Vermont Route 18
Encyclopedia
Vermont Route 18 is a state highway
in Caledonia County, Vermont
, United States
. It runs southeast from the town of St. Johnsbury to the New Hampshire
state line, continuing there as New Hampshire Route 18
. The route parallels Interstate 93 and is a former routing of the Theodore Roosevelt International Highway
.
state line between Littleton
and Waterford
. After crossing the Connecticut River
into Vermont, VT 18 veers westward to cross under I-93 into Lower Waterford village. VT 18 then continues northwest running closely parallel to I-93 on its west side for roughly 7 miles (11.3 km) until Stiles Pond. Just north of the pond, I-93 changes direction from northwest to southwest. VT 18 crosses under I-93 at this point with an interchange at Exit 1 (the only numbered exit on I-93 in Vermont). Soon after the I-93 junction, VT 18 ends at U.S. Route 2
about 0.25 mile (0.402335 km) past the St. Johnsbury
town line. US 2 continues into the town center. VT 18 is part of the Connecticut River Byway.
, a transcontinental auto trail
organized in 1919 running from Portland, Oregon
to Portland, Maine
via Ontario
. Several years later, in 1922, the New England
states adopted the New England road marking system, assigning route numbers to the main through routes in the region. The Roosevelt Highway routing in Vermont was assigned Route 14 from Burlington
to Montpelier
, and Route 18 from Montpelier to the New Hampshire
state line in Waterford
. The original Vermont portion of Route 18 ran 40 miles (64.4 km) from Montpelier to St. Johnsbury
using modern U.S. Route 2
, then modern Vermont Route 18 from St. Johnsbury to the New Hampshire line.
In late 1926, the U.S. Highway system was established. U.S. Route 2
in Vermont was designated on New England Route 14 (Burlington to Montpelier), New England Route 25 (Montpelier to Wells River
) and New England Route 15 (St. Johnsbury to Lunenburg), connected by a brief overlap with U.S. Route 5
. In 1935, the portion of U.S. Route 2 between Montpelier and St. Johnsbury was relocated to use the alignment of Vermont Route 18. The previous alignment from Montpelier to Wells River was designated as part of newly established U.S. Route 302
, and the overlap with U.S. Route 5 was eliminated. This truncated the northern/western end of Vermont Route 18 to St. Johnsbury.
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 Caledonia County, Vermont
Caledonia County, Vermont
Caledonia County is a county located in the U.S. state of Vermont. As of 2010, the population was 31,227. Its shire town is St. Johnsbury.The county was given the Latin name for Scotland, in honor of the many settlers who claimed ancestry there....
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. It runs southeast from the town of St. Johnsbury to the New Hampshire
New Hampshire
New Hampshire is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. The state was named after the southern English county of Hampshire. It is bordered by Massachusetts to the south, Vermont to the west, Maine and the Atlantic Ocean to the east, and the Canadian...
state line, continuing there as New Hampshire Route 18
New Hampshire Route 18
New Hampshire Route 18 is a long north–south state highway in New Hampshire. Its northern terminus is at the Vermont state line in the town of Littleton, where the road continues north as Vermont Route 18. The southern terminus of NH 18 is at an interchange with Interstate 93 and U.S...
. The route parallels Interstate 93 and is a former routing of the Theodore Roosevelt International Highway
Theodore Roosevelt International Highway
The Theodore Roosevelt International Highway was a transcontinental North American highway through the United States and Canada that ran from Portland, Maine, to Portland, Oregon. Its length was about .-Route description:...
.
Route description
Vermont Route 18 begins at the New HampshireNew Hampshire
New Hampshire is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. The state was named after the southern English county of Hampshire. It is bordered by Massachusetts to the south, Vermont to the west, Maine and the Atlantic Ocean to the east, and the Canadian...
state line between Littleton
Littleton, New Hampshire
Littleton is a town in Grafton County, New Hampshire, United States. The population was 5,928 at the 2010 census. Situated at the edge of the White Mountains, Littleton is bounded on the northwest by the Connecticut River....
and Waterford
Waterford, Vermont
Waterford is a town in Caledonia County, Vermont, United States. The population was 1,104 at the 2000 census.The town was originally called Littleton but the name was changed to Waterford in 1797.-Geography:...
. After crossing the Connecticut River
Connecticut River
The Connecticut River is the largest and longest river in New England, and also an American Heritage River. It flows roughly south, starting from the Fourth Connecticut Lake in New Hampshire. After flowing through the remaining Connecticut Lakes and Lake Francis, it defines the border between the...
into Vermont, VT 18 veers westward to cross under I-93 into Lower Waterford village. VT 18 then continues northwest running closely parallel to I-93 on its west side for roughly 7 miles (11.3 km) until Stiles Pond. Just north of the pond, I-93 changes direction from northwest to southwest. VT 18 crosses under I-93 at this point with an interchange at Exit 1 (the only numbered exit on I-93 in Vermont). Soon after the I-93 junction, VT 18 ends at U.S. Route 2
U.S. Route 2
U.S. Route 2 is an east–west U.S. Highway spanning across the northern continental United States. US 2 consists of two segments connected by various roadways in southern Canada...
about 0.25 mile (0.402335 km) past the St. Johnsbury
St. Johnsbury, Vermont
St. Johnsbury is the shire town of Caledonia County, Vermont, United States. The population was 7,571 at the 2000 census. St. Johnsbury is located approximately northwest of the Connecticut River and south of the Canadian border.St...
town line. US 2 continues into the town center. VT 18 is part of the Connecticut River Byway.
