Virginia State Route 57
Encyclopedia
Virginia State Route 57Virginia State Route 57 (SR 57]] is a primary state highway
in the U.S. state of Virginia
. The state highway runs 88.7 miles (142.7 km) from SR 8
near Woolwine
east to SR 360
near Halifax
. SR 57 connects the independent city
of Martinsville
with Chatham
and Halifax
, the county seat
s of Pittsylvania
and Halifax counties, respectively. The state highway also connects the city to Fairy Stone State Park
.
and north toward Woolwine. SR 57 heads northeast through a mountainous area of Patrick County
just east of the Blue Ridge Mountains
as Fairystone Park Highway. The state highway curves southeast at its junction with SR 346 (Fairystone Lake Drive), which is the main entrance to Fairy Stone State Park. SR 57 passes through the park property before entering Henry County
. The state highway begins to parallel the Smith River
shortly before meeting the western end of SR 57 Alternate (Riverside Drive), where the mainline highway crosses to the north side of the river and parallels Norfolk Southern Railway
's Winston-Salem District through the community of Bassett
, within which the highway has a tight S-curve to cross to the north side of the tracks.
SR 57 veers away from the railroad and expands to a four-lane divided highway through Stanleytown
to a cloverleaf interchange
with U.S. Route 220 (US 220) (William F. Stone Highway). The roadway continues east as US 220 Business (Virginia Avenue). SR 57 joins US 220 south for a short concurrency
before splitting from US 220 at a partial interchange that only allows access to SR 57's new road, two-lane Appalachian Drive, from the north. SR 57 parallels the Smith River and the rail line again past Fieldale
, where the highway crosses to the south side of the track. Just after passing the WHEE
radio tower, the state highway enters the city of Martinsville, its name changes to Fayette Street, and the road curves northeast under the railroad track toward downtown. SR 57 heads toward a five-way intersection where the highway intersects US 220 Business (Memorial Boulevard) and SR 457
, which follows two-way Church Street eastbound and two-way Fayette Street westbound through the area west of downtown Martinsville.
SR 57 turns south onto US 220 Business, a five-lane road with center turn lane that passes under the rail line again. At Starling Avenue, US 220 Business continues south along Memorial Drive with US 58 Business while US 58
's business route
joins SR 57 on two-lane Starling Avenue. SR 57 and US 58 Business pass the Virginia Museum of Natural History
before turning east onto Church Street, which veers northeast, expands to a four-lane road, and crosses . At Chatham Heights Road, the two highways head east as a four-lane divided highway whose name changes to A.L. Philpott Highway when it leaves the city of Martinsville. A short distance east of the city limits, SR 57 turns northeast onto Chatham Road, which intersects the eastern end of SR 457 (Old Chaham Road), crosses several forks of Leatherwood Creek, and passes to the south of Turkeycock Mountain
.
SR 57 becomes Callands Road on entering Pittsylvania County. The state highway meets the northern end of SR 41
(Franklin Turnpike) at Callands
south of Brier Mountain. SR 57 crosses the Banister River
and passes through the hamlets of Rondo
and Hollywood
on its way to the Pittsylvania County seat of Chatham. The state highway enters the town by crossing Cherrystone Creek and becomes Depot Street, which passes under Norfolk Southern's Durham District rail line. Near the Pittsylvania County Courthouse
, SR 57 joins US 29 Business on a short concurrency along Main Street. The state highway leaves the town on Halifax Road, which passes to the south of Chatham Hall
and has a diamond interchange
with US 29. SR 57 crosses the Banister River again and passes along the northern edge of White Oak Mountain
. The state highway passes through the hamlets of Shockoe
, Lucks
, Ebenezer
, and Peytonsburg
before entering Halifax County, where the highway becomes Chatham Road. SR 57 curves south and crosses Sandy Creek just west of its mouth at the Banister River before reaching its eastern terminus at SR 360 (Mountain Road) west of Halifax.
