Virginia State Route 76
Encyclopedia
Virginia State Route 76 (SR 76) is a state highway in the U.S. state of Virginia
. Known as Powhite Parkway (first word officially pronounced /ˈpaʊ.haɪt/, similar to Powhatan
), the state highway runs 13.04 miles (21 km) from SR 652 near Midlothian
north to Interstate 195
(I-195) in Richmond
. SR 76 is a toll
freeway that connects SR 288
, U.S. Route 60
(US 60), and SR 150
in Chesterfield County
with I-195 and SR 195
west of Downtown Richmond
. The highway includes a pair of mainline barrier toll plazas
and ramp toll plazas at most interchanges, all of which accept EZ-Pass. SR 76 is maintained by the Virginia Department of Transportation
(VDOT) in Chesterfield County and the Richmond Metropolitan Authority
in the city of Richmond. The Richmond section of the freeway was constructed in the early 1970s; the highway was extended to its current terminus in Chesterfield County in the late 1980s.
planned community. The road continues west as SR 652 (Old Hundred Road) toward Roseland
. SR 76 heads east as a three-lane road with two lands northbound and one lane southbound. The state highway becomes a freeway at its intersection with SR 754 (Charter Colony Parkway), which provides access to SportsQuest
. East of SR 754, the highway expands to two lanes in each direction and gains a median. SR 76 has a cloverleaf interchange
with the SR 288
freeway, each of which the highway becomes a toll road and crosses Falling Creek
. The state highway has its first toll plaza just west of its diamond interchange
with SR 653 (Courthouse Road). The northbound exit ramp and southbound entrance ramp for SR 653 diverge from the highway just west of the toll plaza and pass through the barrier separately before intersecting the crossing highway. The southbound exit ramp and northbound entrance ramp each have a ramp toll plaza before rejoining SR 76.
SR 76 veers northeast and meets US 60 (Midlothian Turnpike) at a cloverleaf interchange with collector-distributor lanes. The southbound entrance ramp has a right-in/right-out
interchange with SR 953 (Arboretum Parkway), which serves a business park. The collector-distributor lanes each have a ramp toll plaza at their northern ends, where the toll freeway begins to follow Powhite Creek
and passes by its impoundment, Rock Creek Park Lake. SR 76 has partial cloverleaf interchanges with SR 686 (Jahnke Road) and SR 150 (Chippenham Parkway) next to Powhite Park
. The interchange with SR 150, which is on the boundary between Chesterfield County and the independent city
of Richmond, includes a flyover ramp from southbound SR 76 to southbound SR 150 and does not have ramps from northbound SR 76 to southbound SR 150 and from northbound SR 150 to southbound SR 76. The missing movements are provided via SR 686. North of SR 150 are staggered toll plazas for each direction, each with three Express EZ-Pass lanes in addition to standard toll plaza lanes. East of the toll plazas SR 76 passes under Norfolk Southern Railway
's Richmond District
and has a partial interchange with Forest Hill Road; this interchange has ramp toll plazas and provides access to and from the north.
SR 76 heads north from Forest Hill Road as a ten-lane road that crosses the James River
and CSX
's Rivanna Subdivision on the Powhite Parkway Bridge
just south of the mouth of Powhite Creek. Two lanes from each direction split northeast onto SR 146, which serves as extended ramps from northbound SR 76 to and to southbound SR 76 from SR 195 (Downtown Expressway), an east–west toll road that connects SR 76 and I-95
in Downtown Richmond. Within that partial interchange, the northbound roadway passes under CSX's North End Subdivision tracks, which begin to run in the median of the freeway. North of SR 146, SR 76 has a partial cloverleaf interchange with Douglasdale Road and McCloy Street that lacks a ramp to southbound SR 76 and provides access to City Stadium; the ramps to and from the north have ramp toll plazas. A pair of ramps to and from the south that lead to SR 147
(Cary Street) and SR 6
(Patterson Avenue) split from the freeway just south of its northern terminus at I-195 (Beltline Expressway). The interchange with I-195 is a partial interchange, providing access between SR 76 and I-195 to the north toward I-95 and I-64
.
