Virginia State Route 18
Encyclopedia
Virginia State Route 18 (SR 18) is a primary state highway
in the U.S. state of Virginia
. Known for most of its length as Potts Creek Road, the state highway runs 25.86 miles (41.6 km) from SR 311
in Paint Bank
north to U.S. Route 60
and US 220 in Covington
.
, which was formerly known as Carpenter Creek. The Potts Creek valley is bookeneded by Potts Mountain to the east and Peters Mountain
to the west; the latter mountain forms part of the Virginia – West Virginia
state line. SR 18 enters Alleghany County and passes through the hamlets of Potts Creek
, Jordan Mines
, and Boiling Spring. At the state highway's final crossing of Potts Creek just south of its confluence with the Jackson River
, the highway enters the city of Covington and becomes Indian Valley Road. At its intersection with Pitzer Ridge Road at the former site of Fort Carpenter
, SR 18 becomes Carpenter Drive and crosses the Jackson River. The state highway crosses over CSX
's Alleghany Subdivision. SR 18 parallels the railroad tracks north under Interstate 64
to its northern terminus at Madison Street, which carries US 60 and US 220, south of downtown Covington.
!County
!Location
!Mile
!Destinations
!Notes
|-
|Craig
|Paint Bank
|0.00
|
|Southern terminus
|-
|Alleghany
|colspan=4 align=center|No major intersections
|-
|colspan=2|City of Covington
|25.86
|
|Northern terminus
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 for most of its length as Potts Creek Road, the state highway runs 25.86 miles (41.6 km) from SR 311
Virginia State Route 311
Virginia State Route 311 and West Virginia Route 311 are adjoining state highways in the U.S. states of Virginia and West Virginia. The two state highways together run from U.S. Route 11 in Salem, Virginia north to Interstate 64 and U.S. Route 60 near White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia...
in Paint Bank
Paint Bank, Virginia
Paint Bank is an unincorporated community in northern Craig County, Virginia, United States. It is located at the intersection of State Route 18 and State Route 311 northwest of the town of New Castle, the county seat....
north to U.S. Route 60
U.S. Route 60 in Virginia
U.S. Route 60 in Virginia runs west to east through the central part of the state, generally close to and paralleling the Interstate 64 corridor, except for the crossing of the Blue Ridge Mountains, and in the South Hampton Roads area....
and US 220 in Covington
Covington, Virginia
Covington is an independent city in the U.S. state of Virginia, located at the confluence of Jackson River and Dunlap Creek. It is in Alleghany County where it is also the county seat. The population was 5,961 in 2010. The Bureau of Economic Analysis combines the city of Covington with Alleghany...
.
Route description
SR 18 begins at an intersection with SR 311 (Paint Bank Road) in the community of Paint Bank in Craig County. The state highway heads northeast as Potts Creek Road through the valley of Potts CreekPotts Creek (watercourse)
Potts Creek is a tributary of the Jackson River in western Virginia. Via the Jackson River, it is part of the James River watershed, flowing to Chesapeake Bay...
, which was formerly known as Carpenter Creek. The Potts Creek valley is bookeneded by Potts Mountain to the east and Peters Mountain
Peters Mountain
Peters Mountain is a mountain in the Allegheny ridge, which makes it the longest mountain in the Appalachian Mountain Chain. It is located on the border between Alleghany County, VA, Monroe County, WV, Giles Co.,VA, and Craig Co.,VA. Its elevation ranges from on the mountaintop to a low of...
to the west; the latter mountain forms part of the Virginia – West Virginia
West Virginia
West Virginia is a state in the Appalachian and Southeastern regions of the United States, bordered by Virginia to the southeast, Kentucky to the southwest, Ohio to the northwest, Pennsylvania to the northeast and Maryland to the east...
state line. SR 18 enters Alleghany County and passes through the hamlets of Potts Creek
Potts Creek, Virginia
Potts Creek is an unincorporated community in Alleghany County, Virginia, United States. It is also the name of a watercourse in the same area, Potts Creek .*...
, Jordan Mines
Jordan Mines, Virginia
Jordan Mines is an unincorporated community in Alleghany County, Virginia, United States.-References:*...
, and Boiling Spring. At the state highway's final crossing of Potts Creek just south of its confluence with the Jackson River
Jackson River (Virginia)
The Jackson River is a major tributary of the James River in the U.S. state of Virginia, flowing . The James River is formed by the confluence of the Jackson River and the Cowpasture River.-Course:...
, the highway enters the city of Covington and becomes Indian Valley Road. At its intersection with Pitzer Ridge Road at the former site of Fort Carpenter
Fort Carpenter, Virginia
Fort Carpenter, Alleghany County, Virginia, was built about 1755-1756 by Joseph Carpenter, who migrated from the Province of New York to "the big bend" of the Jackson River on the Virginia frontier about 1745-1746. It was actually a fortified house, or blockhouse. Located on a low bluff near the...
, SR 18 becomes Carpenter Drive and crosses the Jackson River. The state highway crosses over CSX
CSX Transportation
CSX Transportation operates a Class I railroad in the United States known as the CSX Railroad. It is the main subsidiary of the CSX Corporation. The company is headquartered in Jacksonville, Florida, and owns approximately 21,000 route miles...
's Alleghany Subdivision. SR 18 parallels the railroad tracks north under Interstate 64
Interstate 64 in Virginia
In the U.S. state of Virginia, Interstate 64 runs east–west through the middle of the state from West Virginia to the Hampton Roads region, a total of . It is notable for crossing the mouth of the harbor of Hampton Roads on the Hampton Roads Bridge-Tunnel, the first bridge-tunnel to...
to its northern terminus at Madison Street, which carries US 60 and US 220, south of downtown Covington.
Major intersections
{| class=wikitable!County
!Location
!Mile
!Destinations
!Notes
|-
|Craig
Craig County, Virginia
As of the census of 2000, there were 5,091 people, 2,060 households, and 1,507 families residing in the county. The population density was 15 people per square mile . There were 2,554 housing units at an average density of 8 per square mile...
|Paint Bank
Paint Bank, Virginia
Paint Bank is an unincorporated community in northern Craig County, Virginia, United States. It is located at the intersection of State Route 18 and State Route 311 northwest of the town of New Castle, the county seat....
|0.00
|
|Southern terminus
|-
|Alleghany
Alleghany County, Virginia
As of the census of 2000, there were 12,926 people, 5,149 households, and 3,866 families residing in the county. The population density was 29 people per square mile . There were 5,812 housing units at an average density of 13 per square mile...
|colspan=4 align=center|No major intersections
|-
|colspan=2|City of Covington
Covington, Virginia
Covington is an independent city in the U.S. state of Virginia, located at the confluence of Jackson River and Dunlap Creek. It is in Alleghany County where it is also the county seat. The population was 5,961 in 2010. The Bureau of Economic Analysis combines the city of Covington with Alleghany...
|25.86
|
|Northern terminus