List of state routes in West Virginia facts for kids
  
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Quick facts for kids Highway names |
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| Interstates: | Interstate XX (I-XX) |
| US Routes: | U.S. Route XX (US XX) |
| County Routes | County Route XX (CR XX) |
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| West Virginia Routes State • County |
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State highways in West Virginia are like the main roads that connect different towns and cities across the state. These important roads are looked after by the West Virginia Division of Highways. They make sure the roads are safe and easy to travel on for everyone.
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What are State Routes?
West Virginia has many different state routes. These roads are numbered, like WV 2 or WV 10. Some of these routes have been around for a long time, while others are newer. Over the years, some routes have changed their numbers or even been removed.
Longest and Shortest Routes
Some state routes are very long, helping you travel across much of West Virginia. For example, WV 2 is about 230 miles long, connecting Huntington in the south to Chester in the north. WV 20 is even longer, stretching over 256 miles!
Other routes are quite short. WV 6, for instance, is less than a mile long. It connects Montgomery to Smithers.
How Routes Change Over Time
Roads can change their numbers or even disappear! This happens for different reasons:
- Renumbering: Sometimes, a road's number is changed to match a connecting road in a nearby state like Virginia or Pennsylvania. For example, WV 12 became part of WV 16 to match Virginia's road numbers.
- Decommissioning: This means a route is no longer officially a state highway. This might happen if a new, better road is built, or if the old road is no longer needed.
- New Routes: New roads are also added to the state highway system as communities grow and travel needs change.
Examples of West Virginia State Routes
Here are some examples of state routes and how they connect different places:
- WV 2: This route runs for 230.6 miles from US 60 in Huntington to US 30 in Chester. It was established in 1922.
- WV 7: This road is 102.5 miles long. It starts at the Ohio state line in New Martinsville and goes all the way to the Maryland state line near Corinth. It was also established in 1922.
- WV 9: This route covers 74.0 miles, connecting the Maryland state line in Paw Paw to the Virginia state line near Keyes Gap. It has been a state route since 1922.
- WV 10: This long route is 148.5 miles. It goes from US 19 in Kegley to US 60 in Huntington. It was established in 1922.
- WV 16: This is one of the longest routes at 252.9 miles. It stretches from the Virginia state line to St. Marys. It was established in 1922.
- WV 20: This route is 256.2 miles long. It starts at US 52 in Bluewell and ends east of New Martinsville at WV 7. It was established in 1931 and extended in 1941.
- WV 26: This route is 41.3 miles long. It connects US 50 in Fellowsville to the Pennsylvania state line near Glade Farms. It was established in 1922.
- WV 39: This route connects US 60/WV 16 in Gauley Bridge to the SR 39 at the Virginia state line. It was established in 1922.
- WV 43: A newer route, established in 2011. It connects I-68 at Cheat Lake to PA 43 at the Pennsylvania state line.
- WV 93: This route is 37.8 miles long, connecting Davis to west of New Creek. It was established in 1957.
Special Routes
Besides the regular state routes, West Virginia also has "special routes." These are often alternative paths or short connections related to a main route.
- WV-Alt 10: This alternative route connects WV 10 in Melissa to US 60 west of Barboursville.
- WV-Alt 27: This route is 6.0 miles long. It goes from WV 2 in Follansbee to the Pennsylvania state line.
