West Virginia Route 2

Last updated

WV-2.svg
West Virginia Route 2
West Virginia Route 2
Route information
Maintained by WVDOH
Length230.6 mi [1]  (371.1 km)
Existed1920s–present
Major junctions
South endUS 60.svg US 60 in Huntington
Major intersections
North endUS 30.svg US 30 in Chester
Location
Country United States
State West Virginia
Counties Hancock, Brooke, Ohio, Marshall, Wetzel, Tyler, Pleasants, Wood, Jackson, Mason, Cabell
Highway system
WV-972.svg WV 972 WV-3.svg WV 3

West Virginia Route 2 is a state highway in the US state of West Virginia. It generally parallels the Ohio River along the western border of the state, from U.S. Route 60 in Huntington (just west of the East End Bridge) northeasterly to U.S. Route 30 in Chester (just south of the Jennings Randolph Memorial Bridge).

Contents

WV 2 leaves the shores of the Ohio River in two places: between Point Pleasant and Mount Alto (where West Virginia Route 62 follows the river) and between Ravenswood and Waverly (where West Virginia Route 68 mostly follows the river). The entire route is included as a part of the National Highway System, a system of routes determined to be the most important for the nation's economy, mobility, and defense.

Route

Huntington to Parkersburg

WV 2 crosses the Kanawha River over the Bartow Jones Bridge at Point Pleasant, West Virginia Bartow Jones Bridge 2022.jpg
WV 2 crosses the Kanawha River over the Bartow Jones Bridge at Point Pleasant, West Virginia
1909 stone masonry rail bridge crossing WV-2 near Point Pleasant Rail Crossing on West Virginia SR 2.JPG
1909 stone masonry rail bridge crossing WV-2 near Point Pleasant

WV 2 was reconstructed from Lesage to Glenwood as an improved two-lane highway with shoulders on a four-lane right-of-way in the mid-1980s.

Parkersburg to Wheeling

View north along WV 2 at WV 16 in St. Marys 2017-07-23 08 31 11 View north along West Virginia State Route 2 (Second Street) at West Virginia State Route 16 (High Street) in Saint Marys, Pleasants County, West Virginia.jpg
View north along WV 2 at WV 16 in St. Marys

WV 2 follows the Ohio River from Parkersburg to Wheeling. Portions have been upgraded to four and five lanes, with eventual plans to upgrade the entire corridor. [2]

Wheeling to Chester

WV 2 is a variable two-lane and four-lane highway from Wheeling to its northern terminus at Chester.

For a time, Route 2 deviated from its current alignment to follow a more northeasterly route from New Cumberland to US 30 via the unincorporated area of New Manchester. The current alignment of WV 2 passing the Mountaineer Race Track and Gaming Resort to US 30 was formerly numbered WV 66 and is reflected as such in many of the county highways in the area. The former routing of WV 2 is now WV 8.

On June 23, 2000, work began on a project that widened WV 2 from two to four lanes from Weirton at US 22 (Robert C. Byrd Expressway) south to CR 8 near Follansbee. The project length was just 0.9 miles. Work was supposed to be complete by June 2001, however, construction wrapped up on October 31 at a cost of $21,444,875. [3] The project entailed stabilizing the hillside by reshaping the highwall, widening the roadway with four 12-foot (3.7 m) lanes, creating 10-foot (3.0 m) outside shoulders, and 8-foot (2.4 m) interior shoulders. 3.9 million cubic yards of earth were removed during the excavation process.

A roadside hot dog stand, Hillbilly Hot Dogs, located along WV 2 in Lesage. HillbillyHotDogs.jpg
A roadside hot dog stand, Hillbilly Hot Dogs, located along WV 2 in Lesage.

