Virginia State Route 2
Encyclopedia
Virginia State Route 2 is a primary state highway
in the U.S. state of Virginia
. The state highway runs 53.08 miles (85.4 km) from U.S. Route 1
and US 301
in Richmond
north to US 1 Business, US 17 Business, and SR 3 Business in Fredericksburg
. SR 2 connects Richmond and Fredericksburg via Bowling Green
. The state highway runs concurrently
with US 301 from Richmond to Bowling Green and with US 17 Business in the Fredericksburg area.
. A short distance north of the city limits, the carriageways split, with the southbound lanes crossing to the west of Interstate 95
(I-95). Several ramps connect the two highways with I-95 in the forested area around Upham Brook. After I-95 veers northwest and the carriageways rejoin, SR 2 and US 301 pass through the suburb of Chamberlayne
. The highways meet the eastern end of Parham Road, the main east–west boulevard of Henrico County, just before crossing the Chickahominy River
into Hanover County
.
SR 2 and US 301 meet I-295
at a cloverleaf interchange
just north of the county line. The two highways continue through a suburban area where they pass under CSX
's Piedmont Subdivision. North of Hanover High School
, SR 2 and US 301 reduce to two lanes and the road's name changes to Hanover Courthouse Road. The highways pass the 18th century Hanover County Courthouse
and meet the eastern end of SR 54
(Patrick Henry Road) in the county seat
of Hanover Courthouse
. SR 2 and US 301 cross the Pamunkey River
into Caroline County
. The road, now named Richmond Turnpike, intersects SR 30
(Dawn Boulevard) in the hamlet of Bowersville
, also known as Dawn. The two highways run straight for 13 miles (20.9 km); near the north end of the straight, the highways cross the Mattaponi River
.
At the north end of the straight, SR 2 and US 301 expand to a four-lane divided highway that lasts until the two highways pass under SR 207
(Bowling Green Bypass). US 301 leaves SR 2 on a two-way ramp to the bypass to head toward the Potomac River Bridge into Charles County, Maryland
. SR 2 and US 301 Business continue into the town of Bowling Green as Main Street. At the north end of downtown, the state highway intersects Broaddus Avenue, which heads west as SR 207 Business and east as US 301 Business. SR 2 leaves town as the Fredericksburg Turnpike. On this only stretch of the state highway that does not run concurrently with another highway, the highway passes along the western edge of Fort A.P. Hill
and through the hamlets of Villboro
, Locks Corner
, and Corbin
. SR 2 becomes Sandy Lane Drive upon entering Spotsylvania County
, where its solo existence ends at its intersection with US 17
(Mills Drive) at New Post.
SR 2 continues north together with US 17 Business along Tidewater Trail, which crosses Massaponax Creek and passes through a suburban area on the south side of Fredericksburg. The highways become Dixon Street and expand to a four-lane divided highway as they enter the independent city
. SR 2 and US 17 Business meet SR 3
(Blue and Gray Parkway) at a partial cloverleaf interchange. At Charles Street, Dixon Street veers east, then the two highways turn north onto a one-way pair
, Caroline Street northbound and Princess Anne Street southbound. The two streets pass under CSX's RF&P Subdivision at the southern end of downtown adjacent to the Fredericksburg train station
, which serves Amtrak
and is the southern terminus of Virginia Railway Express
's Fredericksburg Line
. Immediately north of the railroad crossing SR 2 and US 17 Business meet US 1 Business (Lafayette Boulevard), which joins the two highways through downtown Fredericksburg. Just north of St. George's Episcopal Church, which abuts Princess Anne Street, SR 2 reaches its northern terminus at SR 3 Business (William Street). The two U.S. Highway business routes continue north through Fredericksburg to an intersection with US 1 just south of that highway's crossing of the Rappahannock River
.
!County
!Location
!Mile
!Destinations
!Notes
|-
|colspan=2|City of Richmond
|0.00
|
|Southern terminus; south end of concurrency with US 301
|-0.04
||Henrico
|Chamberlayne
|0.59
|
|I-95 Exit 82
|-3.23
|rowspan=2|Hanover
|
|3.63
|
|I-295 Exit 41
|-
|Hanover Courthouse
|13.59
|
|
|-15.23
|rowspan=3|Caroline
|Bowersville
|18.39
|
|
|-
|rowspan=2|Bowling Green
|32.90
|
|Interchange; north end of concurrency with US 301; south end of concurrency with US 301 Business
|-
|33.86
|
|North end of concurrency with US 301 Business
|-45.69
|Spotsylvania
|New Post
|47.05
|
|South end of concurrency with US 17 Business
|-51.58
|rowspan=3 colspan=2|City of Fredericksburg
|52.13
|
|Interchange
|-
|52.71
|
|South end of concurrency with US 1 Business
|-
|53.08
|
|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...
