Military Road (Arlington, Virginia)
Encyclopedia
Military Road is a four-lane arterial road
approximately 3 miles (5 km) in length in Arlington County, Virginia
. It runs primarily in a north-south direction, with its northern terminus at North Old Glebe Road near Virginia State Route 120
and its southern terminus at U.S. Route 29
. Military Road turns into North Quincy Road after crossing U.S. Route 29 in the south.
, during the American Civil War
.
It was constructed through dense forest in just three days by United States Army
troops. It was the first of several "Military Roads" which were built near and through the city of Washington, and which eventually formed a network of such transportation thoroughfares essential to the city's defense. It was extended 5 miles (8 km) south (following what is now U.S. Route 29 east to the Potomac River
, and then roughly following Virginia State Route 110
) in the fall of 1862 and again later in the war until it ended near present-day Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport
.
Military Road remained under the federal government's control for many years. In 1890, the United States Congress
passed legislation improving Military Road and turning it into a wide boulevard for traffic. The road was the subject of a major lawsuit around 1900. Part of Military Road passed through the "Murray estate", a land grant stemming from the early days of European settlement in North America, and the owners of the estate proposed closing the section of the road which passed through their property. Arlington County officials refused to challenge the proposal, claiming this was a fight only for the federal government (owners of the road). The state of Virginia sued the owners, and in Commonwealth v. Howard P. Marshall a state court upheld the state's right to ensure an unimpeded roadway. After the introduction of the automobile, Military Road became a favorite of motorists cutting across Arlington County. In 1909, the federal government began posting military guards along the road to ensure that speed limits were obeyed. Later that year, the federal government won an eminent domain
case against landowners who owned property to the east of Military Road, allowing the street to be expanded by 20 feet (6 m).
The northern end of Military Road assumed its current terminus and shape in 1925. With the construction of Wilson Boulevard and Chain Bridge, major impediments to traffic occurred on the Virginia side of the Potomac River as older streets curved around natural landscape features. Arlington County straightened many of the roads on the eastern approaches to Chain Bridge and truncated others to provide a smoother flow of traffic to and over the bridge. Additionally, the county improved the intersection of several streets with Wilson Boulevard to the south to improve safety and traffic flow. Military Road was one of the streets truncated in the north so that traffic now used North Glebe Road to access the bridge. In the south, Military Road was shortened as Wilson Boulevard was straightened. In 1925, much of Military Road from the foot of the 14th Street Bridge to the junction with Arlington Boulevard
was improved. The road was straightened, widened from 30 feet (9 m) to 60 feet (18 m), and marshland along the side of the road drained.
In 1926, the area's first airport
, Hoover Field
, was built on both sides of Military Road. Hoover Field's single runway was crossed by Military Road, and an airport employee had to stop traffic with a rope when planes landed. When the airport installed a traffic light
to prevent vehicles from crossing the runway when a plane landed, Arlington County officials fined the airport manager for obstructing traffic, and the light was removed. Congress passed legislation in 1938 closing Military Road where it bisected the airport.
Military Road assumed a growing importance in the regional transportation system in the 1930s and 1940s. In August 1931, Arlington County and the U.S. Army agreed to end a dispute over who should continue to maintain the road, with the county taking responsibility for the road itself and the military assuming authority over connections and on/off ramps to nearby military facitilies like Fort Myer
and Arlington National Cemetery
. One of the first traffic lights on Military Road was installed at the street's intersection with Wilson Boulevard in August 1934. In 1937, the federal government offered to sell Military Road to Arlington County for $1, but the country turned down the offer. The usefulness of the southern leg of Military Road from the 14th Street Bridge to Arlington Boulevard declined in the late 1930s. Although it once served as a major feeder street to traffic crossing the 14th Street Bridge, Military Road was severed from this road network in 1939. In 1941, much of Military Road in the vicinity of the 14th Street Bridge was obliterated by construction of The Pentagon
.
The area on either side of Military Road became a fashionable suburb around 1900 and into the early part of the 20th century. In 1967, large homes owned by many wealthy individuals lined what remained of Military Road.
Arterial road
An arterial road, or arterial thoroughfare, is a high-capacity urban road. The primary function of an arterial road is to deliver traffic from collector roads to freeways, and between urban centres at the highest level of service possible. As such, many arteries are limited-access roads, or feature...
approximately 3 miles (5 km) in length in Arlington County, Virginia
Arlington County, Virginia
Arlington County is a county in the Commonwealth of Virginia. The land that became Arlington was originally donated by Virginia to the United States government to form part of the new federal capital district. On February 27, 1801, the United States Congress organized the area as a subdivision of...
. It runs primarily in a north-south direction, with its northern terminus at North Old Glebe Road near Virginia State Route 120
Virginia State Route 120
Virginia State Route 120 is a primary state highway in the U.S. state of Virginia. Known as Glebe Road, the state highway runs from U.S. Route 1 in Crystal City north to SR 123 at the Chain Bridge...
and its southern terminus at U.S. Route 29
U.S. Route 29 in Virginia
U.S. Route 29 is a major north–south route in the Commonwealth of Virginia. It covers from the North Carolina border at the city of Danville to the Key Bridge in Washington, D.C....
. Military Road turns into North Quincy Road after crossing U.S. Route 29 in the south.
Road history
Military Road was built in September 1861 to link several new forts built as part of the defenses of the city of Washington, D.C.Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
, during the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
.
It was constructed through dense forest in just three days by United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
troops. It was the first of several "Military Roads" which were built near and through the city of Washington, and which eventually formed a network of such transportation thoroughfares essential to the city's defense. It was extended 5 miles (8 km) south (following what is now U.S. Route 29 east to the Potomac River
Potomac River
The Potomac River flows into the Chesapeake Bay, located along the mid-Atlantic coast of the United States. The river is approximately long, with a drainage area of about 14,700 square miles...
