Virginia State Route 311
Encyclopedia
Virginia State Route 311 (SR 311) and West Virginia Route 311 (WV 311) are adjoining state highways in the U.S. state
s of Virginia
and West Virginia
. The two state highways together run 58.7 miles (94.5 km) from U.S. Route 11
in Salem, Virginia
north to Interstate 64
and U.S. Route 60 near White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia
. The two Virginia portions of Route 311 are maintained by the Virginia Department of Transportation
, with the exception of the city-maintained portion within Salem. The West Virginia segments are maintained by the West Virginia Division of Highways.
of Salem. The state highway, which is maintained by the city within the city limits, heads north as Thompson Memorial Drive, a four-lane divided boulevard that intersects US 460
(Main Street) and passes to the east of Roanoke College
. Route 311 leaves the city limits of Salem at its partial cloverleaf interchange with I-81
, entering Roanoke County
. North of I-81, the state highway reduces to two lanes and curves to the northeast into the community of Hanging Rock
, where the highway meets the northern terminus of SR 419
(Electric Road). Route 311 turns left onto Catawba Valley Drive and leaves the Roanoke Valley
by following Mason Creek through a gap between Fort Lewis Mountain
to the west and Brushy Mountain to the east.
Route 311 heads north into Mason Cove, a narrow valley between Fort Lewis Mountain and Catawba Mountain, before turning northwest and ascending Catawba Mountain, on top of which the highway intersects the Appalachian Trail
. The state highway descends into the valley of Catawba Creek and passes through the community of Catawba
, where the highway intersects SR 779 (Catawba Creek Road) and SR 785 (Blacksburg Road), which form the main highway along the valley. Route 311 has a short ascent to McAfee Gap, enters Jefferson National Forest, and curves to the north between Cove Mountain to the west and North Mountain to enter Craig County
.
Route 311 descends into the valley of Craig Creek
, which the state highway follows northeast around the edge of Sinking Creek Mountain to the northwest, passing through the hamlet of Abbott
. The state highway follows Craig Creek to the town of New Castle
, the county seat of Craig County at the confluence of Johns Creek with Craig Creek. Route 311 meets the eastern terminus of SR 42
(Main Street) before following Johns Creek west out of town. The state highway climbs Peters Hill and descends back to the narrow creek valley before climbing Potts Mountain. Route 311 heads down the mountain and follows Paint Bank Branch through a gap between Little Mountain and Middle Mountain to the community of Paint Bank
at the confluence of its namesake branch with Potts Creek
. The state highway meets the southern end of SR 18
, which follows the creek northeast toward the community of Potts Creek
, before ascending Peters Mountain
. At the summit of Peters Mountain, Route 311 leaves Jefferson National Forest and enters West Virginia.
Route 311 descends the mountain to the village of Sweet Springs
in the northeastern corner of Monroe County
, where the state highway meets the eastern terminus of WV 3 (Sweet Springs Valley Road). Route 311 follows the valley northeast back into Virginia, entering Alleghany County
and George Washington National Forest. The state highway, now named Kanawha Trail, passes through the communities of Sweet Chalybeate
and Earlehurst
, then follows the valley of Dunlap Creek
between Dameron Mountain to the northwest and Snake Run Ridge to the southeast. At the community of Crows
, SR 159
(Dunlap Creek Road) continues northeast through the valley while Route 311 follows Tygers Creek up the mountain to the west. The state highway parallels CSX
's Alleghany Subdivision then passes under the railroad tracks at the hamlet of Alleghany
. Route 311 follows the west flank of Lewis Mountain to the West Virginia state line, then curves west into Greenbrier County
and reaches its northern terminus at a partial interchange with I-64 and US 60 east of White Sulphur Springs. There is no access from westbound I-64 to southbound Route 311 or from northbound Route 311 to eastbound I-64.
