U.S. Route 33

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U.S. Route 33
Length: 709[1] mi (1,141 km)
Formed: 1937[1]
South end: US 250 in Richmond, VA
Major
junctions:		 I-81 in Harrisonburg, VA

US 50 at Athens, OH
I-70 near Columbus, OH
I-75 at Wapakoneta, OH
US 27 at Decatur, IN
I-69 at Fort Wayne, IN
North end: US 20 at Elkhart, IN
United States Numbered Highways
List - Bannered - Divided - Replaced

United States Highway 33 is a United States highway that runs northwest-southeast for 709 miles (1,141 km) from northern Indiana to Richmond, Virginia. It continues east in Virginia as State Route 33 to Stingray Point, on the Chesapeake Bay near Deltaville, Virginia. Although most odd-numbered routes are north-south, US 33 is labeled east-west throughout its route except in Indiana where it is labeled north-south.

As of 2004, the highway's northern terminus is in southeastern Elkhart, Indiana at U.S. Highway 20. Its southern terminus is Richmond, Virginia.

Contents

[edit] Route description

Major cities

[edit] Indiana

US 33 travels through Decatur before reaching Interstate 469 with US 27 outside Ft. Wayne. US 33 bypasses Ft. Wayne by using Interstate 469 and 69. US 33 splits off on the northwest side and travels through northeastern Indiana. US 33 terminates at US 20 outside of Elkhart.

[edit] Ohio

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[edit] West Virginia

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[edit] Virginia

Main article: U.S. Route 33 (Virginia)

U.S. Route 33 extends 139 miles in Virginia from the West Virginia state line to Richmond.

U.S. Route 33 enters Virginia in Rockingham County on a mountain ridge. It descends into the Shenandoah Valley, passing through Rawley Springs to the independent city of Harrisonburg. At Harrisonburg, Route 33 crosses north-south U.S. Route 11, which follows an old Native American trail and became known as the Valley Turnpike. North-south Interstate 81 also crosses nearby.

East of Harrisonburg, Route 33 crosses the Valley, shirting the southern edge of Massanutten Mountain to reach the incorporated town of Elkton, where it intersects U.S. Route 340 and the Shenandoah River.

From Elkton, Route 33 approaches to western slope of the Blue Ridge Mountains, and climbs to its highest point at Swift Run Gap, a wind gap located at an elevation of 2,365 feet. Generally following the mountain ridge tops, the bucolic Skyline Drive, which is part of Shenandoah National Park, has an entry point at Swift Run Gap and the Appalachian Trail also passes through nearby. The mountain ridge forms the border between Rockingham County and Greene County, which begins the Piedmont region of Virginia on the eastern side.

Route 33 passes through Stanardsville, which is the county seat of Greene County and continues east, intersecting north-south U.S. Route 29 at Ruckersville. Several miles further east, the road passes into Orange County. It passes Barboursville to reach Gordonsville, where it intersects U.S. Route 15.

From Gordonsville, Route 33 passes into Louisa County through Cuckoo and into the incorporated town of Louisa, where it intersects U.S. Route 522. Passing into Hanover County, the road reached the unincorporated town of Montpelier. Just east of there, State Route 54 branches off towards Ashland.

After crossing the headwaters of the Chickahominy River, the road enters Henrico County where it intersects Interstate 295. Known as Staples Mill Road in Henrico County, Route 33 crosses State Route 73 and Interstate 64 to enter the City of Richmond, intersecting and joining U.S. Route 250 nearby. Route 33 continues east and crosses Interstate 195 to reach the downtown area. Major highways nearby in downtown Richmond include Interstate 64, Interstate 95, and four other major highways, U.S. Routes 1, 60, 301 and 360.

From downtown Richmond, Route 33 continues east as State Route 33 through the Tidewater region across the coastal plain to reach the Chesapeake Bay at Stingray Point just east of Deltaville.

See also: Route 33 (Virginia)
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[edit] History

US 33 formerly ended in St. Joseph, Michigan, at the junction of the old U.S. Highway 12, was extended to a junction with Interstate 196 near Lake Michigan Beach, Michigan north of St. Joseph, and truncated south of Niles, Michigan (junction U.S. Highway 12), and at present at Elkhart, Indiana. Before its truncation it passed through South Bend, Indiana.[2][3]

Former segments of US 33 are now known as M-63, M-51, and State Road 933. Between South Bend and Fort Wayne it was part of the Lincoln Highway.

Segments of US 33 are freeways. These include St. Marys to Wapakoneta and Huntsville, Ohio (near Bellefontaine) to Dublin, Ohio. Dublin is a northwestern suburb of Columbus, where US 33 meets Interstate 270. Another segment of US 33 through Lancaster, Ohio has been rerouted to a new freeway bypass, and a bypass is also proposed for Nelsonville. The State of Ohio plans eventually to make US 33 a controlled-access freeway from the Interstate 75 interchange near Wapakoneta to Athens, Ohio, except for the section inside the Columbus beltway. US Route 33 has been rerouted from Ripley, West Virginia to Pomeroy, Ohio. From Ripley, the route follows Interstate 77, then exits at West Virginia Route 2. US 33 crosses the Ravenswood Bridge in Ravenswood, WV. The route then follows its new bypass to Pomeroy, Ohio that was created in 2003. In Pomeroy, US Route 33 intersects with Ohio State Route 124 and Ohio State Route 7.

US 33 from Interstate 79 east to the east side of Elkins, West Virginia is 4 lane, built to Appalachian Development Highway System and is part of Corridor H.

[edit] Major intersections

US 33 east of Bellefontaine, Ohio going through the Marmon Valley
US 33 east of Bellefontaine, Ohio going through the Marmon Valley

[edit] See also

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b Droz, Robert V. U.S. Highways : From US 1 to (US 830). URL accessed 02:55, 4 July 2006 (UTC).
  2. ^ Christopher J. Bessert (2008-01-01). Historic US-33. Michigan Highways. Retrieved on 2008-03-14.
  3. ^ Charles Sarjeant. US 33. Indiana Highway Ends. Retrieved on 2008-03-14.

[edit] External links


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