One year later, the highway widening project progressed further south for 2.5 miles (4.0 km). [4]

Notes

Major intersections

CountyLocationmikmDestinationsNotes
Cabell Huntington 0.00.0US 60.svgTo plate blue.svg
I-64.svg
US 60 to I-64  Downtown Huntington, Proctorville
Southern terminus of WV 2
South plate.svg
WV-193.svg
To plate blue.svg
I-64.svg
To plate.svg
US 60.svg
WV 193 south to I-64  / US 60  Barboursville
Northern terminus of WV 193
Mason Henderson US 35.svg US 35  Chillicothe, Ohio, Charleston Interchange
HendersonPoint Pleasant line Bartow Jones Bridge over Kanawha River
Point Pleasant To plate.svg
WV-62.svg
To Viand Street north / WV 62  Point Pleasant, Mason
North plate.svg
WV-62.svg
WV 62 north Mason
Southern terminus of first WV 62 concurrency
South plate.svg
WV-62.svg
WV 62 south Buffalo
Northern terminus of first WV 62 concurrency
East plate.svg
WV-87.svg
WV 87 east Evans
Western terminus of WV 87
Jackson Mount Alto South plate.svg
WV-62.svg
East plate.svg
WV-331.svg
WV 62 south / WV 331 east New Haven, Cottageville
Southern terminus of second WV 62 concurrency
North plate.svg
WV-62.svg
WV 62 north Ripley
Northern terminus of second WV 62 concurrency
Ravenswood West plate.svg
US 33.svg
North plate.svg
WV-68.svg
US 33 west / WV 68 north Ravenswood, Columbus, OH
Southern terminus of US 33 concurrency
Silverton South plate blue.svg
I-77.svg
East plate.svg
US 33.svg
East plate.svg
Circle sign 56.svg
I-77 south / US 33 east / CR 56 east (Green Hills Road) Ripley, Charleston
Northern terminus of US 33 concurrency; southern terminus of I-77 concurrency; WV 2 south follows exit 146
see I-77
Wood North plate blue.svg
I-77.svg
South plate.svg
WV-68.svg
I-77 north / WV 68 south (Emerson Avenue) Marietta, OH, Vienna, Ohio Valley University
Northern terminus of I-77 concurrency; WV 2 north follows exit 179
South plate.svg
WV-31.svg
WV 31 south Deerwalk
Southern terminus of WV 31 concurrency
North plate.svg
WV-31.svg
Airport Sign.svg WV 31 north MOV Regional Airport, Williamstown
Northern terminus of WV 31 concurrency
Pleasants To plate.svg
OH-7.svg
To SR 7  / Carpenter Memorial Bridge (WV 807) Newport, OH
St. Marys South plate.svg
WV-16.svg
WV 16 south Ellenboro, Pleasants County Park
Northern terminus of WV 16
Tyler Sistersville South plate.svg
WV-18.svg
WV 18 south Middlebourne
Northern terminus of WV 18
Ferry Sign.svg Charles Street – Sistersville Ferry
Wetzel South plate.svg
WV-180.svg
WV 180 south Middlebourne
Northern terminus of WV 180
New Martinsville East plate.svg
WV-7.svg
To plate.svg
WV-20.svg
WV 7 east to WV 20
Southern terminus of WV 7 concurrency
OH-7.svg SR 7  / New Martinsville Bridge (WV 7 west) Ohio Interchange; northern terminus of WV 7 concurrency
Proctor Circle sign 89.svg CR 89 Western terminus of CR 89; formerly WV 89
Marshall North plate.svg
Alt plate.svg
WV-2.svg
WV 2 Alt. north (Round Bottom Hill Road)
Southern terminus of Alternate WV 2
South plate.svg
Alt plate.svg
WV-2.svg
Circle sign 21.svgAirport Sign.svg WV 2 Alt. south / CR 21 (Roberts Ridge Road) Airport
Northern terminus of Alternate WV 2
Moundsville To plate.svg
OH-7.svg
To 12th Street / Moundsville Bridge (WV 2 Spur) / SR 7  Bellaire, OH, Powhatan Point, OH
South plate.svg
US 250.svg
US 250 south – Central Business District, Cameron, Grand Vue Park
Southern terminus of US 250 concurrency; southbound exit and northbound entrance
To plate.svg
US 250.svg
To 7th Street south / US 250  Grand Vue Park
Glen Dale North plate.svg
WV-86.svg
WV 86 north
Southern terminus of WV 86
McMechen East Baltimore Street – McMechen Northbound exit only
12th Street – McMechen
3rd Street – McMechen Northbound access only; Southern terminus of freeway
Benwood South Marshall Street – Benwood, McMechen
Bellaire Bridge Former interchange
4th Street – Benwood
Circle sign 1.svg CR 1 (Boggs Run Road)
Ohio Wheeling I-470.svg I-470  / 26th StreetI-470 exit 1
North plate.svg
US 250.svg
To plate blue.svg
I-70.svg
US 250 north to I-70  Columbus, Washington
Interchange; northbound exit and southbound entrance; northern terminus of US 250 concurrency; northern terminus of freeway
10th Street (Wheeling Suspension Bridge)
I-70.svgWest plate.svg
US 40.svg
I-70  / US 40 west Columbus, Washington
Southern terminus of US 40 concurrency; I-70 exit 1A
East plate.svg
US 40.svg
To plate blue.svg
East plate blue.svg
I-70.svg
US 40 east (National Road) to I-70 east
Northern terminus of US 40 concurrency
Brooke Wellsburg East plate.svg
WV-67.svg
WV 67 east Bethany, West Liberty University, Bethany College
Western terminus of WV 67
East plate.svg
WV-27.svg
WV 27 east (10th Street)
Western terminus of WV 27
Follansbee East plate.svg
Alt plate.svg
WV-27.svg
WV 27 Alt. east
Western terminus of Alternate WV 27
Market Street BridgeSteubenville
West plate.svg
US 22.svg
US 22 west Steubenville, Ohio
Interchange; southern terminus of US 22 concurrency; WV 2 south follows exit 1
Weirton Junction East plate.svg
US 22.svg
US 22 east Pittsburgh
Interchange; northern terminus of US 22 concurrency; WV 2 north follows exit 2
Hancock Weirton West plate.svg
Ellipse sign 507.svg
CR 507 west (Freedom Way)
Western terminus of CR 507 concurrency
East plate.svg
Ellipse sign 507.svg
CR 507 east (Cove Road)
Eastern terminus of CR 507 concurrency
East plate.svg
WV-105.svg
WV 105 east (Penn Avenue)
Western terminus of WV 105
New Cumberland North plate.svg
WV-8.svg
WV 8 north New Manchester
Southern terminus of WV 8
Newell Wayne Six Toll Bridge
Chester 230.6371.1US 30.svg US 30  East Liverpool, Pittsburgh Interchange; northern terminus of WV 2
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi
  •       Closed/former
  •        Concurrency terminus