{| class=wikitable
!County
!Location
!Mile
!Destinations
!Notes
|-
|rowspan=2 colspan=2|City of Salem, VA
|0.00
|
|Southern terminus
|-
|0.17
|
|
|-
|rowspan=2|Roanoke, VA
|rowspan=2|Hanging Rock
|1.66
|
|I-81 Exit 140
|-
|2.93
|
|SR 311 turns north onto Catawba Valley Drive
|-
|rowspan=2|Craig, VA
|New Castle
|22.25
|
|
|-
|Paint Bank
|38.51
|
|
|-
|colspan=2|Peters Mountain
|41.90
0.0
|colspan=2 align=center|Virginia
– West Virginia
state line
|-
|Monroe, WV
|Sweet Springs
|3.1
|
|
|-
|colspan=2|
|4.0
0.00
|colspan=2 align=center|West Virginia
– Virginia
state line
|-
|Alleghany, VA
|Crows
|6.62
|
|
|-
|colspan=2|
|12.49
0.0
|colspan=2 align=center|Virginia
– West Virginia
state line
|-
|Greenbrier, WV
|
|0.3
|
|Northern terminus; I-64 Exit 183; eastbound exit from and westbound entrance to I-64 / US 60
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...
s 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...
and West Virginia
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...
. The two state highways together run 58.7 miles (94.5 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...
in Salem, Virginia
Salem, Virginia
Salem is an independent city in Virginia, USA, bordered by the city of Roanoke to the east but otherwise adjacent to Roanoke County. It is part of the Roanoke Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 24,802 according to 2010 U.S. Census...
north to Interstate 64
Interstate 64 in West Virginia
The alignment of Interstate 64 was to originally parallel US 60 from Charleston to the Virginia state line. This would go through environmentally sensitive areas such as Hawk's Nest and the New River Gorge area and might have disrupted the natural beauty and the isolation of the area.In 1969,...
and U.S. Route 60 near White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia
White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia
White Sulphur Springs is a city in Greenbrier County, West Virginia, United States. The population was 2,444 at the 2010 census.-Geography:White Sulphur Springs is located at ....
. The two Virginia portions of Route 311 are maintained by the Virginia Department of Transportation
Virginia Department of Transportation
The Virginia Department of Transportation is the agency of state government responsible for transportation in the state of Virginia in the United States. Headquartered in Downtown Richmond, VDOT is responsible for building, maintaining, and operating the roads, bridges and tunnels in the...
, with the exception of the city-maintained portion within Salem. The West Virginia segments are maintained by the West Virginia Division of Highways.
Route description
Route 311 begins at an intersection with US 11 (College Avenue) 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 Salem. The state highway, which is maintained by the city within the city limits, heads north as Thompson Memorial Drive, a four-lane divided boulevard that intersects 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...
(Main Street) and passes to the east of Roanoke College
Roanoke College
Roanoke College is an private, coeducational, four-year liberal-arts college affiliated with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. The college is located in Salem, Virginia, a suburban independent city adjacent to Roanoke, Virginia...
. Route 311 leaves the city limits of Salem at its partial cloverleaf interchange with I-81
Interstate 81 in Virginia
Interstate 81 is an long highway. In the U.S. state of Virginia, I-81 runs for , making it longer in Virginia than in any other state. It stretches from the Tennessee state line near Bristol to the West Virginia state line near Winchester. U.S...
, entering Roanoke County
Roanoke County, Virginia
Roanoke County is a county located in the U.S. state of the Commonwealth of Virginia. It is part of the Roanoke Metropolitan Statistical Area and located within the Roanoke Region of Virginia. As of the 2000 census, the population was 85,778. As of 2010, the population was 92,376...
. North of I-81, the state highway reduces to two lanes and curves to the northeast into the community of Hanging Rock
Hanging Rock, Virginia
Hanging Rock is an unincorporated community in Roanoke County, Virginia, United States located directly north of Salem. The community is named for a prominent rock outcrop. The intersection of Virginia State Route 311 and Virginia State Route 419 is in Hanging Rock...
, where the highway meets the northern terminus of SR 419
Virginia State Route 419
State Route 419, also known as Electric Road, is a primary state highway in the U.S. state of Virginia. It runs from the south split of U.S. Route 220 and U.S. Route 220 Business in southern Roanoke west and north via Cave Spring and Salem to State Route 311...
