Special routes of U.S. Route 15

Several special routes of U.S. Route 15 exist. In order from south to north they are as follows.

U.S. Route 15
Highway system
United States Numbered Highway System List Special Divided

Existing

Sumter connector

U.S. Route 15 Connector
Location	Sumter, South Carolina

Hartsville business loop

U.S. Route 15 Business
Location	Hartsville, South Carolina
Length	6.3 mi[1] (10.1 km)

Business U.S. Highway 15 (Bus. US 15) is a business route of U.S. Highway 15 (US 15) in Hartsville, South Carolina that is 6.3 miles (10.1 km) long.[1] It starts at US 15 outside of Hartsville. It then intersects South Carolina Highway 151 Business in the center of Hartsville and South Carolina Highway 102 in North Hartsville. It then ends at US 15.

Major intersections

The entire route is in Darlington County.

Location	mi[1]	km	Destinations	Notes
​	0.0	0.0	US 15 (Marquis Highway) – Bishopville	Southern terminus
Hartsville	2.1	3.4	SC 151 Bus. – Darlington, Florence, McBee, Charlotte, Coker College
North Hartsville	4.3	6.9	SC 102 north – Patrick, Chesterfield	Southern terminus of SC 102
​	6.3	10.1	US 15 (Marquis Highway/5th Street) – Bennettsville, Cheraw, Bishopville, Darlington	Southern terminus
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi

Laurinburg business loop

U.S. Route 15 Business
Location	Laurinburg, North Carolina
Length	3.6 mi[2] (5.8 km)
Existed	1962–present

Established between 1960-1962 following the original mainline US 15 route through Laurinburg. US 15 Business, in concurrency partly with US 401 Business and US 501 Business, traverses along Main Street and Aberdeen Road.[3][4]

The entire route is in Laurinburg, Scotland County.

mi[2]	km	Destinations	Notes
0.0	0.0	US 15 / US 401 (McColl Road) – McColl	South end of US 401 Business overlap
0.5	0.80	I-74 / US 74 – Hamlet, Rockingham, Lumberton
1.3	2.1	US 501 Bus. south – Raemon, Rowland	South end of US 501 Business overlap
2.0	3.2	US 74 Bus. (Church Street) – Hamlet, Maxton
2.9	4.7	US 401 Bus. north (Main Street)	North end of US 401 Business overlap
3.6	5.8	US 15 / US 401 / US 501 – Aberdeen, Wagram, Raeford	North end of US 501 Business overlap
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi       Concurrency terminus

Durham business loop

U.S. Route 15 Business
Location	Durham, North Carolina
Length	6.4 mi[5] (10.3 km)
Existed	1960–present

Established in 1960 as a renumbering of mainline US 15, along University Drive and Roxboro Street, through downtown Durham. It is in concurrency with US 501 Business for majority of its route and is relatively unchanged since inception.[3][4]

The entire route is in Durham, Durham County.

mi[5]	km	Destinations	Notes
0.0	0.0	US 15 / US 501 – Chapel Hill, Durham Downtown	South end of US 501 Business overlap
1.6	2.6	NC 751 (Academy Road)	To Duke University
4.5	7.2	NC 147 (Durham Freeway) – RTP
5.0	8.0	US 70 Bus. / NC 98 (Ramseur Street/Holloway Street)	Brief overlap of eastbound US 70 Business and NC 98
6.4	10.3	I-85 / US 15 / US 70 / US 501 Bus. – Roxboro, Greensboro, Oxford, Raleigh	North end of US 501 Business overlap
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi       Concurrency terminus

Keysville business loop

U.S. Route 15 Business
Location	Keysville, Virginia

View north along US 15 Bus. and east along US 360 Bus. northeast of SR 622 just south of Keysville

U.S. Route 15 Business (US 15 Business) is a business route of US 15 in Charlotte County. The highway, which runs 5.93 miles (9.54 km) between junctions with US 360 and US 15 south and north of Keysville, is entirely concurrent with US 360 Business. US 15-360 Business follow Old Kings Highway from its southern end through a partial interchange with US 15 and US 360 to the town of Keysville. The business routes enter the town on King Street, along which the highways are concurrent with SR 40. In the center of Keysville, US 15 Business, US 360 Business, and SR 40 curve north then west to cross the Southern Virginia Railroad. Just west of the railroad, the business routes turn north onto Front Street. US 15-360 Business follows Four Locust Highway to rejoin their respective mainline highways at a partial cloverleaf interchange.[6]

