U.S. Route 50 in West Virginia

U.S. Route 50 (US 50) in West Virginia runs from the border with Ohio to Virginia, passing briefly through Garrett County, Maryland, and following the Northwestern Turnpike. Prior to the U.S. Highway System it was West Virginia Route 1 and in the 1930s, the road was not finished in Maryland. Today the section of US 50 from Clarksburg to Parkersburg on the Ohio River is part of Corridor D of the Appalachian Development Highway System.

This article is about the section of U.S. Route 50 in West Virginia. For the entire route, see U.S. Route 50.

U.S. Route 50
Route information
Maintained by WVDOH
Length196.20 mi[1] (315.75 km)
Existed1926–present
Western section
West end US 50 / SR 32 in Belpre, OH
Major
junctions		 I-77 in Parkersburg
US 19 in Clarksburg
I-79 in Clarksburg
US 250 near Grafton
US 119 in Grafton
East end US 50 near Brookside
Eastern section
West end US 50 in Gormania
Major
junctions		 US 220 in New Creek
East end US 50 towards Winchester, VA
Location
CountiesWood, Ritchie, Doddridge, Harrison, Taylor, Preston; Grant, Mineral, Hampshire
Highway system
← WV 49WV 51 →

For much of its length, Route 50 roughly parallels the North Bend Rail Trail and crosses the trail at three places.[2]

Route description

Western segment

US 50 crosses the Ohio River on a bridge, with Blennerhassett Island in the middle of the river. It continues as a freeway with two interchanges at Route 892, and runs concurrently with Route 68 starting at the second interchange up to where it exits and heads into downtown Parkersburg. US 50 stays on the southern shore of the Little Kanawha River, intersecting Route 14 and then after crossing the river, Route 47 and Route 618 before becoming a divided expressway at the I-77 (WV) interchange. US 50 then briefly turns south before heading east through the forest. South of Deerwalk, the route runs concurrently with Route 31 for a few miles. In Ellenboro, US 50 has an interchange with Route 16, providing access into the town; an intersection with Route 74 does the same for Pennsboro, and several miles later, Route 18 for West Union. Route 23 intersects the highway west of East Salem and Bristol.[3]

Upon entering Clarksburg, there is a diamond interchange with US 19 and Route 20 before US 50 passes through the town as a freeway, with several interchanges, including another with Route 20. After an interchange with I-79, US 50 becomes Main Street, passing through the city of Bridgeport and intersecting Route 131 and passing south of the North Central West Virginia Airport. The route intersects Route 279 and then runs concurrently with US 250 until just before US 50 enters Fetterman and then Grafton. US 50 intersects US 119 in the eastern part of the city before continuing east through Thornton and curving through the mountains to Evansville. Route 92 briefly runs concurrently with the highway, and Route 26 intersects the route near Fellowsville. After several miles through the forest, Route 72 briefly runs concurrently with the highway before US 50 continues east into Aurora and intersects Route 24. Then, US 50 crosses into Maryland.[3]

Eastern segment
Scenic overlook off U.S. Route 50 near Elk Garden, West Virginia. Destination marker on highway at photo's left indicates distance to Keyser, West Virginia (12 miles, via U.S. Route 220) and Romney, West Virginia (27 miles).
View east along US 50 east of WV 93 in Claysville, Mineral County

US 50 crosses back into West Virginia over the north bank of the Potomac River. After passing through Gormania, the highway continues through the forest, and runs concurrently with Route 42 from near Mount Storm to near Hartmansville. Near Claysville, the route intersects Route 93, and Route 972 intersect US 50 near New Creek. US 220 runs concurrently with US 50 through Ridgeville, Markwood, and Burlington. At Junction, US 220 splits off to the south, and Route 28 continues east with US 50 through Mechanicsburg and through the river plain. In the town of Romney, US 50 goes through downtown, while Route 28 continues north. The highway goes through Shanks and Frenchburg, as well as Augusta; Route 29 runs concurrently through Pleasantdale. US 50 continues east through Hanging Rock and Loom, crossing the Cacapon River in Capon Bridge. US 50 then continues into Virginia.[4]

Water crossings

Historic sites
Saddle Mountain at sunrise, as viewed from Skyline atop the Allegheny Front along U.S. 50 in West Virginia

