Virginia State Route 91
Encyclopedia
Virginia State Route 91 (SR 91) is a primary state highway
in the U.S. state of Virginia
. The state highway runs 55.12 miles (88.7 km) from the Tennessee
state line near Damascus
, where the highway continues as Tennessee State Route 91 (TN-91), north to U.S. Route 19 Business and US 460 Business at Frog Level. SR 91 connects Damascus in southeastern Washington County
with the northeastern county town Glade Spring
, where the highway has junctions with US 11
and Interstate 81
(I-81). The state highway also indirectly connects Saltville
in northwestern Smyth County
and Tazewell
, the county seat
of Tazewell County
. SR 91 is the only primary state highway in Virginia with an unpaved section; this gravel section is in southern Tazewell County.
. SR 91 heads northwest as Mountain City Road, which parallels Laurel Creek through the Iron Mountains
to the creek's confluence with Whitetop Laurel Creek. Just west of that confluence, the state highway crosses Laurel Creek, intersects the Virginia Creeper Trail
rail trail
, and runs concurrently
with US 58 (Jeb Stuart Highway) parallel to the creek and trail into the town of Damascus. When US 58 turns west to cross Laurel Creek into the center of town, SR 91 continues north and then west on Damascus Drive. The state highway veers north away from Laurel Creek and leaves the town as Monroe Road, which passes through the village of Lodi
between crossings of the South Fork and Middle Fork of the Holston River
.
Just south of Glade Spring, SR 91 intersects US 11 (Lee Highway) and continues north as Maple Street through a diamond interchange
with I-81 and into the town. When Maple Street continues straight as SR 91 Business, SR 91 veers east as Monte Vista Drive to bypass the downtown area. The state highway receives the northern end of the business route, Glade Street, east of downtown. SR 91 crosses over Norfolk Southern Railway
's Pulaski District and exits the town on Crescent Road, which passes through McCall Gap in Walker Mountain. Shortly after entering the town of Saltville, where the highway is named Main Street, the highway veers east and crosses the Washington–Smyth county line. At the east end of the downtown area, SR 91 meets the northern end of SR 107
(Worthy Boulevard). The state highway crosses the North Fork Holston River and parallels it east as Saltville Highway to the hamlet of Broadford, where the highway meets the southern end of SR 42
(Blue Grass Trail) and turns north to follow Laurel Creek through Brushy Mountain.
SR 91 continues northeast as Veterans Road into Tazewell County. The state highway briefly follows Laurel Creek through the Freestone Valley before ascending Flattop Mountain near Tannersville
. At the end of its descent from the mountain, SR 91 meets the western end of SR 607 (Little Tumbling Creek Road) and crosses the eponymous creek. Just north of the bridge, the state highway's surface changes from asphalt to gravel. The gravel road continues for about 5.5 miles (8.9 km) on the state highway's crossing of Clinch Mountain
. SR 91 returns to asphalt road just south of its intersection with SR 604 (Thompson Valley Road), from which the highway follows Maiden Spring Road. At the hamlet of Maiden Spring, the state highway crosses the Little River
, a tributary of the Clinch River
, and veers east to the hamlet of Liberty. SR 91 continues east as Witten Valley Road through the namesake valley to its northern terminus at US 19 Business and US 460 Business (Crab Orchard Road) at Frog Level.
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 55.12 miles (88.7 km) from the Tennessee
Tennessee
Tennessee is a U.S. state located in the Southeastern United States. It has a population of 6,346,105, making it the nation's 17th-largest state by population, and covers , making it the 36th-largest by total land area...
state line near Damascus
Damascus, Virginia
Damascus is a town in Washington County, Virginia, United States. The population was 981 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Kingsport–Bristol –Bristol Metropolitan Statistical Area, which is a component of the Johnson City–Kingsport–Bristol, TN-VA Combined Statistical...
, where the highway continues as Tennessee State Route 91 (TN-91), north to U.S. Route 19 Business and US 460 Business at Frog Level. SR 91 connects Damascus in southeastern Washington County
Washington County, Virginia
As of the census of 2000, there were 51,103 people, 21,056 households, and 14,949 families residing in the county. The population density was 91 people per square mile . There were 22,985 housing units at an average density of 41 per square mile...
with the northeastern county town Glade Spring
Glade Spring, Virginia
As of the census of 2000, there were 1,374 people, 565 households, and 402 families residing in the town. The population density was 1,093.4 people per square mile . There were 626 housing units at an average density of 498.2 per square mile...
, where the highway has junctions with US 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...
and Interstate 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...
(I-81). The state highway also indirectly connects Saltville
Saltville, Virginia
As of the census of 2000, there were 2,204 people, 909 households, and 660 families residing in the town. The population density was 273.7 people per square mile . There were 1,003 housing units at an average density of 124.5 per square mile...
in northwestern Smyth County
Smyth County, Virginia
As of the census of 2000, there were 33,081 people, 13,493 households, and 9,607 families residing in the county. The population density was 73 people per square mile . There were 15,111 housing units at an average density of 33 per square mile...
and Tazewell
Tazewell, Virginia
Tazewell is a town in Tazewell County, Virginia, USA. The population was 4,206 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Bluefield, WV-VA micropolitan area, which has a population of 107,578. It is the county seat of Tazewell County....
