Special routes of U.S. Route 52

Several special routes of U.S. Route 52 exist, from North Dakota to South Carolina. In order from northwest to southeast, separated by type, they are as follows.

Alternate routes

Welch Alternate route

U.S. Route 52 Alternate
Location:	Welch, West Virginia
Length:	2.3 mi[1] (3.7 km)
Existed:	circa 1950–present

View south along US 52 Alt and north along WV 16 in Welch

US 52's Welch Alternate route follows the original path of US 52 through town prior to construction of the Welch bypass around 1950. The route follows West Virginia Route 16 along with portions of Virginia Avenue and other streets.^[2]

Business loops

Harvey business loop

U.S. Highway 52 Business
Location:	Harvey, North Dakota
Length:	2.0 mi (3.2 km)

U.S. Route 52 Business is a 2-mile-long (3.2 km) business route of U.S. Route 52 in Harvey, North Dakota. It runs from U.S. Route 52 in Harvey to U.S. Route 52/North Dakota Highway 3.

Minot business loop

U.S. Highway 52 Business
Location:	Minot, North Dakota

Ironton business loop

U.S. Route 52 Business
Location:	Ironton, Ohio

Mount Airy business loop

U.S. Route 52 Business
Location:	Mount Airy, North Carolina
Length:	5.4 mi[3] (8.7 km)
Existed:	1960–present

U.S. Route 52 Business was established in 1960, a renumbering of US 52A through downtown Mount Airy, via Main Street, Renfro Street, and Lebanon Street. Between 1963–1967, US 52 Business was split on one-way streets: northbound via Cherry and Renfro Streets, southbound via Main Street. Sometime between 1969–1972, southbound US 52 Business was removed from Main and Cherry Streets, and moved onto an extended Renfro Street.^[4]

Albemarle business loop

U.S. Route 52 Business
Location:	Albemarle, North Carolina
Length:	2.1 mi[5] (3.4 km)
Existed:	mid-1990s–present

U.S. Route 52 Business was established in the mid-1990s, it goes through downtown Albemarle, via First Street.^[4]

Darlington business loop

U.S. Route 52 Business
Location:	Darlington, South Carolina

Spur routes

Charleston spur route

U.S. Route 52 Spur
Location:	Charleston, South Carolina
Length:	2.98 mi[6] (4.80 km)
Existed:	early 1950s–present

Columbus Street Terminal viewed from the southwest

U.S. Route 52 Spur is an unsigned 2.98-mile (4.80 km) long spur of U.S. Route 52 in Charleston, South Carolina. It extends from U.S. Route 52 (where it is named Meeting Street) to Broad Street along the northeastern side of the peninsula of downtown Charleston. The route provides access for trucks to shipping terminals of the port on the Charleston peninsula: Union Pier and Columbus Street.

The entire route is in the city of Charleston. 1.29 miles (2.08 km) of the route is named Morrison Drive and the remaining 1.69 miles (2.72 km) is named East Bay Street.^[6]

One section of the route, Morrison Drive near Jackson Street, will flood regularly during a spring tide. The eastern terminus is near the historic wharves of Charleston, including Adgers Wharf, which is now the site of a playground. It is also adjacent to the old Exchange, or Customs House, of Charleston. The current Customs House that was built around the time of the Civil War is on this route.

History

The section named Morrison Drive was constructed in the early 1950s.^[7] It was named for William McG. Morrison, mayor of Charleston from 1953 to 1954.^[8]

When Morrison Drive was constructed, there was still one private terminal operating near the Eastern terminus, the Clydeline Steamship Company. The Clydeline terminal burned down in 1955. In the late 80s, the land of the terminal was rebuilt as Charleston Waterfront Park.^[9]

Truck routes

Jamestown truck route

U.S. Highway 52 Truck
Location:	Jamestown, North Dakota

Bluefield truck route

U.S. Route 52 Truck
Location:	Bluefield, West Virginia

View south along US 52 Truck and north along US 19 just northeast of Bluefield

Williamson truck route

U.S. Route 52 Truck
Location:	Williamson, West Virginia

View north along US 52 Truck in Williamson

Cheraw truck route

U.S. Route 52 Truck
Location:	Cheraw, South Carolina
Existed:	2002–present

Florence truck route

U.S. Route 52 Truck
Location:	Florence, South Carolina

Former special routes

Iowa alternate route

U.S. Highway 52 Alternate
Location:	Dubuque–Luxemburg, Iowa
Existed:	early 1960s–late 1960s

U.S. Highway 52 Alternate (US 52 Alt.) existed in northeastern Iowa in the 1960s. The original pavement on US 52 between Dubuque and Luxemburg was in such poor condition that the Iowa State Highway Commission rerouted the highway along US 20 and Iowa Highway 136 and the alternate route was established along the old route. Once comprehensive repairs were made to the roadway, the mainline designation was restored to the routing.

Mount Airy alternate route

U.S. Route 52A was established in 1953, replacing the old mainline US 52 through downtown Mount Airy, via Main Street. It was renumbered in 1960 as US 52 Business.^[10]

Pilot Mountain alternate route

U.S. Route 52A was established in 1949, replacing the old mainline US 52 through Pilot Mountain, via Main Street. It was renumbered in 1960 as US 52 Business.^[10]

Pilot Mountain business loop

U.S. Route 52 Business
Location:	Pilot Mountain, North Carolina
Existed:	1960–1964

U.S. Route 52 Business was established in 1960, a renumbering of US 52A through Pilot Mountain, via Main Street. It was decommissioned in 1964 when the Pilot Mountain Parkway was opened, taking US 52 onto a new alignment west of town.^[4]

References

External links

• Media related to U.S. Route 52 at Wikimedia Commons