Washington State Route 281
Encyclopedia
State Route 281 is a state highway
in the U.S. state
of Washington, connecting I-90 near George with SR 28 in Quincy.
with exit 149 of I-90 just north of the city of George. The highway snakes through some farmland before turning north, and intersecting its spur route
, which connects the highway back to I-90 in the south. Continuing north, the highway passes a weigh station
while continuing through farmland. Passing west of the Qunicy Municipal Airport, the highway continues north before terminating at an intersection with SR 28 in Quincy.
Every year the Washington State Department of Transportation
(WSDOT) conducts a series of surveys on its highways in the state to measure traffic volume. This is expressed in terms of average annual daily traffic (AADT), which is a measure of traffic volume for any average day of the year. In 2009, WSDOT calculated that as many as 7,000 cars used the highway near the northern terminus at SR 28 and as few as 3,500 cars used the highway near the southern terminus at I-90.
The entire highway is listed on both the WSDOT List of Highways of Statewide Significance, which marks the highway as a critical to connecting major communities in the state, and the National Highway System
, a system of roads that are important to the nation's economy, defense and mobility.
, when the road's designation was changed to the current SR 281.
connects SR 281 back to I-90 2.65 mi (4.3 km) from SR 281's southern interchange with I-90, and to SR 283
. Between 2,000 and 3,600 cars travel on the highway on an average day.
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 Washington, connecting I-90 near George with SR 28 in Quincy.
Route description
SR 281 begins at a diamond interchangeDiamond 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 exit 149 of I-90 just north of the city of George. The highway snakes through some farmland before turning north, and intersecting its spur route
Spur route
A spur route is a short road forming a branch from a longer, more important route . A bypass or beltway is never considered a true spur route as it typically reconnects with the major road...
, which connects the highway back to I-90 in the south. Continuing north, the highway passes a weigh station
Weigh station
A weigh station is a checkpoint along a highway to inspect vehicular weights. Usually, trucks and commercial vehicles are subject to the inspection....
while continuing through farmland. Passing west of the Qunicy Municipal Airport, the highway continues north before terminating at an intersection with SR 28 in Quincy.
Every year the Washington State Department of Transportation
Washington State Department of Transportation
The Washington State Department of Transportation , was established in 1905. The agency, led by a Secretary and overseen by the Governor, is a Washington governmental agency that constructs, maintains, and regulates the use of the state's transportation infrastructure...
(WSDOT) conducts a series of surveys on its highways in the state to measure traffic volume. This is expressed in terms of average annual daily traffic (AADT), which is a measure of traffic volume for any average day of the year. In 2009, WSDOT calculated that as many as 7,000 cars used the highway near the northern terminus at SR 28 and as few as 3,500 cars used the highway near the southern terminus at I-90.
The entire highway is listed on both the WSDOT List of Highways of Statewide Significance, which marks the highway as a critical to connecting major communities in the state, and the National Highway System
National Highway System (United States)
The National Highway System is a network of strategic highways within the United States, including the Interstate Highway System and other roads serving major airports, ports, rail or truck terminals, railway stations, pipeline terminals and other strategic transport facilities.Individual states...
, a system of roads that are important to the nation's economy, defense and mobility.
History
The first road that traveled south from Quincy was part of the Sunset Highway, first designated in 1915. By 1931, the highway was designated as part of Primary State Highway 7, which remained the highways designation until the 1964 renumbering1964 state highway renumbering (Washington)
In 1963, a law was passed authorizing a new numbering for sign routes. In 1970 the legislative definitions were changed to use the sign route numbers but renamed state routes...
, when the road's designation was changed to the current SR 281.
Major intersections
The entire route is in Grant County.| Location | Mile | Destinations | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0.00 | Interchange Interchange (road) In the field of road transport, an interchange is a road junction that typically uses grade separation, and one or more ramps, to permit traffic on at least one highway to pass through the junction without directly crossing any other traffic stream. It differs from a standard intersection, at which... , southern terminus |
||
| 2.65 | Via SR 281 Spur | ||
| Quincy | 10.55 | Northern terminus |
Spur route
A National Highway System listed 1.69 miles (2.7 km) long spur routeSpur route
A spur route is a short road forming a branch from a longer, more important route . A bypass or beltway is never considered a true spur route as it typically reconnects with the major road...
connects SR 281 back to I-90 2.65 mi (4.3 km) from SR 281's southern interchange with I-90, and to SR 283
Washington State Route 283
State Route 283 is a long state highway located entirely in Grant County, Washington, United States. Beginning at an intersection with SR 28 near Ephrata the highway travels to an interchange with SR 281 Spur near George.-History:...
. Between 2,000 and 3,600 cars travel on the highway on an average day.