Virginia State Route 287
Encyclopedia
Virginia State Route 287 (SR 287) is a primary state highway
in the U.S. state
of Virginia
. Known as Berlin Pike, the state highway runs 12.67 miles (20.4 km) from SR 7 Business in Purcellville
north to the Maryland
state line at the Potomac River
near Lovettsville
, where the highway continues as Maryland Route 17
(MD 17). SR 287 is the main north–south highway of the Catoctin Valley
of northern Loudoun County
.
. At the north town limit of Purcellville, SR 287 meets SR 7
(Harry Byrd Highway) at a diamond interchange. Within this interchange, SR 287 parallels the Washington and Old Dominion Trail, whose western terminus is in Purcellville. The rail trail
intersects the highway on its way east toward Leesburg
immediately north of the interchange. SR 287 heads north through a mix of farmland and houses on large lots, crossing the South Fork of Catoctin Creek
. In the hamlet of Wheatland
, the state highway intersects SR 9
and crosses the North Fork of Catoctin Creek. SR 287 passes to the east of Morrisonville
and crosses over Milltown Creek on its way to Lovettsville. At the southern town limit, Loudoun Street continues straight along the highway's alignment while SR 287 veers slightly northwest. In the center of the town, SR 287 joins SR 673 (Broadway) in a concurrency
as a one-way street
around Lovettsville's town square
. North of Lovettsville, the state highway has a curvy alignment as it descends toward the Potomac River. SR 287 reaches its northern terminus at the Maryland state line on the river's south bank. The roadway continues north across the Brunswick Bridge as MD 17 into the town of Brunswick (formerly Berlin).
{| class=wikitable
!Location
!Mile
!Destinations
!Notes
|-
|rowspan=2|Purcellville
|0.00
|
|Southern terminus
|-
|0.55
|
|Diamond interchange
|-
|Wheatland
|3.76
|
|
|-
|Lovettsville
|
|
|SR 287 and SR 673 run concurrently
as a one-way street
around Lovettsville's town square
|-
|
|12.67
|
|Northern terminus; Maryland
state line at Brunswick Bridge over Potomac River
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
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
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 as Berlin Pike, the state highway runs 12.67 miles (20.4 km) from SR 7 Business in Purcellville
Purcellville, Virginia
Purcellville is a town in the Loudoun Valley of Loudoun County, Virginia, United States. The population was 3,584 at the 2000 census, but has undergone considerable growth since then. Purcellville is the major population center for western Loudoun and the Loudoun Valley...
north to the Maryland
Maryland
Maryland is a U.S. state located in the Mid Atlantic region of the United States, bordering Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware to its east...
state line at 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...
near Lovettsville
Lovettsville, Virginia
Lovettsville is a town in Loudoun County, Virginia, United States. The population was 853 at the 2000 census. The 2005-2009 American Community Survey estimated the population at 1187.-History:Following the 1722 Treaty of St...
, where the highway continues as Maryland Route 17
Maryland Route 17
Maryland Route 17 is a state highway in the U.S. state of Maryland. The state highway begins at the Virginia state line at the Potomac River in Brunswick, where the highway continues south as Virginia State Route 287 . MD 17 runs north from the Brunswick Bridge to the Frederick–Washington...
(MD 17). SR 287 is the main north–south highway of the Catoctin Valley
Catoctin Valley
The Catoctin Valley is a small valley, geographically and culturally associated with the larger Loudoun Valley in Loudoun County, Virginia.-Geography:...
of northern Loudoun County
Loudoun County, Virginia
Loudoun County is a county located in the Commonwealth of Virginia, and is part of the Washington Metropolitan Area. As of the 2010 U.S. Census, the county is estimated to be home to 312,311 people, an 84 percent increase over the 2000 figure of 169,599. That increase makes the county the fourth...
.
Route description
SR 287 begins at an intersection with SR 7 Business (Main Street) on the east side of Purcellville. The state highway heads north as a two-lane road that passes between a residential subdivision and Patrick Henry CollegePatrick Henry College
Patrick Henry College is a private, independent college with Evangelical Christian basis that focuses on teaching classical liberal arts and government, located in Purcellville, Virginia, United States The first college in the United States founded specifically for Christian home-schooled...
. At the north town limit of Purcellville, SR 287 meets SR 7
Virginia State Route 7
State Route 7 is a major primary state highway and busy commuter route in Northern Virginia, United States. It travels southeast from downtown Winchester to State Route 400 in downtown Alexandria...
