Virginia State Route 144
Encyclopedia
Virginia State Route 144 (SR 144) is a primary state highway
in the U.S. state of Virginia
. The state highway runs 13.97 miles (22.5 km) from SR 36
at Fort Lee
north to SR 145
at Centralia. SR 144's east–west segment is the main highway between Colonial Heights
and both Fort Lee and Hopewell
. The state highway's north–south section connects U.S. Route 1
and US 301
in Colonial Heights with SR 10
in Chester
.
before crossing the Appomattox River
, which is split in two by Halls Island. While crossing the river, the state highway passes through a sliver of Chesterfield County
before entering the independent city
of Colonial Heights. SR 144 passes through a commercial area that includes the Southpark Mall
and the world's largest Arby's
restaurant. West of the mall, the state highway has a trumpet interchange with Interstate 95
(I-95) (Richmond–Petersburg Turnpike) that is supplemented by a ramp from northbound SR 144 to northbound I-95. West of the freeway, SR 144 reaches the western end of Temple Avenue and turns north to run concurrently
with US 1 and US 301 along the city's main north–south thoroughfare, Boulevard.
SR 144, US 1, and US 301 follow Boulevard north through Colonial Heights, where the five-lane highway with center turn lane passes under CSX
's North End Subdivision. The highways enter Chesterfield County by crossing Swift Creek
into Chesterfield County and become Jefferson Davis Highway. SR 144 splits northwest from the U.S. Highways to follow two-lane Harrowgate Road through a suburban area to Chester. There, the state highway has a brief concurrency with four-lane SR 10 (West Hundred Road) to cross the North End Subdivision rail line. SR 144 continues north on two-lane Chester Road, which the highway follows to its northern terminus at SR 145 at Centralia. SR 145 heads west as Centralia Road toward Chesterfield Court House
and north as a continuation of Chester Road through an interchange with the SR 288
freeway.
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 13.97 miles (22.5 km) from SR 36
Virginia State Route 36
Virginia State Route 36 is a state highway in the U.S. state of Virginia. The state highway runs from SR 602 and SR 669 near Matoaca east to SR 10 in Hopewell. SR 36 is the main highway between Petersburg and Hopewell; within each independent city, the state highway follows a byzantine path...
at Fort Lee
Fort Lee, Virginia
Fort Lee is a census-designated place in Prince George County, Virginia, United States. The population was 7,269 at the 2000 census.Fort Lee is a United States Army post and headquarters of the U.S. Army Combined Arms Support Command / Sustainment Center of Excellence , the U.S. Army Quartermaster...
north to SR 145
Virginia State Route 145
Virginia State Route 145 is a primary state highway in the U.S. state of Virginia. The state highway runs from SR 10 in Chesterfield Court House east to U.S. Route 1 and US 301 in Bellwood in...
at Centralia. SR 144's east–west segment is the main highway between Colonial Heights
Colonial Heights, Virginia
Colonial Heights is an independent city in Virginia, United States. The population was 17,411 as of 2010. The Bureau of Economic Analysis combines the City of Colonial Heights with Dinwiddie County for statistical purposes...
and both Fort Lee and Hopewell
Hopewell, Virginia
Hopewell is an independent city in the Commonwealth of Virginia. The population was 22,591 at the 2010 Census . It is in Tri-Cities area of the Richmond-Petersburg region and is a portion of the Richmond Metropolitan Statistical Area...
. The state highway's north–south section connects U.S. Route 1
U.S. Route 1 in Virginia
U.S. Route 1 in the U.S. state of Virginia runs north–south through South Hill, Petersburg, Richmond, Fredericksburg, and Alexandria on its way from North Carolina to the 14th Street Bridge into the District of Columbia...
and US 301
U.S. Route 301 in Virginia
U.S. Route 301 is a part of the U.S. Highway System that runs from Sarasota, Florida to Glasgow, Delaware. In Virginia, the U.S. Highway runs from the North Carolina state line near Skippers north to the Maryland state line at the Potomac River near Dahlgren. US 301 forms the local complement...
in Colonial Heights with SR 10
Virginia State Route 10
Virginia State Route 10 is a primary state highway in the U.S. state of Virginia. The state highway runs from U.S. Route 360 in Richmond east to SR 337 in Suffolk. SR 10 is a major suburban highway through Chesterfield County between the Southside of Richmond and Hopewell...
in Chester
Chester, Virginia
Chester is a census-designated place in Chesterfield County, Virginia, United States. The population was 20,987 at the 2010 census.-History:...
