Turnpike led the way

As late as 1926 the old Valley Turnpike between Winchester and Staunton was the only hard-surfaced road of significant distance (in the whole state.) The so-called Richmond-Washington Highway was mostly soil and gravel, except for a short concrete section north of Richmond and a short macadmazied section south of Alexandria.” VDOT Employee Bulletin Vol 65/No 6 Nov-Dec 1999 p1.