U.S. Route 50 | ||||
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Route information | ||||
Maintained by WVDOH | ||||
Length: | 196.20 mi (315.75 km) | |||
Existed: | 1926 – present | |||
Western section | ||||
West end: | US 50 / SR 32 in Belpre, OH | |||
Major junctions: |
I‑77 in Parkersburg US 19 in Clarksburg I‑79 in Clarksburg US 250 near Grafton US 119 in Grafton |
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East end: | US 50 near Brookside | |||
Eastern section | ||||
West end: | US 50 in Gormania | |||
Major junctions: |
US 220 in New Creek | |||
East end: | US 50 towards Winchester, VA | |||
Highway system | ||||
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U.S. Route 50 (US 50) in West Virginia runs from the border with Ohio to Virginia, passing briefly through Garrett County, Maryland, and following the Northwestern Turnpike. Prior to the U.S. Highway System it was West Virginia Route 1 and in the 1930s, the road was not finished in Maryland. At that time, motorists had to open a gate at the state line and drive on a dirt path until again reaching the other state line. Today the section of US 50 from Clarksburg to Parkersburg on the Ohio River is part of Corridor D of the Appalachian Development Highway System.
For much of its length, Route 50 roughly parallels the North Bend Rail Trail and crosses the trail at three places.
US 50 crosses the Ohio River on a bridge, with Blennerhassett Island in the middle of the river. It continues as a freeway with two interchanges at Route 892, and runs concurrently with Route 68 starting at the second interchange up to where it exits and heads into downtown Parkersburg. US 50 stays on the southern shore of the Little Kanahwha River, intersecting Route 14 and then after crossing the river, Route 47 and Route 618 before becoming a divided expressway at the I-77 (WV) interchange. US 50 then briefly turns south before heading east through the forest. South of Deerwalk, the route runs concurrently with Route 31 for a few miles. In Ellenboro, US 50 has an interchange with Route 16, providing access into the town; an intersection with Route 74 does the same for Pennsboro, and several miles later, Route 18 for West Union. Route 23 intersects the highway west of East Salem and Bristol.