Virginia...

US 13:
Summary:
Segment |
Type of Highway |
Designated Arterial System? |
North Carolina to Whaleyville |
2-lane Road |
NO |
Through the Whaleyville section of Suffolk |
City Street |
NO |
Whaleyville to VA 32 |
2-lane Road |
NO |
VA 32 to the south end of the Southwest Suffolk Bypass |
4-lane Arterial |
NO |
Southwest Suffolk Bypass |
4-lane Freeway |
NO |
Suffolk Bypass |
4-lane Freeway |
YES |
Suffolk Bypass to I-64 |
6-lane Expressway |
YES |
I-64 to Indian River Rd |
4-lane Boulevard |
NO |
Indian River Rd in Virginia Beach to Lowery Rd in Norfolk |
8-lane Boulevard |
NO |
Lowery Rd to VA 165 / VA 166 |
4-lane Boulevard |
NO |
VA 165 / VA 166 to I-64 |
6-lane Boulevard |
NO |
I-64 to VA 166 |
8-lane Boulevard |
YES |
VA 166 to beginning of the Chesapeake Bay-Bridge Tunnel at US 60 |
6-lane Expressway |
YES |
Chesapeake Bay-Bridge Tunnel to Nassawadox |
4-lane Arterial |
YES |
Through Nassawadox |
5-lane Boulevard |
YES |
Nassawadox to Exmore |
4-lane Arterial |
YES |
Exmore Bypass |
4-lane Boulevard |
YES |
Exmore to Painter |
4-lane Arterial |
YES |
Through Painter |
5-lane Boulevard |
YES |
Painter to Keller |
4-lane Arterial |
YES |
Through Keller |
5-lane Boulevard |
YES |
Keller to Melfa |
4-lane Arterial |
YES |
Through Melfa |
5-lane Boulevard |
YES |
Melfa to Onley |
4-lane Arterial |
YES |
Onley Bypass |
4-lane Boulevard |
YES |
Onley to Nelsonia |
4-lane Arterial |
YES |
Through Nelsonia |
5-lane Boulevard |
YES |
Nelsonia to Mappsville |
4-lane Arterial |
YES |
Through Mappsville |
5-lane Boulevard |
YES |
Mappsville to Temperanceville |
4-lane Arterial |
YES |
Through Temperanceville |
5-lane Boulevard |
YES |
Temperanceville to Oak Hall |
4-lane Arterial |
YES |
Through Oak Hall |
5-lane Boulevard |
YES |
Oak Hall to Maryland State Line |
4-lane Arterial |
YES |
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:
Segment |
Designated as Limited Access Highway |
Southwest Suffolk Bypass |
6/1997 |
Suffolk Bypass |
11/1968 |
Suffolk Bypass to I-64 |
12/1971 |
VA 166 / Diamond Springs Rd to the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel |
1/1962 |
More History: (courtesy of Mike Roberson - click here)
Pictures: (courtesy of AARoads - click here)
Junction Log:
Junction |
Type of Access |
Highway Type at Junction |
Location |
VA 32 |
At-grade |
2-lane road to Arterial |
Suffolk, near Suffolk Municipal Airport |
SR 688 |
Traffic signal |
Arterial |
Suffolk |
US 13 Business |
Interchange |
Arterial to Freeway |
Suffolk |
SR 688 |
Half-diamond to/from the south. This is also how northbound US 13 traffic accesses BUSINESS US 58. |
Freeway |
Suffolk |
US 58 |
Interchange |
Freeway |
Suffolk |
US 13 cosigns with US 58. |
VA 604 / Pitchkettle Rd |
Interchange |
Freeway |
Suffolk |
US 460 Business and Bypass |
5-ramp Partial Cloverleaf interchange |
Freeway |
Suffolk |
US 460 cosigns with US 13 / US 58 |
VA 10 / VA 32 |
5-ramp Partial Cloverleaf Interchange |
Freeway |
Suffolk |
SR 642 / Wilroy Rd |
Folded diamond interchange |
Freeway |
Suffolk |
US 13 / US 58 / US 460 Business |
Interchange |
Freeway to Expressway |
Suffolk |
Enter Chesapeake City, Leave Suffolk City |
I-664 / I-64 / US 460 / US 58 |
Huge interchange |
Expressway |
Chesapeake |
US 13 follows US 460 as the Military Highway |
VA 191 - This is where US 13 & US 460 officially split from US 58. |
Traffic Signal |
Expressway to Boulevard |
Chesapeake |
I-64 |
Diamond interchange |
Boulevard |
Chesapeake |
US 17 |
Traffic signal |
Boulevard |
Chesapeake |
US 460 / VA 166 |
This interchange is best described as a folded-diamond with a "flyunder". There are also three levels to it: VA 166 in the bottom, EB US 460 (the "flyunder") and a railroad line in the middle, and US 13 on top. |
Boulevard |
Chesapeake |
I-464 |
Traffic signal |