History
Vermont Route 18 was originally part of the Theodore Roosevelt International HighwayTheodore Roosevelt International Highway
The Theodore Roosevelt International Highway was a transcontinental North American highway through the United States and Canada that ran from Portland, Maine, to Portland, Oregon. Its length was about .-Route description:...
, a transcontinental auto trail
Auto trail
The system of auto trails was an informal network of marked routes that existed in the United States and Canada in the early part of the 20th century. Marked with colored bands on telephone poles, the trails were intended to help travellers in the early days of the automobile.Auto trails were...
organized in 1919 running from Portland, Oregon
Portland, Oregon
Portland is a city located in the Pacific Northwest, near the confluence of the Willamette and Columbia rivers in the U.S. state of Oregon. As of the 2010 Census, it had a population of 583,776, making it the 29th most populous city in the United States...
to Portland, Maine
Portland, Maine
Portland is the largest city in Maine and is the county seat of Cumberland County. The 2010 city population was 66,194, growing 3 percent since the census of 2000...
via Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
. Several years later, in 1922, the New England
New England
New England is a region in the northeastern corner of the United States consisting of the six states of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut...
states adopted the New England road marking system, assigning route numbers to the main through routes in the region. The Roosevelt Highway routing in Vermont was assigned Route 14 from Burlington
Burlington, Vermont
Burlington is the largest city in the U.S. state of Vermont and the shire town of Chittenden County. Burlington lies south of the U.S.-Canadian border and some south of Montreal....
to Montpelier
Montpelier, Vermont
Montpelier is a city in the U.S. state of Vermont that serves as the state capital and the shire town of Washington County. As the capital of Vermont, Montpelier is the site of the Vermont State House, seat of the legislative branch of Vermont government. The population was 7,855 at the 2010...
, and Route 18 from Montpelier to the New Hampshire
New Hampshire
New Hampshire is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. The state was named after the southern English county of Hampshire. It is bordered by Massachusetts to the south, Vermont to the west, Maine and the Atlantic Ocean to the east, and the Canadian...
state line in Waterford
Waterford, Vermont
Waterford is a town in Caledonia County, Vermont, United States. The population was 1,104 at the 2000 census.The town was originally called Littleton but the name was changed to Waterford in 1797.-Geography:...
. The original Vermont portion of Route 18 ran 40 miles (64.4 km) from Montpelier to St. Johnsbury
St. Johnsbury, Vermont
St. Johnsbury is the shire town of Caledonia County, Vermont, United States. The population was 7,571 at the 2000 census. St. Johnsbury is located approximately northwest of the Connecticut River and south of the Canadian border.St...
using modern U.S. Route 2
U.S. Route 2
U.S. Route 2 is an east–west U.S. Highway spanning across the northern continental United States. US 2 consists of two segments connected by various roadways in southern Canada...
, then modern Vermont Route 18 from St. Johnsbury to the New Hampshire line.
In late 1926, the U.S. Highway system was established. U.S. Route 2
U.S. Route 2
U.S. Route 2 is an east–west U.S. Highway spanning across the northern continental United States. US 2 consists of two segments connected by various roadways in southern Canada...
in Vermont was designated on New England Route 14 (Burlington to Montpelier), New England Route 25 (Montpelier to Wells River
Wells River, Vermont
Wells River is a village in the town of Newbury in Orange County, Vermont, United States. The population was 325 at the 2000 census. The village center is located at the junction of U.S...
) and New England Route 15 (St. Johnsbury to Lunenburg), connected by a brief overlap with U.S. Route 5
U.S. Route 5
U.S. Route 5 is a north–south United States highway running through the New England states of Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Vermont. Significant cities along the route include New Haven, Connecticut; Hartford, Connecticut; and Springfield, Massachusetts. From Hartford northward to St...
. In 1935, the portion of U.S. Route 2 between Montpelier and St. Johnsbury was relocated to use the alignment of Vermont Route 18. The previous alignment from Montpelier to Wells River was designated as part of newly established U.S. Route 302
U.S. Route 302
U.S. Route 302 is a spur of U.S. Route 2. It currently runs 171 miles north from Portland, Maine, at U.S. Route 1, to Montpelier, Vermont, at US 2...
, and the overlap with U.S. Route 5 was eliminated. This truncated the northern/western end of Vermont Route 18 to St. Johnsbury.
Major intersections
External links
- Connecticut River Byway (National Scenic Byway)
- Photographs of VT 18 termini (state-ends.com)