!County
!Location
!Mile
!Destinations
!Notes
|-
|rowspan=2|Patrick County
|
|0.00
|
|Western terminus
|-
|
|7.88
|
|
|-
|rowspan=3|Henry
|Bassett
|16.72
|SR 57 Alt. east (Riverside Drive)
|
|-
|rowspan=2|Stanleytown
|20.56
|
|Cloverleaf interchange; west end of concurrency with US 220
|-
|21.33
|
|Southbound exit from and northbound entrance to US 220; east end of concurrency with US 220
|-
|rowspan=2 colspan=2|City of Martinsville
|26.69
|
|West end of concurrency with US 220 Business
|-
|27.79
|
|East end of concurrency with US 220 Business; west end of concurrency with US 58 Business
|-
|rowspan=2|Henry
|
|30.87
|
|East end of concurrency with US 58 Business
|-
|
|
|
|
|-
|rowspan=4|Pittsylvania
|Callands
|48.62
|
|
|-
|rowspan=3|Chatham
|60.39
|
|West end of concurrency with US 29 Business
|-
|60.58
|
|East end of concurrency with US 29 Business
|-
|61.47
|
|Diamond interchange
|-
|Halifax
|
|88.70
|
|Eastern 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 88.7 miles (142.7 km) from SR 8
Virginia State Route 8
Virginia State Route 8 is a primary state highway in the U.S. state of Virginia. The state highway runs from the North Carolina state line near Palmetto, where the highway continues south as North Carolina Highway 8 , north to U.S. Route 11 in Christiansburg...
near Woolwine
Woolwine, Virginia
Woolwine is an unincorporated community in northern Patrick County, Virginia, United States. The western terminus of State Route 40 is here, at State Route 8. The community lies in the Rocky Knob American Viticultural Area...
east to SR 360
Virginia State Route 360
State Route 360 is a primary state highway in the U.S. state of Virginia. It is the old alignment of U.S. Route 360 between Danville and a point near Scottsburg, running via Halifax....
near Halifax
Halifax, Virginia
Halifax is a town in Halifax County, Virginia, United States, along the Banister River. The population was 1,389 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Halifax County.-Geography:Halifax is located at ....
. SR 57 connects 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 Martinsville
Martinsville, Virginia
Martinsville is an independent city which is surrounded by Henry County, Virginia, United States. The population was 13,821 in 2010. The Bureau of Economic Analysis combines the city of Martinsville with Henry County for statistical purposes...
with Chatham
Chatham, Virginia
Chatham is a town in Pittsylvania County, Virginia, United States. Chatham's population was 1,338 at the 2000 census. It is included in the Danville, Virginia Metropolitan Statistical Area. Chatham is home to Chatham High School and Hargrave Military Academy. It is also home to Chatham Hall , an...
and Halifax
Halifax, Virginia
Halifax is a town in Halifax County, Virginia, United States, along the Banister River. The population was 1,389 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Halifax County.-Geography:Halifax is located at ....
, 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....
s of Pittsylvania
Pittsylvania County, Virginia
As of the census of 2000, there were 61,745 people, 24,684 households, and 18,216 families residing in the county. The population density was 64 people per square mile . There were 28,011 housing units at an average density of 29 per square mile...
and Halifax counties, respectively. The state highway also connects the city to Fairy Stone State Park
Fairy Stone State Park
Fairy Stone State Park, located in Patrick County, Virginia, is the largest of the original six state parks that opened on June 15, 1936, and is home to the mysterious "fairy stones", or Staurolite. The park's cross-shaped, namesake stone is prevalent in the region, which also features beautiful...
.