(Harry Byrd Highway) at a diamond interchange. Within this interchange, SR 287 parallels the Washington and Old Dominion Trail, whose western terminus is in Purcellville. The rail trail
Rail trail
A rail trail is the conversion of a disused railway easement into a multi-use path, typically for walking, cycling and sometimes horse riding. The characteristics of former tracks—flat, long, frequently running through historical areas—are appealing for various development. The term sometimes also...
intersects the highway on its way east toward Leesburg
Leesburg, Virginia
Leesburg is a historic town in, and county seat of, Loudoun County, Virginia, United States of America. Leesburg is located west-northwest of Washington, D.C. along the base of the Catoctin Mountain and adjacent to the Potomac River. Its population according the 2010 Census is 42,616...
immediately north of the interchange. SR 287 heads north through a mix of farmland and houses on large lots, crossing the South Fork of Catoctin Creek
Catoctin Creek (Virginia)
Catoctin Creek is a tributary of the Potomac River in Loudoun County, Virginia, with a watershed of . Agricultural lands make up 67 percent and forests 30 percent of Catoctin Creek's watershed...
. In the hamlet of Wheatland
Wheatland, Virginia
Wheatland is an unincorporated community in Loudoun County, Virginia located north of Purcellville and south of Lovettsville on Berlin Turnpike...
, the state highway intersects SR 9
Virginia State Route 9
Virginia State Route 9 is a primary state highway in the U.S. state of Virginia. Known as Charles Town Pike, the state highway runs from the West Virginia state line near Mechanicsville, where the highway continues west as West Virginia Route 9 , east to SR 7 and SR 7 Business near Paeonian...
and crosses the North Fork of Catoctin Creek. SR 287 passes to the east of Morrisonville
Morrisonville, Virginia
Morrisonville is an unincorporated community in northern Loudoun County, Virginia, USA. It is located on Morrisonville Road . It is notable as being the birthplace of the Pulitzer Prize winning author Russell Baker....
and crosses over Milltown Creek on its way to Lovettsville. At the southern town limit, Loudoun Street continues straight along the highway's alignment while SR 287 veers slightly northwest. In the center of the town, SR 287 joins SR 673 (Broadway) in a concurrency
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...
as a one-way street
One-way traffic
One-way traffic is traffic that moves in a single direction. A one-way street is a street either facilitating only one-way traffic, or designed to direct vehicles to move in one direction.-General signs:...
around Lovettsville's town square
Town square
A town square is an open public space commonly found in the heart of a traditional town used for community gatherings. Other names for town square are civic center, city square, urban square, market square, public square, and town green.Most town squares are hardscapes suitable for open markets,...
. North of Lovettsville, the state highway has a curvy alignment as it descends toward the Potomac River. SR 287 reaches its northern terminus at the Maryland state line on the river's south bank. The roadway continues north across the Brunswick Bridge as MD 17 into the town of Brunswick (formerly Berlin).
Major intersections
The entire route is in Loudoun CountyLoudoun County, Virginia
Loudoun County is a county located in the Commonwealth of Virginia, and is part of the Washington Metropolitan Area. As of the 2010 U.S. Census, the county is estimated to be home to 312,311 people, an 84 percent increase over the 2000 figure of 169,599. That increase makes the county the fourth...
{| class=wikitable
!Location
!Mile
!Destinations
!Notes
|-
|rowspan=2|Purcellville
Purcellville, Virginia
Purcellville is a town in the Loudoun Valley of Loudoun County, Virginia, United States. The population was 3,584 at the 2000 census, but has undergone considerable growth since then. Purcellville is the major population center for western Loudoun and the Loudoun Valley...
|0.00
|
|Southern terminus
|-
|0.55
|
|Diamond interchange
|-
|Wheatland
Wheatland, Virginia
Wheatland is an unincorporated community in Loudoun County, Virginia located north of Purcellville and south of Lovettsville on Berlin Turnpike...
|3.76
|
|
|-
|Lovettsville
Lovettsville, Virginia
Lovettsville is a town in Loudoun County, Virginia, United States. The population was 853 at the 2000 census. The 2005-2009 American Community Survey estimated the population at 1187.-History:Following the 1722 Treaty of St...
|
|
|SR 287 and SR 673 run 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...
as a one-way street
One-way traffic
One-way traffic is traffic that moves in a single direction. A one-way street is a street either facilitating only one-way traffic, or designed to direct vehicles to move in one direction.-General signs:...
around Lovettsville's town square
Town square
A town square is an open public space commonly found in the heart of a traditional town used for community gatherings. Other names for town square are civic center, city square, urban square, market square, public square, and town green.Most town squares are hardscapes suitable for open markets,...
|-
|
|12.67
|
|Northern terminus; Maryland
Maryland
Maryland is a U.S. state located in the Mid Atlantic region of the United States, bordering Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware to its east...
state line at Brunswick Bridge over 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...