15:48 PM
Totals in Red. $525,100,000 total.
Fair estimate, about $27 million per mile. An expensive project nonetheless, though is funded under the US-58 Corridor Development Program through bonds.
Quote from: sprjus4 on April 07, 2020, 06:27:16 PM
Quote from: Beltway on April 07, 2020, 06:15:48 PM
Totals in Red. $525,100,000 total.
Fair estimate, about $27 million per mile. An expensive project nonetheless, though is funded under the US-58 Corridor Development Program through bonds.
Be nice to get it completed to 4 lanes all the way between I-77 and I-64/I-664.
That will leave only the bypasses at Big Stone Gap, Jonesville and Pennington Gap.
The last one is in R/W acquisition --
http://syip.virginiadot.org/Pages/lineitemDetails.aspx?syp_scenario_id=247&line_item_id=27079
Quote from: sprjus4 on April 07, 2020, 06:27:16 PM
Quote from: Beltway on April 07, 2020, 06:15:48 PM
Totals in Red. $525,100,000 total.
Fair estimate, about $27 million per mile. An expensive project nonetheless, though is funded under the US-58 Corridor Development Program through bonds.
Thanks. Price seems quite reasonable.
And of course, in that part of Virginia, probably not so much NIMBY opposition either.
Quote from: Beltway on April 07, 2020, 06:31:59 PM
Be nice to get it completed to 4 lanes all the way between I-77 and I-64/I-664.
Agreed, and will better serve towns and cities along the route connecting to either end, especially for trucks. IIRC, trucks from Martinsville to I-77 or I-81 have to either take US-220 to I-81 at Roanoke, or dip into North Carolina along US-220 and the US-52 freeway, routes that add significant mileage and time, due to truck restrictions on that segment of US-58.
Quote from: sprjus4 on April 07, 2020, 07:20:24 PM
Quote from: Beltway on April 07, 2020, 06:31:59 PM
Be nice to get it completed to 4 lanes all the way between I-77 and I-64/I-664.
Agreed, and will better serve towns and cities along the route connecting to either end, especially for trucks. IIRC, trucks from Martinsville to I-77 or I-81 have to either take US-220 to I-81 at Roanoke, or dip into North Carolina along US-220 and the US-52 freeway, routes that add significant mileage and time, due to truck restrictions on that segment of US-58.
I don't think it will ever be 4-laned between Damascus and Indepedence given the terrain and low traffic. So I-77 and I-81 would provide a route for traffic to bypass that.
Quote from: Beltway on April 07, 2020, 07:20:14 AM
Quote from: plain on April 07, 2020, 03:52:44 AM
I have many memories of this stretch from when I was a kid. It was indeed very dangerous, my pops had a few close calls driving us through here. A lot of people used to pass others over the solid yellow lines (the no passing zones) and it made our travels pretty scary.
It's actually pretty funny to me how the stretch between Emporia and South Hill was 4 lanes before the stretch between Emporia and Courtland was.
Because it was a high-quality 2-lane highway, with wide lanes, decent shoulders and not with much horizontal curvature, and as the article said "carries an estimated 7,355 vehicles a day," which was low enough that it was a pleasant enough drive and had no congestion issues to speak of. The "many trucks" was not really the case, it was about 10%. Clearly lower priority to widen than the other section that you named.
I think you were quoting the wrong dude when posting this, as I never said anything about the truck traffic nor did I say anything about the overall AADT. I was simply stating what I remember from this stretch from when it was still 2 lanes.
Quote from: Beltway on April 07, 2020, 08:24:08 PM
I don't think it will ever be 4-laned between Damascus and Indepedence given the terrain and low traffic. So I-77 and I-81 would provide a route for traffic to bypass that.
Correct, that is what I was referring to. Trucks are currently prohibited west of Stuart, so those looking to get to I-81 South have to go north on US-220 at Martinsville to Roanoke, as opposed to US-58 to I-77 North to I-81 South.
I don't foresee the section between I-77 and I-81 being apart of any long distance 4 lane corridor. As you mention, I-77 and I-81 provide that movement.
Quote from: Beltway on April 07, 2020, 09:53:03 AM
but today ... that section of US-58 had low enough truck volume that it didn't look 'truck busy' and nothing like the effect of I-81.
Agreed for most of the corridor, but the US-58 Suffolk Bypass can get hairy sometimes with the truck traffic.
Quote from: sprjus4 on April 07, 2020, 11:58:31 PM
Quote from: Beltway on April 07, 2020, 09:53:03 AM
but today ... that section of US-58 had low enough truck volume that it didn't look 'truck busy' and nothing like the effect of I-81.
Agreed for most of the corridor, but the US-58 Suffolk Bypass can get hairy sometimes with the truck traffic.
I was referring to the section with 2 lanes that had the high head-on fatal rate, between Emporia and Courtland.
