Virginia State Route 130
Encyclopedia
Virginia State Route 130 (SR 130) is a primary state highway
in the U.S. state of Virginia
. The state highway runs 34.69 miles (55.8 km) from U.S. Route 11
(US 11) at Natural Bridge east to SR 669 and SR 670 east of US 29
near Madison Heights
. SR 130 runs concurrently
with US 501
from Glasgow
through the James River
gorge through the Blue Ridge Mountains
, connecting eastern Rockbridge County
with western and southern Amherst County
near Lynchburg
.
. At Natural Bridge Station, SR 130 passes by the southern end of Sallings Mountain and under Norfolk Southern Railway
's Roanoke District. The state highway passes through the town of Glasgow, where the highway has an at-grade intersection with a rail connector between the Roanoke District and CSX
's James River Subdivision. SR 130 exits Glasgow by crossing the Maury River
then meets US 501 (Glasgow Highway) at an intersection east of the river.
SR 130 and US 501 follow the Maury River south to its mouth at the James River, then parallel the James River and the James River Subdivision rail line east through the river's gorge through the Blue Ridge Mountains. Shortly before crossing the Rockbridge–Amherst line, the two highways leave the level of the river and have a curvaceous crossing of the mountain. Shortly after the highways return to water level and the CSX rail line crosses to the south side of the river, US 501 crosses the James River into Bedford County
to head toward Lynchburg. SR 130 continues east as Elon Road, which veers away from the river and has a connecting ramp interchange with the Blue Ridge Parkway
. The state highway crosses the Pedlar River
and passes through a gap in Tobacco Row Mountain before reaching the hamlet of Elon.
SR 130 continues southeast to the northern fringe of Madison Heights, where the highway crosses over Norfolk Southern's Washington District rail line and intersects US 29 Business (Amherst Highway). The state highway widens to four lanes at the intersection and becomes a divided highway, Amelon Expressway, at SR 669 (Amelon Road). SR 130 has an intersection with SR 677 (Dixie Airport Road) just west of its diamond interchange
with US 29. East of the interchange, the state highway becomes a two-lane road to its eastern terminus at the intersection of SR 669 (Glade Road) and SR 670 (Izaak Walton Road).
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...
. The state highway runs 34.69 miles (55.8 km) from U.S. Route 11
U.S. Route 11 in Virginia
U.S. Route 11 in Virginia runs north–south through the western part of the state, parallel to Interstate 81.-History:What is now US 11 was added to the state highway system in 1918 as portions of State Route 10 and State Route 3 . SR 3 became State Route 33 in 1923, and US 11 was applied to...
(US 11) at Natural Bridge east to SR 669 and SR 670 east of 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....
near Madison Heights
Madison Heights, Virginia
Madison Heights is a census-designated place in Amherst County, Virginia, United States. The population was 11,584 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Lynchburg Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:...
. SR 130 runs concurrently
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 501
U.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...
from Glasgow
Glasgow, Virginia
Glasgow is a town in Rockbridge County, Virginia, United States, at the confluence of the James and Maury Rivers. The population was 1,046 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Glasgow is located at ....
through the James River
James River
The James River may refer to:Rivers in the United States and their namesakes* James River * James River , North Dakota, South Dakota* James River * James River * James River...
gorge through the Blue Ridge Mountains
Blue Ridge Mountains
The Blue Ridge Mountains are a physiographic province of the larger Appalachian Mountains range. This province consists of northern and southern physiographic regions, which divide near the Roanoke River gap. The mountain range is located in the eastern United States, starting at its southern-most...
, connecting eastern Rockbridge County
Rockbridge County, Virginia
As of the census of 2000, there were 20,808 people, 8,486 households, and 6,075 families residing in the county. The population density was 35 people per square mile . There were 9,550 housing units at an average density of 16 per square mile...
with western and southern Amherst County
Amherst County, Virginia
As of the census of 2000, there were 31,894 people, 11,941 households, and 8,645 families residing in the county. The population density was 67 people per square mile . There were 12,958 housing units at an average density of 27 per square mile...
near 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 130 begins at US 11 (Lee Highway) in the hamlet of Natural Bridge next to Natural Bridge Hotel. The state highway heads east as two-lane Wert Faulkner Highway, which provides access to the visitor center that serves the underside of the National Historic LandmarkNational Historic Landmark
A National Historic Landmark is a building, site, structure, object, or district, that is officially recognized by the United States government for its historical significance...
. At Natural Bridge Station, SR 130 passes by the southern end of Sallings Mountain and under 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 Roanoke District. The state highway passes through the town of Glasgow, where the highway has an at-grade intersection with a rail connector between the Roanoke District and CSX
CSX Transportation
CSX Transportation operates a Class I railroad in the United States known as the CSX Railroad. It is the main subsidiary of the CSX Corporation. The company is headquartered in Jacksonville, Florida, and owns approximately 21,000 route miles...
's James River Subdivision. SR 130 exits Glasgow by crossing the Maury River
Maury River
The Maury River is a tributary of the James River in west-central Virginia in the United States. Via the James River, it is part of the watershed of Chesapeake Bay.The Maury flows for its entire length in Rockbridge County...
then meets US 501 (Glasgow Highway) at an intersection east of the river.
SR 130 and US 501 follow the Maury River south to its mouth at the James River, then parallel the James River and the James River Subdivision rail line east through the river's gorge through the Blue Ridge Mountains. Shortly before crossing the Rockbridge–Amherst line, the two highways leave the level of the river and have a curvaceous crossing of the mountain. Shortly after the highways return to water level and the CSX rail line crosses to the south side of the river, US 501 crosses the James River into Bedford County
Bedford County, Virginia
As of the census of 2000, there were 60,371 people, 23,838 households, and 18,164 families residing in the county. The population density was 80 people per square mile . There were 26,841 housing units at an average density of 36 per square mile...
to head toward Lynchburg. SR 130 continues east as Elon Road, which veers away from the river and has a connecting ramp interchange with the Blue Ridge Parkway
Blue Ridge Parkway
The Blue Ridge Parkway is a National Parkway and All-American Road in the United States, noted for its scenic beauty. It runs for 469 miles , mostly along the famous Blue Ridge, a major mountain chain that is part of the Appalachian Mountains...
. The state highway crosses the Pedlar River
Pedlar River
The Pedlar River is a tributary of the James River in west-central Virginia in the United States. Via the James River, it is part of the watershed of Chesapeake Bay.The Pedlar River flows for its entire length in western Amherst County...
and passes through a gap in Tobacco Row Mountain before reaching the hamlet of Elon.
SR 130 continues southeast to the northern fringe of Madison Heights, where the highway crosses over Norfolk Southern's Washington District rail line and intersects US 29 Business (Amherst Highway). The state highway widens to four lanes at the intersection and becomes a divided highway, Amelon Expressway, at SR 669 (Amelon Road). SR 130 has an intersection with SR 677 (Dixie Airport Road) just west of its diamond interchange
Diamond interchange
A diamond interchange is a common type of road junction, used where a freeway crosses a minor road. The freeway itself is grade-separated from the minor road, one crossing the other over a bridge...
with US 29. East of the interchange, the state highway becomes a two-lane road to its eastern terminus at the intersection of SR 669 (Glade Road) and SR 670 (Izaak Walton Road).