Virginia State Route 316

Virginia State Route 316
Name	State Route 316
Type	State highway
State	Virginia
Length mi	9.49
Established	1933
Direction a	South
Terminus a	U.S. Route 13 in Tasley
Direction b	North
Terminus b	Virginia State Route 187 in Bloxom
Counties	Accomack County, Virginia

Virginia State Route 316 is a primary state highway on the Eastern Shore of Virginia, running between Tasley, Virginia and Bloxom, Virginia in Accomack County, Virginia. The route serves local communities, agricultural areas, and connects to regional corridors such as U.S. Route 13 in Virginia and Virginia State Route 187. It functions as a local connector for residential, commercial, and institutional sites including schools, churches, and county facilities.

Route description

SR 316 begins at an intersection with U.S. Route 13 in Virginia near Tasley, Virginia, a community within Accomack County, Virginia that is part of the Eastern Shore of Virginia. From its southern terminus the highway heads north through a landscape characterized by Delmarva Peninsula coastal plain farmland, passing near landmarks associated with Accomack County. The alignment proceeds toward Greenbush, Virginia and the adjacent built environment, intersecting a network of county routes that provide access to properties associated with local institutions such as Accomack County High School, regional health facilities, and faith communities typical of the Eastern Shore parish system.

Continuing north, the route enters the small community of Bloxom, Virginia, where it intersects Virginia State Route 187 in Bloxom and terminates within a compact town center. Along its course SR 316 traverses an area influenced by transportation patterns tied to Chesapeake Bay fisheries, Delmarva chicken industry operations, and the maritime heritage sites clustered along the Eastern Shore. Roadway characteristics are predominantly two-lane rural arterial, with occasional center turn lanes and shoulders near built-up stretches; the highway also crosses minor streams that drain toward the Chesapeake Bay estuarine system.

History

The roadway that became SR 316 developed from colonial and 19th-century rural roads linking Eastern Shore settlements such as Tasley, Virginia, Bloxom, Virginia, and nearby hamlets. In the early 20th century, state improvement programs mirrored broader transportation initiatives exemplified by projects like the Good Roads Movement and statewide efforts in Virginia Department of Transportation history. The 1933 statewide renumbering of highways formalized many primary routes; SR 316 was established in that era to provide a designated connector on the Eastern Shore, aligning with county priorities and the agricultural economy centered on enterprises similar to those found in Accomack County, Virginia.

Postwar improvements reflected federal and state investments in road surfacing, drainage, and alignment stabilization influenced by organizations and policies such as the Federal Aid Highway Act of 1956 and subsequent Virginia transportation legislation. Local iterations of SR 316 have included resurfacing campaigns, minor realignments to improve sight distance, and shoulder widening projects coordinated between Accomack County officials and the Virginia Department of Transportation. The route’s role adjusted as larger corridors like U.S. Route 13 in Virginia grew in regional importance, positioning SR 316 as a feeder for local traffic and an access route during seasonal tourism connected to destinations along the Delmarva Peninsula.

Major intersections

- Southern end: intersection with U.S. Route 13 in Virginia near Tasley, Virginia. - County route junctions providing access to Greenbush, Virginia and surrounding agricultural properties in Accomack County, Virginia. - Northern terminus: intersection with Virginia State Route 187 in Bloxom in Bloxom, Virginia.

These intersections link SR 316 to regional networks that include roadways serving to reach ferry terminals, maritime facilities, and market centers linked historically to ports such as Cape Charles, Virginia and communities along the Chesapeake Bay shoreline.

Traffic and usage

Traffic volumes on SR 316 are characteristic of rural primary highways on the Eastern Shore: moderate local commuting flows, periodic agricultural truck traffic, and seasonal increases related to tourism and recreational access to the bay. Peak usage correlates with agricultural harvest seasons and during events in nearby towns. Roadway function is largely local distribution—connecting residences, farms, and small businesses to arterial routes like U.S. Route 13 in Virginia—and supports school bus routes serving institutions in Accomack County.

Safety and maintenance records for SR 316 reflect typical concerns of two-lane rural highways: interactions with slow-moving agricultural equipment, limited shoulder space in some segments, and the need to manage stormwater runoff given the low-lying topography of the Delmarva Peninsula. Local planning bodies and the Virginia Department of Transportation monitor traffic counts and collision data to prioritize improvements.

Future developments and improvements

Planned or proposed initiatives affecting SR 316 focus on pavement rehabilitation, improved drainage, shoulder widening, and intersection upgrades to enhance safety and accommodate agricultural vehicles. These projects align with broader regional planning efforts involving entities such as Accomack County Board of Supervisors and state transportation programs overseen by the Virginia Department of Transportation. Considerations for future work also include resilience measures addressing sea level rise and increased storm frequency impacting the Chesapeake Bay watershed, with potential collaborations involving state environmental agencies and regional planning commissions.

Upgrades may be phased to minimize disruption to local traffic and coordinate with seasonal agricultural cycles; funding sources could include state transportation funds and federal grants similar to those used in other rural infrastructure projects across Virginia. Long-term planning may also evaluate multimodal access improvements that reflect trends in rural mobility observed on the Eastern Shore of Virginia.

Category:State highways in Virginia Category:Transportation in Accomack County, Virginia