U.S. Route 60 in West Virginia

U.S. Route 60 in West Virginia is the segment of U.S. Route 60 that traverses the state from the Ohio River at the Ohio River Bridge near Huntington eastward across the Allegheny Plateau and the Appalachian Mountains to the Virginia state line near White Sulphur Springs. The corridor connects urban centers such as Huntington and Charleston with resort and historic sites including New River Gorge, Gauley River, and The Greenbrier. It serves as a principal arterial route linked to the Interstate system and historic auto trails like the National Road and the Lone Star Route.

Route description

U.S. Route 60 enters West Virginia from Kentucky across the Ohio River near Catlettsburg and immediately serves the Huntington metropolitan area, intersecting Interstate 64, I‑64 and U.S. 52 while passing landmarks such as the Marshall University campus and the Huntington Arena. Continuing east, the highway parallels the Kanawha River into Charleston, where it interfaces with I‑77, WV 61, and the Kanawha Boulevard. East of Charleston U.S. 60 climbs the Allegheny Front and traces historic corridors through Fayette County providing access to New River Gorge and Gauley River via connectors to WV 16 and U.S. 19. The route proceeds southeast through Raleigh County and Beckley, linking to I‑64/I‑77 at the Economy, and continues past Mercer County towns like Bluefield toward The Greenbrier resort near White Sulphur Springs and the Virginia state line where travelers access I‑77 (Virginia) and U.S. 219 corridors.

History

U.S. Route 60's corridor in West Virginia follows older 19th- and early-20th-century routes such as the James River and Kanawha Turnpike and alignments related to the National Road project. The designation of U.S. 60 emerged from the 1926 United States Numbered Highway System plan that assigned even-numbered transcontinental routes like U.S. Route 60 to replace named auto trails used by travelers who frequented places like Huntington and Charleston. During the mid-20th century, sections of U.S. 60 were realigned to bypass urban cores and to interface with construction of the Interstate Highway System, notably I‑64 and I‑77, reflecting broader federal initiatives such as the Federal-Aid Highway Act of 1956. Bridges and river crossings were modernized in coordination with agencies like the West Virginia Department of Transportation and influenced by engineering firms involved with projects near New River Gorge Bridge and regional coal transport corridors connected to Norfolk Southern Railway. Preservation efforts in later decades engaged organizations including National Park Service and local historical societies to interpret sites associated with the Coal Wars and Appalachian industrial heritage along the route.

Major intersections

Key intersections along the highway include the confluence with U.S. 52 and I‑64 near Huntington, the junctions with I‑77 and U.S. 119 in the Charleston area, the crossings providing access to U.S. 19 and WV 16 serving New River Gorge and Gauley River recreation zones, and the eastern interchanges with I‑64, I‑77 and U.S. 219 approaching the Virginia state line near White Sulphur Springs and The Greenbrier.

Business routes and special designations

Several municipal bypasses and business loops preserve historic U.S. 60 alignments through communities such as Huntington, Charleston, and Beckley, where local signage designates older corridors as Business U.S. 60 or as state-maintained connectors. Special designations reflect partnerships with preservation entities; for example, scenic byway status and interpretive signage coordinate with the National Park Service and state tourism offices to highlight sites like New River Gorge Bridge and heritage locations associated with the Appalachian Regional Commission. Historic markers along the corridor commemorate events tied to the Coal Wars and to transportation pioneers like Burr Rieser and institutions such as Marshall University.

Future developments and improvements

Planned improvements include pavement rehabilitation, bridge replacement, and safety upgrades administered by the West Virginia Division of Highways with funding mechanisms connected to federal programs such as the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. Proposed projects emphasize multimodal access to destinations including New River Gorge and The Greenbrier, coordination with Amtrak corridor planning where applicable, and intersection modernization near growth centers like Huntington and Charleston. Regional economic development initiatives by organizations like the Appalachian Regional Commission and partnerships with county governments in Kanawha County and Fayette County aim to balance freight mobility connected to Norfolk Southern Railway and tourism access for attractions such as Outdoor Recreation venues and historic districts listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Category:U.S. Highways in West Virginia