VA 42 piece 1 1929 Official

VA 42 pieces 2 and 3 1929 Official

VA 42 pieces 4 and 5 1929 Official

Adjustments: In Aug 1929 (CTB), piece 1 was extended west 0.8 miles and piece 4 was extended west 3 miles.
In Dec 1930 (CTB), piece 2 was extended east to the Giles County Line to connect with piece 3 and was also extended west with US 21/VA 26 as duplex before heading west as new construction 2.37 miles.
Also in Dec 1930, piece 4 was extended west 6.21 miles and piece 5 was extended west 6.87 miles.
In June 1931 (CTB), piece 4 was extended east 1.51 miles from New Castle.
In July 1932 (CTB), piece 2 was extended west 6.7 miles; piece 4 was extended west to Giles County connecting to piece 5, which was extended to connect with piece 2.
Also in July 1932 a new 6th piece was created running from VA 112 (now VA 91) Broadford east 3.1 miles.
In July 1933, VA 42 was assigned to a 7th piece, replacing VA 17 from US 60 (now VA 269) outside Clifton Forge to VA 4 (now US 33) Harrisonburg. The 1933 Official map also shows VA 42 replacing VA 215 from New Castle to Strom. I have never found any CTB reference putting that part of VA 215 into the system - perhaps it was based on the 1933 route log description that read as if 42 were continuous from Mendota to Harrisonburg.

VA 42 Clifton Forge to Goshen Note erroneous designation north of New Castle 1933 Official

VA 42 Goshen to Harrisonburg 1933 Official

To summarize, in July 1933, VA 42 was in 4 pieces: original piece 1 in Washington Co; piece 6 in Smyth Co; pieces 2-3-4-5; piece 7 In Aug 1933 (CTB), piece 1 was extended southwest to the Scott County line. In Sept 1934 (CTB), piece 6 was extended east to VA 88 (now VA 16). The Oct 1934 Official map shows VA 42 ending 1.5 miles north of New Castle instead of connecting to VA 43 Strom, leaving behind SR 615. In 1935 (bridge date), VA 42 was rerouted at Goshen to its current crossing of the Calf Pasture River and skirting around the north side of Goshen (all new routing). The old crossing of the railroad north of the river was abandoned and south of the railroad became SR 746. Between the south end of SR 746 and then-VA 501 (now VA 39) remained in the primary system, but its number is not explicitly known. It was most likely VA 42Y. Today it is part of VA 39. Oddly, county maps from 1932 show VA 17 (now 42) already making this move. In Oct 1935 (CTB), piece 6 was extended east to connect to pieces 2-3-4-5. In Sept 1937 (CTB), VA 42 was removed from SR 602 south of Millboro Springs. In July 1939 (CTB), VA 42 was removed from the Craig SR 645 loop near Looney. In Sept 1939 (CTB), VA 42 was removed from part of SR 827 south of Harrisonburg.

VA 42 piece 6 connects to rest of VA 42 1936 Official

In Nov 1939 (CTB), VA 42 was rerouted west of New Castle to its current mountain ascent. The old descent was abandoned but out of New Castle became SR 644 Cumberland Ave.

VA 42 Original New Castle routing 1936 Craig County

VA 42 altered New Castle routing 1936 Craig County

In May 1940 (CTB), VA 42 was removed from the SR 663 loop near Simmonsville. In Aug 1941 (CTB), VA 42 was removed from SR 1005 5th St at Bland CH. In Jan 1943 (CTB), VA 42 was given a bypass of Mechanicsville, leaving behind an extended VA 99 (now SR 738) and SR 634. In Nov 1947 (CTB), VA 42 was extended east with US 33, then north on US 11, then replaced VA 260 north through Broadway and Timberville before ending at US 11 in Woodstock. In May 1948 (CTB), the segment of VA 42 from US 19 southwest to Mendota and Scott County was downgraded to SR 802. Also in May 1948 (CTB), VA 42 between VA 100 and US 460 was downgraded to SR 730. Today this is some VA 100, SR 660, an abandoned bridge, and SR 730 except in Eggleston where VA 42 used SR 815 Village St and a bit of Old Depot St; New River crossing gone; SR 612 across the RR; Old Wingo Hill Rd which no longer connects to Clovernook Ln. The US 460 duplex is now partly SR 798. The May 1948 actions gave us the three-piece VA 42 that we are familiar with today. VA 42 removed from Washington County 1949 Official VA 42 Giles gap created 1949 Official

VA 42 extended to Woodstock 1948 Official

In Aug 1949 (CTB), VA 42 was given its current routing through Broadway, before, it used today's VA 259 ALT east to VA 259 north.

