Interstate 195 (Virginia)
Encyclopedia
Interstate 195 is an Interstate Highway in the U.S. state of Virginia
. Known as the Beltline Expressway, the highway runs 3.5 miles (5.6 km) from Virginia State Route 195
(SR 195), a toll road
that continues south into Downtown Richmond
, north to I-64
and I-95
on the northern edge of Richmond
. I-195 passes through the West End of Richmond and connects I-64 and I-95 with U.S. Route 33
and US 250
, which follow Broad Street, and with SR 76
, a toll road that links Richmond with the Southside
of the metropolitan area.
(Cary Street) and Floyd Avenue, while a ramp from SR 147 joins the southbound Interstate as the highway curves north on a pair of two-lane flyover ramps to join the six lanes of SR 76 (Powhite Parkway) that join the Interstate at that toll road's northern terminus.
I-195 continues northeast as a six-lane freeway with its median occupied by CSX
's two-track North End Subdivision, which also serves Amtrak
. The southbound Interstate has an exit ramp to Hamilton Street, which parallels the Interstate to the west, to serve SR 147 and Grove Avenue. A short distance to the north, northbound I-195 has exit and entrance ramps to and from Thompson Street, which parallels the Interstate to the east, to access SR 6
(Patterson Avenue) and Grove Avenue. North of Monument Avenue
, from which the southbound direction receives a ramp, I-195 has a multi-part interchange with Broad Street, which carries US 33 and US 250. The southbound freeway receives a ramp from Hamilton Street and the northbound freeway has an exit ramp to Clay Street north of the Broad Street overpass. After the overpass, northbound I-195 crosses over the North End Subdivision and both directions pass under Hamilton Street, with which the freeway has a half-diamond interchange
that allows access to US 33 and US 250 from the north.
I-195 passes through an industrial area in which the highway crosses over SR 197
(Westwood Avenue) and a rail yard of CSX's RF&P Subdivision just north of its wye junction with the North End Subdivision. While on the viaduct, the Interstate briefly enters Henrico County
. North of the S-curved viaduct, I-195 has a three-quarter diamond interchange with the western end of Laburnum Avenue, which provides access to SR 197. The interchange's north-facing ramp is from eastbound I-64 within the Bryan Park Interchange, a three-level stack interchange with multiple flyover ramps where I-195 reaches its northern terminus at I-64 and I-95 south of Bryan Park at the northernmost point in the city of Richmond. Ramps to southbound I-195 converge and ramps from northbound I-195 diverge for westbound I-64 toward Charlottesville
, northbound I-95 toward Washington
, and eastbound I-64 and southbound I-95 (Richmond–Petersburg Turnpike) toward Downtown Richmond, where the Interstates diverge toward Norfolk
and Petersburg
, respectively.
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 Beltline Expressway, the highway runs 3.5 miles (5.6 km) from Virginia State Route 195
Virginia State Route 195
Virginia State Route 195 is a primary state highway in the U.S. state of Virginia. Known as the Downtown Expressway, the state highway runs from Interstate 195 east to I-95 within the independent city of Richmond. SR 195 is a toll freeway that connects the West End of Richmond with Downtown...
(SR 195), a toll road
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...
that continues south into Downtown Richmond
Downtown Richmond, Virginia
Downtown Richmond, Virginia, is central urban area of that city. It is generally defined as being bound by Belvidere Street to the west, I-95 to the north and east, and the James River to the south.-Description:...
, north to I-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...
and I-95
Interstate 95 in Virginia
In the Commonwealth of Virginia, Interstate 95 runs through the state. It runs concurrently for with Interstate 64 in Richmond, and meets the northern terminus of Interstate 85 in Petersburg. Though Interstate 95 was originally planned to go straight through Washington, D.C., it was instead...
on the northern edge of Richmond
Richmond, Virginia
Richmond is the capital of the Commonwealth of Virginia, in the United States. It is an independent city and not part of any county. Richmond is the center of the Richmond Metropolitan Statistical Area and the Greater Richmond area...
. I-195 passes through the West End of Richmond and connects I-64 and I-95 with U.S. Route 33
U.S. Route 33 in Virginia
U.S. Route 33 is a part of the U.S. Highway System that runs from Elkhart, Indiana to Richmond, Virginia. In Virginia, the U.S. Highway runs from the West Virginia state line near Rawley Springs east to its eastern terminus at SR 33 in Richmond. US 33 is the primary east–west highway of...
and US 250
U.S. Route 250 in Virginia
U.S. Route 250 is a part of the U.S. Highway System that runs from Sandusky, Ohio to Richmond, Virginia. In Virginia, the U.S. Highway runs from the West Virginia state line near Hightown east to its eastern terminus at US 360 in Richmond...
, which follow Broad Street, and with SR 76
Virginia State Route 76
Virginia State Route 76 is a state highway in the U.S. state of Virginia. Known as Powhite Parkway , the state highway runs from SR 652 near Midlothian north to Interstate 195 in Richmond. SR 76 is a toll freeway that connects SR 288, U.S...
, a toll road that links Richmond with the Southside
Southside (Richmond, Virginia)
The Southside of Richmond is an area of the Metropolitan Statistical Area surrounding Richmond, Virginia. It generally includes all portions of the City of Richmond which lie south of the James River, and includes all of the former city of Manchester...
of the metropolitan area.