Quote from: sprjus4 on April 07, 2020, 11:57:05 PM
Trucks are currently prohibited west of Stuart, so those looking to get to I-81 South have to go north on US-220 at Martinsville to Roanoke, as opposed to US-58 to I-77 North to I-81 South.
US-58 should be open to large trucks all the way west to I-77 after it is rebuilt to 4 lane divided.
Quote from: Beltway on April 08, 2020, 12:15:21 AM
Quote from: sprjus4 on April 07, 2020, 11:57:05 PM
Trucks are currently prohibited west of Stuart, so those looking to get to I-81 South have to go north on US-220 at Martinsville to Roanoke, as opposed to US-58 to I-77 North to I-81 South.
US-58 should be open to large trucks all the way west to I-77 after it is rebuilt to 4 lane divided.
It most likely will be - the concern I believe were the mountainous stretches.
Edit - Looking at VDOT's Truck Routes map, the segment between Meadows of Dan and Stuart is "Restricted Route - No Tractor Truck Semi-Trailer combinations over 65' total length". The rest of US-58 west of Meadows of Dan is not restricted, though two-lane, albeit straighter. No viable way to bypass that restricted segment though, the other routes are also restricted nearby. The only viable way for a trucker would be US-220 to I-81.
Quote from: sprjus4 on April 08, 2020, 12:16:21 AM
Edit - Looking at VDOT's Truck Routes map, the segment between Meadows of Dan and Stuart is "Restricted Route - No Tractor Truck Semi-Trailer combinations over 65' total length". The rest of US-58 west of Meadows of Dan is not restricted, though two-lane, albeit straighter.
Lovers Leap area, between Meadows of Dan and Stuart. Steep grades, some sharp curves.
Quote from: Beltway on April 08, 2020, 12:20:21 AM
Quote from: sprjus4 on April 08, 2020, 12:16:21 AM
Edit - Looking at VDOT's Truck Routes map, the segment between Meadows of Dan and Stuart is "Restricted Route - No Tractor Truck Semi-Trailer combinations over 65' total length". The rest of US-58 west of Meadows of Dan is not restricted, though two-lane, albeit straighter.
Lovers Leap area, between Meadows of Dan and Stuart. Steep grades, some sharp curves.
Assuming the 4 lane divided highway would be built on new alignment in this area?
There may be a truck prohibition, but there's also a truck escape ramp on eastbound US 58 descending toward the VA 8 intersection.
Quote from: hbelkins on April 08, 2020, 12:03:27 PM
There may be a truck prohibition, but there's also a truck escape ramp on eastbound US 58 descending toward the VA 8 intersection.
The restriction is for trucks over 65 feet in total length. Smaller trucks could presumably still use the route.
It's probably not a bad idea to have the ramp there even with the prohibition simply as a precaution in case a big truck does wind up on that road (regardless of whether the driver just messed up or whether he intentionally ignored the prohibition). I note US-219 just south of Ridgway, Pennsylvania, has at least one runaway truck ramp on the downhill grade approaching the town despite there being a dedicated trucks-only road bypassing the area to the east. I don't know whether the ramp was there before they built the truck road (or, for that matter, whether the truck road is in fact newer), but it seems sensible to have it as a "just in case," especially since there are residential houses at the bottom of that hill.
Heres a detailed update on plans to finish widening US-58 between Hillsville and Stuart: http://www.ctb.virginia.gov/resources/2018/mar/pres/1_route_58.pdf
For the Lover's Leap segment the roadway will indeed be relocated but will still closely parallel the current 2-lane section for the most part.
Quote from: Jmiles32 on April 08, 2020, 08:29:46 PM
Heres a detailed update on plans to finish widening US-58 between Hillsville and Stuart: http://www.ctb.virginia.gov/resources/2018/mar/pres/1_route_58.pdf
For the Lover's Leap segment the roadway will indeed be relocated but will still closely parallel the current 2-lane section for the most part.
Thanks, I was looking for that presentation.
I e-mailed them about that 9% grade, and the problem is that with the topo in that area you basically have a huge change in elevation from one plateau to another. Other than a huge relocation miles away, that is what they have, and not something that a tunnel could address.
It will be slow going for trucks on the upgrade, and given the light traffic (about 5,000 AADT) they said there will not be a third climbing lane.
Quote from: Jmiles32 on April 08, 2020, 08:29:46 PM
Heres a detailed update on plans to finish widening US-58 between Hillsville and Stuart: http://www.ctb.virginia.gov/resources/2018/mar/pres/1_route_58.pdf
For the Lover's Leap segment the roadway will indeed be relocated but will still closely parallel the current 2-lane section for the most part.
It appears for the most part, it will mainly straighten the existing roadway where possible, only relocating where necessary.
