Virginia State Route 122
Encyclopedia
Virginia State Route 122 (SR 122) is a primary state highway
in the U.S. state of Virginia
. The state highway runs 54.58 miles (87.8 km) from SR 40
in Rocky Mount
north to U.S. Route 501
(US 501) in Big Island
. SR 122 passes through the Blue Ridge
foothills of Franklin
and Bedford
, connecting Rocky Mount with the independent city
of Bedford
. The state highway provides access to Booker T. Washington National Monument
and Smith Mountain Lake
, and the National D-Day Memorial
via its Bedford business route.
of Franklin County. The state highway heads northeast as two-lane Booker T. Washington Highway. SR 122 crosses the Blackwater River, a tributary of the Roanoke River, and the former river's tributary, Maggodee Creek, before meeting the southern end of SR 116
(Jubal Early Highway) at Burnt Chimney. The state highway continues east by Booker T. Washington National Monument, which preserves the birthplace of Booker T. Washington
. SR 122 passes through the community of Westlake Corner
, a commercial center for the western side of Smith Mountain Lake, before crossing the lake and entering Bedford County. The state highway continues north as Moneta Road through the village of Moneta
, where the highway crosses over Norfolk Southern Railway
's Altavista District. SR 122 crosses Goose Creek and intersects SR 24
west of Body Camp; SR 24 heads west as Stewartsville Road toward Stewartsville and east as Shingle Block Road.
SR 122 continues north to the city of Bedford, where the highway's name changes to Burks Hill Road. At the highway's diamond interchange
with the Bedford Bypass, the road continues toward downtown Bedford as SR 122 Business while SR 122 joins US 460 and US 221 on the four-lane freeway bypass. The three highways head east to a diamond interchange at the east end of the four-lane divided bypass. US 460 continues east as Lynchburg Salem Turnpike toward Lynchburg
while SR 122, US 221, and US 460 Business follow Main Street west for one block. There, US 460 Business continues toward downtown Bedford while SR 122 and US 221 turn north onto two-lane Independence Boulevard, an eastern bypass of Bedford that crosses over Norfolk Southern's Blue Ridge District rail line. SR 122 and US 221 diverge at the northern end of Independence Boulevard, where the highways meet the northern end of SR 122 Business (Longwood Avenue). US 221 heads east on Forest Road toward Forest
while SR 122 heads north on Longwood Avenue out of the city of Bedford. SR 122 continues north as Big Island Highway through the hamlet of Centerville, which contains the historic home Otterburn
, and over the Big Otter River
. The state highway passes between Suck Mountain and Hurricane Mountain before reaching its northern terminus at US 501 (Lee Jackson Highway) just north of the village of Big Island on the James River
.
. The business route turns north onto Bridge Street, where the highway leaves its concurrency with US 460 Business and joins SR 43
to cross over Norfolk Southern Railway's Blue Ridge District. When SR 43 heads northwest as Peaks Street toward the Peaks of Otter
, SR 122 Business heads northeast along Longwood Avenue to its northern terminus at US 221 (Forest Road) and SR 122, which heads south with US 221 on Independence Boulevard and north as Longwood Avenue.
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...
. The state highway runs 54.58 miles (87.8 km) from SR 40
Virginia State Route 40
State Route 40 is a primary state highway in the southern part of the U.S. state of Virginia. It runs from State Route 8 at Woolwine east to State Route 10 at Spring Grove, about half the width of Virginia. It is the longest state-numbered route in Virginia.-Route description:SR 40 begins at SR 8...
in Rocky Mount
Rocky Mount, Virginia
Rocky Mount is the county seat of Franklin County, Virginia, United States. The town is part of the Roanoke Metropolitan Statistical Area, and had a population of 4,066 at the 2000 census. It is located in the Roanoke Region of Virginia-History:...
north to U.S. Route 501
U.S. Route 501 in Virginia
U.S. Route 501 is a part of the U.S. Highway System that runs from Myrtle Beach, South Carolina to Buena Vista, Virginia. In Virginia, the U.S. Highway runs from the North Carolina state line near Cluster Springs north to its northern terminus at US 60 in Buena Vista...
(US 501) in Big Island
Big Island, Virginia
Big Island is a census-designated place in far northern Bedford County, Virginia. The population as of the 2010 Census was 303. The small community is located by the James River north of Lynchburg; it is not on an island, but is named for an uninhabited island in the river upstream from it. It is...