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">U.S. Route 22</span> Highway in the United States

U.S. Route 22 (US 22) is a major east–west route and one of the original United States Numbered Highways, founded in 1926. It runs from Cincinnati, Ohio, at US 27, US 42, US 127, and US 52 to Newark, New Jersey, at US 1/9 at the Newark Airport Interchange.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Interstate 68</span> Interstate in West Virginia and Maryland

Interstate 68 (I-68) is a 113.15-mile (182.10 km) Interstate Highway in the U.S. states of West Virginia and Maryland, connecting I-79 in Morgantown, West Virginia, east to I-70 in Hancock, Maryland. I-68 is also Corridor E of the Appalachian Development Highway System (ADHS). From 1965 until the freeway's construction was completed in 1991, it was designated as U.S. Route 48 (US 48). In Maryland, the highway is known as the National Freeway, an homage to the historic National Road, which I-68 parallels between Keysers Ridge and Hancock. The freeway mainly spans rural areas and crosses numerous mountain ridges along its route. A road cut at Sideling Hill exposed geological features of the mountain and has become a tourist attraction.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">U.S. Route 19</span> Highway in the United States

U.S. Route 19 or U.S. Highway 19 (US 19) is a north–south United States Numbered Highway in the Eastern United States. Despite encroaching Interstate Highways, the route has remained a long-haul road, connecting the Gulf of Mexico with Lake Erie.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">U.S. Route 35</span> Highway in the United States

