West Virginia Route 9 marker

West Virginia Route 9

Route information
Maintained by WVDOH
Length74.0 mi[1] (119.1 km)
Tourist
routes
Washington Heritage Trail
Major junctions
West end MD 51 in Paw Paw
Major intersections
East end SR 9 near Keyes Gap
Location
CountryUnited States
StateWest Virginia
CountiesMorgan, Hampshire, Morgan, Berkeley, Jefferson
Highway system
WV 8 WV 10

West Virginia Route 9 (WV 9) is a major east–west state highway located in the eastern extents of West Virginia's Eastern Panhandle. The western terminus of the route is at the Maryland state line on the north edge of Paw Paw, where WV 9 becomes Maryland Route 51 (MD 51) upon crossing the Potomac River. The eastern terminus is at the Virginia state line at Keyes Gap near Mannings, West Virginia, where WV 9 continues onward as Virginia State Route 9 (SR 9).

With no east–west US Highway in the region, WV 9 acts as the major east–west transportation artery between Morgan, Berkeley, and Jefferson counties. WV 9 briefly enters Hampshire County where it intersects with WV 29 near Pin Oak.

History

Construction

View west along WV 9 southeast of Martinsburg in Berkeley County

U.S. Senator Robert C. Byrd began securing funding for the projects in the early 1990s. Shortly thereafter, a short portion of the road along the southern edge of Martinsburg was widened to four lanes, from Queen Street to Kelly Island Road. In the mid-2000s, a short stretch was also widened to four lanes from Interstate 81 (I-81) west to Harlan Springs Road.

The next significant project did not take place until September 2007, when a four-mile (6.4 km) stretch of the road opened up from Charles Town, through Bardane to Leetown Road in Kearneysville.

In early 2008, the future west-bound lanes of traffic were opened to two-way traffic from Kelly Island Road to, and over, Opequon Creek. This allowed for the former road surface to be pulled up and the eastbound lanes to be built. It also allowed for the demolition of the old bridge over the Opequon, which had been the site of several fatal accidents.

WV 9 westbound past CR 7 near Hedgesville

In April 2009, a short 1.3-mile (2.1 km) section of the new WV 9 was opened from the Eastern Regional Jail to the Opequon Creek bridge. A four-mile (6.4 km) section of WV 9 from the Eastern Regional Jail to Short Road was completed at the end of 2009. Construction from Short Road to Leetown Road was completed in August 2010.

The stretch from the Virginia line to Charles Town was the most recent stage of construction. A pair of new bridges span U.S. Route 340 (US 340) south of Charles Town. The bypass carries WV 9 away from its previous winding route across the Shenandoah River and the Blue Ridge. Instead, it follows a straight path near Cattail Run Road, connecting with Virginia Route 9 at Keyes Gap.

Despite opposition from some Virginia residents, who were concerned about increasing traffic along the narrow, winding stretch of SR 9 through the town of Hillsboro, this stretch of road opened to traffic on November 14, 2012.[2]

Naming dedication

In April 2008, a section of the road, which passes by his Gap View Farm home, was named and dedicated in Frank Buckles's honor by then-West Virginia Governor Joe Manchin.[3]

Major intersections

CountyLocationmikmDestinationsNotes
MorganPaw Paw0.00.0
MD 51 north (Oldtown Road) Cumberland
Maryland state line
Hampshire

WV 29 south to US 50
Northern terminus of WV 29
MorganBerkeley Springs
US 522 north (Washington Street) Hancock, MD
West end of US 522 concurrency

US 522 south (Washington Street) Winchester, VA
East end of US 522 concurrency
BerkeleyHedgesville
WV 901 east (Mary Street) Spring Mills
Western terminus of WV 901
I-81 Hagerstown, WinchesterI-81 exit 16
Martinsburg
US 11 north / Raleigh Street Williamsport, MD
West end of US 11 concurrency

WV 45 east (Moler Avenue) Shepherdstown
West end of WV 45 concurrency


US 11 south (King Street) to I-81
East end of US 11 concurrency


WV 45 west to I-81 Glengary
East end of WV 45 concurrency; interchange
CR 9/17 (Opequon Lane) Baker Heightsinterchange
56.891.4 CR 9/19 (Short Road)interchange
Jefferson59.295.3
CR 1 to WV 480 Kearneysville, Shepherdstown, Leetown
interchange
Ranson61.298.5 CR 8 (Wiltshire Road) Bardaneinterchange
63.4102.0 WV 115 / CR 9/1 (Currie Road) Ransoninterchange
65.8105.9 CR 17 (Flowing Springs Road)interchange
66.2106.5

US 340 north / WV 51 west Charles Town, Harpers Ferry
Interchange; west end of US 340 concurrency
67.4108.5
US 340 south Berryville, VA
Interchange; east end of US 340 concurrency

WV 115 west (Charles Town Road) / CR 32 (Chestnut Hill Road)
74.0119.1
SR 9 east (Charles Town Pike) Leesburg
Virginia state line
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi

See also

References

  1. Distance calculated using Microsoft MapPoint mapping software.
  2. "Upgraded W.Va. Route 9 segment to open Wednesday". The State Journal. November 12, 2012. Archived from the original on March 3, 2016.
  3. McLellan, Dennis (March 1, 2011). "Frank Buckles, last American veteran of World War I, dies at 110". Los Angeles Times.
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