. The state highway runs 53.08 miles (85.4 km) from 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 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...
north to US 1 Business, US 17 Business, and SR 3 Business in Fredericksburg
Fredericksburg, Virginia
Fredericksburg is an independent city in the Commonwealth of Virginia located south of Washington, D.C., and north of Richmond. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 24,286...
. SR 2 connects Richmond and Fredericksburg via Bowling Green
Bowling Green, Virginia
Bowling Green is an incorporated town in Caroline County, Virginia, United States. The population was 936 at the 2000 census.The county seat of Caroline County since 1803, Bowling Green is best known as the "cradle of American horse racing", the home of the second oldest Masonic Lodge, and the...
. The state highway runs 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 301 from Richmond to Bowling Green and with US 17 Business in the Fredericksburg area.
Route description
SR 2 begins at an intersection with US 1 and US 301 at the northern edge of Richmond. Southbound US 1 and US 301 head south along Chamberlayne Avenue toward downtown Richmond. Northbound US 1 heads west on Azalea Avenue then turns north onto Brook Road a few blocks to the west. SR 2 and US 301 head north on Chamberlayne Avenue, a four-lane divided highway that becomes Chamberlayne Road upon entering Henrico CountyHenrico 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...
. A short distance north of the city limits, the carriageways split, with the southbound lanes crossing to the west of 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). Several ramps connect the two highways with I-95 in the forested area around Upham Brook. After I-95 veers northwest and the carriageways rejoin, SR 2 and US 301 pass through the suburb of Chamberlayne
Chamberlayne, Virginia
Chamberlayne is a census-designated place in Henrico County, Virginia, United States. The population was 4,380 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Chamberlayne is located at ....
. The highways meet the eastern end of Parham Road, the main east–west boulevard of Henrico County, just before crossing the Chickahominy River
Chickahominy River
The Chickahominy is an river in the eastern portion of the U.S. state of Virginia. The river rises about northwest of Richmond and flows southeast and south to the James River...
into Hanover County
Hanover County, Virginia
As of the census of 2000, there were 86,320 people, 31,121 households, and 24,461 families residing in the county. The population density was 183 people per square mile . There were 32,196 housing units at an average density of 68 per square mile...
.
SR 2 and US 301 meet I-295
Interstate 295 (Virginia)
Interstate 295 is an eastern and northern bypass of the cities of Richmond and Petersburg in the U.S. state of Virginia. The southern terminus is a junction with Interstate 95 southeast of Petersburg...
at a cloverleaf interchange
Cloverleaf interchange
A cloverleaf interchange is a two-level interchange in which left turns, reverse direction in left-driving regions, are handled by ramp roads...
just north of the county line. The two highways continue through a suburban area where they pass 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 Piedmont Subdivision. North of Hanover High School
Hanover High School (Mechanicsville, Virginia)
Hanover High School is a high school located in Mechanicsville, Hanover County, Virginia, USA. The school opened during the 2003-04 academic year. The principal is George Sadler.This is an International Baccalaureate sponsored school...
, SR 2 and US 301 reduce to two lanes and the road's name changes to Hanover Courthouse Road. The highways pass the 18th century Hanover County Courthouse
Hanover County Courthouse
Hanover County Courthouse, built in 1735, is an historic courthouse located in Hanover Court House, Virginia. In 1763, Patrick Henry, who lived and practiced law in Hanover County, argued the case of the Parson's Cause, a case involving King George III's requirement that Virginians pay taxes to...
and meet the eastern end of SR 54
Virginia State Route 54
Virginia State Route 54 is a primary state highway in the U.S. state of Virginia. Known for most of its length as Patrick Henry Road, the state highway runs from U.S. Route 33 in Montpelier east to US 301 and SR 2 in Hanover Courthouse...
(Patrick Henry Road) in the county seat
County 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 Hanover Courthouse
Hanover Courthouse, Virginia
Hanover Courthouse is a census-designated place in and the county seat of Hanover County, Virginia, United States. Hanover Courthouse is located at the junction of U.S. Route 301 and State Route 54 south of the Pamunkey River. While historically and technically known as Hanover Courthouse, the...
. SR 2 and US 301 cross the Pamunkey River
Pamunkey River
The Pamunkey River is a tributary of the York River, about long, in eastern Virginia in the United States. Via the York River it is part of the watershed of Chesapeake Bay.-Course:...
into Caroline County
Caroline County, Virginia
Caroline County is a county located in the Commonwealth of Virginia. As of 2010, the population was 28,545. Its county seat is Bowling Green. Caroline County is also home to The Meadow stables, the birthplace of the renowned racehorse Secretariat, winner of the 1973 Kentucky Derby, Preakness and...