Farmville business loop

U.S. Route 15 Business
Location	Farmville, Virginia

View south along US 15 Bus. at US 460 Bus. and the south end of SR 45 in Farmville

U.S. Route 15 Business in Farmville, Virginia is a former segment of US 15 that begins at the southern end of an overlap at a diamond interchange with US 460. The route follows South Main Street directly into Farmville until the intersection with US Business Route 460 and Virginia State Route 45, and turns west in its own concurrency with US BUS 460. The US 15-460 concurrency ends when US BUS 15 terminates just north of a trumpet interchange at the north end of the mainline US 15-460 overlap, but US BUS 460 turns south an ends directly at that trumpet interchange with US 460.

Farmville alternate loop

U.S. Route 15 Alternate
Location	Farmville, Virginia

Sign for US 15 Alt. along US 15 Bus. and US 460 Bus. in Farmville

U.S. Route 15 Alternate in Farmville, Virginia is an alternate route of US 15 Business. The route diverges from US 15 Business at Griffin Boulevard south of downtown Farmville. It follows Griffin Boulevard north to High Street, then turns northwest along Oak Street. It rejoins US 15 Business and US 460 Business just west of downtown Farmville.

Culpeper business loop

U.S. Route 15 Business
Location	Culpeper, Virginia
Tourist routes	Journey Through Hallowed Ground Byway Virginia Byway

View north at the south end of US 15 Bus. at US 15/US 29 near Culpeper

Like the business route in Farmville, U.S. Route 15 Business in Culpeper, Virginia is a former segment of US 15 that begins at the southern end of an overlap at a diamond interchange, but in this case, the interchange and overlap is with US 29, and the mainline road turns east. The first leg of US Bus 15 is Orange Road, and despite the fact that Orange Road continues past US 522 to terminate as US Business Route 29, US Bus 15 joins US 522 northwest in an overlap that meets US Bus 29, where Madion Road becomes South Main Street. Along US Bus 15-Bus 29-522, Orange Road terminates between West Park Avenue and West and East Mason Streets. The intersection of Culpeper Street is where one can find Culpeper (Amtrak station) if you turn east and drive two blocks away. US 522 turns left on West Evans Street, while four blocks later, US Bus 15-29 turns east off of North Main Street onto Old James Madison Highway, which eventually becomes Brandy Road and runs parallel to the same Amtrak line that used Culpeper Station before terminating at an interchange with the US 15-29 overlap. Brandy Road becomes Virginia Secondary Route 762.

Remington business loop

U.S. Route 15 Business
Location	Remington, Virginia
Length	2.71 mi[7] (4.36 km)
Existed	1975–present
Tourist routes	Journey Through Hallowed Ground Byway Virginia Byway

View south along US 15 Bus. and US 29 Bus. south of US 15/US 29 just north of Remington

U.S. Route 15/29 Business (US 15/29 Bus.) is the former two-lane route of US 15/US 29 (James Madison Highway) through the town of Remington, bypassed in 1975. It begins in Culpeper County where the bypass curves to the north, while US 15/29 Bus. heads northeast on Remington Road to a 1930 pony truss bridge over the Rappahannock River.[8] Crossing the bridge into Fauquier County, it soon enters Remington, where it is known as James Madison Street. The principal intersection in Remington is with Main Street (State Route 651), which heads west to the bypass and east to Sumerduck. After leaving Remington, US 15/29 Bus. travels north and returns to mainline US 15/29 about ¹⁄₂ mile (0.80 km) south of SR 28.

River Road (SR 1202), which intersects US 15/29 Bus. north of the Rappahannock, is the pre-1930 alignment of US 15 (then also SR 32).[9] The original bridge is long-gone.

