U.S. Route 50 in West Virginia

U.S. Route 50 (US 50) in West Virginia runs from the border with Ohio to Virginia, passing briefly through Garrett County, Maryland, and following the Northwestern Turnpike. Prior to the U.S. Highway System it was West Virginia Route 1 and in the 1930s, the road was not finished in Maryland. Today the section of US 50 from Clarksburg to Parkersburg on the Ohio River is part of Corridor D of the Appalachian Development Highway System.

For much of its length, Route 50 roughly parallels the North Bend Rail Trail and crosses the trail at three places.

Route description

Western segment

US 50 crosses the Ohio River on a bridge, with Blennerhassett Island in the middle of the river. It continues as a freeway with two interchanges at Route 892, and runs concurrently with Route 68 starting at the second interchange up to where it exits and heads into downtown Parkersburg. US 50 stays on the southern shore of the Little Kanawha River, intersecting Route 14 and then after crossing the river, Route 47 and Route 618 before becoming a divided expressway at the I-77 interchange. US 50 then briefly turns south before heading east through the forest. South of Deerwalk, the route runs concurrently with Route 31 for a few miles. In Ellenboro, US 50 has an interchange with Route 16, providing access into the town; an intersection with Route 74 does the same for Pennsboro, and several miles later, Route 18 for West Union. Route 23 intersects the highway west of East Salem and Bristol.

Upon entering Clarksburg, there is a diamond interchange with US 19 and Route 20 before US 50 passes through the town as a freeway, with several interchanges, including another with Route 20. After an interchange with I-79, US 50 becomes Main Street, passing through the city of Bridgeport and intersecting Route 131 and passing south of the North Central West Virginia Airport. The route intersects Route 279 and then runs concurrently with US 250 until just before US 50 enters Fetterman and then Grafton. US 50 intersects US 119 in the eastern part of the city before continuing east through Thornton and curving through the mountains to Evansville. Route 92 briefly runs concurrently with the highway, and Route 26 intersects the route near Fellowsville. After several miles through the forest, Route 72 briefly runs concurrently with the highway before US 50 continues east into Aurora and intersects Route 24. Then, US 50 crosses into Maryland.

Eastern segment

US 50 crosses back into West Virginia over the north bank of the Potomac River. After passing through Gormania, the highway continues through the forest, and runs concurrently with Route 42 from near Mount Storm to near Hartmansville. Near Claysville, the route intersects Route 93, and Route 972 intersect US 50 near New Creek. US 220 runs concurrently with US 50 through Ridgeville, Markwood, and Burlington. At Junction, US 220 splits off to the south, and Route 28 continues east with US 50 through Mechanicsburg and through the river plain. In the town of Romney, US 50 goes through downtown, while Route 28 continues north. The highway goes through Shanks and Frenchburg, as well as Augusta; Route 29 runs concurrently through Pleasantdale. US 50 continues east through Hanging Rock and Loom, crossing the Cacapon River in Capon Bridge. US 50 then continues into Virginia.

Water crossings

* Mill Branch east of Capon Bridge, West Virginia
*Cacapon River via Capon Bridge at Capon Bridge, West Virginia
* North River via Hanging Rock Bridge at Hanging Rock
* Tearcoat Creek via Pleasant Dale Bridge at Pleasant Dale
*North and South Forks of the Little Cacapon River at Frenchburg, West Virginia
* South Branch Potomac River via Romney Bridge at Romney
*Patterson Creek via Patterson Creek Bridge at Burlington
*New Creek via New Creek Bridge at New Creek
*North Branch Potomac River via Gormania Bridge at the state line with Maryland
*Tygart Valley River via US 50 Bridge at Grafton
*West Fork River via US 50 Bridge at Clarksburg
* Ohio River via Blennerhassett Island Bridge at Parkersburg

Historic sites

Mineral County

* Weaver's Antique Service Station
* Claysville Church
* Patterson Creek Manor
* Saddle Mountain
* Travelers Rest

Hampshire County

* Hook's Tavern, 1790
* Capon Bridge
** Frye's Inn, c. 1800
** Amos Pugh House
* Cooper Mountain Overlook
* Hanging Rock
* Straw's Country Store Museum
* Historic Downtown Romney
**West Virginia Schools for the Deaf and Blind, 1846
** Hampshire County Courthouse, 1922
** Literary Hall, 1870
** Indian Mound Cemetery
** Mount Pisgah Benevolence Cemetery
*Fort Mill Ridge Civil War Trenches
* The Burg, built c. 1769
* Sloan–Parker House (Stone House), built 1790

Major intersections

References

External links

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