(Electric Road). Route 311 turns left onto Catawba Valley Drive and leaves the Roanoke Valley
Roanoke Valley
The Roanoke Valley in southwest Virginia is an area adjacent to and including the Roanoke River between the Blue Ridge Mountains to the east and the Appalachian Plateau to the west...
by following Mason Creek through a gap between Fort Lewis Mountain
Fort Lewis Mountain
Fort Lewis Mountain is a mountain which stretches from Ironto in Montgomery County, Virginia to Masons Cove in Roanoke County, Virginia. The rural community of Bradshaw is located in the narrow valley between the south slope of Catawba Mountain and the north slope of Fort Lewis Mountain...
to the west and Brushy Mountain to the east.
Route 311 heads north into Mason Cove, a narrow valley between Fort Lewis Mountain and Catawba Mountain, before turning northwest and ascending Catawba Mountain, on top of which the highway intersects the Appalachian Trail
Appalachian Trail
The Appalachian National Scenic Trail, generally known as the Appalachian Trail or simply the AT, is a marked hiking trail in the eastern United States extending between Springer Mountain in Georgia and Mount Katahdin in Maine. It is approximately long...
. The state highway descends into the valley of Catawba Creek and passes through the community of Catawba
Catawba, Virginia
Catawba is an unincorporated community in the northern section of Roanoke County, Virginia, United States. Catawba occupies the Catawba Valley bound on the south by the north slope of Catawba Mountain and on the north by several mountains which form the border between Roanoke County and Craig...
, where the highway intersects SR 779 (Catawba Creek Road) and SR 785 (Blacksburg Road), which form the main highway along the valley. Route 311 has a short ascent to McAfee Gap, enters Jefferson National Forest, and curves to the north between Cove Mountain to the west and North Mountain to enter Craig County
Craig County, Virginia
As of the census of 2000, there were 5,091 people, 2,060 households, and 1,507 families residing in the county. The population density was 15 people per square mile . There were 2,554 housing units at an average density of 8 per square mile...
.
Route 311 descends into the valley of Craig Creek
Craig Creek
Craig Creek is an tributary of the James River in the U.S. state of Virginia. It flows through the Ridge-and-Valley Appalachians in western Virginia, passing northwest of Roanoke....
, which the state highway follows northeast around the edge of Sinking Creek Mountain to the northwest, passing through the hamlet of Abbott
Abbott, Virginia
Abbott is an unincorporated community in southern Craig County, Virginia, United States. It lies along State Route 311 south of the town of New Castle, the county seat of Craig County....
. The state highway follows Craig Creek to the town of New Castle
New Castle, Virginia
New Castle is the only town in Craig County, Virginia, United States. The population was 153 at the 2010 census...
, the county seat of Craig County at the confluence of Johns Creek with Craig Creek. Route 311 meets the eastern terminus of SR 42
Virginia State Route 42
State Route 42 is a primary state highway in the U.S. state of Virginia. Running parallel to and west of Interstate 81, SR 42 consists of three sections with gaps filled by secondary routes in between. Some of SR 42 lies along the old Fincastle and Cumberland Gap Turnpike...
(Main Street) before following Johns Creek west out of town. The state highway climbs Peters Hill and descends back to the narrow creek valley before climbing Potts Mountain. Route 311 heads down the mountain and follows Paint Bank Branch through a gap between Little Mountain and Middle Mountain to the community of Paint Bank
Paint Bank, Virginia
Paint Bank is an unincorporated community in northern Craig County, Virginia, United States. It is located at the intersection of State Route 18 and State Route 311 northwest of the town of New Castle, the county seat....
at the confluence of its namesake branch with Potts Creek
Potts Creek (watercourse)
Potts Creek is a tributary of the Jackson River in western Virginia. Via the Jackson River, it is part of the James River watershed, flowing to Chesapeake Bay...