Route description
I-195 begins as a continuation of SR 195 (Downtown Expressway), a toll road that connects I-195 with I-95 in Downtown Richmond. The transition between the Interstate and the state-numbered highway occurs just east of the McCloy Street overpass south of the Carytown district of Richmond. The four-lane freeway gains a pair of lanes just west of the transition where there is a southbound exit ramp for Rosewood Avenue, which leads to City Stadium, and a northbound entrance ramp from Idlewild Avenue. Northbound I-195 has an exit for SR 147Virginia State Route 147
Virginia State Route 147 is a primary state highway in the U.S. state of Virginia. The state highway runs from U.S. Route 60 in Midlothian east to US 60 in Richmond. SR 147 connects Midlothian with the West End of Richmond via the Huguenot Memorial Bridge across the James River...
(Cary Street) and Floyd Avenue, while a ramp from SR 147 joins the southbound Interstate as the highway curves north on a pair of two-lane flyover ramps to join the six lanes of SR 76 (Powhite Parkway) that join the Interstate at that toll road's northern terminus.
I-195 continues northeast as a six-lane freeway with its median occupied by 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 two-track North End Subdivision, which also serves Amtrak
Amtrak
The National Railroad Passenger Corporation, doing business as Amtrak , is a government-owned corporation that was organized on May 1, 1971, to provide intercity passenger train service in the United States. "Amtrak" is a portmanteau of the words "America" and "track". It is headquartered at Union...
. The southbound Interstate has an exit ramp to Hamilton Street, which parallels the Interstate to the west, to serve SR 147 and Grove Avenue. A short distance to the north, northbound I-195 has exit and entrance ramps to and from Thompson Street, which parallels the Interstate to the east, to access SR 6
Virginia State Route 6
Virginia State Route 6 is a primary state highway in the U.S. state of Virginia. Known for most of its length as River Road, the state highway runs from U.S. Route 250 in Afton east to SR 161 in Richmond. SR 6 is one of the main highways of mountainous Nelson County, where the highway runs...
(Patterson Avenue) and Grove Avenue. North of Monument Avenue
Monument Avenue
Monument Avenue, in Richmond, Virginia, is a premier example of the Grand American Avenue city planning style. The first monument, a statue of Robert E. Lee was erected in 1890. Between 1900 and 1925, Monument Avenue exploded with architecturally significant houses, churches and apartment buildings...
, from which the southbound direction receives a ramp, I-195 has a multi-part interchange with Broad Street, which carries US 33 and US 250. The southbound freeway receives a ramp from Hamilton Street and the northbound freeway has an exit ramp to Clay Street north of the Broad Street overpass. After the overpass, northbound I-195 crosses over the North End Subdivision and both directions pass under Hamilton Street, with which the freeway has a half-diamond interchange
Diamond interchange
A diamond interchange is a common type of road junction, used where a freeway crosses a minor road. The freeway itself is grade-separated from the minor road, one crossing the other over a bridge...
that allows access to US 33 and US 250 from the north.
I-195 passes through an industrial area in which the highway crosses over SR 197
Virginia State Route 197
State Route 197 is a primary state highway in and near Richmond, Virginia, United States. It forms a partial bypass of downtown Richmond, using Malvern Avenue, Westwood Avenue, Saunders Avenue, and Laburnum Avenue between State Route 147 and U.S. Route 1/U.S. Route 301 .-External links:*...
(Westwood Avenue) and a rail yard of CSX's RF&P Subdivision just north of its wye junction with the North End Subdivision. While on the viaduct, the Interstate briefly enters Henrico County
Henrico County, Virginia
Henrico is a county located in the Commonwealth of Virginia, a state of the United States. As of 2010, Henrico was home to 306,935 people. It is located in the Richmond-Petersburg region and is a portion of the Richmond Metropolitan Statistical Area...
. North of the S-curved viaduct, I-195 has a three-quarter diamond interchange with the western end of Laburnum Avenue, which provides access to SR 197. The interchange's north-facing ramp is from eastbound I-64 within the Bryan Park Interchange, a three-level stack interchange with multiple flyover ramps where I-195 reaches its northern terminus at I-64 and I-95 south of Bryan Park at the northernmost point in the city of Richmond. Ramps to southbound I-195 converge and ramps from northbound I-195 diverge for westbound I-64 toward Charlottesville
Charlottesville, Virginia
Charlottesville is an independent city geographically surrounded by but separate from Albemarle County in the Commonwealth of Virginia, United States, and named after Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, the queen consort of King George III of the United Kingdom.The official population estimate for...
, northbound I-95 toward Washington
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
, and eastbound I-64 and southbound I-95 (Richmond–Petersburg Turnpike) toward Downtown Richmond, where the Interstates diverge toward Norfolk
Norfolk, Virginia
Norfolk is an independent city in the Commonwealth of Virginia in the United States. With a population of 242,803 as of the 2010 Census, it is Virginia's second-largest city behind neighboring Virginia Beach....
and Petersburg
Petersburg, Virginia
Petersburg is an independent city in Virginia, United States located on the Appomattox River and south of the state capital city of Richmond. The city's population was 32,420 as of 2010, predominantly of African-American ethnicity...
, respectively.