U.S. Route 340 in West Virginia

U.S. Route 340 marker

U.S. Route 340
Route information
Maintained by WVDOH
Length 16.0 mi[1] (25.7 km)
Existed 1926–present
Major junctions
South end US 340 near Gaylord, VA
  WV 9 in Charles Town
North end US 340 near Loudoun Heights, VA
Location
Counties Jefferson
Highway system
← WV 338US 460 →

In the U.S. state of West Virginia, U.S. Route 340 (US 340) runs north–south in Jefferson County, between Clarke County, Virginia and Loudoun County, Virginia. It is the main route between Charles Town and Harpers Ferry, and it is known as the William L. Wilson Freeway through that stretch.[2] The southern portion of the highway, between the Virginia state line and Charles Town, is known as Berryville Pike.

Route description

View north along US 340 south of CR 340/3 to the south of Charles Town
Bridge carrying US-340 over the Shenandoah River in Harpers Ferry, West Virginia. This bridge also carries the Appalachian Trail over the river.

The West Virginia portion of US 340 begins as a two-lane road at the state line near Gaylord, Virginia. It passes through Rippon and Wheatland before becoming a four-lane, limited-access highway just before Washington High School. After an interchange with West Virginia Route 9 in Charles Town, the highway moves in an easterly direction toward Harpers Ferry, past the main entrance to Harpers Ferry National Historical Park. It becomes a two-lane road again before carrying the Appalachian Trail over the Shenandoah River and entering Loudoun County, Virginia near Loudoun Heights, Virginia.

The four-lane portion between Charles Town and Harpers Ferry NHP was designated the William L. Wilson Freeway after a resolution was passed in the West Virginia Legislature during the 1998 legislative session.[3]

Expansion

A plan is currently being devised to expand the portion of the road between the Virginia state line and Wheatland to a four-lane highway.[4]

The two-lane portion of the highway between Harpers Ferry and the Virginia state line is often burdened by heavy traffic, and the West Virginia Department of Transportation is examining ways to mitigate backups.[5]

Major intersections

The entire route is in Jefferson County.

Locationmi[1]kmDestinationsNotes
Rippon0.00.0 US 340 south – BerryvilleVirginia state line
Charles Town7.211.6 WV 115 (Charles Town Road) – Charles Town, Leesburg, VAInterchange
7.8–
8.2		12.6–
13.2		 WV 9 east – Leesburg, VAInterchange; south end of WV 9 overlap
8.7–
9.1		14.0–
14.6		 WV 9 west – Martinsburg
WV 51 west (East Washington Street) – Charles Town		Interchange; north end of WV 9 overlap; eastern terminus of WV 51
Halltown12.019.3 WV 230 north – Halltown, ShepherdstownSouthern terminus of WV 230
Harpers Ferry16.025.7 US 340 north – Frederick, MDVirginia state line
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi

U.S. Route 340 Alternate

View along US 340 Alt. in Harpers Ferry

U.S. Route 340 Alternate is an unsigned alternate route of U.S. Route 340. It follows a loop comprising Washington Street, High Street and Shenandoah Street through the towns of Harpers Ferry and Bolivar.

References

KML is from Wikidata
  1. 1 2 Google (February 7, 2016). "U.S. Route 340 in West Virginia" (Map). Google Maps. Google. Retrieved February 7, 2016.
  2. ↑ Bob O'Connor (August 10, 2014). "West Virginians Who Matter: William L. Wilson". The Journal. Retrieved July 20, 2015.
  3. ↑ "House Concurrent Resolution 34". West Virginia Legislature. Retrieved July 20, 2015.
  4. ↑ Michelle Horst (June 4, 2013). "Residents express opinions and concerns during DOH hearing". The Journal. Retrieved July 19, 2015.
  5. ↑ John McVey (October 13, 2011). "U.S. 340 bottleneck set to be studied". The Journal. Retrieved July 19, 2015.
U.S. Route 340
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