Boulevard |
Chesapeake |
VA 168 |
Cloverleaf Interchange missing a southbound US 13 to northbound VA 168 movement. Local streets can be used to make that turn |
Boulevard |
Chesapeake |
Greenbrier Parkway (a major boulevard in Chesapeake) |
Traffic signal |
Boulevard |
Chesapeake |
Enter Virginia Beach City, Leave Chesapeake City |
Providence Rd (decommissioned VA 409) |
Traffic signal |
Boulevard |
Virginia Beach |
Indian River Rd (decomissioned, but still signed as VA 407) |
Traffic signal |
Boulevard |
Virginia Beach |
Enter Norfolk City, Leave Virginia Beach City |
I-264 |
Cloverleaf Interchange |
Boulevard |
Norfolk |
US 58 / Viriginia Beach Blvd |
SPUI interchange |
Boulevard |
Norfolk |
VA 165 / VA 166 |
Traffic signal. There used to be a traffic circle here, but that was gone by 1990. |
Boulevard |
Norfolk |
US 13 turns right to become Northampton Blvd. and there is a brief US 13 / VA 165 / VA 166 triplex. |
VA 165 South |
Traffic signal |
Boulevard |
Norfolk |
I-64 |
Partial interchange. The SB 13-EB 64 movement is a directional ramp. |
Boulevard |
Norfolk |
Enter Virginia Beach City, Leave Norfolk City |
VA 166 / Diamond Springs Rd |
Traffic signal |
Boulevard to Expressway |
Virginia Beach |
US 13 is an expressway all the way to the bridge. |
Bayside Rd |
Traffic signal |
Expressway |
Virginia Beach |
Shell Rd / Jack Frost Rd |
Traffic signal |
Expressway |
Virginia Beach |
VA 225 |
Cloverleaf Interchange |
Expressway |
Virginia Beach |
Pleasure House Rd |
Traffic signal |
Expressway |
Virginia Beach |
US 60 / Shore Drive |
Diamond interchange |
Expressway |
Virginia Beach |
Enter Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel |
Enter Northampton County, Leave Virginia Beach City |
Depart Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel |
VA 184 / US 13 Business |
Traffic signal (An interchange was planned in the early 1960’s.) |
Arterial |
Cheriton |
SR 680 |
Traffic signal |
Arterial |
Cheriton |
US 13 Business |
At-grade |
Arterial |
Cheriton |
US 13 Business |
At-grade |
Arterial |
Eastville |
SR 631 |
Traffic signal |
Arterial |
Eastville |
US 13 Business |
At-grade |
Arterial |
Eastville |
SR 606 |
Traffic signal |
Boulevard |
Nassawadox |
US 13 Business |
At-grade |
Arterial |
Exmore |
In addition to the traffic lights mentioned below, there are two traffic lights at business entrances along the Exmore Bypass. |
VA 183 |
Traffic signal |
Boulevard |
Exmore |
VA 178 |
Traffic signal |
Boulevard |
Exmore |
US 13 Business |
At-grade |
Boulevard |
Exmore |
Enter Accomack County, Leave Northampton County |
SR 600 |
Traffic signal |
Boulevard to Arterial |
Exmore, near the county line |
VA 182 |
Traffic signal |
Boulevard |
Painter |
VA 180 |
At-grade |
Boulevard |
Keller |
VA 180 cosigns with US 13 for a short time. |
VA 180 |
At-grade |
Arterial |
Keller |
SR 626 |
Traffic signal |
Boulevard |
Melfa |
US 13 Business NORTH |
Traffic signal |
Boulevard |
Onley |
Business Entrance |
Traffic signal |
Boulevard |
Onley |
VA 179 |
Traffic signal |
Boulevard |
Onley |
Business Entrance |
Traffic signal |
Boulevard |
Onley |
US 13 Business |
Folded Diamond Interchange |
Boulevard to Arterial |
Between Onley and Tasley |
US 13 Business |
Traffic signal |
Arterial |
Between Tasley and Accomac |
SR 764 |
Traffic signal |
Arterial |
Accomac |
SR 662 |
Traffic signal |
Arterial |
Accomac |
US 13 Business SOUTH |
At-grade |
Arterial |
Accomac |
VA 176 |
Traffic signal |
Arterial |
Centerville |
VA 187 |
Traffic signal |
Boulevard |
Nelsonia |
SR 702 |
Traffic signal |
Arterial |
Oak Hall |
VA 175 |
Traffic signal |
Boulevard to Arterial |
Wattsville |
Enter Worcester County, Marland. Leave Accomac County, Virginia |
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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