Will the new road utilize a consistent typical section as the other sections (40 foot median) or will it have a reduced footprint (I.E. jersey barrier, etc.)?
Quote from: Beltway on April 08, 2020, 09:01:02 PM
I e-mailed them about that 9% grade, and the problem is that with the topo in that area you basically have a huge change in elevation from one plateau to another. Other than a huge relocation miles away, that is what they have, and not something that a tunnel could address.
It will be slow going for trucks on the upgrade, and given the light traffic (about 5,000 AADT) they said there will not be a third climbing lane.
I suppose the bigger concern would be downhill in combination with the straighter alignments. Certainly going to have a few runaway truck ramps needed.
Quote from: sprjus4 on April 08, 2020, 09:06:45 PM
I suppose the bigger concern would be downhill in combination with the straighter alignments. Certainly going to have a few runaway truck ramps needed.
Both directions will have issues. Can a heavily loaded truck maintain at least 25 mph on a grade like that?
Gov. Northam broke ground today on the project to widen Route 58 in Patrick County (https://www.wavy.com/news/virginia/gov-northam-breaks-ground-on-300-million-project-to-widen-route-58-in-patrick-county/).
Quote from: skluth on September 29, 2021, 05:05:42 PM
Gov. Northam broke ground today on the project to widen Route 58 in Patrick County (https://www.wavy.com/news/virginia/gov-northam-breaks-ground-on-300-million-project-to-widen-route-58-in-patrick-county/).
A pretty big change in elevation there. Does anyone know what the steepest grade will be on this new section of U.S. 58?
This was discussed upthread but maybe someone knows now that
final design is complete or nearly complete.
I probably should have mentioned US 58 as among my favorite US routes. From Danville east is agonizing, but it's (for the most part) a really enjoyable drive from Danville west to Cumberland Gap, with two significant exceptions. I never really minded the part between Stuart and Hillsville, but I'm not a fan of the stretch between the VA 16 intersection and Damascus, nor the portion between Bristol and Gate City. I'd like to see some sort of westward or northwestward connection made between the end of the four-lane at Independence and I-81; possibly following VA 16 to Marion. That's the route I always take if I am traveling in that area. I'll use VA 16 to Marion and then take I-81 south rather than following US 58 all the way through the Mt. Rogers area to Damascus.
Between Abingdon and Jonesville, the four-lane follows the Alternate US 58 corridor, but the two-lane segment between US 23 at Duffield and Alt. 58 at Jonesville isn't a bad route.
Quote from: hbelkins on September 30, 2021, 12:20:20 PM
I probably should have mentioned US 58 as among my favorite US routes. From Danville east is agonizing, but it's (for the most part) a really enjoyable drive from Danville west to Cumberland Gap, with two significant exceptions. I never really minded the part between Stuart and Hillsville, but I'm not a fan of the stretch between the VA 16 intersection and Damascus, nor the portion between Bristol and Gate City. I'd like to see some sort of westward or northwestward connection made between the end of the four-lane at Independence and I-81; possibly following VA 16 to Marion. That's the route I always take if I am traveling in that area. I'll use VA 16 to Marion and then take I-81 south rather than following US 58 all the way through the Mt. Rogers area to Damascus.
Between Abingdon and Jonesville, the four-lane follows the Alternate US 58 corridor, but the two-lane segment between US 23 at Duffield and Alt. 58 at Jonesville isn't a bad route.
Thanks for sharing this.
Quote from: hbelkins on September 30, 2021, 12:20:20 PM
I probably should have mentioned US 58 as among my favorite US routes. From Danville east is agonizing, but it's (for the most part) a really enjoyable drive from Danville west to Cumberland Gap, with two significant exceptions. I never really minded the part between Stuart and Hillsville, but I'm not a fan of the stretch between the VA 16 intersection and Damascus, nor the portion between Bristol and Gate City. I'd like to see some sort of westward or northwestward connection made between the end of the four-lane at Independence and I-81; possibly following VA 16 to Marion. That's the route I always take if I am traveling in that area. I'll use VA 16 to Marion and then take I-81 south rather than following US 58 all the way through the Mt. Rogers area to Damascus.
Between Abingdon and Jonesville, the four-lane follows the Alternate US 58 corridor, but the two-lane segment between US 23 at Duffield and Alt. 58 at Jonesville isn't a bad route.
When confronted with US-58/US-221 across Mount Rogers area, I usually have to take I-77 to I-81 even though I prefer the Virginia Creeper route. It's only about 1h20m from Hillsville to Abingdon staying on the Interstate, whereas US-58 isn't even mentioned as an option (66min to Troutdale and another 48min to Abingdon on US-58). Still always wish I had time to go the scenic route.
