Highway Facts Virginia

At present, there are no clear standards for applying National Register criteria to roads and for objectively researching and determining the National Register eligibility of roadways in Virginia. Basic historic documentation of Virginia roads is often poor, incomplete, or incorrect. These facts, along with the large number of old roads that lie within the borders of the Commonwealth of Virginia, necessitate the identification of standards for historical documentation and a rating system for accurately and objectively determining the historic significance of roads in Virginia. This project identified standards for historical documentation and for the identification of objective criteria for determining the historic significance (i.e., National Register eligibility) of roads in Virginia. A general historical background of roads in Virginia, procedures for their evaluation for historic significance, and a number of case studies of various types of Virginia roads are included in this report. A series of recommendations are offered to address (1) inconsistencies in the evaluation of Virginia roads for historic significance and (2) misconceptions concerning various aspects of National Register designation.