VA 42 (old VA 260) through Broadway 1936 Rockingham County

VA 42 rerouted through Broadway 1961 Rockingham County

In Dec 1953 (CTB), VA 42 was rerouted in Harrisonburg to its current routing, leaving behind bits of US 33 and US 11, plus SR 832 Edom Rd.
In April 1955 (CTB), VA 42 was removed from the lengthy SR 811 between Craigsville and Augusta Springs.
In Feb 1959 (CTB), VA 42 was removed from the SR 731/607 loop through Moscow.
In May 1959 (CTB), the middle piece of VA 42 was truncated on its east end by 1.5 miles to end at VA 311 in New Castle, leaving behind more SR 615.
In May 1960 (CTB), VA 42 was moved from Fairground Rd to W. Reservoir Rd in Woodstock.
In May 1963 (CTB), VA 42 was given its bypass of Columbia Furnace, leaving behind SRs 675, 623, and 768.
In May 1969 (CTB), the middle piece of VA 42 was extended west from Newport out to the new US 460 alignment, mostly over the old US 460 alignment.
In Feb 1972 (CTB), VA 42 was given its bypass of Dayton, leaving behind VA 42 BUsiness.
In Oct 1991 (CTB), VA 42 was given its bypass of Edom, leaving behind a lenghty SR 859.
In May 2000 (CTB), VA 42 was removed from SR 844 at the VA 263 junction, which also eliminated a brief VA 263 duplex.
Improvements:  Upon designation only the part of VA 42 that was paved was its VA 23 (now US 460/SR 798) duplex.
In 1930, VA 42 was paved on its new duplex with US 21 south out of Bland CH.
In 1932, the first piece of solo VA 42 was paved, from VA 113 (now VA 91) east several miles.
In 1933, VA 42 was paved on its new routing from Millboro Springs to Harrisonburg.
In 1937, VA 42 was paved on its VA 100 duplex.
In 1938, VA 42 was paved from New Castle east to its endpoint and also from Millboro Springs south a few miles.
In 1939, VA 42 was paved a few miles east from Bland CH; a few miles west from New Castle; US 60 to Millboro Springs.
In 1941, VA 42 was paved in Bland Co to past Mechanicsburg.
Between 1942-44, VA 42 was paved in the Mendota area; Newport into Craig County a few miles.
In 1947, VA 42 was paved from Mendota to Holston. The extension to Woodstock was paved except from between Getz Corner and Columbia Furnace.
In 1948, VA 42 was paved from US 21/52 west a few miles; Mechanicsburg to VA 100; Sinking Creek to the New Castle paved portion.
In 1950, VA 42 was paved from VA 16 east to the Bland line; most of western Bland Co; Sinking Creek west to paved potion from Newport.
In 1951, VA 42 was paved west of VA 16; VA 16 east to Bland line is shown as not paved again; all of Bland Co paved.
In 1953, all of VA 42 was shown as fully paved.
VA 42 was multilaned from Broadway to Timberville in 1966.
In 1970, VA 42 was multilaned from Bridgewater to Dayton.
In 1972, VA 42 was multilaned from Dayton to Harrisonburg.
By 1988, VA 42 was multilaned in a short segment centered around US 33.
In 1989, VA 42 was multilaned from NCL Harrisonburg to about Edom.
In 1991, VA 42 was multilaned from Broadway south a few miles.
In 1992, VA 42 was multilaned through Harrisonburg and also on the Edom Bypass.
In 1993 or 1994, VA 42 was multilaned between the Edom bypass and the piece south from Broadway.
In 1997 or 1998, VA 42 was multilaned from I-81 to US 11.
Posted:  Fully posted; cutouts as of 2011 remain in Harrisonburg, S. Augusta Springs, and Churchville.
Error US 42 shields exist in Harrisonburg and also at SR 623/768 jct in Columbia Furnace (replaced a cutout that was still there in 2008).
Multiplexes:  VA 16 (0.32 mi)
US 52 (1.62 mi)
VA 269 (0.18 mi)
VA 39 (8.20 mi)
US 250 (0.47 mi)
VA 257 (2.73 mi)
VA 259 ALT (0.32 mi)