Mineral County

Hampshire County

Major intersections
CountyLocationmikmDestinationsNotes
Wood​ US 50 west to SR 7 / SR 32 – Athens, BelpreOhio state line (Blennerhassett Island Bridge over Ohio River)
​ WV 892 (Dupont Road) – Washingtoninterchange
​ CR 34/4 (River Hill Road)interchange
​ WV 68 south – Ravenswoodinterchange; west end of WV 68 overlap
Marrtown CR 9 (Marrtown Road)interchange
​ WV 68 north (Juliana Street) – Downtown Parkersburginterchange; eastbound exit and westbound entrance; east end of WV 68 overlap
Parkersburg WV 14 (Division Street) – Downtown Parkersburginterchange
​ WV 47 (Staunton Avenue)interchange
​ WV 618 (7th Street)interchange
​ I-77 / WV 2 – Marietta, OH, CharlestonI-77 exit 176
Deerwalk WV 31 north / CR 50/16 (Riser Ridge Road) – Deerwalkwest end of WV 31 overlap
Ritchie​ WV 31 south – Cairoeast end of WV 31 overlap
Ellenboro WV 16 – Ellenboro, Harrisvilleinterchange
Pennsboro WV 74 – Pennsboro, Pullman
Doddridge​ WV 18 – West Union, Glenville
Harrison​ WV 23 – Alma, Salem, Fort New Salem, Salem International University
East SalemDowntown Salem (CR 50/73)interchange; westbound exit and eastbound entrance
Clarksburg US 19 / WV 20 (West Pike Street)interchange
West Virginia Avenue / Sycamore Streetinterchange
Chestnut Streetinterchange
3rd Street / 2nd Street - Downtown Clarksburginterchange
WV 20 (Joyce Street)interchange
I-79 – Fairmont, CharlestonI-79 exit 119
Bridgeport WV 58 west (Virginia Avenue) to I-79
WV 131 north (Benedum Drive) – Airport
WV 76 east – Flemington
WV 279 west to I-79
Taylor​ US 250 north – Fairmontwest end of US 250 overlap
Pruntytown US 250 south – Elkinseast end of US 250 overlap
Grafton WV 310 north – Valley Falls State Park
US 119
Preston​ WV 92 north – Arthurdale, Reedsvillewest end of WV 92 overlap
​ WV 92 south – Nestorville, Belingtoneast end of WV 92 overlap
Fellowsville WV 26 north – Kingwood
Macomber WV 72 south – Parsonswest end of WV 72 overlap
WV 72 north – Rowlesburgeast end of WV 72 overlap
Brookside WV 24 south – Thomas
​ US 50 east (George Washington Highway)
US 50 passes through Maryland
GarrettGorman US 50 west (George Washington Highway)
North Branch Potomac RiverGormania Bridge
GrantGormania WV 90 south – Thomas
Mount Storm WV 42 south – Petersburgwest end of WV 42 overlap
Mineral​ WV 42 north – Elk Garden, Jennings Randolph Lakeeast end of WV 42 overlap
Claysville WV 93 west – Scherrwest end of WV 93 overlap
New Creek WV 93 east to US 220 north – Keysereast end of WV 93 overlap
​ US 220 north – Keyserwest end of US 220 overlap
HampshireJunction US 220 south / WV 28 south – Moorefieldeast end of US 220 overlap; west end of WV 28 overlap
Romney WV 28 northeast end of WV 28 overlap (any cities signed?)
​ WV 29 north – Paw Pawwest end of WV 29 overlap
​ WV 29 south – Bakereast end of WV 29 overlap
​ US 50 east – WinchesterVirginia state line
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi
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References
  1. Federal Highway Administration, National Highway Planning Network GIS data version 2005.08
  2. West Virginia Atlas & Gazetteer. Yarmouth, Maine: DeLorme. 1997. ISBN 0-89933-246-3. OCLC 36832284.
  3. Google (December 25, 2013). "US 50 West Virginia, western part" (Map). Google Maps. Google. Retrieved December 25, 2013.
  4. Google (December 25, 2013). "US 50 West Virginia eastern portion" (Map). Google Maps. Google. Retrieved December 25, 2013.
U.S. Route 50
Previous state:
Ohio		 West Virginia Next state:
Maryland
Previous state:
Maryland		 Next state:
Virginia
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