U.S. Route 35 (US 35) is a United States Highway that runs southeast-northwest for approximately 412 miles (663 km) from the western suburbs of Charleston, West Virginia to northern Indiana. Although the highway is physically southeast-northwest, it is nominally north–south. The highway's southern terminus is in Teays Valley, West Virginia, near Scott Depot, at Interstate 64 (I-64). Its northern terminus is near Michigan City, Indiana, at US 20. The West Virginia portion of the highway is mostly expressway, becoming a freeway shortly before it crosses the Ohio River into Ohio. The Ohio portion has been upgraded to a four-lane highway/freeway between the West Virginia state line and Trotwood, west of Dayton.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">U.S. Route 119</span> Highway in the United States

U.S. Route 119 (US 119) is a spur of US 19. It is a north–south route that was an original United States highway of 1926. It is Corridor G of the Appalachian Development Highway System (ADHS) east of US 23 and KY 80 in Kentucky to Interstate 64 at Charleston, West Virginia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">U.S. Route 48</span> Highway in the United States

U.S. Route 48 (US 48), also known as the incomplete Corridor H of the Appalachian Development Highway System, extends from Interstate 79 (I-79) in Weston, West Virginia, eastward across the crest of the Allegheny Mountains to I-81 in Strasburg, Virginia. It is planned to extend 157 miles (253 km) from northwestern Virginia to central West Virginia.

In the United States, Corridor D is part of the Appalachian Development Highway System. In Ohio, it follows State Route 32 from the eastern Cincinnati suburbs until a point west of Albany, where it becomes concurrent with U.S. Route 50. After crossing into West Virginia, it follows U.S. Route 50 until the Interstate 79 interchange in Clarksburg.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ohio State Route 833</span> State highway in Meigs County, Ohio, US

State Route 833 (SR 833) is a 5.10-mile (8.21 km) long east–west state highway in the southern portion of the U.S. state of Ohio. Its western terminus is at the West Virginia state line in Pomeroy, where it provides a connection to West Virginia Route 62 (WV 62) via the Pomeroy-Mason Bridge across the Ohio River. Its eastern terminus is at an interchange with U.S. Route 33, SR 7, and SR 124 approximately 2 miles (3.2 km) north of Pomeroy.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ohio State Route 7</span> State highway in Ohio, US

State Route 7 (SR 7), formerly known as Inter-county Highway 7 until 1921 and State Highway 7 in 1922, is a north–south state highway in the southern and eastern portions of the U.S. state of Ohio. At about 336 miles (541 km) in length, it is the longest state route in Ohio. Its southern terminus is an interchange with U.S. Route 52 (US 52) just west of Chesapeake. Its northern terminus also serves as the eastern terminus of SR 531 in Conneaut. The path of SR 7 stays within five miles (8.0 km) of the Ohio River for the southern portion, with the river being visible from much of the route. The road also remains within 10 miles (16 km) of the Pennsylvania state line for the northern portion.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">West Virginia Route 9</span> State highway in West Virginia, United States

West Virginia Route 9 (WV 9) is a major east–west state highway located in the eastern extents of West Virginia's Eastern Panhandle. The western terminus of the route is at the Maryland state line on the north edge of Paw Paw, where WV 9 becomes Maryland Route 51 (MD 51) upon crossing the Potomac River. The eastern terminus is at the Virginia state line at Keyes Gap near Mannings, West Virginia, where WV 9 continues onward as Virginia State Route 9 (SR 9).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">U.S. Route 30 in Pennsylvania</span> Highway in Pennsylvania

U.S. Route 30 (US 30) is a U.S. Highway that runs east–west across the southern part of Pennsylvania, passing through Pittsburgh and Philadelphia on its way from the West Virginia state line east to the Benjamin Franklin Bridge over the Delaware River into New Jersey.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">U.S. Route 52 in West Virginia</span> Section of U.S. highway in West Virginia

U.S. Route 52 (US 52) skirts the western fringes of the U.S. state of West Virginia. It runs from the Virginia state line near Bluefield, where it is concurrent with Interstate 77 (I-77), in a general northwest and north direction to I-64 at Kenova. There it turns east, overlapping I-64 for five miles (8.0 km) before splitting off onto the West Huntington Expressway into Ohio via the West Huntington Bridge. Despite having an even number, US 52 is signed north–south in West Virginia. In some other states along its route, it is signed east-west. The West Virginia segment is signed such that US 52 north corresponds to the general westward direction of the highway, and vice versa. For a while, US 52 parallels US 23, which is on the other side of the Big Sandy River in Kentucky. This continues into Ohio, where US 52 travels on the Ohio side of the Ohio River while US 23 travels on the Kentucky side.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Interstate 77 in West Virginia</span> Section of Interstate Highway in West Virginia, United States

