A 9.06-mile route, Virginia 37 currently loops around the city of Winchester between Exits 310 of Interstate 81 and U.S. 11 near Exit 317 of the freeway. Most of the route is a limited access freeway, except for the diamond interchange at the south end and the short stretch of Martinsburg Pike between the state route end and Interstate 81.
The official Virginia highway map shows a proposed extension of Virginia 37 east from Exit 310 to U.S. 17 & 50. One project underway, with an original expected completion by the end of 2010, is the Exit 310 interchange modification project. Work here replaced ramps between I-81 and VA 37 in a "spread diamond configuration." This entailed pushing the diamond interchange footprint further out, allowing for potential loop or flyover ramps to be constructed later. The new configuration was partially completed by November 2016, when new northbound ramps between I-81 and VA 37 opened to traffic and the expanded loop ramp from VA 37 north to U.S. 11 was completed. Follow up construction on the $25 million project runs through spring 2007 involving work on the I-81 southbound ramps.1
Additional work will extend Virginia 37 slightly eastward to coincide with a relocation of the northbound side I-81 frontage road to meet at a new at-grade intersection. The frontage roads of Tasker Road and Hillandale Lane were relocated 1,100 feet to the east and opened to traffic on June 14, 2016.1 The VA 37 freeway ends with a half diamond interchange built at the new alignments. Additional details of the overall construction can be found at the VDOT Kernstown Interchange project web site.
Further in the future, Virginia 37 may entail a full loop around the Winchester area. The eastern portions of the alignment are in the study stage at this time. Thanks goes to Mike Roberson for details of both projects.
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| Virginia 37 north starts from the north side frontage roads of I-81 of Tasker Road and Hillandale Lane. A diamond interchange follows with I-81 to the south of Winchester. The freeway portion of the state route commences after the signalized intersection with the southbound on-ramp to Interstate 81.
The ramp pictured here was shifted slightly further to the west as a result of the Kernstown Interchange project. Photo taken 07/16/05. |
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| A folded diamond interchange immediately follows Interstate 81 with U.S. 11 (Valley Pike). U.S. 11 follows Valley Pike northward onto Valley Avenue for Kernstown and downtown Winchester.
The Kernstown Interchange project removed the northbound ramp to U.S. 11 from Virginia 37 to accommodate the new southbound ramps with I-81. All movements to Valley Pike are now handled by the previously southbound-only loop ramp for U.S. 11. Photo taken 07/16/05. |
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| A loop ramp carries northbound drivers from Virginia 37 onto U.S. 11 (Valley Pike) south to Stephens City. A number of industrial and business parks line Valley Pike in both directions of the freeway.
Work completed in November 2016 expanded the loop ramp to include a left turn lane for movements to U.S. 11 north. Photo taken 07/16/05. |
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| A northbound reassurance shield for Virginia 37 resides ahead of the U.S. 11 on-ramp. The freeway is officially designated the Congressman J. Kenneth Robinson Parkway. Photo taken 07/16/05. |
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| Shady Elm Road (Virginia Secondary 651) passes over Virginia 37 beyond the second northbound shield. Photo taken 07/16/05. |
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| Next in line for northbound drivers is the diamond interchange with Virginia Secondary 622 (Cedar Creek Grade). Photo taken 07/16/05. |
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| Virginia Secondary 622 follows Cedar Creek Grade east to U.S. 11 (Valley Avenue) at Weems Lane in Winchester and southwest to nearby Opequon and Marlboro. Photo taken 07/16/05. |
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| Continuing north along Virginia 37 through rural areas west of Winchester. Photo taken 07/16/05. |
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| U.S. 50 follows Amherst Street west from downtown Winchester to meet Virginia 37 at a diamond interchange near Winchester Medical Center. The four-lane divided highway joins the city with Round Hill, Hayfield, Gore, and Romney, West Virginia. Use U.S. 50 to reach the Museum of the Shenandoah Valley. Photo taken 07/16/05. |
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| Interests to Winchester Medical Center are directed one exit north from U.S. 50 along Virginia 37 to the Campus Boulevard trumpet interchange. Photo taken 07/16/05. |
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| Portions of Winchester Medical Center come into view by this Virginia 37 shield posted after U.S. 50. Photo taken 07/16/05. |
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| Campus Boulevard begins and meanders south from Virginia 37 to the medical complex and U.S. 50 (Amherst Street). The northbound lanes follow the independent city limits of Winchester along this stretch. Photo taken 07/16/05. |
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| A short distance north of Campus Boulevard is the diamond interchange with U.S. 522 (North Frederick Pike). U.S. 522 angles northwest from U.S. 11 and Fairmont Avenue in Winchester to Albin, crossing Flint Ridge en route to Gainesboro and Berkeley Springs, West Virginia. Photo taken 07/16/05. |
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| Looking at the U.S. 522 off-ramp from Virginia 37 north. The freeway turns east at this point to its merge with U.S. 11. U.S. 522 travels 165 miles overall within Virginia between U.S. 60 at Powhatan and the state line north of Cross Junction. Photo taken 07/16/05. |
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| One mile west of the wye interchange merge of the Virginia 37 freeway with U.S. 11 (Martinsburg Pike) north. A connector ramp to Cives Lane provides return access to Winchester via Martinsburg Pike south. Photo taken 07/16/05. |
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| One of several Interstate 81 trailblazers that are periodically posted along the Virginia 37 freeway. Photo taken 07/16/05. |
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| Drivers bound for U.S. 11 (Martinsburg Pike) south to Winchester depart Virginia 37 north. Areas both south and north of the U.S. 11 & Virginia 37 merge are home to a great number of industrial parks and warehouses. Photo taken 07/16/05. |
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| Virginia 37 merges with U.S. 11 north and ends. An at-grade intersection with Crown Lane provides return access to Virginia 37 south for motorists arriving from Martinsburg Pike north. Photo taken 07/16/05. |
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| Crown Lane spurs north to an industrial business opposite Pactive Way south. Pactive Way and adjacent Precision Drive provide the driveways to adjacent warehouse type businesses. Photo taken 07/16/05. |
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| Virginia Secondary 611 (Welltown Road) stems north from U.S. 11 (Martinsburg Pike) opposite SSR 839 (Amoco Lane) south. Welltown Road veers northwest from Interstate 81 to Welltown and Grimes. Photo taken 07/16/05. |
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| U.S. 11 (Martinsburg Pike) enters a diamond interchange with Interstate 81 (Exit 317). Photo taken 07/16/05. |
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| Motorists bound for Harrisonburg, Staunton, and Roanoke leave U.S. 11 (Martinsburg Pike) north for Interstate 81 south back into Winchester. U.S. 11 north continues to Stephenson and Clear Brook parallel to the freeway. Photo taken 07/16/05. |
Sources:
- "Interstate 81 exit 310 traffic changes coming." Winchester Star, The, November 16, 2016.
Photo Credits:07/16/05 by AARoads
Connect with:
Interstate 81
U.S. 11
U.S. 522
Page Updated 11-28-2016.
