State Route 168 (Virginia)

State Route 168 (Virginia)
State	VA
Type	SR
Route	168
Direction	A=South
Terminus A	Norfolk Harbor
Direction	B=North
Terminus B	Chesapeake/Kempsville
Counties	City of Norfolk; City of Virginia Beach; City of Chesapeake

State Route 168 (Virginia) is a primary state highway serving the Hampton Roads region, connecting Norfolk, Virginia Beach, and Chesapeake with links to major facilities and corridors such as the Norfolk International Airport, the Hampton Roads Beltway, and the Virginia Beach Oceanfront. The corridor includes a mix of freeway, expressway, and surface arterial segments that carry commuter, freight, and tourist traffic between urban centers, military installations, and waterfront attractions like Naval Station Norfolk and the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel. SR 168 interfaces with interstate routes including I‑64, I‑264, and I‑464, forming part of the regional transportation network tied to the Port of Virginia and the Hampton Roads metropolitan area.

Route description

SR 168 begins in the southern portion of the region near the waterfront of Norfolk, providing access to Harbor Park, Wells Theatre, and the MacArthur Center. Traveling southeast, the route parallels rail corridors used by Norfolk Southern Railway and crosses urban districts that include Ghent and the Portsmouth area. The highway intersects with I‑264 near the Norfolk Naval Shipyard complex, enabling connections to Downtown Norfolk and the Tidewater Community College campuses.

Continuing into Virginia Beach, SR 168 adopts a freeway profile in parts, serving as a primary route to the Virginia Beach Convention Center and providing an arterial link to the Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center. The corridor crosses suburban neighborhoods and commercial zones adjacent to Lynnhaven Mall and Pembroke Mall, with interchange access to US 60 and local arterials leading toward the Virginia Beach Oceanfront tourism district. Northward, the highway turns inland toward Chesapeake, where it merges with or parallels the Hampton Roads Beltway and intersects I‑64 and I‑464, facilitating freight movements to the Port of Virginia terminals and military logistics to Naval Air Station Oceana.

The roadway includes sections designated for truck traffic connecting to industrial parks and intermodal facilities such as the Virginia Inland Port. Roadway geometry varies from four-lane divided expressways to limited-access freeways, with auxiliary lanes near major interchanges. Travel on SR 168 affords access to recreational resources like the Chesapeake Bay waterfront, conservation areas managed by The Nature Conservancy, and regional trails linked to the Elizabeth River Trail.

History

The SR 168 corridor traces its origins to early 20th-century auto trails and turnpikes that connected Virginia Beach resorts with Norfolk and inland markets. During the Great Depression, state investment in highways accelerated under initiatives contemporaneous with projects supported by the Civilian Conservation Corps and New Deal transportation programs, leading to initial paving and alignment improvements. Post-World War II suburban expansion in the Hampton Roads metropolitan area and the growth of installations like Naval Station Norfolk prompted successive upgrades in the 1950s and 1960s, coinciding with the development of the Interstate Highway System and the designation of connecting routes such as I‑64 and I‑264.

In the 1970s and 1980s, SR 168 underwent freeway conversion in select segments to accommodate increasing tourist traffic to the Virginia Beach Oceanfront and commercial freight bound for the Port of Virginia. Major interchange projects during this era were often coordinated with regional planning bodies including the Hampton Roads Planning District Commission. The late 20th and early 21st centuries saw further capacity expansions and safety improvements, influenced by federal funding programs administered through the Federal Highway Administration and regional transit initiatives involving the Hampton Roads Transit system.

Environmental review processes under statutes similar to the National Environmental Policy Act shaped alignments for new bypasses and interchange reconstructions, with public comment periods involving municipal governments of Norfolk, Virginia Beach, and Chesapeake. Historic preservation concerns prompted consultation with the Virginia Department of Historic Resources for projects near cultural sites and historic districts.

Major intersections

Major nodes along SR 168 include interchanges and junctions with: - I‑264, providing access to Downtown Norfolk and the Norfolk International Airport. - US 60, linking to the Virginia Beach Oceanfront and coastal resort districts. - I‑64, forming part of the Hampton Roads Beltway loop. - I‑464, connecting toward Portsmouth and Elizabeth River crossings. - Regional arterials serving Lynnhaven Mall, Chesapeake Square Mall, and industrial corridors near the Norfolk Naval Shipyard. These intersections support multimodal transfers to rail facilities operated by CSX Transportation and Norfolk Southern Railway as well as access to seaport terminals managed by the Virginia Port Authority.

Related routes

The SR 168 corridor is linked to a network of state and federal routes, including US 60 and US 13, as well as adjacent state routes that provide alternate access to coastal and inland destinations. Interactions with interstate highways such as I‑64, I‑264, and I‑464 create route redundancies used during seasonal tourist peaks and hurricane evacuations coordinated with agencies like the Virginia Department of Emergency Management. Local arterial roads in Virginia Beach and Chesapeake serve as business route alternatives during construction or incident detours, with neighborhood connectors passing near landmarks like First Landing State Park and the Cape Henry Lighthouse.

Future developments and improvements

Planned improvements for the SR 168 corridor focus on capacity enhancements, interchange reconstructions, and multimodal integration to address congestion associated with tourism, port operations, and military logistics. Projects under study involve coordination among the Virginia Department of Transportation, regional planning commissions, and federal partners including potential funding through programs overseen by the United States Department of Transportation. Anticipated work emphasizes traffic flow optimization near the Hampton Roads Beltway, resilience upgrades to address coastal flooding influenced by sea level rise and climate change, and transit-oriented elements to better connect to Hampton Roads Transit services. Public outreach and environmental permitting processes will involve stakeholders such as municipal governments, the Norfolk Southern Railway, and conservation organizations to balance mobility objectives with cultural and ecological stewardship.

Category:State highways in Virginia Category:Transportation in Norfolk, Virginia Category:Transportation in Virginia Beach, Virginia Category:Transportation in Chesapeake, Virginia