US Route 50

U.S. Route 50 is an east-west U.S. highway. As indicated by the trailing "0" in its route number, US 50 is a main coast-to-coast route, or at least nearly so. Signs at both termini (Ocean City, Maryland and West Sacramento, California) give the total distance as 3,073 miles, though that mileage is based on an older measurement and has likely changed due to bypasses, Interstate highway co-signings, and other realignments.

Begin/End

US 50's western terminus is in West Sacramento, California at an interchange with Interstate 80. Its eastern terminus is in Ocean City, Maryland at the southern end of a barrier island, at the intersection of North Division Street (eastbound US 50) and Baltimore Avenue (Maryland Route 378, signed as northbound Maryland Route 528). Westbound US 50 begins one block west, at Philadelphia Avenue (southbound MD 528).

The West Sacramento terminus once had a sign saying "US 50 East / Ocean City, MD / 3073 Miles". It was stolen by a fraternity sometime during 2002, and was replaced with a more ordinary mileage sign. When installed, the replacement erroneously listed the distance as 3,037 miles, but it was subsequently patched over with the correct mileage. There is a similar sign at the eastern terminus that indicates the distance to Sacramento, CA (again 3,073 miles).

US 50 once extended all the way to San Francisco, by going south through Stockton and then west to the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge. This part was decommissioned in favor of Interstate 580 and Interstate 80 in 1972.

States Crossed

Maryland

There are two sections of US 50 in Maryland. The first, from east to west, follows Ocean Gateway, then part of a blue star memorial highway, then the John Hanson Highway as unsigned Interstate 595 from the Capital Beltway. It serves as a major highway connecting Ocean City, Salisbury, Cambridge, Easton, Annapolis, Bowie, Cheverly and Washington, D.C.. The second section cuts through the corner of Garrett County for less than 10 miles.

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District of Columbia

Main article: U.S. Route 50 in the District of Columbia

In the District of Columbia, US 50 mostly follows New York Avenue and Constitution Avenue sharing part of its routing with U.S. Route 1. The route leaves the district via the Theodore Roosevelt Bridge over the Potomac River, entering Arlington County, Virginia along with Interstate 66. Aside from the Roosevelt Bridge, U.S. 50 has another water crossing in the district, the Baltimore-Washington Parkway Bridge over the Anacostia River.

Virginia

Main article: U.S. Route 50 in Virginia

U.S. 50 enters Virginia in Arlington County as Arlington Boulevard, passing near the Arlington National Cemetery. It goes through Fairfax along Fairfax Boulevard and west of the city it is known as Lee Jackson Memorial Highway. Beyond Fairfax County, US 50 becomes known as John Mosby Highway. Between Paris and Winchester, it is concurrent with U.S. Route 17 and beginning in Winchester, it becomes the Northwestern Turnpike before entering West Virginia.

West Virginia

Main article: U.S. Route 50 in West Virginia

In West Virginia, US 50 is routed along the Northwestern Turnpike and Corridor D of the Appalachian Development Highway System. Its journey through the state is interrupted by its passing briefly through Garrett County, Maryland. The part of the highway east of Clarksburg is a mountainous rural highway, but the section between I-79 at Clarksburg and I-77 at Parkersburg is a four-lane superhighway known as Corridor D. The remaining link in Corridor D, from I-77 to the Ohio River, is currently under construction.

Ohio

Main article: U.S. Route 50 in Ohio

Corridor D continues through Ohio to Cincinnati. In Chillicothe, US 50 becomes Western Ave, and then Main St., before merging with US 23/US 35 east of the City. Ohio SR 104 also follows along US 50 through downtown Chillicothe. In Milford, US 50 becomes known as Wooster Pike and crosses the Little Miami River via the Wooster Pike Bridge. It then becomes Columbia Parkway in Fairfax up to Cincinnati, and in Cincinnati it is routed along Historic Columbia Parkway (trucks banned), and Sixth Street Expressway. West of Cincinnati, it becomes known as River Road. Route 50 follows the Ohio river until entering the villages of Cleves and North Bend, where a monument to President William Henry Harrison stands on the eastbound side of the road. The highway runs through the extreme western suburbs of Cincinnati until and crossing into Indiana and entering Lawrenceburg. Where it crosses interstate 275 and leaves the greater Cincinnati area.

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Indiana

US 50 intersects with I-65 in Seymour, Indiana. It goes through the towns of Vincennes, Washington, Montgomery, Bedford, Brownstown, Seymour, North Vernon, Versailles, Aurora, and Lawrenceburg in Indiana.

Illinois

Main article: U.S. Route 50 in Illinois

In the state of Illinois, U.S. 50 runs east from the Jefferson Barracks Bridge over the Mississippi River to the Red Skelton Memorial Bridge over the Wabash River. After leaving the St. Louis metropolitan area, it forms the main east-west artery between Interstate 64 and Interstate 70.

