VA 311 ends north of Tygers Creek 1936 Alleghany County

VA 311 endpoint moved south and also bypasses SR 650 1945 Alleghany County

In Oct 1947 (CTB), VA 311 was extended north over what had been part of US 60 to its current length.

VA 22 from Salem to Crows 1931 Official

VA 311 replaces VA 22 north of Salem 1934 Conoco

VA 311 extended from Crows to US 60 in W Va. 1948 Official

In Oct 1953 (CTB), VA 311 was removed from SR 863 Hanging Rock, SR 864 ascending Catawba Mtn, a visible abandoned segment down the north side of the mountain, and a bit of SR 779.

VA 311 original routing south of Catawba 1945 Roanoke County

VA 311 rebuilt routing south of Catawba 1958 Roanoke County

In Oct 1964 (CTB), VA 311 was removed from SR 1113 Deborah Lane at the I-81 interchange.
In March 1972 (CTB), VA 311 was removed from Craig Ave in Salem and placed on newly constructed Thompson Memorial Drive, which extended south past US 460 to US 11.

VA 311 ending at US 460 1969 Official

VA 311 rerouted and extended to US 11 1973 Official

In May 1976 (CTB), VA 311 was removed from SR 691 south of New Castle.
Posting:  Fully posted; error US 311 signs at US 11 SB Salem (replaced btw 2013-16) and VA 42 EB New Castle (corrected around 2010).
The last known VA 311 Cutout assembly (thanks Gribblenation!) is located at SR 600 near Earlehurst, still up in 2009.
VA 311 was posted from the US 11-460 split in downtown Salem until at least 1965. See photo below.
Improvements:  VA 311 was paved from Salem to New Castle upon designation
VA 311 was paved from New Castle to the first WV Line in 1935.
VA 311 from Crows south to the WV Line was paved with a gap in the middle in 1936.
VA 311 became fully paved about 1940.
VA 311 was multilaned below VA 419 about 1972.
Multiplexes:  NONE
Legislative names:  NONE
Other names:  Thompson Memorial Dr. (Salem); Catawba Valley Dr (Roanoke Co); Salem Ave (New Castle); Kanawha Trail (Allegheny Co)
Scenic Byway:  All of VA 311 north of VA 419 (since 1990).
Comment:  No exit with I-81 until 1986; VA 311 north of I-81 is very rustic and scenic - a must drive. There has been debate among road scholars as to whether this road was ever part of US 311, but it was a related extension like VA 33 and VA 211 although it never touched US 311. Virginia has had others over the years: VA 13, VA 17, VA 29, VA 121, VA 158, VA 258, VA 301, VA 340, VA 360, VA 501 and VA 522
VA 311 has a unique set of railroad underpasses north of Crows that was for many years a blind one-lane S curve. They added a parallel underpass in 1965.
Whne US 311 was returned to Virginia in 2012, the CTB had an item regarding renumbering VA 311 but they never took any action or floated any ideas of what to renumber it to. Personally I would reroute US 221 up it to get rid of the useless extension to Lynchburg...

VA 311 with a one-lane underpass 1965 WSTS Screenshot

VA 311 given a second tunnel (looking NB) photo by Mapmikey, Jan 2007

VA 311 (as well as VA 117) posted in downtown Salem 1965 WSTS Screenshot

VA 311 from Asland to Fredericksburg via Bowling Green 1924 Official

VA 50 replaces VA 311 1929 Official

VA 311 #2: Appeared as a newly numbered route in August 1928. Was a spur east off VA 18 (current SR 1006) Madison Heights east 1 mile to the Epileptic Colony.
The December 1930 CTB Minutes say VA 311 was extended west 0.4 miles to the new alignment of VA 18 (current VA 163) which was over the old alignment of VA 18.
VA 311 was renumbered as part of VA 130 in July 1933. Today it is SR 1034 Main St, a little VA 210, Old Colony Rd, and some of VA 334.

VA 311 in Madiosn Heights 1932 Amherst County

VA 130 (mislabeled as VA 30) replaces VA 311 1936 Amherst County