Virginia...


US 13:


Summary:

Detailed Description:
US 13 enters the Old Dominion state heading towards Hampton Roads and the Delmarva peninsula. The first Hampton Roads community US 13 goes through is Suffolk. The extension of the Suffolk bypass opened in March 2003 to connect US 13 to the older Suffolk Bypass which carries US 58/US 460 towards the Hampton Roads Beltway. Adam Froehlig has a page with pictures of the Southwest Suffolk Bypass. From BUSINESS US 13/58/460 to the Hampton Roads beltway, it is a 6 lane divided expressway which is very close to freeway standards since it has very few at-grade intersections and no signals.

US 13 quickly becomes a major boulevard running parallel with the lower segment of the Hampton Roads beltway instead of multiplexing with the interstate highway. This route travels mostly through Chesapeake, but spends spends about 1.5 miles in Virginia Beach, and has 4.5 miles in Norfolk. Finally, US 13 gains respectability when it has an interchange with the Hampton Roads Beltway (I-64) and continues north as Northampton Blvd towards the famously engineered Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel. There is both an official website and unofficial website about the bridge-tunnel, and Scott Kozel and Sherman Cahal have website articles about the bridge-tunnel.

After crossing 16 miles of the Chesapeake Bay, plus another 2 miles of island and inlet, US 13 finally hits the lower end of the Delmarva Peninsula and becomes known as the Lankford Highway or the Ocean Highway. The US 13 alignment alternates frequently between being  a 4 lane arterial and a 5-lane boulevard. The alignment is mainly straight, except around the town bypasses. This straight route is due to the fact that it hugs the Eastern Shore railroad tracks from Eastville to Onley.

The arterial highway is very old, dating back to the 1950’s and 1960’s. By 1953, most of the multilane route was complete north of VA 179 in Onley. Because the alignment has stayed the same since then, there are many interesting relics of the past. The highway is still an important travel corridor, and some old hotels still cater to tourists. For an interesting side trip, visit the town of Cape Charles, one mile west of US 13 via VA 184. This once-bustling city was the northern terminus of the ferry until the 1950’s when the terminal moved south to the Kiptopeke area, the eventual the location of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel. Adam Prince has pictures and a history of this sleepy town. If ever in town, try Rebecca’s Restaurant for some excellent seafood. The main natural attraction on the peninsula is the beautiful Assateague Island National Seashore, home of the wild ponies. The park is located nine miles from US 13 via VA 175. Soon after crossing the Maryland border, US 13 meets up with its sister, US 113.

In summary, US 13 is all 4 lanes from the Suffolk Bypass to the Maryland State Line, with some 6-8 lane segments in Hampton Roads (along the Military Highway and Northampton Blvd segments). The only 2-lane part of US 13 in Virginia is from the North Carolina state line to VA 32.

History:

More History: (courtesy of Mike Roberson - click here)

Pictures: (courtesy of AARoads - click here)

Junction Log:

Sources:
Lou Corsaro is the author for the US 13 page, revised by Adam Froehlig and Eric Smith. The following sources were used: VDOT state transportation map, Mapquest, Mike Roberson, Adam Froehlig, Scott Kozel. Minutes of the Commonwealth Transportation Board.

Last Updated: 1/20/07

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