. The road, now named Richmond Turnpike, intersects SR 30
Virginia State Route 30
Virginia State Route 30 is a primary state highway in the U.S. state of Virginia. The state highway runs from U.S. Route 1 in Doswell east to Interstate 64 and SR 607 near Norge. SR 30 runs east–west through Hanover and Caroline Counties, connecting US 1 and I-95 with Kings Dominion and...
(Dawn Boulevard) in the hamlet of Bowersville
Bowersville, Virginia
Bowersville is an unincorporated community in Caroline County, in the U.S. state of Virginia.-Reference:...
, also known as Dawn. The two highways run straight for 13 miles (20.9 km); near the north end of the straight, the highways cross the Mattaponi River
Mattaponi River
The Mattaponi River is a tributary of the York River estuary in eastern Virginia in the United States.It rises as four streams in Spotsylvania County, each of which is given a shorter piece of the Mattaponi's name:...
.
At the north end of the straight, SR 2 and US 301 expand to a four-lane divided highway that lasts until the two highways pass under SR 207
Virginia State Route 207
Virginia State Route 207 is a primary state highway in the U.S. state of Virginia. Known for most of its length as Rogers Clark Boulevard, the state highway runs from U.S. Route 1 in Ruther Glen east to US 301 and SR 2 in Bowling Green. SR 207 is a divided highway connection between Interstate...
(Bowling Green Bypass). US 301 leaves SR 2 on a two-way ramp to the bypass to head toward the Potomac River Bridge into Charles County, Maryland
Charles County, Maryland
Charles County is a county in the south central portion of the U.S. state of Maryland.As of 2010, the population was 146,551. Its county seat is La Plata. This county was named for Charles Calvert , third Baron Baltimore....
. SR 2 and US 301 Business continue into the town of Bowling Green as Main Street. At the north end of downtown, the state highway intersects Broaddus Avenue, which heads west as SR 207 Business and east as US 301 Business. SR 2 leaves town as the Fredericksburg Turnpike. On this only stretch of the state highway that does not run concurrently with another highway, the highway passes along the western edge of Fort A.P. Hill
Fort A.P. Hill
Fort A.P. Hill, Virginia, is an active duty installation of the United States Army, located near the town of Bowling Green, Virginia.Named for Confederate Lieutenant General Ambrose Powell Hill, Fort A.P...
and through the hamlets of Villboro
Villboro, Virginia
Villboro is an unincorporated community in Caroline County, in the U.S. state of Virginia.-Reference:...
, Locks Corner
Locks Corner, Virginia
Locks Corner is an unincorporated community in Caroline County, in the U.S. state of Virginia.-Reference:...
, and Corbin
Corbin, Virginia
Corbin is an unincorporated community in Caroline County, in the U.S. state of Virginia....
. SR 2 becomes Sandy Lane Drive upon entering Spotsylvania County
Spotsylvania County, Virginia
As of the census of 2000, there were 90,395 people, 31,308 households, and 24,639 families residing in the county. The population density was 226 people per square mile . There were 33,329 housing units at an average density of 83 per square mile...
, where its solo existence ends at its intersection with US 17
U.S. Route 17 in Virginia
U.S. Route 17 is a part of the U.S. Highway System that runs from Punta Gorda, Florida to Winchester, Virginia. In Virginia, the U.S. Highway runs from the North Carolina state line in Chesapeake north to its northern terminus at US 11, US 50, and US 522 in Winchester. US 17 is a major highway...
(Mills Drive) at New Post.
SR 2 continues north together with US 17 Business along Tidewater Trail, which crosses Massaponax Creek and passes through a suburban area on the south side of Fredericksburg. The highways become Dixon Street and expand to a four-lane divided highway as they enter 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,...
. SR 2 and US 17 Business meet SR 3
Virginia State Route 3
State Route 3 is a primary state highway in the U.S. state of Virginia that extends from the town of Culpeper south and eastwardly to Gloucester in Virginia's Middle Peninsula region...
(Blue and Gray Parkway) at a partial cloverleaf interchange. At Charles Street, Dixon Street veers east, then the two highways turn north onto a one-way pair
One-way pair
A one-way pair, one-way couple, or just couplet is a pair of parallel, usually one-way streets that carry opposite directions of a signed route or major traffic flow, or sometimes opposite directions of a bus or streetcar route....