, toll rates for automobiles on the Richmond section of SR 76 are 70 cents at the mainline toll plaza and at the Forest Hill ramp plazas, and 20 cents at the Douglasdale Road ramp plazas. , toll rates on the Chesterfield County section of the freeway are 75 cents for through traffic at the mainline toll plaza, 25 cents for traffic exiting onto SR 653 at the mainline toll plaza, 50 cents at the SR 653 ramp toll plazas, and 25 cents at the US 60 ramp toll plazas.
began on the Powhite Parkway in 1999 when the Smart Tag
system began operating at the highway's toll plazas. The freeway became EZ-Pass accessible when Smart Tag was absorbed into the EZ-Pass system in 2005. The Richmond mainline toll plaza was reconstructed with staggered plazas for each direction and Express EZ-Pass lanes in 2008. Long-term plans exist for an extension of Powhite Parkway to US 360
near Skinquarter
.
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 Powhite Parkway (first word officially pronounced /ˈpaʊ.haɪt/, similar to Powhatan
Powhatan
The Powhatan is the name of a Virginia Indian confederation of tribes. It is estimated that there were about 14,000–21,000 of these native Powhatan people in eastern Virginia when the English settled Jamestown in 1607...
), the state highway runs 13.04 miles (21 km) from SR 652 near Midlothian
Midlothian, Virginia
Midlothian is an unincorporated community in Chesterfield County, Virginia, United States. Founded over 300 years ago as a coal mining village, it is now a suburban community located in the Southside of Richmond well beyond the city limits of Richmond in the Richmond–Petersburg region.It was named...
north to Interstate 195
Interstate 195 (Virginia)
Interstate 195 is an Interstate Highway in the U.S. state of Virginia. Known as the Beltline Expressway, the highway runs from Virginia State Route 195 , a toll road that continues south into Downtown Richmond, north to I-64 and I-95 on the northern edge of Richmond. I-195 passes through the West...
(I-195) in Richmond
Richmond, Virginia
Richmond is the capital of the Commonwealth of Virginia, in the United States. It is an independent city and not part of any county. Richmond is the center of the Richmond Metropolitan Statistical Area and the Greater Richmond area...
. SR 76 is a toll
Toll road
A toll road is a privately or publicly built road for which a driver pays a toll for use. Structures for which tolls are charged include toll bridges and toll tunnels. Non-toll roads are financed using other sources of revenue, most typically fuel tax or general tax funds...
freeway that connects SR 288
Virginia State Route 288
State Route 288 is a primary state highway in the U.S. state of Virginia. It is a freeway-standard partial beltway around the southwest side of Richmond...
, U.S. Route 60
U.S. Route 60 in Virginia
U.S. Route 60 in Virginia runs west to east through the central part of the state, generally close to and paralleling the Interstate 64 corridor, except for the crossing of the Blue Ridge Mountains, and in the South Hampton Roads area....
(US 60), and SR 150
Virginia State Route 150
Virginia State Route 150 is a state highway in the U.S. state of Virginia. Known as Chippenham Parkway, the state highway runs from Interstate 95 and SR 895 in Bensley north to Parham Road and River Road near Tuckahoe in Henrico County...
in Chesterfield County
Chesterfield County, Virginia
Chesterfield County is a county located in the Commonwealth of Virginia, a state of the United States. In 2010, its population was estimated to be 316,236. Chesterfield County is now the fourth-largest municipality in Virginia . Its county seat is Chesterfield...
with I-195 and SR 195
Virginia State Route 195
Virginia State Route 195 is a primary state highway in the U.S. state of Virginia. Known as the Downtown Expressway, the state highway runs from Interstate 195 east to I-95 within the independent city of Richmond. SR 195 is a toll freeway that connects the West End of Richmond with Downtown...
west of Downtown Richmond
Downtown Richmond, Virginia
Downtown Richmond, Virginia, is central urban area of that city. It is generally defined as being bound by Belvidere Street to the west, I-95 to the north and east, and the James River to the south.-Description:...
. The highway includes a pair of mainline barrier toll plazas
Barrier toll system
A barrier toll system is a method of collecting tolls on highways using toll barriers at regularly spaced intervals on the toll road's mainline. Motorists are typically charged a flat-rate toll, unlike toll roads with a ticket system where the toll rate is determined by the distance traveled or...
and ramp toll plazas at most interchanges, all of which accept EZ-Pass. SR 76 is 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...
(VDOT) in Chesterfield County and the Richmond Metropolitan Authority
Richmond Metropolitan Authority
The Richmond Metropolitan Authority is an independent authority and political subdivision which serves the Richmond, Virginia metropolitan area. Created by an act of the Virginia General Assembly in 1966, the RMA was originally tasked with building and maintaining a toll expressway system for the...
in the city of Richmond. The Richmond section of the freeway was constructed in the early 1970s; the highway was extended to its current terminus in Chesterfield County in the late 1980s.