. The state highway meets the southern end of SR 18
Virginia State Route 18
Virginia State Route 18 is a primary state highway in the U.S. state of Virginia. Known for most of its length as Potts Creek Road, the state highway runs from SR 311 in Paint Bank north to U.S. Route 60 and US 220 in Covington.-Route description:...
, which follows the creek northeast toward the community of Potts Creek
Potts Creek, Virginia
Potts Creek is an unincorporated community in Alleghany County, Virginia, United States. It is also the name of a watercourse in the same area, Potts Creek .*...
, before ascending Peters Mountain
Peters Mountain
Peters Mountain is a mountain in the Allegheny ridge, which makes it the longest mountain in the Appalachian Mountain Chain. It is located on the border between Alleghany County, VA, Monroe County, WV, Giles Co.,VA, and Craig Co.,VA. Its elevation ranges from on the mountaintop to a low of...
. At the summit of Peters Mountain, Route 311 leaves Jefferson National Forest and enters West Virginia.
Route 311 descends the mountain to the village of Sweet Springs
Sweet Springs, West Virginia
Sweet Springs is an unincorporated town in Monroe County in the U.S. state of West Virginia. Sweet Springs lies at the intersection of West Virginia Route 3 and West Virginia Route 311. The community is known for its Old Sweet Springs resort and spa, listed on the National Register of Historic Places...
in the northeastern corner of Monroe County
Monroe County, West Virginia
As of the census of 2000, there were 14,583 people, 5,447 households, and 3,883 families residing in the county. The population density was 31 people per square mile . There were 7,267 housing units at an average density of 15 per square mile...
, where the state highway meets the eastern terminus of WV 3 (Sweet Springs Valley Road). Route 311 follows the valley northeast back into Virginia, entering Alleghany County
Alleghany County, Virginia
As of the census of 2000, there were 12,926 people, 5,149 households, and 3,866 families residing in the county. The population density was 29 people per square mile . There were 5,812 housing units at an average density of 13 per square mile...
and George Washington National Forest. The state highway, now named Kanawha Trail, passes through the communities of Sweet Chalybeate
Sweet Chalybeate, Virginia
Sweet Chalybeate is an unincorporated community in Alleghany County, Virginia, United States.-References:*...
and Earlehurst
Earlehurst, Virginia
Earlehurst is an unincorporated community in Alleghany County, Virginia, United States.-References:*...
, then follows the valley of Dunlap Creek
Dunlap Creek
Dunlap Creek is a tributary of the Jackson River in the U.S. state of Virginia. It is part of the James River watershed.The creek forms at Earlehurst in Alleghany County, Virginia, by the confluence of Back Creek and Sweet Springs Creek, both of which rise to the southwest in Monroe County, West...
between Dameron Mountain to the northwest and Snake Run Ridge to the southeast. At the community of Crows
Crows, Virginia
Crows is an unincorporated community in Alleghany County, Virginia, United States.-References:*...
, SR 159
Virginia State Route 159
Virginia State Route 159 is a primary state highway in the U.S. state of Virginia. Known as Dunlap Creek Road, the state highway runs from SR 311 at Crows north to Interstate 64 and U.S. Route 60 at Callaghan...
(Dunlap Creek Road) continues northeast through the valley while Route 311 follows Tygers Creek up the mountain to the west. The state highway parallels 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 Alleghany Subdivision then passes under the railroad tracks at the hamlet of Alleghany
Alleghany, Virginia
Alleghany is an unincorporated community in Alleghany County, Virginia, United States.-References:*...
. Route 311 follows the west flank of Lewis Mountain to the West Virginia state line, then curves west into Greenbrier County
Greenbrier County, West Virginia
As of the census of 2000, there were 34,453 people, 14,571 households, and 9,922 families residing in the county. The population density was 34 people per square mile . There were 17,644 housing units at an average density of 17 per square mile...
and reaches its northern terminus at a partial interchange with I-64 and US 60 east of White Sulphur Springs. There is no access from westbound I-64 to southbound Route 311 or from northbound Route 311 to eastbound I-64.
