Virginia State Route 160
Encyclopedia
Virginia State Route 160 (SR 160) is a primary state highway
in the U.S. state of Virginia
. Known as the Trail of the Lonesome Pine, the state highway runs 8.02 miles (12.9 km) from the Kentucky
state line on top of Black Mountain
, where the highway continues north as Kentucky Route 160
(KY 160), east to SR 68 in Appalachia
.
. The highest elevation in Kentucky can be accessed by following Black Mountain Ridge Road, which intersects KY 160 just west of the state line, to the summit of the mountain. SR 160 has a curvaceous decent featuring several hairpin turn
to the valley of Looney Creek, which the highway follows east toward Appalachia. The state highway enters the town shortly before reaching its eastern terminus at its intersection with SR 68 (Exeter Road), which itself reaches its terminus at U.S. Route 23 Business (Main Street) at the southern edge of downtown Appalachia.
), was added to the state highway system in early 1923. However, it was soon removed pending investigation of a conflicting contract for a turnpike
company to build the road, but almost immediately reinstated, with the turnpike's right-of-way deed transferred to the state. In the 1928 renumbering, the road was renumbered as part of State Route 106 (which also continued south from Appalachia along SR 11 to Big Stone Gap and then to State Route 10 at Clinchport, replacing State Route 116), and it became State Route 67 in the 1933 renumbering. For a few years in the early 1930s, SR 106 carried U.S. Route 23 from Appalachia to Kentucky, but US 23 was soon realigned to its current route; the piece of SR 106 south of Big Stone Gap continued to carry US 23 and was thus eliminated in 1933. The final change came in the 1940 renumbering, when it was renumbered to State Route 160 to match Kentucky Route 160
.
State highway
State highway, state road or state route can refer to one of three related concepts, two of them related to a state or provincial government in a country that is divided into states or provinces :#A...
in the U.S. state of Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
. Known as the Trail of the Lonesome Pine, the state highway runs 8.02 miles (12.9 km) from the Kentucky
Kentucky
The Commonwealth of Kentucky is a state located in the East Central United States of America. As classified by the United States Census Bureau, Kentucky is a Southern state, more specifically in the East South Central region. Kentucky is one of four U.S. states constituted as a commonwealth...
state line on top of Black Mountain
Black Mountain (Kentucky)
Black Mountain is the highest natural point in the Commonwealth of Kentucky, USA, with a summit elevation of above mean sea level and a top to bottom height of over . The summit is located at in Harlan County, Kentucky near the Virginia border, just above the towns of Lynch, Kentucky and...
, where the highway continues north as Kentucky Route 160
Kentucky Route 160
Kentucky Route 160, also known as KY 160, is a state highway in the U.S. state of Kentucky. It runs from the Virginia state line, where the roadway continues east to Appalachia, Virginia as State Route 160, north via Lynch, Benham, Clutts, Cumberland, Sand Hill, Gordon, Linefork, Kings Creek,...
(KY 160), east to SR 68 in Appalachia
Appalachia, Virginia
Appalachia is a town in Wise County, Virginia, United States. The population was 1,839 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Appalachia is located at ....
.
Route description
SR 160 begins on top of Black Mountain at the Kentucky state line, which follows the Tennessee Valley DivideTennessee Valley Divide
The Tennessee Valley Divide is the eastern and southern boundary of the drainage basin of the Tennessee River and its tributaries.The Tennessee Valley Divide begins near the northeasternmost source of the Tennessee River, in the vicinity of Bluefield, West Virginia. From there, the divide...
. The highest elevation in Kentucky can be accessed by following Black Mountain Ridge Road, which intersects KY 160 just west of the state line, to the summit of the mountain. SR 160 has a curvaceous decent featuring several hairpin turn
Hairpin turn
A hairpin turn , named for its resemblance to a hairpin/bobby pin, is a bend in a road with a very acute inner angle, making it necessary for an oncoming vehicle to turn almost 180° to continue on the road. Such turns in ramps and trails may be called switchbacks in American English, by analogy...
to the valley of Looney Creek, which the highway follows east toward Appalachia. The state highway enters the town shortly before reaching its eastern terminus at its intersection with SR 68 (Exeter Road), which itself reaches its terminus at U.S. Route 23 Business (Main Street) at the southern edge of downtown Appalachia.
History
SR 160 was initially numbered State Route 115 in the 1923 renumbering as a spur from State Route 11 in Appalachia. This road, known as the Lynch Highway (as it led to Lynch, KentuckyLynch, Kentucky
There were 408 households out of which 24.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 40.7% were married couples living together, 16.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 38.5% were non-families. 36.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 20.1% had someone...
), was added to the state highway system in early 1923. However, it was soon removed pending investigation of a conflicting contract for a turnpike
Toll road
A toll road is a privately or publicly built road for which a driver pays a toll for use. Structures for which tolls are charged include toll bridges and toll tunnels. Non-toll roads are financed using other sources of revenue, most typically fuel tax or general tax funds...
company to build the road, but almost immediately reinstated, with the turnpike's right-of-way deed transferred to the state. In the 1928 renumbering, the road was renumbered as part of State Route 106 (which also continued south from Appalachia along SR 11 to Big Stone Gap and then to State Route 10 at Clinchport, replacing State Route 116), and it became State Route 67 in the 1933 renumbering. For a few years in the early 1930s, SR 106 carried U.S. Route 23 from Appalachia to Kentucky, but US 23 was soon realigned to its current route; the piece of SR 106 south of Big Stone Gap continued to carry US 23 and was thus eliminated in 1933. The final change came in the 1940 renumbering, when it was renumbered to State Route 160 to match Kentucky Route 160
Kentucky Route 160
Kentucky Route 160, also known as KY 160, is a state highway in the U.S. state of Kentucky. It runs from the Virginia state line, where the roadway continues east to Appalachia, Virginia as State Route 160, north via Lynch, Benham, Clutts, Cumberland, Sand Hill, Gordon, Linefork, Kings Creek,...
.