State Route 120(SR 120) is a primarystate highwayin the U.S. state ofVirginia.Known asGlebe Road,the state highway runs 9.10 miles (14.65 km) fromU.S. Route 1(US 1) inCrystal Citynorth toSR 123at theChain Bridge.SR 120 is a partial circumferential highway inArlington Countythat connects the southeastern and northwestern corners of the county with severalurban villagesalong its crescent-shaped path, includingBallston.The state highway also connects all of the major highways in Virginia that radiate fromWashington,includingInterstate 395,I-66,US 50,andUS 29.SR 120 is a part of theNational Highway Systemfor its entire length.[2]
 State Route 120 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Glebe Road | ||||
 | ||||
| Route information | ||||
| Maintained byVDOT | ||||
| Length | 9.10 mi[1](14.65 km) | |||
| Existed | 1940–present | |||
| Major junctions | ||||
| South end |  US 1inCrystal City | |||
| North end |  SR 123inArlingwood | |||
| Location | ||||
| Country | United States | |||
| State | Virginia | |||
| Counties | Arlington | |||
| Highway system | ||||
| ||||
Route description
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SR 120 begins at an intersection with US 1 (Richmond Highway) at the south end of Crystal City, just north of the city of Alexandria––though Glebe Road actually continues three blocks east of US 1 where it ends at Potomac Avenue. The state highway heads west as a four-lanedivided highwaythrough the Arlington County sewage treatment facility. West of the facility, SR 120 parallels theFour Mile Run TrailandFour Mile Run,both to the south, and passes to the south of theArlington Ridgecommunity. At the point the old alignment of SR 120, also named Glebe Road, crosses Four Mile Run into Alexandria, the state highway veers northwest away from the stream and meets I-395 (Henry G. Shirley Memorial Highway) at apartial cloverleaf interchangenorth ofShirlington.North of the freeway, SR 120 passes between the historicLomax African Methodist Episcopal Zion Churchand Army Navy Country Club. North of its oblique intersection with Walter Reed Drive, the state highway passes through the commercial center of Westmont, where the highway intersectsSR 244(Columbia Pike). North of Westmont, SR 120 has a partial cloverleaf interchange with US 50 (Arlington Boulevard) adjacent to theCathedral of Saint Thomas More.[1][3]
SR 120 continues north onto Ballston, where the highway expands to six lanes at Quincy Street. The state highway passes byBallston Quarterand the adjacentMedStar Capitals Iceplex,practice rink of theWashington Capitals.SR 120 veers north at Wilson Boulevard and passes by the Arlington Center ofNorthern Virginia Community Collegeat Fairfax Drive, which heads east asSR 237towardClarendonand west as ramps to and from I-66 toward Falls Church. The state highwayruns concurrentlywith SR 237 for two blocks north to Washington Boulevard, onto which SR 237 heads west towardFalls Church.Just north of Washington Boulevard, SR 120 has a partial interchange with I-66 that allows access to and from the direction of Washington and where the highway crosses theCustis Trail.[1][3]
SR 120 leaves Ballston as a four-lane divided highway that passes byThe Glebe Houseand intersects US 29 (Lee Highway). The state highway has an oblique intersection withSR 309(Old Dominion Drive) on an overpass of Yorktown Boulevard adjacent toMarymount University.At Williamsburg Boulevard, SR 120 veers northeast to parallel the Arlington–Fairfaxcounty line. At the top of its descent to the Potomac River, the state highway has a partial cloverleaf interchange with Military Road, a residential street, and reduces to a two-lane undivided road. The highway has a sweeping curve to the north and passes below theGeorge Washington Memorial Parkwayimmediately before its northern terminus at SR 123 (Chain Bridge Road), which connects SR 120 with the Parkway. The road continues straight as SR 123 to theChain Bridge,which crosses the Potomac River just below Little Falls to an intersection withCanal Roadand theClara Barton Parkwayin Washington a short distance east of theDistrict of Columbia–Marylandboundary.[1][3]
History
editA road along the present path of SR 120 has existed at least since the 1750s. This road, linking Alexandria toGreat Falls,was first known as the "Road to the Falls." It took its present name from the nearbyglebe landsthat were used to support theclergyof the colonialFairfax Parishof theChurch of England;those lands also gave their name to the historicGlebe House,which was built in the 19th century on the former glebe property and sits near what is now SR 120.[4]
SR 120 appeared in its current form in the1940 renumbering,replacing a small part ofSR 9,which itself had replaced the original designation ofSR 25in the1933 renumbering.The majority of SR 25 becameSR 123in 1940.
Another SR 120 was designated inFranklin Countyin the1933 renumbering,which consisted of two sections. One was the present-day SR 739 from its intersection with the present-dayUS 220atBoones Millwestward for 5 miles (8.0 km). The other was the present-day SR 602 from its intersection withSR 40nearFerrumnorthward for 5 miles (8.0 km).
Glebe Road intersects through several areas that have seen an increase in pedestrian traffic since the 1970s. Arlington County and local citizens started discussions on improving pedestrian safety in 2003;[5]the implementation of these started in 2013 and is scheduled to complete in 2014.[6]
Major intersections
editThe entire route is inArlington County.
| Location | mi[1][3] | km | Destinations | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crystal City | 0.00 | 0.00 |  US 1(Richmond Highway) –Crystal City,Reagan National Airport,Alexandria | Southern terminus; Glebe Road continues east for three blocks without designation | |
| Arna Valley | 1.65 | 2.66 |  I-395–Richmond,Washington | Exits 7A-B on I-395 (Shirley Highway) | |
| Westmont | 2.89 | 4.65 |  SR 244(Columbia Pike) | ||
| Arlington Heights | 3.75 | 6.04 |  US 50 | Parclo interchangewithArlington Boulevard | |
| Ballston | 4.88 | 7.85 |      SR 237east (Fairfax Drive) toI-66west | Southern terminus of SR 237concurrency | |
| 5.13 | 8.26 |  SR 237west (Washington Boulevard) | Northern terminus of SR 237 concurrency | ||
| 5.20 | 8.37 |  I-66east –Washington | Exit 71 on I-66; tolled AM rush hours except HOV-2+ vehicles | ||
| Glebewood | 6.06 | 9.75 |  US 29(Lee Highway) –Falls Church,Washington | ||
| Donaldson Run | 6.61 | 10.64 |    SR 309(Old Dominion Drive) toUS 29north –McLean,Washington | No right turns | |
| Rivercrest | 8.60 | 13.84 | Military Road | Interchange | |
| Arlingwood | 9.10 | 14.65 |  SR 123south (Chain Bridge Road) /Chain Bridge–Washington | Northern terminus; northern terminus of SR 123 | |
| 1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi | |||||
References
edit- ^abcde"2010 Traffic Data".Virginia Department of Transportation. 2010.Retrieved2011-10-27.
- ^National Highway System: Washington, DC-MD-VA (Virginia)(PDF)(Map). Federal Highway Administration. 2009-11-13. Archived fromthe original(PDF)on October 16, 2008.Retrieved2011-10-27.
- ^abcd"Virginia State Route 120"(Map).Google Maps.RetrievedOctober 6,2016.
- ^Gowen, Annie (2006-08-03)."A Landmark Once Again Becomes a Home".The Washington Post.ISSN0190-8286.Retrieved2019-10-22.
- ^"Department of Environmental Services".Departments & Offices.Retrieved2 October2015.
- ^"Department of Environmental Services".Departments & Offices.Retrieved2 October2015.
External links
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