.
Route description
SR 144 begins at a four-way intersection with SR 36 (Oaklawn Boulevard) at the northeastern corner of Fort Lee. The south leg of the intersection is 6th Street, which serves as one of the entrances to the military base. SR 144 heads west as Temple Avenue, a four-lane divided highway that crosses a rail line and passes through an industrial area in far northern Prince George CountyPrince George County, Virginia
As of the census of 2000, there were 33,047 people, 10,159 households, and 8,096 families residing in the county. The population density was 124 people per square mile . There were 10,726 housing units at an average density of 40 per square mile...
before crossing the Appomattox River
Appomattox River
The Appomattox River is a tributary of the James River, approximately long, in central and eastern Virginia in the United States, named for the Appomattocs Indian tribe who lived along its lower banks in the 17th century...
, which is split in two by Halls Island. While crossing the river, the state highway passes through a sliver of Chesterfield County
Chesterfield County, Virginia
Chesterfield County is a county located in the Commonwealth of Virginia, a state of the United States. In 2010, its population was estimated to be 316,236. Chesterfield County is now the fourth-largest municipality in Virginia . Its county seat is Chesterfield...
before entering 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 Colonial Heights. SR 144 passes through a commercial area that includes the Southpark Mall
Southpark Mall (Colonial Heights, Virginia)
Southpark Mall is a shopping mall serving the Tri-Cities, Virginia area, which itself is part of the much larger Richmond-Petersburg metropolitan area.-Mall Description:...
and the world's largest Arby's
Arby's
Arby's is a fast food restaurant chain in the United States and Canada. Roark Capital Group owns 81.5% of the company, with Wendy's Company owning the other 18.5%. It is primarily known for selling roast beef sandwiches and curly fries. The Arby's menu also includes chicken sandwiches, appetizers,...
restaurant. West of the mall, the state highway has a trumpet interchange with Interstate 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...
(I-95) (Richmond–Petersburg Turnpike) that is supplemented by a ramp from northbound SR 144 to northbound I-95. West of the freeway, SR 144 reaches the western end of Temple Avenue and turns north to run concurrently
Concurrency (road)
A concurrency, overlap, or coincidence in a road network is an instance of one physical road bearing two or more different highway, motorway, or other route numbers...
with US 1 and US 301 along the city's main north–south thoroughfare, Boulevard.
SR 144, US 1, and US 301 follow Boulevard north through Colonial Heights, where the five-lane highway with center turn lane passes under 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 North End Subdivision. The highways enter Chesterfield County by crossing Swift Creek
Swift Creek (Virginia)
Swift Creek is a river in the U.S. state of Virginia. It rises west of Richmond in Powhatan County and flows southeast, eventually forming the northern boundary of Colonial Heights, where it joins the Appomattox River.-References:...
into Chesterfield County and become Jefferson Davis Highway. SR 144 splits northwest from the U.S. Highways to follow two-lane Harrowgate Road through a suburban area to Chester. There, the state highway has a brief concurrency with four-lane SR 10 (West Hundred Road) to cross the North End Subdivision rail line. SR 144 continues north on two-lane Chester Road, which the highway follows to its northern terminus at SR 145 at Centralia. SR 145 heads west as Centralia Road toward Chesterfield Court House
Chesterfield Court House, Virginia
Chesterfield Court House is located at .According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP had a total area of .-Demographics:...
and north as a continuation of Chester Road through an interchange with the SR 288
Virginia State Route 288
State Route 288 is a primary state highway in the U.S. state of Virginia. It is a freeway-standard partial beltway around the southwest side of Richmond...
freeway.