US 220 enters Virginia just north of the community of Price, North Carolina. From the state line to Roanoke, US 220 is a four-lane mix of freeway bypasses and 55 miles per hour (89 km/h)[citation needed] at-grade rural highway. Some high traffic areas and non-divided stretches have speed limits of 45 miles per hour (72 km/h) or lower. In particular, the stretch through Boones Mill is not divided; the town is also well known as a speed trap.[2] This segment follows the same general alignment as the Norfolk Southern Railway's Winston-Salem District, opened in 1892 by the Roanoke and Southern Railway.[3]
US 220 is a two-lane road for the rest of its route from Covington to West Virginia, as it travels through a series of valleys in the Ridge-and-Valley Appalachians. It begins by following more of the Jackson River to near Clearwater Park, but then crosses a ridge into a different valley. This is repeated several times until Forks of Waters, where the South Branch Potomac River enters US 220's valley and parallels its final 1 mile (1.6 km) to the state line.
History
Part of the Great Wagon Road branched off near what is present day Roanoke, Virginia, and U.S. Route 220 in Virginia now follows part of this section of the Carolina Road. "The route was improved as a stage road in the early years of the republic. In 1838 it was rebuilt to serve the Pittsylvania, Franklin and Botetourt Turnpike,[5] which served to connect south central Virginia with the Valley."[6]
Otherwise the gaps were filled starting in 1922, with the legislative designation of a spur of SR 14 from Clifton Forge south to Eagle Rock, which was numbered State Route 142 in 1923. 1924 saw the beginning of the extension of SR 142 southwest to US 11 at Troutville, and it was also extended along SR 14 east to Longdale Furnace and then north to Millboro Springs. In 1926 it became part of a realignment of SR 17, with that route's former routing to Covington becoming part of new State Route 338.
The first piece of State Route 395, which ended up extending from Warm Springs to West Virginia, was also created in 1924 as a spur from SR 39 at Monterey. The entire Covington-West Virginia corridor (SR 395 and part of SR 338) became State Route 800 in 1928 (along with an extension southwest from Covington), and was renumbered State Route 18 in 1933. Also in 1933, the part of SR 17 south of Clifton Forge became State Route 12.
US 220 was extended into Virginia in 1935,[citation needed] replacing SR 18 north of Covington, all of SR 12, and all of US 311 in Virginia. US 311 has since been re-extended into the state west of Danville.
The modern US 220 corridor was added to the state highway system as follows:
^Virginia. Pittsylvania, Franklin, and Botetourt Turnpike Company Records. 1838. Abstract: These records contain letters sent, field notes (1838), 3 vols., reports and lists of stockholders for the years 1838-1848, 1850, 1852-1853. OCLC: 291090337.
^State Highway Commission of Virginia (April 10–11, 1924). "Minutes of Meeting"(PDF) (Report). Richmond: Commonwealth of Virginia. p. 312. [Botetourt County] Eagle Rock to a point nine miles towards Fincastle [9.0 miles construction, 21⁄2% clause]
^State Highway Commission of Virginia (February 25, 1925). "Minutes of Meeting"(PDF) (Report). Richmond: Commonwealth of Virginia. p. 84. [Botetourt County] Extension of Route 142 via Fincastle to a point 9.5 Miles South [2.0 miles construction and 7.5 miles maintenance, 21⁄2% clause]
^State Highway Commission of Virginia (March 11, 1927). "Minutes of Meeting"(PDF) (Report). Richmond: Commonwealth of Virginia. p. 84. [Highland County] Vanderpool to a point 3 Mi. S. tws. Warm Springs [1.56 miles, 21⁄2% clause; 1.44 miles, 2% clause]
^State Highway Commission of Virginia (October 27, 1927). "Minutes of Meeting"(PDF) (Report). Richmond: Commonwealth of Virginia. p. 165. Moved by Mr. Sproul, seconded by Mr. Massie, that the Commission transfer the .5 mile under the 2% Clause rejected by Clarke County, to the extension of Route 395 in Highland County towards Warm Springs, and that Highland County be notified of this transfer, giving them an estimate of what it will cost to condition same. Motion carried.
^State Highway Commission of Virginia (August 9–10, 1928). "Minutes of Meeting"(PDF) (Report). Richmond: Commonwealth of Virginia. p. 20. [Bath County] 800 From a point on Route 338 near Warm Springs Northeast 14.5 Miles to Highland County Line [14.50 miles, 2% clause]
^State Highway Commission of Virginia (August 9–10, 1928). "Minutes of Meeting"(PDF) (Report). Richmond: Commonwealth of Virginia. p. 21. [Highland County] 800 From a point on Route 395 Southwest 9.5 Miles to the Bath County Line [9.50 miles, 2% clause]
^State Highway Commission of Virginia (August 29–30, 1923). "Minutes of Meeting"(PDF) (Report). Richmond: Commonwealth of Virginia. p. 195. On the morning of the 30th, the Commission proceeded to Monterey in Highland County where a public hearing was given for the establishment of the Route between Monterey and the West Va. Line. The two routes under consideration were, one by Hightown to the top of the Mountain and the other in the direction of Frost.
^State Highway Commission of Virginia (October 23–25, 1923). "Minutes of Meeting"(PDF) (Report). Richmond: Commonwealth of Virginia. p. 207. Moved by Mr. Sanders, seconded by Mr. Truxtun, that the location of Route No. 39 from Monterey to the West Virginia Line be from Monterey down the valley of Jackson River to Vanderpool Gap, thence through Vanderpool Gap to the valley of the east branch of Back Creek, thence down the east branch of Back Creek to Mill Gap, thence through Mill Gap to Back Creek valley, thence down Back Creek valley to Warwick Run, thence up the valley of Warwick Run to the West Va. Line near Frost. Motion carried.
^State Highway Commission of Virginia (April 10–11, 1924). "Minutes of Meeting"(PDF) (Report). Richmond: Commonwealth of Virginia. p. 313. [Highland County] Monterey to a point two miles towards Franklin, West Va. [2.0 miles maintenance, 21⁄2% clause]
^State Highway Commission of Virginia (February 25, 1925). "Minutes of Meeting"(PDF) (Report). Richmond: Commonwealth of Virginia. p. 84. [Highland County] Extension Route 395 to a point Five Miles Northeast towards West Virginia line [5.0 miles maintenance, 21⁄2% clause]