. SR 122 passes through the Blue Ridge
Blue Ridge Mountains
The Blue Ridge Mountains are a physiographic province of the larger Appalachian Mountains range. This province consists of northern and southern physiographic regions, which divide near the Roanoke River gap. The mountain range is located in the eastern United States, starting at its southern-most...
foothills of Franklin
Franklin County, Virginia
As of the census of 2000, there were 47,286 people, 18,963 households, and 13,918 families residing in the county. The population density was 68 people per square mile . There were 22,717 housing units at an average density of 33 per square mile...
and Bedford
Bedford County, Virginia
As of the census of 2000, there were 60,371 people, 23,838 households, and 18,164 families residing in the county. The population density was 80 people per square mile . There were 26,841 housing units at an average density of 36 per square mile...
, connecting Rocky Mount with the independent city
Independent city
An independent city is a city that does not form part of another general-purpose local government entity. These type of cities should not be confused with city-states , which are fully sovereign cities that are not part of any other sovereign state.-Historical precursors:In the Holy Roman Empire,...
of Bedford
Bedford, Virginia
Bedford is an independent city located within the confines of Bedford County in the U.S. state of Virginia. It serves as the county seat of Bedford County. As of 2010, the city had a total population of 6,222. The Bureau of Economic Analysis combines the city of Bedford with surrounding Bedford...
. The state highway provides access to Booker T. Washington National Monument
Booker T. Washington National Monument
The Booker T. Washington National Monument is a National Monument near Hardy, Franklin County, Virginia. It preserves portions of the 207-acre tobacco farm on which educator and leader Booker T. Washington was born into slavery on April 5, 1856...
and Smith Mountain Lake
Smith Mountain Lake
Smith Mountain Lake is a large reservoir in the Roanoke Region of Virginia, located southeast of the City of Roanoke and southwest of Lynchburg. The lake was created in 1963 by the Smith Mountain Dam impounding the Roanoke River. The majority of the south shore of the lake lies in Franklin County...
, and the National D-Day Memorial
National D-Day Memorial
The National D-Day Memorial is a war memorial located in Bedford, Virginia. It serves as the national memorial for American D-Day veterans. However, its scope is international in that it states, "In Tribute to the valor, fidelity and sacrifice of Allied Forces on D-Day, June 6, 1944" and commends...
via its Bedford business route.
Route description
SR 122 begins at an intersection with SR 40 (Old Franklin Turnpike) on the east side of the town of Rocky Mount, the county seatCounty seat
A county seat is an administrative center, or seat of government, for a county or civil parish. The term is primarily used in the United States....
of Franklin County. The state highway heads northeast as two-lane Booker T. Washington Highway. SR 122 crosses the Blackwater River, a tributary of the Roanoke River, and the former river's tributary, Maggodee Creek, before meeting the southern end of SR 116
Virginia State Route 116
Virginia State Route 116 is a primary state highway in the U.S. state of Virginia. The state highway runs from SR 122 at Burnt Chimney north to SR 101 in Roanoke. SR 116 connects northwestern Franklin County with the southeastern part of Roanoke...
(Jubal Early Highway) at Burnt Chimney. The state highway continues east by Booker T. Washington National Monument, which preserves the birthplace of Booker T. Washington
Booker T. Washington
Booker Taliaferro Washington was an American educator, author, orator, and political leader. He was the dominant figure in the African-American community in the United States from 1890 to 1915...
. SR 122 passes through the community of Westlake Corner
Westlake Corner, Virginia
Westlake Corner is a census-designated place in Franklin County, Virginia, United States. The population was 899 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Roanoke Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:Westlake Corner is located at ....
, a commercial center for the western side of Smith Mountain Lake, before crossing the lake and entering Bedford County. The state highway continues north as Moneta Road through the village of Moneta
Moneta, Virginia
Moneta is an unincorporated community in Bedford County, Virginia, United States, along Route 122 between Bedford and Rocky Mount; Route 122 follows a bypass around the community....
, where the highway crosses over Norfolk Southern Railway
Norfolk Southern Railway
The Norfolk Southern Railway is a Class I railroad in the United States, owned by the Norfolk Southern Corporation. With headquarters in Norfolk, Virginia, the company operates 21,500 route miles in 22 eastern states, the District of Columbia and the province of Ontario, Canada...