Warrenton business loop

U.S. Route 15 Business
Location	Warrenton, Virginia
Tourist routes	Journey Through Hallowed Ground Byway Virginia Byway

View south along US 15 Bus. in Warrenton

U.S. Route 15 Business in Warrenton, Virginia is also U.S. Business Route 17 and U.S. Business Route 29, at least at the southern end. After James Madison Highway becomes Shirley Avenue, US Bus 15 leaves this concurrency at Falmouth Street, while US BUS 17-29 continues to the northwest. Two blocks after serving as the western terminus of State Route 643, Falmouth Street intersects Mockingbird Lane and curves west to become Main Street, which runs through the heart of historic Downtown Warrenton. As Main Street terminates at the corner of U.S. Business Route 211(Waterloo Street and Alexandria Pike), US Bus 15 turns north in a concurrency with US BUS 211. US BUS 15-211 follows Alexandria Pike north until they move onto Blackwell Road before encountering at U.S. 211-Bus 29(Lee Highway) where US 211 and US BUS 211 terminates, Blackwell Road becomes State Route 672, and US BUS 15 turns east on BUS 29 before finally terminating at an interchange with the northern end of the US 15-17-29 overlap.

Leesburg business loop

U.S. Route 15 Business
Location	Leesburg, Virginia
Tourist routes	Journey Through Hallowed Ground Byway Virginia Byway

View north at the south end of US 15 Bus. at SR 7 in Leesburg

US 15 enters the town of Leesburg from the south as South King Street, and U.S. Route 15 Business (US 15 Bus.) separates from it at SR 7, the Leesburg Bypass. It continues straight into the historic downtown area, crossing the Washington & Old Dominion Railroad Trail, the Town Branch creek, Royal Street, and Loudoun Street. US 15 Bus. crosses Market Street, State Route 7 Business, at the center of town, from which the town's four intercardinal sections radiate, and where the Loudoun County courthouse occupies the northeast corner. US 15 Bus. then changes names to North King Street, and proceeds through the last few blocks of the historic district, crossing Cornwall Street and North Street. It continues past Union Cemetery, Ida Lee Park, and several schools. US 15 Bus. rejoins US 15 at the north end of Leesburg, just short of the Morven Park equestrian facilities.

Emmitsburg business loop

U.S. Route 15 Business
Location	Emmitsburg
Length	2.34 mi[10] (3.77 km)
Existed	1967[11]–present
Tourist routes	Journey Through Hallowed Ground Byway

View north along US 15 Bus. in Emmitsburg

U.S. Route 15 Business (US 15 Business) is a business route of US 15 through Emmitsburg. Known as Seton Avenue, the highway runs 2.34 miles (3.77 km) between junctions with US 15 on the south and north sides of the town.[10] US 15 Business follows the original alignment of US 15 through Emmitsburg. The highway serves the St. Joseph's College and Mother Seton Shrine campuses, which are home to several emergency management institutions and a shrine dedicated to Elizabeth Ann Seton, the first person born in the United States to be canonized by the Roman Catholic Church. The U.S. Highway's bypass of the town was constructed between 1963 and 1965.[11][12] US 15 Business was assigned to the old alignment of US 15 from south of Emmitsburg to the Pennsylvania state line by 1967.[11] The business route became unsigned by 1989 and was truncated at its present northern end by 1999.[13][14]

Signage for US 15 Bus. at MD 140 in Emmittsburg

US 15 Business begins at a superstreet intersection with US 15 (Catoctin Mountain Highway) opposite county-maintained Old Frederick Road. Access to northbound US 15 requires following southbound US 15 to a median U-turn. The superstreet intersection replaced a standard highway junction in 2004.[15] US 15 Business heads north as a two-lane road that immediately intersects the old alignment of US 15, Old Emmitsburg Road, and crosses Toms Creek. The business route passes the campuses of St. Joseph's College and the Mother Seton Shrine. St. Joseph's College is a defunct liberal arts college for women whose operations were absorbed by Mount St. Mary's University. The campus is now the National Emergency Training Center, a Federal Emergency Management Agency facility that is home of the National Fire Academy, United States Fire Administration, Emergency Management Institute, and the National Fallen Firefighters Memorial. The Seton Shrine comprises the Basilica of the National Shrine of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton and St. Joseph's Provincial House of the Daughters of Charity of Saint Vincent de Paul.[10][16]

US 15 Business continues north into the Emmitsburg Historic District, where the highway intersects MD 140 (Main Street) and passes St. Euphemia's School and Sisters' House. The business route veers northeast and crosses Flat Run before approaching its northern terminus at US 15. Traffic from northbound US 15 Business to northbound US 15 is required to follow the ramp to southbound US 15 and turn around at US 15's interchange with MD 140. US 15 Business continues north to MD 873, an unnamed service road that parallels the southbound direction of US 15 toward the Pennsylvania state line. That intersection is connected to a one-way southbound ramp from US 15's intersection with Welty Road. The intersection was changed to remove access from northbound US 15 Business to northbound US 15 in 2007.[17] East of US 15, Welty Road immediately intersects Old Gettysburg Road, the old alignment of US 15 north towards Gettysburg.[10][16]

Gettysburg business loop

U.S. Route 15 Business
Location	Gettysburg, Pennsylvania
Length	13 mi (21 km)
Tourist routes	Journey Through Hallowed Ground Byway

U.S. Route 15 Business (US 15 Business) is a surface road in Adams County, Pennsylvania that serves as a through street in the Gettysburg area. It marks the original incarnation of US 15, before a freeway bypass was created.