VA 259 (0.62 mi)
Legislative names:  Harpine Highway from Broadway to Harrisonburg (since 7-20-54)
Veterans Memorial Bridge over N. Shenandoah River (since 4-16-98)
Other names:  Bluegrass Trail (w of VA 16); Old Wilderness Rd (VA 16 to Bland Co); W. Blue Grass Hwy (Bland Co w of US 52); South Scenic Hwy (US 52 duplex); E. Blue Grass Hwy (Bland Co e of US 52); Walkers Creek Valley Rd (Giles Co w of VA 100); Blue Grass Trail (Giles Co e of US 460); Cumberland Gap Rd (Craig Co); Main St (New Castle); Forty Two Rd (Alleghany Co); Cow Pasture River Rd (Bath Co s of VA 39); Mountain Valley Rd (VA 39 duplex in Bath Co); Maury River Rd (VA 39 duplex in Rockbridge Co); Virginia Ave (Rockbridge Co n of VA 39); Little Calf Pasture Hwy (Augusta Co s of SR 688); Craig St (Craigsville); Parkersburg Tpk (SR 688 to VA 254); Buffalo Gap Hwy (VA 254 to US 250); Scenic Hwy (US 250 to SR 809); Iron Works Rd (SR 809 to Rockingham Co); Warm Springs Pike (Rockingham Co s of Bridgewater); Main St (Bridgewater); John Wayland Hwy (Bridgewater to Harrisonburg); High St/Virginia Ave (Harrisonburg); Main St/Lee St (Broadway); Timber Way (Broadway to Timberville); Forestville Rd (Timberville and n to Shenandoah Co); Senedo Rd (Shenandoah Co); W. Reservoir Rd (Woodstock)
Scenic Byway:  VA 39 duplex (since 10-27-77); US 460 to VA 311 (since 5-17-90); US 52 duplex west of I-77 (since 9-17-92); VA 16 east a few miles (since 2003); Forestville to Columbia Furnace (since 2003).
Comment: VA 42 is the most prominent and obvious discontinuous route in Virginia. If it weren't for the gaps VA 42 would be the longest state highway in Virginia.
The routing of the gaps if they were to be filled is made clear in the traffic logs: VA 100 to SR 730 to US 460; and SR 615 from New Castle to Eagle Rock, then US 220 to Clifton Forge
The gap between the original section 1 in Washington County to Broadford is made clear with the erroneous Oct 1934 Official which showed some of that gap as primary, using a duplex with US 19 north, then SR 689 to Hayters Gap, a duplex with VA 80, then SR 613 to Allisons Gap and Allisons Gap Rd south to VA 91 Saltville with a VA 91 duplex to Broadford. VA 42 is even explicitly referenced as a point of extension for VA 80 in this timeframe.

VA 42 gap route revealed
1934 Official

VA 42 is not menitoned at all in either the FY 13-18 SYIP or the 2035 Surface Transportation Plan Report. So it seems to me the southern and middle sections should probably be renumbered, although SR 615 is not a bad route, really. SR 730 on the other hand is full of 20 mph curves and is a difficult drive. Although only a small portion of VA 42 is officially designated as scenic, most of this is a beautiful ride. It is also mostly an easy drive except for Smyth County. VA 42 provides primary access for hard-to-reach areas such as Craig County and southwestern Augusta County. North of Harrisonburg, VA 42 provides a viable altrernative to I-81 to reach New Market via VA 211. The 1939 VDOT report on primary system development had recommended that VA 42 be decommissioned from VA 16 to Bland CH and also from US 60 to VA 39. VA 42Y?: When VA 42 was moved to its current Goshen routing in 1935, there was a partially new primary road created connecting VA 42 and then-VA 501. This was likely VA 42Y. By 1945, this had become part of mainline VA 39. It is possible this change happened in Oct 1940.

VA 42Y on the southeast leg of the Goshen triangle? 1936 Rockbridge County

VA 42 Business through Dayton 1975 Rockingham County

VA 42 Business in Dayton photo by Mapmikey