's Altavista District. SR 122 crosses Goose Creek and intersects SR 24
Virginia State Route 24
Virginia State Route 24 is a primary state highway in the U.S. state of Virginia. The state highway runs from U.S. Route 221 and SR 116 in Roanoke east to US 60 in Mt. Rush. SR 24 connects Roanoke with several small communities in southern Bedford County and central Campbell County...
west of Body Camp; SR 24 heads west as Stewartsville Road toward Stewartsville and east as Shingle Block Road.
SR 122 continues north to the city of Bedford, where the highway's name changes to Burks Hill Road. At the highway's 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...
with the Bedford Bypass, the road continues toward downtown Bedford as SR 122 Business while SR 122 joins US 460 and US 221 on the four-lane freeway bypass. The three highways head east to a diamond interchange at the east end of the four-lane divided bypass. US 460 continues east as Lynchburg Salem Turnpike toward Lynchburg
Lynchburg, Virginia
Lynchburg is an independent city in the Commonwealth of Virginia. The population was 75,568 as of 2010. Located in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains along the banks of the James River, Lynchburg is known as the "City of Seven Hills" or "The Hill City." Lynchburg was the only major city in...
while SR 122, US 221, and US 460 Business follow Main Street west for one block. There, US 460 Business continues toward downtown Bedford while SR 122 and US 221 turn north onto two-lane Independence Boulevard, an eastern bypass of Bedford that crosses over Norfolk Southern's Blue Ridge District rail line. SR 122 and US 221 diverge at the northern end of Independence Boulevard, where the highways meet the northern end of SR 122 Business (Longwood Avenue). US 221 heads east on Forest Road toward Forest
Forest, Virginia
Forest is a census-designated place in Bedford County, Virginia, United States. The population was 8,006 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Lynchburg Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:Forest is located at ....
while SR 122 heads north on Longwood Avenue out of the city of Bedford. SR 122 continues north as Big Island Highway through the hamlet of Centerville, which contains the historic home Otterburn
Otterburn (Bedford, Virginia)
Otterburn is a Palladian-influenced Greek Revival house near Bedford, Virginia. The house was built in 1828 for Benjamin A. and Sally Camm McDonald, but burned in 1841 and was reconstructed by 1843. At this time the final form of the house was created with the introduction of a loggia, cross-gable...
, and over the Big Otter River
Big Otter River
The Big Otter River is a river in the United States state of Virginia.-References:**USGS Hydrologic Unit Map - State of Virginia...
. The state highway passes between Suck Mountain and Hurricane Mountain before reaching its northern terminus at US 501 (Lee Jackson Highway) just north of the village of Big Island on the James River
James River
The James River may refer to:Rivers in the United States and their namesakes* James River * James River , North Dakota, South Dakota* James River * James River * James River...
.
Major intersections
Bedford business route
Virginia State Route 122 Business (SR 122 Business) is a business route of SR 122 within the city of Bedford. The highway runs 2.6 miles (4.2 km) from SR 122, US 221, and US 460 on the south side of Bedford to SR 122 and US 221 on the north side of Bedford. SR 122 Business heads north from its diamond interchange with the Bedford Bypass as Burks Hill Road. Just north of the interchange, the highway passes the entrance to the Bedford Welcome Center and the National D-Day Memorial. At King Street, the highway's name changes to Crenshaw Street, which the business route follows to US 460 Business (Main Street). SR 122 turns east onto Main Street, which the highway follows for two blocks, passing the Bedford Historic MeetinghouseBedford Historic Meetinghouse
Bedford Historic Meetinghouse is a historic meeting house in 153 W. Main Street in Bedford, Virginia.It was built in 1838 and added to the National Register in 1978....
. The business route turns north onto Bridge Street, where the highway leaves its concurrency with US 460 Business and joins SR 43
Virginia State Route 43
Virginia State Route 43 is a primary state highway in the U.S. state of Virginia. The state highway consists of two disjoint segments that have a total length of . The southern portion of the state highway runs from U.S. Route 29 Business in Altavista north to the Blue Ridge Parkway at Peaks...
to cross over Norfolk Southern Railway's Blue Ridge District. When SR 43 heads northwest as Peaks Street toward the Peaks of Otter
Peaks of Otter
The Peaks of Otter are three mountain peaks in the Blue Ridge Mountains, overlooking the town of Bedford, Virginia, nine miles to the southeast along State Route 43. These peaks are...
, SR 122 Business heads northeast along Longwood Avenue to its northern terminus at US 221 (Forest Road) and SR 122, which heads south with US 221 on Independence Boulevard and north as Longwood Avenue.