The southernmost portion of the business loop is lightly traveled, serving as a rolling connecting route between the more utilized portions of this highway and a similar business loop in Emmitsburg, Maryland. The road's designation officially begins at the Pennsylvania–Maryland state line in Freedom Township. South of Gettysburg National Military Park, the road is narrow and features infrequent development, while at its southern edges, a small number tourist facilities appear. Traffic picks up greatly during peak travel months through the park, which uses this highway as one of two main access ways. At the northern border of the greenspace, the route becomes Gettysburg's main street, featuring many stoplights and often cars parked on both sides of the street. North of the city center near Gettysburg College, large homes line the street. The highway then turns northeast, passing as an overly narrow route past commercial development, before traveling into sparsely populated farm county. In unincorporated Shrivers Corner, the route meets up with Pennsylvania Route 394, with which it is cosigned for its final one-half mile, as it passes into a US 15 freeway juncture.

Major intersections
The entire route is in Adams County.

Location	mi	km	Destinations	Notes
Cumberland Township	0.00	0.00	US 15 – Harrisburg, Frederick	Interchange
Gettysburg	6.35	10.22	PA 134 south (Taneytown Road) – Taneytown
	6.94	11.17	PA 116 west (Middle Street) – Fairfield, Carroll Valley	South end of PA 116 overlap
	7.01	11.28	US 30 / PA 116 east (Chambersburg Street/York Street)	Traffic circle; north end of PA 116 overlap
	7.50	12.07	PA 34 north (Carlisle Street) – Carlisle
Straban Township	11.98	19.28	PA 394 west (Shrivers Corners Road) – Biglerville	South end of PA 394 overlap
	12.39	19.94	US 15 – Harrisburg, Frederick PA 394 east (Shrivers Corners Road) – Hunterstown	Interchange; north end of PA 394 overlap
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi       Concurrency terminus

Mansfield business loop

U.S. Route 15 Business
Location	Mansfield, Pennsylvania
Length	4.0 mi (6.4 km)

U.S. Route 15 Business (US 15 Business) is a surface road in Tioga County, Pennsylvania that serves as a through street in the Mansfield, Pennsylvania area. It marks the original incarnation of US 15, before a freeway bypass was created.

The route begins in the south in an area that features a variety of commercial development, including the area's fast food and big box stores. After passing through a light industrial section, the road moves into the borough of Mansfield. The business loop serves as the area's main north-south street, while U.S. Route 6 is the key east-west street. After leaving the borough, it briefly travels along the forested Tioga River, before meeting a freeway junction.

Major intersections
The entire route is in Tioga County.

Location	mi	km	Destinations	Notes
Richmond Township	0.00	0.00	Future I‑99 / US 15 – Williamsport, Corning PA 660 west	US 15 exit 179
Mansfield	2.25	3.62	US 6 (Wellsboro Street) to US 15 – Mansfield University
Richmond Township	3.55	5.71	Future I‑99 north / US 15 – Corning	US 15 exit 183
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi

Former

Walterboro–Creedmoor alternate route

U.S. Route 15 Alternate
Location	Walterboro, SC-Creedmoor, NC
Existed	1936–1957

Established in 1936 as a renumbering of U.S. Route 401, from the South Carolina state line to Creedmoor, going through the cities of Laurinburg, Raeford, Fayetteville, Lillington, and Raleigh. In 1950, South Carolina discontinued the US 15A concurrency with US 15, but was not till 1953 when North Carolina followed and moved US 15A's southern terminus in Laurinburg. In 1957, US 15A was renumbered back to US 401.[3][18]

Sumter–Society Hill alternate route

U.S. Route 15 Alternate
Location	Sumter-Society Hill, South Carolina
Existed	1955–1957