, and then roughly following Virginia State Route 110
Virginia State Route 110
Virginia State Route 110 is a primary state highway in the U.S. state of Virginia. Known as Jefferson Davis Highway, the state highway runs from U.S. Route 1 and Interstate 395 in Crystal City north to I-66 in Rosslyn within Arlington County...
) in the fall of 1862 and again later in the war until it ended near present-day Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport
Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport
Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport is a public airport located south of downtown Washington, D.C., in Arlington County, Virginia. It is the commercial airport nearest to Washington, D.C. For many decades, it was called Washington National Airport, but this airport was renamed in 1998 to...
.
Military Road remained under the federal government's control for many years. In 1890, the United States Congress
United States Congress
The United States Congress is the bicameral legislature of the federal government of the United States, consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives. The Congress meets in the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C....
passed legislation improving Military Road and turning it into a wide boulevard for traffic. The road was the subject of a major lawsuit around 1900. Part of Military Road passed through the "Murray estate", a land grant stemming from the early days of European settlement in North America, and the owners of the estate proposed closing the section of the road which passed through their property. Arlington County officials refused to challenge the proposal, claiming this was a fight only for the federal government (owners of the road). The state of Virginia sued the owners, and in Commonwealth v. Howard P. Marshall a state court upheld the state's right to ensure an unimpeded roadway. After the introduction of the automobile, Military Road became a favorite of motorists cutting across Arlington County. In 1909, the federal government began posting military guards along the road to ensure that speed limits were obeyed. Later that year, the federal government won an eminent domain
Eminent domain
Eminent domain , compulsory purchase , resumption/compulsory acquisition , or expropriation is an action of the state to seize a citizen's private property, expropriate property, or seize a citizen's rights in property with due monetary compensation, but without the owner's consent...
case against landowners who owned property to the east of Military Road, allowing the street to be expanded by 20 feet (6 m).
The northern end of Military Road assumed its current terminus and shape in 1925. With the construction of Wilson Boulevard and Chain Bridge, major impediments to traffic occurred on the Virginia side of the Potomac River as older streets curved around natural landscape features. Arlington County straightened many of the roads on the eastern approaches to Chain Bridge and truncated others to provide a smoother flow of traffic to and over the bridge. Additionally, the county improved the intersection of several streets with Wilson Boulevard to the south to improve safety and traffic flow. Military Road was one of the streets truncated in the north so that traffic now used North Glebe Road to access the bridge. In the south, Military Road was shortened as Wilson Boulevard was straightened. In 1925, much of Military Road from the foot of the 14th Street Bridge to the junction with Arlington Boulevard
Arlington Boulevard
Arlington Boulevard is a major arterial road in Arlington County, Fairfax County, and the independent City of Fairfax in Northern Virginia in metropolitan Washington, DC, United States. It is designated U.S...
was improved. The road was straightened, widened from 30 feet (9 m) to 60 feet (18 m), and marshland along the side of the road drained.
In 1926, the area's first airport
Airport
An airport is a location where aircraft such as fixed-wing aircraft, helicopters, and blimps take off and land. Aircraft may be stored or maintained at an airport...
, Hoover Field
Hoover Field
Hoover Field was the first airport to serve the city of Washington, D.C. It was constructed as a private airfield in 1925, but opened to public commercial use on July 16, 1926...
, was built on both sides of Military Road. Hoover Field's single runway was crossed by Military Road, and an airport employee had to stop traffic with a rope when planes landed. When the airport installed a traffic light
Traffic light
Traffic lights, which may also be known as stoplights, traffic lamps, traffic signals, signal lights, robots or semaphore, are signalling devices positioned at road intersections, pedestrian crossings and other locations to control competing flows of traffic...
to prevent vehicles from crossing the runway when a plane landed, Arlington County officials fined the airport manager for obstructing traffic, and the light was removed. Congress passed legislation in 1938 closing Military Road where it bisected the airport.
Military Road assumed a growing importance in the regional transportation system in the 1930s and 1940s. In August 1931, Arlington County and the U.S. Army agreed to end a dispute over who should continue to maintain the road, with the county taking responsibility for the road itself and the military assuming authority over connections and on/off ramps to nearby military facitilies like Fort Myer
Fort Myer
Fort Myer is a U.S. Army post adjacent to Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington County, Virginia, across the Potomac River from Washington, D.C. It is a small post by U.S...
and Arlington National Cemetery
Arlington National Cemetery
Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington County, Virginia, is a military cemetery in the United States of America, established during the American Civil War on the grounds of Arlington House, formerly the estate of the family of Confederate general Robert E. Lee's wife Mary Anna Lee, a great...
. One of the first traffic lights on Military Road was installed at the street's intersection with Wilson Boulevard in August 1934. In 1937, the federal government offered to sell Military Road to Arlington County for $1, but the country turned down the offer. The usefulness of the southern leg of Military Road from the 14th Street Bridge to Arlington Boulevard declined in the late 1930s. Although it once served as a major feeder street to traffic crossing the 14th Street Bridge, Military Road was severed from this road network in 1939. In 1941, much of Military Road in the vicinity of the 14th Street Bridge was obliterated by construction of The Pentagon
The Pentagon
The Pentagon is the headquarters of the United States Department of Defense, located in Arlington County, Virginia. As a symbol of the U.S. military, "the Pentagon" is often used metonymically to refer to the Department of Defense rather than the building itself.Designed by the American architect...
.
The area on either side of Military Road became a fashionable suburb around 1900 and into the early part of the 20th century. In 1967, large homes owned by many wealthy individuals lined what remained of Military Road.