Route description
SR 76 begins at an arbitrary point just east of an intersection with Brandermill Parkway, the main street through the BrandermillBrandermill
Brandermill is a major suburban residential and commercial development in the Southside of Richmond, Virginia. It is located near Midlothian, Virginia at the southern terminus of the Powhite Parkway and is centered around the Swift Creek Reservoir...
planned community. The road continues west as SR 652 (Old Hundred Road) toward Roseland
Roseland, Virginia
Roseland is an unincorporated community in Nelson County, Virginia, United States. It was among the communities severely affected by flash flooding from Hurricane Camille in 1969....
. SR 76 heads east as a three-lane road with two lands northbound and one lane southbound. The state highway becomes a freeway at its intersection with SR 754 (Charter Colony Parkway), which provides access to SportsQuest
SportsQuest
SportsQuest is a 5,000 to 6,000-seat multi-purpose arena in Chesterfield County, Virginia, that is currently under construction. Once completed it will be home to the Richmond Revolution of the Indoor Football League, replacing the Arthur Ashe Athletic Center....
. East of SR 754, the highway expands to two lanes in each direction and gains a median. SR 76 has a cloverleaf interchange
Cloverleaf interchange
A cloverleaf interchange is a two-level interchange in which left turns, reverse direction in left-driving regions, are handled by ramp roads...
with the SR 288
Virginia State Route 288
State Route 288 is a primary state highway in the U.S. state of Virginia. It is a freeway-standard partial beltway around the southwest side of Richmond...
freeway, each of which the highway becomes a toll road and crosses Falling Creek
Falling Creek
Falling Creek is a tributary of the James River located near Richmond, Virginia. Approximately in length, it varies in width between at its source to several hundred feet in the Falling Creek Reservoir. Falling Creek rises in the Salisbury section of northwestern Chesterfield County and empties...
. The state highway has its first toll plaza 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 SR 653 (Courthouse Road). The northbound exit ramp and southbound entrance ramp for SR 653 diverge from the highway just west of the toll plaza and pass through the barrier separately before intersecting the crossing highway. The southbound exit ramp and northbound entrance ramp each have a ramp toll plaza before rejoining SR 76.
SR 76 veers northeast and meets US 60 (Midlothian Turnpike) at a cloverleaf interchange with collector-distributor lanes. The southbound entrance ramp has a right-in/right-out
Right-in/right-out
Right-in/right-out and left-in/left-out refer to a type of road intersection where turning movements of vehicles are restricted. A RIRO permits only right turns and a LILO permits only left turns. RIRO is usual where vehicles drive on the right, and LILO is usual where vehicles drive on the left...
interchange with SR 953 (Arboretum Parkway), which serves a business park. The collector-distributor lanes each have a ramp toll plaza at their northern ends, where the toll freeway begins to follow Powhite Creek
Powhite Creek
Powhite Creek is an stream rising near the unincorporated community of Bon Air in Chesterfield County and flowing into the independent city of Richmond in central Virginia...
and passes by its impoundment, Rock Creek Park Lake. SR 76 has partial cloverleaf interchanges with SR 686 (Jahnke Road) and SR 150 (Chippenham Parkway) next to Powhite Park
Powhite Park
Powhite Park is a 100 acre park in the city limits of Richmond, Virginia. It is close to the junction of Powhite parkway, Chippenham Parkway and Jahnke road. This park is notable for its pristinity and beaver dam, considering the park is in city limits. The park is populated by deer too. The bike...
. The interchange with SR 150, which is on the boundary between Chesterfield County and 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 Richmond, includes a flyover ramp from southbound SR 76 to southbound SR 150 and does not have ramps from northbound SR 76 to southbound SR 150 and from northbound SR 150 to southbound SR 76. The missing movements are provided via SR 686. North of SR 150 are staggered toll plazas for each direction, each with three Express EZ-Pass lanes in addition to standard toll plaza lanes. East of the toll plazas SR 76 passes 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 Richmond District
Richmond District
Richmond District may refer to:*Richmond District, San Francisco, California, an area of the city of San Francisco*Richmond District, Pennsylvania, a former area of the city of Philadelphia*Richmond District , a rail line in Virginia...
and has a partial interchange with Forest Hill Road; this interchange has ramp toll plazas and provides access to and from the north.
SR 76 heads north from Forest Hill Road as a ten-lane road that crosses 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...