Interstate 77 (I-77) in the US state of West Virginia is a major north–south Interstate Highway. It extends for 187.21 miles (301.29 km) between Bluefield at the Virginia state line and Williamstown at the Ohio state line.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Interstate 64 in West Virginia</span> Highway in West Virginia

Interstate 64 (I-64) is an Interstate Highway in the US state of West Virginia. It travels east–west through the state for 189 miles (304 km) passing by the major towns and cities of Huntington, Charleston, Beckley, and Lewisburg.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Roads in Charleston, West Virginia</span>

The roads of Charleston, West Virginia, include three major interstate highways, several U.S. highways and state routes, and numerous major thoroughfares.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Weirton–Steubenville metropolitan area</span> Metropolitan Statistical Area in the United States

The Weirton–Steubenville, WV–OH Metropolitan Statistical Area, also known as the Upper Ohio Valley, is a metropolitan statistical area consisting of two counties in the Northern Panhandle of West Virginia and one in Ohio, anchored by the cities of Weirton and Steubenville. As of the 2020 census, the MSA had a population of 116,903. This puts it at 334th largest in the United States. It is also included in the larger Pittsburgh–New Castle–Weirton, PA–OH–WV Combined Statistical Area.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Interstate 70 in West Virginia</span> Highway in West Virginia

Interstate 70 (I-70) is a portion of the Interstate Highway System that runs from near Cove Fort, Utah, at a junction with I-15 to Baltimore, Maryland. It crosses the Northern Panhandle of West Virginia through Ohio County and the city of Wheeling. This segment is the shortest of all states through which I-70 passes, crossing West Virginia for only 14.45 miles (23.26 km). The Fort Henry Bridge carries I-70 from Wheeling Island across the Ohio River and into downtown Wheeling before the freeway enters the Wheeling Tunnel. I-470, a southerly bypass of Wheeling and the lone auxiliary Interstate Highway in West Virginia, is intersected near Elm Grove. Before crossing into Pennsylvania, I-70 passes The Highlands, a major shopping center in the panhandle, and the Bear Rocks Lake Wildlife Management Area. On average, between 27,000 and 53,000 vehicles use the freeway every day.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">U.S. Route 250 in Ohio</span> Section of U.S. Numbered Highway in Ohio, US

U.S. Route 250 (US 250) is a United States Numbered Highway that runs from Sandusky, Ohio to Richmond, Virginia. Within the state of Ohio, the route runs from US 6 in Sandusky to the West Virginia border at Bridgeport.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Market Street Bridge (Ohio River)</span> Bridge over the Ohio River near Steubenville, Ohio, United States

The Market Street Bridge is a suspension bridge connecting Market Street in Steubenville, Ohio and West Virginia Route 2 in Follansbee, West Virginia over the Ohio River. As a project of the Steubenville Bridge Company, it was constructed in 1905 by the Ohio Steel Erection Company, the framework was created by the Penn Bridge Company, and the original steel was done by Jones and Laughlin Steel Company and Bethlehem Steel. The bridge spans a length of 1,794 feet (547 m) with a width of 20.7 feet (6.3 m). As of 2002, the average daily traffic was estimated around 15,000 vehicles. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2019.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">West Virginia's 1st Senate district</span> American legislative district

West Virginia's 1st Senate district is one of 17 districts in the West Virginia Senate. It is currently represented by Republicans Ryan Weld and Laura Chapman. All districts in the West Virginia Senate elect two members to staggered four-year terms.

References

  1. Distance calculated using Microsoft MapPoint mapping software.
  2. "Route 2 | I-68 Authority".
  3. "WV 2 Project Follansbee-Weirton Road II." West Virginia Department of Transportation. Nov. 1, 2006
  4. "Panhandle Archaic." West Virginia Department of Culture. Nov. 1, 2006
  5. THURSDAY, 26 OCTOBER 2006 The Writer's Almanac from American Public Media.