, the county seat
County seat
A county seat is an administrative center, or seat of government, for a county or civil parish. The term is primarily used in the United States....
of Tazewell County
Tazewell County, Virginia
As of the census of 2000, there were 44,598 people, 18,277 households and 13,232 families residing in the county. The population density was 86 people per square mile . There were 20,390 housing units at an average density of 39 per square mile...
. SR 91 is the only primary state highway in Virginia with an unpaved section; this gravel section is in southern Tazewell County.
Route description
SR 91 begins at the Tennessee state line southeast of Damascus. The highway continues south as TN-91 toward Mountain CityMountain City, Tennessee
Mountain City is a town in Johnson County, Tennessee, United States. The population was 2,383 at the 2000 census. It is the northeasternmost county seat in Tennessee; Mountain City is the county seat of Johnson County.-History:...
. SR 91 heads northwest as Mountain City Road, which parallels Laurel Creek through the Iron Mountains
Iron Mountains
The Iron Mountains are a minor range of the Appalachian Mountains. These mountains are located around the common meeting point of Tennessee, Virginia, and North Carolina...
to the creek's confluence with Whitetop Laurel Creek. Just west of that confluence, the state highway crosses Laurel Creek, intersects the Virginia Creeper Trail
Virginia Creeper Trail
The Virginia Creeper Trail is a multi-purpose rail trail in southwestern Virginia. The trail runs from Abingdon to Whitetop, Virginia, near the North Carolina state line – through National Forest and crossing numerous restored trestles and crossing the Appalachian Trail.The trail descends...
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...
, and 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 58 (Jeb Stuart Highway) parallel to the creek and trail into the town of Damascus. When US 58 turns west to cross Laurel Creek into the center of town, SR 91 continues north and then west on Damascus Drive. The state highway veers north away from Laurel Creek and leaves the town as Monroe Road, which passes through the village of Lodi
Lodi, Virginia
Lodi is an unincorporated community in Washington County, Virginia, United States. Lodi is located on Virginia State Route 91 south of Glade Spring. It owes its name to the Italian city of Lodi....
between crossings of the South Fork and Middle Fork of the Holston River
Holston River
The Holston River is a major river system of southwestern Virginia and east Tennessee. The three major forks of the Holston rise in southwestern Virginia and have their confluence near Kingsport, Tennessee. The North Fork flows southwest from Sharon Springs in Bland County, Virginia...
.
Just south of Glade Spring, SR 91 intersects US 11 (Lee Highway) and continues north as Maple Street through a 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 I-81 and into the town. When Maple Street continues straight as SR 91 Business, SR 91 veers east as Monte Vista Drive to bypass the downtown area. The state highway receives the northern end of the business route, Glade Street, east of downtown. SR 91 crosses over 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 Pulaski District and exits the town on Crescent Road, which passes through McCall Gap in Walker Mountain. Shortly after entering the town of Saltville, where the highway is named Main Street, the highway veers east and crosses the Washington–Smyth county line. At the east end of the downtown area, SR 91 meets the northern end of SR 107
Virginia State Route 107
Virginia State Route 107 is a primary state highway in the U.S. state of Virginia. The state highway runs from Interstate 81 in Chilhowie north to SR 91 in Saltville in western Smyth County.-Route description:...
(Worthy Boulevard). The state highway crosses the North Fork Holston River and parallels it east as Saltville Highway to the hamlet of Broadford, where the highway meets the southern end 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...
(Blue Grass Trail) and turns north to follow Laurel Creek through Brushy Mountain.
SR 91 continues northeast as Veterans Road into Tazewell County. The state highway briefly follows Laurel Creek through the Freestone Valley before ascending Flattop Mountain near Tannersville
Tannersville, Virginia
Tannersville is an unincorporated community in Tazewell County, Virginia, United States....
. At the end of its descent from the mountain, SR 91 meets the western end of SR 607 (Little Tumbling Creek Road) and crosses the eponymous creek. Just north of the bridge, the state highway's surface changes from asphalt to gravel. The gravel road continues for about 5.5 miles (8.9 km) on the state highway's crossing of Clinch Mountain
Clinch Mountain
Clinch Mountain is a mountain ridge in the U.S. states of Tennessee and Virginia, lying in the ridge-and-valley section of the Appalachian Mountains...
. SR 91 returns to asphalt road just south of its intersection with SR 604 (Thompson Valley Road), from which the highway follows Maiden Spring Road. At the hamlet of Maiden Spring, the state highway crosses the Little River
Little River (Clinch River)
The Little River is a river in the United States state of Virginia.-References:**USGS Hydrologic Unit Map - State of Virginia...
, a tributary of the Clinch River
Clinch River
The Clinch River rises in Southwest Virginia near Tazewell, Virginia and flows southwest through the Great Appalachian Valley, gathering various tributaries including the Powell River before joining the Tennessee River in East Tennessee.-Course:...
, and veers east to the hamlet of Liberty. SR 91 continues east as Witten Valley Road through the namesake valley to its northern terminus at US 19 Business and US 460 Business (Crab Orchard Road) at Frog Level.