, Caroline Street northbound and Princess Anne Street southbound. The two streets pass under CSX's RF&P Subdivision at the southern end of downtown adjacent to the Fredericksburg train station
Fredericksburg (Amtrak station)
The Fredericksburg Amtrak station is located at 200 Lafayette Boulevard in Fredericksburg, Virginia. It is also the terminus of the Virginia Railway Express Fredericksburg Line. was also recently added by the city for the same purpose...
, which 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...
and is the southern terminus of Virginia Railway Express
Virginia Railway Express
The Virginia Railway Express is a regional/ commuter rail service that connects the Northern Virginia suburbs to Union Station in Washington, D.C., via two lines: the Fredericksburg Line from Fredericksburg, Virginia, and the Manassas Line from Broad Run/Airport station in Bristow,...
's Fredericksburg Line
Fredericksburg Line
The Fredericksburg Line is a commuter rail line operated by Virginia Railway Express between Washington, D.C. and Fredericksburg, VA. Virginia Railway Express operates 7 weekday trains, and Amtrak trains serve a few of the stations on the line...
. Immediately north of the railroad crossing SR 2 and US 17 Business meet US 1 Business (Lafayette Boulevard), which joins the two highways through downtown Fredericksburg. Just north of St. George's Episcopal Church, which abuts Princess Anne Street, SR 2 reaches its northern terminus at SR 3 Business (William Street). The two U.S. Highway business routes continue north through Fredericksburg to an intersection with US 1 just south of that highway's crossing of the Rappahannock River
Rappahannock River
The Rappahannock River is a river in eastern Virginia, in the United States, approximately in length. It traverses the entire northern part of the state, from the Blue Ridge Mountains in the west, across the Piedmont, to the Chesapeake Bay, south of the Potomac River.An important river in American...
.
Major intersections
{| class=wikitable!County
!Location
!Mile
!Destinations
!Notes
|-
|colspan=2|City 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...
|0.00
|
|Southern terminus; south end of concurrency with US 301
|-0.04
||Henrico
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...
|Chamberlayne
Chamberlayne, Virginia
Chamberlayne is a census-designated place in Henrico County, Virginia, United States. The population was 4,380 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Chamberlayne is located at ....
|0.59
|
|I-95 Exit 82
|-3.23
|rowspan=2|Hanover
Hanover County, Virginia
As of the census of 2000, there were 86,320 people, 31,121 households, and 24,461 families residing in the county. The population density was 183 people per square mile . There were 32,196 housing units at an average density of 68 per square mile...
|
|3.63
|
|I-295 Exit 41
|-
|Hanover Courthouse
Hanover Courthouse, Virginia
Hanover Courthouse is a census-designated place in and the county seat of Hanover County, Virginia, United States. Hanover Courthouse is located at the junction of U.S. Route 301 and State Route 54 south of the Pamunkey River. While historically and technically known as Hanover Courthouse, the...
|13.59
|
|
|-15.23
|rowspan=3|Caroline
Caroline County, Virginia
Caroline County is a county located in the Commonwealth of Virginia. As of 2010, the population was 28,545. Its county seat is Bowling Green. Caroline County is also home to The Meadow stables, the birthplace of the renowned racehorse Secretariat, winner of the 1973 Kentucky Derby, Preakness and...
|Bowersville
Bowersville, Virginia
Bowersville is an unincorporated community in Caroline County, in the U.S. state of Virginia.-Reference:...
|18.39
|
|
|-
|rowspan=2|Bowling Green
Bowling Green, Virginia
Bowling Green is an incorporated town in Caroline County, Virginia, United States. The population was 936 at the 2000 census.The county seat of Caroline County since 1803, Bowling Green is best known as the "cradle of American horse racing", the home of the second oldest Masonic Lodge, and the...
|32.90
|
|Interchange; north end of concurrency with US 301; south end of concurrency with US 301 Business
|-
|33.86
|
|North end of concurrency with US 301 Business
|-45.69
|Spotsylvania
Spotsylvania County, Virginia
As of the census of 2000, there were 90,395 people, 31,308 households, and 24,639 families residing in the county. The population density was 226 people per square mile . There were 33,329 housing units at an average density of 83 per square mile...
|New Post
|47.05
|
|South end of concurrency with US 17 Business
|-51.58
|rowspan=3 colspan=2|City of Fredericksburg
Fredericksburg, Virginia
Fredericksburg is an independent city in the Commonwealth of Virginia located south of Washington, D.C., and north of Richmond. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 24,286...
|52.13
|
|Interchange
|-
|52.71
|
|South end of concurrency with US 1 Business
|-
|53.08
|
|Northern terminus