Virginia State Route 37
Encyclopedia
State Route 37 is a primary state highway
in the U.S. state
of Virginia
. It forms a western bypass of Winchester, connecting to Interstate 81 at both ends. Although the road is a freeway, neither I-81 connection is freeway standard; the south end (exit 310) is a diamond interchange
with two traffic signals, while, at the north end, drivers must use a short piece of U.S. Route 11 to connect with I-81 at exit 317. In addition to local access, the highway connects to U.S. Route 50 and U.S. Route 522, two major highways that lead west and northwest into West Virginia
and north to Interstate 70 at Hancock, Maryland
. An eastern bypass, known locally as "Route 37 East", has been proposed in statewide and local plans to complete the loop.
Route 37 begins at an intersection with Hillandale Road (SR 847), a local frontage road
along the east side of I-81, and Tasker Road (SR 642), which leads southeast to US 522 near Armel
. It immediately crosses I-81 at exit 310, a diamond interchange
with two traffic signals on SR 37, and then becomes a freeway, soon junctioning US 11 (Valley Pike
) with a partial cloverleaf. The next interchange is a diamond at Cedar Creek Grade (SR 622), and SR 37 reaches its approximate midpoint at US 50 (Northwestern Pike), another diamond. A trumpet interchange completed in 2001 connects to the Winchester Medical Center, and the final diamond is with US 522 (Frederick Pike) at the northwestern corner. SR 37 ends at a partial Y interchange with US 11 (Martinsburg Pike), at which SR 37 traffic can only access US 11 north and only traffic from US 11 south can access SR 37, although a northbound exit to Cives Lane was added in about 2000 to allow SR 37 traffic to access US 11 south. About 1/2 mile (1 km) of US 11 is a divided highway
, connecting SR 37 with I-81 at exit 317.
was not modified. The only change to the major bypass since it was constructed has been a new trumpet interchange serving the Winchester Medical Center; construction began in September 2000 and was completed in November 2001. A single ramp from SR 37 north to Cives Lane, allowing traffic at the north end of the bypass to access US 11 south, was built in about 2000.
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
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
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...
. It forms a western bypass of Winchester, connecting to Interstate 81 at both ends. Although the road is a freeway, neither I-81 connection is freeway standard; the south end (exit 310) is a 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 two traffic signals, while, at the north end, drivers must use a short piece of U.S. Route 11 to connect with I-81 at exit 317. In addition to local access, the highway connects to U.S. Route 50 and U.S. Route 522, two major highways that lead west and northwest into West Virginia
West Virginia
West Virginia is a state in the Appalachian and Southeastern regions of the United States, bordered by Virginia to the southeast, Kentucky to the southwest, Ohio to the northwest, Pennsylvania to the northeast and Maryland to the east...
and north to Interstate 70 at Hancock, Maryland
Hancock, Maryland
Hancock is a town in Washington County, Maryland, United States. The population was 1,725 at the 2000 census. The Western Maryland community is notable for being located at the narrowest part of the state...
. An eastern bypass, known locally as "Route 37 East", has been proposed in statewide and local plans to complete the loop.
Route description
Frontage road
A frontage road is a non-limited access road running parallel to a higher-speed road, usually a freeway, and feeding it at appropriate points of access...
along the east side of I-81, and Tasker Road (SR 642), which leads southeast to US 522 near Armel
Armel, Virginia
Armel is an unincorporated community in Frederick County, Virginia, USA. It lies east of Stephens City on Front Royal Pike . According to the Geographic Names Information System, Armel has also been known throughout its history as Bridgeport....
. It immediately crosses I-81 at exit 310, a 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 two traffic signals on SR 37, and then becomes a freeway, soon junctioning US 11 (Valley Pike
Valley Pike
Valley Pike or Valley Turnpike is the traditional name given for the Indian trail and roadway which now is designated as U.S. Highway 11 in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia....
) with a partial cloverleaf. The next interchange is a diamond at Cedar Creek Grade (SR 622), and SR 37 reaches its approximate midpoint at US 50 (Northwestern Pike), another diamond. A trumpet interchange completed in 2001 connects to the Winchester Medical Center, and the final diamond is with US 522 (Frederick Pike) at the northwestern corner. SR 37 ends at a partial Y interchange with US 11 (Martinsburg Pike), at which SR 37 traffic can only access US 11 north and only traffic from US 11 south can access SR 37, although a northbound exit to Cives Lane was added in about 2000 to allow SR 37 traffic to access US 11 south. About 1/2 mile (1 km) of US 11 is a divided highway
Divided Highway
Divided Highway is a compilation album by American rock band The Doobie Brothers, released in 2003. . All tracks are taken from the albums Cycles and Brotherhood .-Track listing:...
, connecting SR 37 with I-81 at exit 317.
History
Route 37 was defined as the proposed Winchester By-Pass by 1963, and was included in the statewide Arterial Network when it was created in 1964. When I-81 opened past Winchester in November 1965, it included an interchange south of Winchester, taking traffic between I-81 and US 11 along a short connecting road. The north half of the bypass, from US 50 west of Winchester north and east to US 11 north of the city, opened in the late 1960s, and the semicircle was completed in the late 1970s, with the linking of Route 37 to the existing I-81/US 11 connection. A new bridge carrying southbound SR 37 over I-81 was built, but otherwise the diamond interchangeDiamond 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...
was not modified. The only change to the major bypass since it was constructed has been a new trumpet interchange serving the Winchester Medical Center; construction began in September 2000 and was completed in November 2001. A single ramp from SR 37 north to Cives Lane, allowing traffic at the north end of the bypass to access US 11 south, was built in about 2000.
Exit list
The entire route is in unincorporated Frederick County.| Mile | Destinations | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 0.000 | At-grade intersection | |
| 0.041 | , Martinsburg Martinsburg, West Virginia Martinsburg is a city in the Eastern Panhandle region of West Virginia, United States. The city's population was 14,972 at the 2000 census; according to a 2009 Census Bureau estimate, Martinsburg's population was 17,117, making it the largest city in the Eastern Panhandle and the eighth largest... |
At-grade intersection |
| 0.132 | At-grade intersection | |
| 0.180- 0.547 |
||
| 2.859- 3.382 |
||
| 5.198- 5.737 |
, Romney Romney, West Virginia Romney is a city in and the county seat of Hampshire County, West Virginia, United States. The population was 1,940 at the 2000 census, while the area covered by the city's ZIP code had a population of 5,873. It is a city with a very historic background dating back to the 18th century... |
|
| 6.124- 6.529 |
Winchester Medical Center | |
| 6.871- 7.436 |
, Berkeley Springs | |
| 9.104 | Northbound exit only | |
| 9.104 | – Martinsburg Martinsburg, West Virginia Martinsburg is a city in the Eastern Panhandle region of West Virginia, United States. The city's population was 14,972 at the 2000 census; according to a 2009 Census Bureau estimate, Martinsburg's population was 17,117, making it the largest city in the Eastern Panhandle and the eighth largest... |
Northbound exit and southbound entrance |