Route description
SR 57 begins at an intersection with SR 8 (Woolwine Highway), which heads south toward the Patrick County seat of StuartStuart, Virginia
Stuart is a town in Patrick County, Virginia, United States, and its county seat. The population was 961 at the 2000 census. Due to recent boundary expansion, the town of Stuart has an estimated population of nearly 1,700 residents. The town of Stuart was named after Confederate Gen. J.E.B...
and north toward Woolwine. SR 57 heads northeast through a mountainous area of Patrick County
Patrick County, Virginia
Patrick County is a county located in the Commonwealth of Virginia. As of 2010, the population was 18,490. Its county seat is Stuart. It is located within both the rolling hills and valleys of the Piedmont Region of Virginia and mountainous Southwest Virginia....
just east of the Blue Ridge Mountains
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...
as Fairystone Park Highway. The state highway curves southeast at its junction with SR 346 (Fairystone Lake Drive), which is the main entrance to Fairy Stone State Park. SR 57 passes through the park property before entering Henry County
Henry County, Virginia
As of the census of 2000, there were 57,930 people, 23,910 households, and 16,952 families residing in the county. The population density was 152 people per square mile . There were 25,921 housing units at an average density of 68 per square mile...
. The state highway begins to parallel the Smith River
Smith River (Virginia)
The Smith River is a river in the U.S. states of Virginia and North Carolina. It is a tributary of the Dan River, which it joins at Eden, North Carolina...
shortly before meeting the western end of SR 57 Alternate (Riverside Drive), where the mainline highway crosses to the north side of the river and parallels 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 Winston-Salem District through the community of Bassett
Bassett, Virginia
Bassett is a census-designated place in Henry County, Virginia, United States. The population was 1,338 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Martinsville Micropolitan Statistical Area. The town was founded along a rail line by the same family that later started Bassett Furniture. Bassett...
, within which the highway has a tight S-curve to cross to the north side of the tracks.
SR 57 veers away from the railroad and expands to a four-lane divided highway through Stanleytown
Stanleytown, Virginia
Stanleytown is a census-designated place in Henry County, Virginia, United States. The population was 1,515 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Martinsville Micropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:Stanleytown is located at ....
to 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...
with U.S. Route 220 (US 220) (William F. Stone Highway). The roadway continues east as US 220 Business (Virginia Avenue). SR 57 joins US 220 south for a short concurrency
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...
before splitting from US 220 at a partial interchange that only allows access to SR 57's new road, two-lane Appalachian Drive, from the north. SR 57 parallels the Smith River and the rail line again past Fieldale
Fieldale, Virginia
Fieldale is a census-designated place in Henry County, Virginia, United States. The population was 929 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Martinsville Micropolitan Statistical Area.-History:...
, where the highway crosses to the south side of the track. Just after passing the WHEE
WHEE
WHEE is a Full Service formatted broadcast radio station licensed to Martinsville, Virginia, serving Martinsville and Henry County, Virginia. WHEE is owned and operated by Martinsville Media, Inc....
radio tower, the state highway enters the city of Martinsville, its name changes to Fayette Street, and the road curves northeast under the railroad track toward downtown. SR 57 heads toward a five-way intersection where the highway intersects US 220 Business (Memorial Boulevard) and SR 457
Virginia State Route 457
State Route 457 is a primary state highway in and near Martinsville, Virginia, United States. It is an old alignment of State Route 57, running east from the five-way intersection of SR 57 and U.S. Route 220 Business through downtown and back to SR 57....
, which follows two-way Church Street eastbound and two-way Fayette Street westbound through the area west of downtown Martinsville.
SR 57 turns south onto US 220 Business, a five-lane road with center turn lane that passes under the rail line again. At Starling Avenue, US 220 Business continues south along Memorial Drive with US 58 Business while US 58
U.S. Route 58
U.S. Route 58 is an east–west U.S. Highway that runs for from U.S. Route 25E just northwest of Harrogate, Tennessee to U.S. Route 60 in Virginia Beach, Virginia. Until 1996, when the Cumberland Gap Tunnel opened, US 58 ran only inside the commonwealth of Virginia...