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 Rivanna Subdivision on the Powhite Parkway Bridge
Powhite Parkway Bridge
Powhite Parkway Bridge crosses the James River in the independent city of Richmond, Virginia. It carries the Powhite Parkway, also known as Virginia State Route 76. The bridge is owned and maintained by the Richmond Metropolitan Authority, and was funded with revenue bonds which are repaid from...
just south of the mouth of Powhite Creek. Two lanes from each direction split northeast onto SR 146, which serves as extended ramps from northbound SR 76 to and to southbound SR 76 from SR 195 (Downtown Expressway), an east–west toll road that connects SR 76 and I-95
Interstate 95 in Virginia
In the Commonwealth of Virginia, Interstate 95 runs through the state. It runs concurrently for with Interstate 64 in Richmond, and meets the northern terminus of Interstate 85 in Petersburg. Though Interstate 95 was originally planned to go straight through Washington, D.C., it was instead...
in Downtown Richmond. Within that partial interchange, the northbound roadway passes under CSX's North End Subdivision tracks, which begin to run in the median of the freeway. North of SR 146, SR 76 has a partial cloverleaf interchange with Douglasdale Road and McCloy Street that lacks a ramp to southbound SR 76 and provides access to City Stadium; the ramps to and from the north have ramp toll plazas. A pair of ramps to and from the south that lead to SR 147
Virginia State Route 147
Virginia State Route 147 is a primary state highway in the U.S. state of Virginia. The state highway runs from U.S. Route 60 in Midlothian east to US 60 in Richmond. SR 147 connects Midlothian with the West End of Richmond via the Huguenot Memorial Bridge across the James River...
(Cary Street) and SR 6
Virginia State Route 6
Virginia State Route 6 is a primary state highway in the U.S. state of Virginia. Known for most of its length as River Road, the state highway runs from U.S. Route 250 in Afton east to SR 161 in Richmond. SR 6 is one of the main highways of mountainous Nelson County, where the highway runs...
(Patterson Avenue) split from the freeway just south of its northern terminus at I-195 (Beltline Expressway). The interchange with I-195 is a partial interchange, providing access between SR 76 and I-195 to the north toward I-95 and I-64
Interstate 64 in Virginia
In the U.S. state of Virginia, Interstate 64 runs east–west through the middle of the state from West Virginia to the Hampton Roads region, a total of . It is notable for crossing the mouth of the harbor of Hampton Roads on the Hampton Roads Bridge-Tunnel, the first bridge-tunnel to...
.
, toll rates for automobiles on the Richmond section of SR 76 are 70 cents at the mainline toll plaza and at the Forest Hill ramp plazas, and 20 cents at the Douglasdale Road ramp plazas. , toll rates on the Chesterfield County section of the freeway are 75 cents for through traffic at the mainline toll plaza, 25 cents for traffic exiting onto SR 653 at the mainline toll plaza, 50 cents at the SR 653 ramp toll plazas, and 25 cents at the US 60 ramp toll plazas.
History
The original section of Powhite Parkway from I-195 to SR 150 within the city of Richmond was constructed by the Richmond Metropolitan Authority and opened in January 1973. The toll road's extension southwest beyond SR 288 in Chesterfield County was constructed by VDOT and opened in November 1988. Electronic toll collectionElectronic toll collection
Electronic toll collection , an adaptation of military "identification friend or foe" technology, aims to eliminate the delay on toll roads by collecting tolls electronically. It is thus a technological implementation of a road pricing concept...
began on the Powhite Parkway in 1999 when the Smart Tag
Smart Tag
Smart Tag is the former name of a transponder-based electronic toll collection system implemented by the Virginia Department of Transportation . It was launched as Fastoll on April 15, 1996...
system began operating at the highway's toll plazas. The freeway became EZ-Pass accessible when Smart Tag was absorbed into the EZ-Pass system in 2005. The Richmond mainline toll plaza was reconstructed with staggered plazas for each direction and Express EZ-Pass lanes in 2008. Long-term plans exist for an extension of Powhite Parkway to US 360
U.S. Route 360
U.S. Route 360 is a spur of US 60 in the U.S. state of Virginia. The U.S. Highway runs from US 58 Business, Virginia State Route 293, and SR 360 in Danville east to SR 644 in Reedville. US 360 connects Danville, South Boston, and Keysville in Southside Virginia with the state capital of...
near Skinquarter
Skinquarter, Virginia
Skinquarter is an unincorporated town located off U.S. Route 360 in the western part of Chesterfield County in Virginia.The town is named for a spring nearby where the Indians would skin and quarter deer. The early settlers coined the name Skinquarter and it has remained to this day.The Baptist...
.