U.S. Route 40 in West Virginia
Encyclopedia
In the U.S. state of West Virginia
, U.S. Route 40 (US 40) runs for 16 miles (25.7 km) through the Northern Panhandle
region. The highway enters the state on the Military Order of the Purple Heart bridge concurrent
with US 250, crossing Wheeling Island, before joining Interstate 70
(I-70) over the Fort Henry Bridge
before leaving the interstate. The highway travels north around Wheeling Hill, before traveling through the northeastern suburbs of Wheeling, Triadelphia
and Valley Grove
before entering Pennsylvania. A majority of the route still follows the old National Road
which predates the U.S. Highway System.
.
West Virginia
West Virginia is a state in the Appalachian and Southeastern regions of the United States, bordered by Virginia to the southeast, Kentucky to the southwest, Ohio to the northwest, Pennsylvania to the northeast and Maryland to the east...
, U.S. Route 40 (US 40) runs for 16 miles (25.7 km) through the Northern Panhandle
Northern Panhandle of West Virginia
The Northern Panhandle is a culturally and geographically distinct region in the U.S. state of West Virginia. It is the state's northernmost extension, bounded by the Ohio River on the north and west, along with the state of Pennsylvania on the east...
region. The highway enters the state on the Military Order of the Purple Heart bridge concurrent
Concurrency (road)
A concurrency, overlap, or coincidence in a road network is an instance of one physical road bearing two or more different highway, motorway, or other route numbers...
with US 250, crossing Wheeling Island, before joining Interstate 70
Interstate 70 in West Virginia
Interstate 70 in the U.S. state of West Virginia crosses the Northern Panhandle region, through Ohio County and the city of Wheeling. The shortest segment of I-70 in any state it crosses is the segment in West Virginia, spanning across the panhandle...
(I-70) over the Fort Henry Bridge
Fort Henry Bridge
The Fort Henry Bridge is a crossing of the Ohio River main channel in Wheeling, West Virginia. The tied-arch bridge carries two lanes in each direction of Interstate 70 , U.S. Route 40 , and US 250. The bridge opened after four years of construction work on September 8, 1955, costing $6.8...
before leaving the interstate. The highway travels north around Wheeling Hill, before traveling through the northeastern suburbs of Wheeling, Triadelphia
Triadelphia, West Virginia
Triadelphia is a town in Ohio County, West Virginia, United States. It is part of the Wheeling, West Virginia Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 817 at the 2000 census.Triadelphia was originally chartered in 1829...
and Valley Grove
Valley Grove, West Virginia
Valley Grove is a village in Ohio County, West Virginia, United States. It is part of the Wheeling, West Virginia Metropolitan Statistical Area...
before entering Pennsylvania. A majority of the route still follows the old National Road
National Road
The National Road or Cumberland Road was the first major improved highway in the United States to be built by the federal government. Construction began heading west in 1811 at Cumberland, Maryland, on the Potomac River. It crossed the Allegheny Mountains and southwestern Pennsylvania, reaching...
which predates the U.S. Highway System.
History
Before the construction of I-70, US 40 continued southeast along Zane Street to Virginia Street, crossing the east channel of the Ohio River on the Wheeling Suspension BridgeWheeling Suspension Bridge
The Wheeling Suspension Bridge is a suspension bridge spanning the main channel of the Ohio River at Wheeling, West Virginia. It was the largest suspension bridge in the world from 1849 until the Queenston-Lewiston Bridge was opened in 1851. It was designed by Charles Ellet Jr., who also worked...
.
Major intersections
See also
- Wheeling Suspension BridgeWheeling Suspension BridgeThe Wheeling Suspension Bridge is a suspension bridge spanning the main channel of the Ohio River at Wheeling, West Virginia. It was the largest suspension bridge in the world from 1849 until the Queenston-Lewiston Bridge was opened in 1851. It was designed by Charles Ellet Jr., who also worked...
- Wheeling, West VirginiaWheeling, West VirginiaWheeling is a city in Ohio and Marshall counties in the U.S. state of West Virginia; it is the county seat of Ohio County. Wheeling is the principal city of the Wheeling Metropolitan Statistical Area...