Bennettsville business loop

U.S. Route 15 Business
Location	Bennettsville, South Carolina
Existed	1952–1990

Sanford alternate route

U.S. Route 15A
Location	Sanford, North Carolina
Length	6.5 mi[19] (10.5 km)
Existed	1957–1960

Established in 1957 when mainline US 15 was bypassed west of Sanford. US 15A, in concurrency with US 1A and US 501A, traversed on Carthage Street and Hawkins Avenue. In 1960, it was renumbered as US 15 Business.[3][18]

Sanford business loop

U.S. Route 15 Business
Location	Sanford, North Carolina
Length	6.5 mi[19] (10.5 km)
Existed	1960–1978

Established in 1960 as a renumbering of US 15A along Carthage Street and Hawkins Avenue, in concurrency with US 1 Business and US 501 Business. Between 1976-1978, US 1 Business was rerouted along NC 42 on Wicker Street; it is believed that both US 15 Business and US 501 Business were decommissioned by that time.[3][4]

Chapel Hill alternate route

U.S. Route 15A
Location	Chapel Hill, North Carolina
Length	4.3 mi[20] (6.9 km)
Existed	1953–1960

Established in 1953 when mainline US 15 was bypassed around Chapel Hill. US 15A, in concurrency with US 501A, traversed on Columbia Street and Franklin Street. In 1960, it was renumbered as US 15 Business.[18]

Chapel Hill business loop

U.S. Route 15 Business
Location	Chapel Hill, North Carolina
Length	4.3 mi[20] (6.9 km)
Existed	1960–1987

Established in 1960 as a renumbering of US 15A along Columbia and Franklin Streets, in concurrency with US 501 Business. It was decommissioned between 1985-1987.[4]

References

1. Google (6 March 2017). "US Route 15 Bus - Hartsville, SC" (Map). Google Maps. Google. Retrieved 6 March 2017.
2. Google (2012-08-20). "US 15 Bus - Laurinburg" (Map). Google Maps. Google. Retrieved 2012-08-20.
3. "NCRoads.com: U.S. 15". Retrieved June 22, 2013.
4. "NCRoads.com: U.S. 15 Business". Retrieved August 20, 2012.
5. Google (2012-08-20). "US 15 Bus - Durham" (Map). Google Maps. Google. Retrieved 2012-08-20.
6. "2009 Traffic Data". Virginia Department of Transportation. 2009. Retrieved 2011-08-22.
   • Charlotte County (PDF)
7. Virginia Department of Transportation, 2012 Traffic Data
8. Bridgehunter.com: Remington Road Bridge (National Bridge Inventory data)
9. Remington quadrangle (advance sheet), 1927
10. Highway Information Services Division (December 31, 2011). Highway Location Reference. Maryland State Highway Administration. Retrieved 2012-11-13.
    • Frederick County (PDF). pp. 12–13, 98–113.
11. Maryland State Roads Commission (1967). Maryland: Official Highway Map (Map). Baltimore: Maryland State Roads Commission.
12. Maryland State Roads Commission (1963). Maryland: Official Highway Map (Map). Baltimore: Maryland State Roads Commission.
13. Maryland State Highway Administration (1989). Maryland: Official Highway Map (Map). Baltimore: Maryland State Highway Administration. § A14.
14. Highway Information Services Division (December 31, 1999). Highway Location Reference. Maryland State Highway Administration. Retrieved 2012-11-13.
    • Frederick County (PDF).
15. Highway Information Services Division (December 31, 2004). Highway Location Reference. Maryland State Highway Administration. Retrieved 2012-11-13.
    • Frederick County (PDF).
16. Google (2011-03-16). "U.S. Route 15 Business (Emmitsburg, MD)" (Map). Google Maps. Google. Retrieved 2011-03-16.
17. Highway Information Services Division (December 31, 2007). Highway Location Reference. Maryland State Highway Administration. Retrieved 2012-11-13.
    • Frederick County (PDF).
18. "NCRoads.com: U.S. 15-A". Retrieved 2012-08-20.
19. Google (2012-08-20). "US 15 Alt/Bus - Sanford" (Map). Google Maps. Google. Retrieved 2012-08-20.
20. Google (2012-08-19). "US 15 Alt/Bus - Chapel Hill" (Map). Google Maps. Google. Retrieved 2012-08-19.

External links

• Media related to U.S. Route 15 at Wikimedia Commons