Washington State Route 251
Encyclopedia
State Route 251 is a former 10.86 miles (17.48 km) long state highway
in Stevens County, Washington. The highway began at in Northport
and continued northeast parallel to the Columbia River
to Boundary, an unincorporated community, where it crossed the Canada – United States border into British Columbia
as . SR 251 was originally a county road until 1913, when it was added to the state highway system, but was later removed. The roadway was re-added as an extension to an already existing state highway. In 1937, it was reclassified as a secondary highway named Secondary State Highway 22A (SSH 22A) until 1964, when it became SR 251. In 1984, control of the road was relinquished by the state to Stevens County and it was renamed Northport–Boundary Road.
at an at-grade intersection
at Center Street, known as SR 25
. The highway turned north from SR 25 and followed the Columbia River
upstream as well a railroad owned by the Kettle Falls International Railway
. The highway traveled northeast, then east through a series of hairpin turn
s before turning north to Boundary, an unincorporated community in Stevens County, where SR 251 entered Canadian customs and continued into British Columbia
as British Columbia Highway 22A (BC 22A).
with British Columbia
that has existed since at least 1912. In 1913, it became part of the Inland Empire Highway, but was removed in 1915. The road was transferred to county maintenance after removal from the state highway system. In 1931, it was officially added to the state highway system as part of an extension of from Kettle Falls
to British Columbia. In 1937, it became Secondary State Highway 22A (SSH 22A), a branch of (PSH 22). When Washington renumbered its highways in 1964 and switched to a new system
, SSH 22A became SR 251 and PSH 22 became SR 25. In 1983, SR 251 was removed from the state highway system and control was relinquished to Stevens County. After it was turned over, Stevens County continues to maintain the roadway and no realignments or significant events have occurred.
State highways in Washington
In the U.S. state of Washington, the Washington State Department of Transportation maintains a network of over 7000 miles of state highways, including all Interstate and U.S. Highways that pass through the state. The system comprises 8.5% of the state's public road mileage, but carries over half...
in Stevens County, Washington. The highway began at in Northport
Northport, Washington
Northport is a town in Stevens County, Washington, United States. The population was 295 at the 2010 census.-History:Northport was given its name since it was once the northernmost town on the Spokane Falls and Northern Railway...
and continued northeast parallel to the Columbia River
Columbia River
The Columbia River is the largest river in the Pacific Northwest region of North America. The river rises in the Rocky Mountains of British Columbia, Canada, flows northwest and then south into the U.S. state of Washington, then turns west to form most of the border between Washington and the state...
to Boundary, an unincorporated community, where it crossed the Canada – United States border into British Columbia
British Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
as . SR 251 was originally a county road until 1913, when it was added to the state highway system, but was later removed. The roadway was re-added as an extension to an already existing state highway. In 1937, it was reclassified as a secondary highway named Secondary State Highway 22A (SSH 22A) until 1964, when it became SR 251. In 1984, control of the road was relinquished by the state to Stevens County and it was renamed Northport–Boundary Road.
Route description
State Route 251 (SR 251), now known as the Northport–Boundary Road or Boundary Highway, began in NorthportNorthport, Washington
Northport is a town in Stevens County, Washington, United States. The population was 295 at the 2010 census.-History:Northport was given its name since it was once the northernmost town on the Spokane Falls and Northern Railway...
at an at-grade intersection
At-grade intersection
An at-grade intersection is a junction at which two or more transport axes cross at the same level .-Traffic management:With areas of high or fast traffic, an at-grade intersection normally requires a traffic control device such as a stop sign, traffic light or railway signal to manage conflicting...
at Center Street, known as SR 25
Washington State Route 25
State Route 25 , named the Coulee Reservoir Highway, is a long state highway serving communities in Lincoln and Stevens counties in the U.S. state of Washington. The highway begins at an intersection with east of Davenport and continues northwest to cross the Spokane River on the Spokane...
. The highway turned north from SR 25 and followed the Columbia River
Columbia River
The Columbia River is the largest river in the Pacific Northwest region of North America. The river rises in the Rocky Mountains of British Columbia, Canada, flows northwest and then south into the U.S. state of Washington, then turns west to form most of the border between Washington and the state...
upstream as well a railroad owned by the Kettle Falls International Railway
Kettle Falls International Railway
The Kettle Falls International Railway is a railroad operating in the U.S. state of Washington and the Canadian province of British Columbia. It operates approximately of track that was formerly owned by the Burlington Northern and Santa Fe Railway. It is owned by OmniTRAX.- Route :The railroad...
. The highway traveled northeast, then east through a series of hairpin turn
Hairpin turn
A hairpin turn , named for its resemblance to a hairpin/bobby pin, is a bend in a road with a very acute inner angle, making it necessary for an oncoming vehicle to turn almost 180° to continue on the road. Such turns in ramps and trails may be called switchbacks in American English, by analogy...
s before turning north to Boundary, an unincorporated community in Stevens County, where SR 251 entered Canadian customs and continued into British Columbia
British Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
as British Columbia Highway 22A (BC 22A).
History
SR 251 was once a county road connecting NorthportNorthport, Washington
Northport is a town in Stevens County, Washington, United States. The population was 295 at the 2010 census.-History:Northport was given its name since it was once the northernmost town on the Spokane Falls and Northern Railway...
with British Columbia
British Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
that has existed since at least 1912. In 1913, it became part of the Inland Empire Highway, but was removed in 1915. The road was transferred to county maintenance after removal from the state highway system. In 1931, it was officially added to the state highway system as part of an extension of from Kettle Falls
Kettle Falls, Washington
Kettle Falls is a city in Stevens County, Washington, United States, named for the nearby Kettle Falls on the Columbia River, an ancient and important fishing site for Native Americans...
to British Columbia. In 1937, it became Secondary State Highway 22A (SSH 22A), a branch of (PSH 22). When Washington renumbered its highways in 1964 and switched to a new system
State highways in Washington
In the U.S. state of Washington, the Washington State Department of Transportation maintains a network of over 7000 miles of state highways, including all Interstate and U.S. Highways that pass through the state. The system comprises 8.5% of the state's public road mileage, but carries over half...
, SSH 22A became SR 251 and PSH 22 became SR 25. In 1983, SR 251 was removed from the state highway system and control was relinquished to Stevens County. After it was turned over, Stevens County continues to maintain the roadway and no realignments or significant events have occurred.