Major intersections
Virginia SR 311 officially has a length of 54.39 miles (87.5 km) in two sections. WV 311 has a length of 4.3 miles (6.9 km) in two sections. In the table below, mileage totals reset at each crossing of the state line.{| class=wikitable
!County
!Location
!Mile
!Destinations
!Notes
|-
|rowspan=2 colspan=2|City of Salem, VA
Salem, Virginia
Salem is an independent city in Virginia, USA, bordered by the city of Roanoke to the east but otherwise adjacent to Roanoke County. It is part of the Roanoke Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 24,802 according to 2010 U.S. Census...
|0.00
|
|Southern terminus
|-
|0.17
|
|
|-
|rowspan=2|Roanoke, VA
Roanoke County, Virginia
Roanoke County is a county located in the U.S. state of the Commonwealth of Virginia. It is part of the Roanoke Metropolitan Statistical Area and located within the Roanoke Region of Virginia. As of the 2000 census, the population was 85,778. As of 2010, the population was 92,376...
|rowspan=2|Hanging Rock
Hanging Rock, Virginia
Hanging Rock is an unincorporated community in Roanoke County, Virginia, United States located directly north of Salem. The community is named for a prominent rock outcrop. The intersection of Virginia State Route 311 and Virginia State Route 419 is in Hanging Rock...
|1.66
|
|I-81 Exit 140
|-
|2.93
|
|SR 311 turns north onto Catawba Valley Drive
|-
|rowspan=2|Craig, VA
Craig County, Virginia
As of the census of 2000, there were 5,091 people, 2,060 households, and 1,507 families residing in the county. The population density was 15 people per square mile . There were 2,554 housing units at an average density of 8 per square mile...
|New Castle
New Castle, Virginia
New Castle is the only town in Craig County, Virginia, United States. The population was 153 at the 2010 census...
|22.25
|
|
|-
|Paint Bank
Paint Bank, Virginia
Paint Bank is an unincorporated community in northern Craig County, Virginia, United States. It is located at the intersection of State Route 18 and State Route 311 northwest of the town of New Castle, the county seat....
|38.51
|
|
|-
|colspan=2|Peters Mountain
Peters Mountain
Peters Mountain is a mountain in the Allegheny ridge, which makes it the longest mountain in the Appalachian Mountain Chain. It is located on the border between Alleghany County, VA, Monroe County, WV, Giles Co.,VA, and Craig Co.,VA. Its elevation ranges from on the mountaintop to a low of...
|41.90
0.0
|colspan=2 align=center|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...
– West Virginia
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...
state line
|-
|Monroe, WV
Monroe County, West Virginia
As of the census of 2000, there were 14,583 people, 5,447 households, and 3,883 families residing in the county. The population density was 31 people per square mile . There were 7,267 housing units at an average density of 15 per square mile...
|Sweet Springs
Sweet Springs, West Virginia
Sweet Springs is an unincorporated town in Monroe County in the U.S. state of West Virginia. Sweet Springs lies at the intersection of West Virginia Route 3 and West Virginia Route 311. The community is known for its Old Sweet Springs resort and spa, listed on the National Register of Historic Places...
|3.1
|
|
|-
|colspan=2|
|4.0
0.00
|colspan=2 align=center|West Virginia
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...
– 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...
state line
|-
|Alleghany, VA
Alleghany County, Virginia
As of the census of 2000, there were 12,926 people, 5,149 households, and 3,866 families residing in the county. The population density was 29 people per square mile . There were 5,812 housing units at an average density of 13 per square mile...
|Crows
Crows, Virginia
Crows is an unincorporated community in Alleghany County, Virginia, United States.-References:*...
|6.62
|
|
|-
|colspan=2|
|12.49
0.0
|colspan=2 align=center|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...
– West Virginia
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...
state line
|-
|Greenbrier, WV
Greenbrier County, West Virginia
As of the census of 2000, there were 34,453 people, 14,571 households, and 9,922 families residing in the county. The population density was 34 people per square mile . There were 17,644 housing units at an average density of 17 per square mile...
|
|0.3
|
|Northern terminus; I-64 Exit 183; eastbound exit from and westbound entrance to I-64 / US 60