's business route
Business route
A business route in the United States and Canada is a short special route connected to a parent numbered highway at its beginning, then routed through the central business district of a nearby city or town, and finally reconnecting with the same parent numbered highway again at its...
joins SR 57 on two-lane Starling Avenue. SR 57 and US 58 Business pass the Virginia Museum of Natural History
Virginia Museum of Natural History
Virginia Museum of Natural History is the state's natural history museum located in Martinsville founded in 1984. The museums has several different award winning publications is affiliated with the Smithsonian Institution, and has more than 22 million items...
before turning east onto Church Street, which veers northeast, expands to a four-lane road, and crosses . At Chatham Heights Road, the two highways head east as a four-lane divided highway whose name changes to A.L. Philpott Highway when it leaves the city of Martinsville. A short distance east of the city limits, SR 57 turns northeast onto Chatham Road, which intersects the eastern end of SR 457 (Old Chaham Road), crosses several forks of Leatherwood Creek, and passes to the south of Turkeycock Mountain
Turkeycock Mountain
Turkeycock Mountain is a mountain summit located in Franklin County, Virginia and Henry County, Virginia. Rising out of the eastern foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, Turkeycock Mountain rises to 1,657 feet above sea level and is located at latitude - longitude coordinates of N 36.829028 and...
.
SR 57 becomes Callands Road on entering Pittsylvania County. The state highway meets the northern end of SR 41
Virginia State Route 41
Virginia State Route 41 is a primary state highway in the U.S. state of Virginia. Known as Franklin Turnpike, the state highway runs from SR 293 in Danville north to SR 57 in Callands.-Route description:...
(Franklin Turnpike) at Callands
Callands, Virginia
Callands is an unincorporated community in Pittsylvania County, in the U.S. state of Virginia.-Reference:...
south of Brier Mountain. SR 57 crosses the Banister River
Banister River
The Banister River is a tributary of the Dan River, about 65 mi long, in southern Virginia in the United States. Via the Dan, it is part of the watershed of the Roanoke River, which flows to the Atlantic Ocean. It rises on Brier Mountain in western Pittsylvania County and flows generally...
and passes through the hamlets of Rondo
Rondo, Virginia
Rondo is an unincorporated community in Pittsylvania County, in the U.S. state of Virginia.-Reference:...
and Hollywood
Hollywood, Virginia
Hollywood is an unincorporated community in Appomattox County, Virginia, United States.-References:*...
on its way to the Pittsylvania County seat of Chatham. The state highway enters the town by crossing Cherrystone Creek and becomes Depot Street, which passes under Norfolk Southern's Durham District rail line. Near the Pittsylvania County Courthouse
Pittsylvania County Courthouse
Pittsylvania County Courthouse is a building in Chatham, Virginia, USA. It is located on the east side of US Business Route 29.In 1878, Judge J.D. Coles was arrested for excluding black citizens from serving as jurors....
, SR 57 joins US 29 Business on a short concurrency along Main Street. The state highway leaves the town on Halifax Road, which passes to the south of Chatham Hall
Chatham Hall
Chatham Hall is an all-girls college-preparatory boarding school located in Chatham, Virginia, United States. Graduating classes are fewer than forty students each year. The school was founded as Chatham Episcopal Institute in 1894, Chatham Hall. The athletics teams play in the Blue Ridge Conference...
and has 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 US 29. SR 57 crosses the Banister River again and passes along the northern edge of White Oak Mountain
White Oak Mountain Wildlife Management Area
White Oak Mountain Wildlife Management Area is a protected area located in Pittsylvania County, Virginia. More a plateau than a mountain, the area's topography contains elevations ranging from around 550 to about above sea level. in size, the property is nearly two-thirds forest, with timber...
. The state highway passes through the hamlets of Shockoe
Shockoe, Virginia
Shockoe is an unincorporated community in Pittsylvania County, in the U.S. state of Virginia.-Reference:...