I've mentioned this before. My preferred route to Boone and Winston-Salem is to take US 58 to Damascus, then VA 91, which becomes TN 91, to Mountain City. From there, US 421 the rest of the way. The posted truck route for US 421 serves as a decent bypass of downtown Boone.
I have been known to go one way (through Boone) if I'm headed to the Triad area and return the other way (US 52/I-74/I-77/I-81.)
The route to Abingdon is pretty much set -- KY 15, US 119, US 23, and Alternate US 58. This is the best way to Bristol as well, although sometimes to change it up I'll dip into Tennessee and then take US 11W north.
I just wonder if Virginia will ever finish the four-lane through or around Jonesville. There's also a two-lane section near Big Stone Gap.
I believe there was once a proposal to extend US 58 to Chattanooga, Tennessee (my only source is the defunct US Highways 1-830 page, which I copied all files onto my computer before it went defunct). Obviously, the extension was rejected, but had the extension been approved, here is how I think it would have gone: followed US 25E to TN 63; followed TN 63 to US 25W; followed US 25W to TN 61; replaced TN 95 to TN 58; replaced TN 58 to Chattanooga, and terminate at the W. 20th St./Broad St. intersection.
Quote from: The Ghostbuster on October 04, 2021, 08:41:38 PM
I believe there was once a proposal to extend US 58 to Chattanooga, Tennessee (my only source is the defunct US Highways 1-830 page, which I copied all files onto my computer before it went defunct). Obviously, the extension was rejected, but had the extension been approved, here is how I think it would have gone: followed US 25E to TN 63; followed TN 63 to US 25W; followed US 25W to TN 61; replaced TN 95 to TN 58; replaced TN 58 to Chattanooga, and terminate at the W. 20th St./Broad St. intersection.
That'd be one hell of a turn in a route that's as close to due east-west as you can get in Appalachia.
Quote from: Alps on October 05, 2021, 12:24:24 AM
Quote from: The Ghostbuster on October 04, 2021, 08:41:38 PM
I believe there was once a proposal to extend US 58 to Chattanooga, Tennessee (my only source is the defunct US Highways 1-830 page, which I copied all files onto my computer before it went defunct). Obviously, the extension was rejected, but had the extension been approved, here is how I think it would have gone: followed US 25E to TN 63; followed TN 63 to US 25W; followed US 25W to TN 61; replaced TN 95 to TN 58; replaced TN 58 to Chattanooga, and terminate at the W. 20th St./Broad St. intersection.
That'd be one hell of a turn in a route that's as close to due east-west as you can get in Appalachia.
The Application for this can be found here: https://grmservices.grmims.com/vsearch/portal/public/na4/aashto/default
Then search TN and "other" document type. The application is the 1941 document and the rejection is in the 1942 document.
The route is a bit different than speculated above...TN 95 didn't exist north of US 70 then, so US 58 would've used TN 61 then today's TN 29 to US 70 then TN 58. Does not say where in Chattanooga the endpoint would've been but most likely it would be 4th/Market or 11th/Market.
The sudden turn sdouth is one of 2 points cited for rejection. The other is that US 11 and US 27 already serve the corridor.
Might be straying into fictional territory here, but I think a logical extension of US 58 would be at least to US 25W. If necessary, it could run concurrent with 25W to I-75. This route is an ADHS corridor so the US designation would be appropriate.
Quote from: hbelkins on October 05, 2021, 03:04:56 PM
Might be straying into fictional territory here, but I think a logical extension of US 58 would be at least to US 25W. If necessary, it could run concurrent with 25W to I-75. This route is an ADHS corridor so the US designation would be appropriate.
Question is, does that serve anything that's worthy of a US Highway connection? I see various options for an extension but nothing that screams "connect me." I like US 58 being the longest single-state US highway except for the tiniest possible piece in TN.
Quote from: Alps on October 05, 2021, 05:59:18 PM
Quote from: hbelkins on October 05, 2021, 03:04:56 PM
Might be straying into fictional territory here, but I think a logical extension of US 58 would be at least to US 25W. If necessary, it could run concurrent with 25W to I-75. This route is an ADHS corridor so the US designation would be appropriate.
Question is, does that serve anything that's worthy of a US Highway connection? I see various options for an extension but nothing that screams "connect me." I like US 58 being the longest single-state US highway except for the tiniest possible piece in TN.
Cumberland Gap, possibly. And it makes for a decent alternate truck route for I-75 if there are issues between the TN 63 exit and the state line, which have happened in the past with breaks and slides.
The tunnel eliminated US 58's single-state status, but it also did away with US 25E's status as having one of the shortest runs of a US route in a state. I think it was less than two miles in Virginia, but the intersection was fully signed with Virginia-standard signage back in the day. I remember it from the late 60s and early 70s. No cutouts, and I never saw updated signage between some of those family trips and the mid-1990s, by which time US 58 had already been extended into Tennessee.