U.S. 50 overlaps with I-64 from O'Fallon to East St. Louis and with Interstate 255 from East St. Louis into Missouri.

Missouri

Main article: U.S. Route 50 in Missouri

US 50 enters Missouri from Kansas along Interstate 435 around Kansas City and then it runs concurrently with Interstate 470 to Lee's Summit. It then heads to Jefferson City, where it is merged with U.S. Route 63 between downtown and the eastern end of the city. At Union, US 50 is routed along Interstate 44 up to Sunset Hills, then it heads east and merges with U.S. Route 61 and U.S. Route 67. These three concurrent U.S. routes stay this way until after the interchange with Interstate 55, then 61 and 67 split off, leaving 50 to merge with Interstate 255 to cross the Mississippi River via the Jefferson Barracks Bridge in St. Louis.

Kansas

Main article: U.S. Route 50 in Kansas

US 50 runs through southwestern, central, and northeastern Kansas. US 50 is concurrent with U.S. Route 400 from the state border to Dodge City. It then passes through Hutchinson and Newton. This route then heads to Interstate 35 to meet up at Emporia, then it follows Interstate 35 to Lenexa. While at Kansas City, it is close to Interstate 435, then heads out of the state, entering Missouri.

Colorado

Main article: U.S. Route 50 in Colorado

In Colorado, US 50 is carried through the Rocky Mountains, passing over the Continental divide at Monarch Pass. Monarch Pass is the point where the US 50 reaches its highest elevation, at 11,312 feet. It then follows a path cut by the Arkansas River to the Kansas border. From Granada eastward into Kansas, US 50 is concurrent with U.S. Route 400.

Utah

Main article: U.S. Route 50 in Utah

Much of US 50 in Utah is concurrent with Interstate 70. The 2 largest cities served by US 50 in Utah are Salina and Delta. Similar to the Nevada portion, Utah's section of US 50 features long distances with no services available including Thompson Springs to Fruita, Colorado for about 60 miles, Green River to Salina for about 110 miles, and Delta to a single gas station on the Utah/Nevada State Line, for about 150 miles.

Nevada

Main article: U.S. Route 50 in Nevada

In Nevada, US 50 is known as the "Loneliest Road in America" a name it earned due to its long stretches with little or no services. It is routed along the old Lincoln Highway and the path of the Pony Express. It passes through the towns of Stateline, Carson City, Moundhouse Dayton, Stagecoach, Silver Springs, Fallon, Austin, Eureka, and Ely. It runs concurrently with U.S. Route 6 at Ely, and enters Utah 150 miles east of Ely. The only services directly on U.S. 50 between Ely and Delta, UT is the Desert Inn at the state border, about equidistant between Ely and Delta.

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California

Main article: U.S. Route 50 in California

In California, US 50 begins at junction Interstate 80 in West Sacramento. It is then routed along Business Loop Interstate 80 to near the junction of California State Route 99 in Sacramento, where it leaves Business Loop I-80 for its own alignment. US 50 passes through Placerville on its way to South Lake Tahoe where it exits California into Nevada.

Notes

US 50 serves both Jefferson City, Missouri, and Carson City, Nevada, two of only five state capitals that are not served by an Interstate highway. This will change once Interstate 580 between Reno and Carson City is completed.

In Nevada, US 50 is known as "The Loneliest Road in America" (see Nevada section).

Alternate Routes

U.S. Route 50 Alternate in Nevada has an eastern terminus west of Fallon. It heads to the northwest to an intersection with Interstate 80 in Fernley, then turns due south with Alternate US 95. It rejoins US 50 in Silver Springs, with Alt US 95 continuing south. The two legs of Alt US 50 and the main line route form a 30 mile (48 km) triangle in the Nevada desert.

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Major Cities

Sacramento, California
Carson City, Nevada
Ely, Nevada
Grand Junction, Colorado
Gunnison, Colorado
Pueblo, Colorado
Hutchinson, Kansas
Emporia, Kansas
Kansas City, Missouri
Jefferson City, Missouri
St. Louis, Missouri
Vincennes, Indiana
Cincinnati, Ohio
Parkersburg, West Virginia
Clarksburg, West Virginia
Winchester, Virginia
Chantilly, Virginia
Fairfax, Virginia
Arlington, Virginia
Washington, D.C.
Bowie, Maryland
Annapolis, Maryland
Salisbury, Maryland
Ocean City, Maryland
Length: 3073 miles
Formed: 1926

Major Junctions

East end: MD 528 in Ocean City, MD
US 13 at Salisbury, MD
I-66 at Arlington, VA
I-81 at Winchester, VA
I-71/I-75 at Cincinnati, OH
I-55 at St. Louis, MO
US 54 at Jefferson City, MO
I-35 near Emporia, KS
I-25 at Pueblo, CO
I-15 at Holden, UT
US 395 at Carson City, NV
West end: I-80 in West Sacramento, CA

References

US Highways from US 1 to US 830 Robert V. Droz
Reference: "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/U.S._Route_50"

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