Draft:U.S. Route 22 in West Virginia

U.S. Route 22 marker
U.S. Route 22
Map
US 22 highlighted in red
Route information
Maintained by WVDOH
Length6.01 mi[1] (9.67 km)
ExistedNovember 11, 1926[2]–present
HistoryCompleted March 9, 1972[3][4]
Major junctions
West end US 22 at the Ohio state line over the Veterans Memorial Bridge
Major intersections
East end US 22 at the Pennsylvania state line in Weirton
Location
CountryUnited States
StateWest Virginia
CountiesBrooke, Hancock
Highway system
WV 20 WV 23

U.S. Highway 22 (US 22) is a part of the United States Numbered Highway System that runs 648.84 miles (1,044.21 km) from Cincinnati, Ohio to Newark, New Jersey. In the U.S. state of West Virginia, US 22 travels 6.01 miles (9.67 km) from the Ohio state line to the Pennsylvania state line in the city of Weirton. US 22 is a major highway within the northern panhandle of the state. Despite its short length, it is an important route connecting travelers from Ohio to the vicinity of Greater Pittsburgh via Weirton. For its entire length in the state, US 22 is known as the Robert C. Byrd Expressway, named after senator Robert Carlyle Byrd.

Route description

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US 22 is a freeway for its entire length in West Virginia, and as aforementioned, is known as the Robert C. Byrd Expressway.[5][6] Along the freeway, annual average daily traffic varied from a maximum of 31,192 vehicles near milepost 4 in Weirton.[7] The minimum was 23,025 vehicles near the Pennsylvania state line.[7]

 
US 22 eastbound past milepost 4 in Weirton

US 22 enters Brooke County, West Virginia from Jefferson County, Ohio across the Veterans Memorial Bridge over the Ohio River.[8] Upon entering the state, US 22 parallels the Harmon Creek and reaches its first interchange with WV 2 for Follansbee and Wheeling. Immediately, WV 2 merges with US 22 for a brief concurrency with a length of approximately 34 mile (1.2 km). Shortly after the concurrency, WV 2 splits off from US 22 to head for downtown Weirton while US 22 retains its northeastward track and enters Hancock County before Brooke County in quick succession. Continuing to parallel the Harmon Creek, US 22 passes to the east of Weirton with homes, neighborhoods, and mountainous hills dotting the west side of the road. Turning to an east direction at milepost 3, US 22 reaches its next interchange for county routes 507 and 1 (Harmon Creek Road) before skirting the foothills of the Appalachian Plateau to head back northeast. US 22 turns to an east direction before reaching a partial cloverleaf interchange (parclo) with county route 13 (Three Springs Drive) for the city center. The U.S. Highway, in the meantime, avoids the area and reaches its final interchange, a diamond interchange at milepost 5 for WV 105 (Colliers Way) as it enters Hancock County once more. Shortly thereafter, US 22 exits West Virginia into Washington County, Pennsylvania.[9][10][11]

 
US 22 westbound approaching the interchange with WV 2

History

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References

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  1. ^ "US 22 in West Virginia" (Map). Google Maps. Google. Retrieved November 3, 2024.
  2. ^ Bureau of Public Roads & American Association of State Highway Officials (November 11, 1926). United States System of Highways Adopted for Uniform Marking by the American Association of State Highway Officials (Map). 1:7,000,000. Washington, DC: United States Geological Survey. OCLC 32889555. Retrieved October 23, 2022 – via Wikimedia Commons.
  3. ^ "Moore Stands By Bridge Plan". The Weirton Daily Times. Weirton. March 10, 1972. p. 1. Retrieved November 3, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. ^ "Text Of Moore's Address". The Weirton Daily Times. Weirton. March 10, 1972. p. 1. Retrieved November 3, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ^ "Moore Stands By Bridge Plan". The Weirton Daily Times. Weirton. March 10, 1972. p. 1. Retrieved November 3, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. ^ "Renaming U.S. Route 22 Bypass in Weirton, West Virginia, the 'Robert C. Byrd Expressway.'". www.wvlegislature.gov. Retrieved 2024-11-04.
  7. ^ a b "AADT Map | WVDOT". gis.transportation.wv.gov. Retrieved 2024-11-04.
  8. ^ "Veterans Memorial (Weirton-Steubenville)". transportation.wv.gov. Retrieved 2024-11-04.
  9. ^ "US 22 in West Virginia" (Map). Google Maps. Google. Retrieved November 3, 2024.
  10. ^ West Virginia Department of Transportation (January 2024). "Brooke County" (PDF). gis.transportation.wv.gov. Retrieved November 4, 2024.
  11. ^ West Virginia Department of Transportation (January 2024). "Hancock County" (PDF). gis.transportation.wv.gov. Retrieved November 4, 2024.