Virginia State Route 128
Encyclopedia
Virginia State Route 128 (SR 128) is a primary state highway
in the U.S. state of Virginia
. Known for most of its length as Mayflower Drive, the state highway runs 3.47 miles (5.6 km) from SR 163
north to U.S. Route 460 Business and US 501 Business within the independent city
of Lynchburg
.
to the south. There is no access from eastbound SR 128 to the southbound expressway; that movement is provided via SR 163. SR 128 and US 501 head east past the River Ridge Mall and across Norfolk Southern Railway
's Danville District. Just east of the railroad, Candlers Mountain Road turns south toward Liberty University
and US 501 continues east to join US 29
and US 460
on their freeway bypass of Lynchburg. SR 128 turns north onto two-lane Mayflower Drive, which heads east through several industrial parks. North of Odd Fellows Road, the state highway veers east and then north again. For its at-grade intersection with Norfolk Southern Railway's Durham District rail line, SR 128 makes a sharp curve east, passes through a hairpin turn
back west, in the middle of which the highway intersects the railroad, and curves north again. North of that railroad crossing, the state highway passes through a residential area and reaches its northern terminus at Campbell Avenue, which features US 460 Business and US 501 Business.
of Lynchburg
.
State highway
State highway, state road or state route can refer to one of three related concepts, two of them related to a state or provincial government in a country that is divided into states or provinces :#A...
in the U.S. state of Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
. Known for most of its length as Mayflower Drive, the state highway runs 3.47 miles (5.6 km) from SR 163
Virginia State Route 163
Virginia State Route 163 is a primary state highway in the U.S. state of Virginia. The state highway runs from U.S. Route 501 and US 29 Business in Lynchburg north to US 29 Business in Madison Heights. SR 163 is the original alignment of US 29 through Lynchburg, a highway has been twice bypassed:...
north to U.S. Route 460 Business and US 501 Business within the independent city
Independent city
An independent city is a city that does not form part of another general-purpose local government entity. These type of cities should not be confused with city-states , which are fully sovereign cities that are not part of any other sovereign state.-Historical precursors:In the Holy Roman Empire,...
of Lynchburg
Lynchburg, Virginia
Lynchburg is an independent city in the Commonwealth of Virginia. The population was 75,568 as of 2010. Located in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains along the banks of the James River, Lynchburg is known as the "City of Seven Hills" or "The Hill City." Lynchburg was the only major city in...
.
Route description
SR 128 begins at an intersection with SR 163 (Wards Road). The state highway heads east as Candlers Mountain Road, a five-lane road with center turn lane. The highway becomes a divided highway at its partial cloverleaf interchange with the Lynchburg Expressway, which carries US 29 Business north and south and US 501U.S. Route 501 in Virginia
U.S. Route 501 is a part of the U.S. Highway System that runs from Myrtle Beach, South Carolina to Buena Vista, Virginia. In Virginia, the U.S. Highway runs from the North Carolina state line near Cluster Springs north to its northern terminus at US 60 in Buena Vista...
to the south. There is no access from eastbound SR 128 to the southbound expressway; that movement is provided via SR 163. SR 128 and US 501 head east past the River Ridge Mall and across Norfolk Southern Railway
Norfolk Southern Railway
The Norfolk Southern Railway is a Class I railroad in the United States, owned by the Norfolk Southern Corporation. With headquarters in Norfolk, Virginia, the company operates 21,500 route miles in 22 eastern states, the District of Columbia and the province of Ontario, Canada...
's Danville District. Just east of the railroad, Candlers Mountain Road turns south toward Liberty University
Liberty University
Liberty University is a private Christian university located in Lynchburg, Virginia. Liberty's annual enrollment is around 72,000 students, 12,000 of whom are residential students and 60,000+ studying through Liberty University Online...
and US 501 continues east to join US 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....
and US 460
U.S. Route 460 in Virginia
U.S. Route 460 in Virginia runs east–west through the southern part of the state. It has two separate pieces in Virginia, joined by a relatively short section in West Virginia...
on their freeway bypass of Lynchburg. SR 128 turns north onto two-lane Mayflower Drive, which heads east through several industrial parks. North of Odd Fellows Road, the state highway veers east and then north again. For its at-grade intersection with Norfolk Southern Railway's Durham District rail line, SR 128 makes a sharp curve east, passes through a hairpin turn
Hairpin turn
A hairpin turn , named for its resemblance to a hairpin/bobby pin, is a bend in a road with a very acute inner angle, making it necessary for an oncoming vehicle to turn almost 180° to continue on the road. Such turns in ramps and trails may be called switchbacks in American English, by analogy...
back west, in the middle of which the highway intersects the railroad, and curves north again. North of that railroad crossing, the state highway passes through a residential area and reaches its northern terminus at Campbell Avenue, which features US 460 Business and US 501 Business.
Major intersections
The entire route is in the independent cityIndependent city
An independent city is a city that does not form part of another general-purpose local government entity. These type of cities should not be confused with city-states , which are fully sovereign cities that are not part of any other sovereign state.-Historical precursors:In the Holy Roman Empire,...
of Lynchburg
Lynchburg, Virginia
Lynchburg is an independent city in the Commonwealth of Virginia. The population was 75,568 as of 2010. Located in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains along the banks of the James River, Lynchburg is known as the "City of Seven Hills" or "The Hill City." Lynchburg was the only major city in...
.