, Lucks
Lucks, Virginia
Lucks is an unincorporated community in Pittsylvania County, in the U.S. state of Virginia.-Reference:...
, Ebenezer
Ebenezer, Virginia
Ebenezer is an unincorporated community in Pittsylvania County, in the U.S. state of Virginia.-Reference:...
, and Peytonsburg
Peytonsburg, Virginia
Peytonsburg is an unincorporated community in Pittsylvania County, in the U.S. state of Virginia.-Reference:...
before entering Halifax County, where the highway becomes Chatham Road. SR 57 curves south and crosses Sandy Creek just west of its mouth at the Banister River before reaching its eastern terminus at SR 360 (Mountain Road) west of Halifax.
Major intersections
{|class=wikitable!County
!Location
!Mile
!Destinations
!Notes
|-
|rowspan=2|Patrick County
Patrick County, Virginia
Patrick County is a county located in the Commonwealth of Virginia. As of 2010, the population was 18,490. Its county seat is Stuart. It is located within both the rolling hills and valleys of the Piedmont Region of Virginia and mountainous Southwest Virginia....
|
|0.00
|
|Western terminus
|-
|
|7.88
|
|
|-
|rowspan=3|Henry
Henry County, Virginia
As of the census of 2000, there were 57,930 people, 23,910 households, and 16,952 families residing in the county. The population density was 152 people per square mile . There were 25,921 housing units at an average density of 68 per square mile...
|Bassett
Bassett, Virginia
Bassett is a census-designated place in Henry County, Virginia, United States. The population was 1,338 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Martinsville Micropolitan Statistical Area. The town was founded along a rail line by the same family that later started Bassett Furniture. Bassett...
|16.72
|SR 57 Alt. east (Riverside Drive)
|
|-
|rowspan=2|Stanleytown
Stanleytown, Virginia
Stanleytown is a census-designated place in Henry County, Virginia, United States. The population was 1,515 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Martinsville Micropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:Stanleytown is located at ....
|20.56
|
|Cloverleaf interchange; west end of concurrency with US 220
|-
|21.33
|
|Southbound exit from and northbound entrance to US 220; east end of concurrency with US 220
|-
|rowspan=2 colspan=2|City of Martinsville
Martinsville, Virginia
Martinsville is an independent city which is surrounded by Henry County, Virginia, United States. The population was 13,821 in 2010. The Bureau of Economic Analysis combines the city of Martinsville with Henry County for statistical purposes...
|26.69
|
|West end of concurrency with US 220 Business
|-
|27.79
|
|East end of concurrency with US 220 Business; west end of concurrency with US 58 Business
|-
|rowspan=2|Henry
Henry County, Virginia
As of the census of 2000, there were 57,930 people, 23,910 households, and 16,952 families residing in the county. The population density was 152 people per square mile . There were 25,921 housing units at an average density of 68 per square mile...
|
|30.87
|
|East end of concurrency with US 58 Business
|-
|
|
|
|
|-
|rowspan=4|Pittsylvania
Pittsylvania County, Virginia
As of the census of 2000, there were 61,745 people, 24,684 households, and 18,216 families residing in the county. The population density was 64 people per square mile . There were 28,011 housing units at an average density of 29 per square mile...
|Callands
Callands, Virginia
Callands is an unincorporated community in Pittsylvania County, in the U.S. state of Virginia.-Reference:...
|48.62
|
|
|-
|rowspan=3|Chatham
Chatham, Virginia
Chatham is a town in Pittsylvania County, Virginia, United States. Chatham's population was 1,338 at the 2000 census. It is included in the Danville, Virginia Metropolitan Statistical Area. Chatham is home to Chatham High School and Hargrave Military Academy. It is also home to Chatham Hall , an...
|60.39
|
|West end of concurrency with US 29 Business
|-
|60.58
|
|East end of concurrency with US 29 Business
|-
|61.47
|
|Diamond interchange
|-
|Halifax
|
|88.70
|
|Eastern terminus