Special routes of U.S. Route 40

Several special routes of U.S. Route 40 exist. In order from west to east they are as follows.

Special routes of U.S. Route 40
Highway system
United States Numbered Highway System List Special Divided

Current routes

WaKeeney business loop

U.S. Highway 40 Business
Location	WaKeeney, Kansas

U.S. Route 40 Business (US-40 Bus.) is a 2.3-mile-long (3.7 km) business route through WaKeeney, Kansas, that was recommended in 1979 as substitute for the formerly proposed Interstate 70 Business Loop. It begins at exit 127 on Interstate 70/U.S. Route 40 (I-70/US-40) and travels to the north, concurrent with US-283 along South First Street. At the intersection with Barclay Avenue (Old Highway 40), US-40 Bus. and US-283 turn to the east. By the time Barclay Avenue encounters South 13th Street, US-283 turns left to the north, US-40 Bus. turns right to the south, and Old Highway 40 continues straight ahead to the east. After passing by the Kansas Veterans Cemetery, and the headquarters for the Western Co-Op Electric Association,^[1] US-40 Bus. terminates at exit 128 on I-70/US-40, while South 13th Street continues as a local road that changes its name to 260th Avenue.

Junction City–Grandview Plaza business loop

U.S. Highway 40 Business
Location	Junction City–Grandview Plaza, Kansas

U.S. Highway 40 Business (US-40 Bus.) is a 4.0-mile-long (6.4 km) business route of US-40, located in Junction City. The business route begins at a diamond interchange with I-70/US-40/K-18. The route travels north along Washington Street toward downtown Junction City. The route intersects with K-57 (6th Street) and turns east along that route. Both routes cross over the Smoky Hill River and enter Grandview Plaza. In this municipality, they encounter I-70/US-40/K-18. While K-57 turns southeast toward Council Grove at this interchange, the business route ends there.^[2]

Brownsville business loop

U.S. Route 40 Business
Location	Brownsville, Pennsylvania

 

The westbound beginning of US 40 Bus. near Brownsville

Business U.S. Route 40 is a 2-mile (3.2 km)-long loop through Redstone Township, Fayette County, Pennsylvania. While called the Brownsville business loop, it never officially enters the borough, but instead serves some of its associated commercial development. In 2009, a stretch of US 40 was relocated to provide better access to the new Pennsylvania Route 43 freeway. As a result of the protests of local businesses, the short, bypassed stretch was signed.

Uniontown business loop

U.S. Route 40 Business
Location	Uniontown, Pennsylvania

 

US 40 Bus. at its eastern end near Uniontown

Business U.S. Route 40 is a 5-mile (8.0 km)-long^{[citation needed]} business route of U.S. Route 40 through downtown Uniontown, Pennsylvania, terminating at US 40 at both ends.

Prior to 1993, this route was US 40's alignment through Uniontown. A freeway bypass was constructed around the southern edge of Uniontown and US 40 shifted onto the freeway upon completion.^{[citation needed]} The portion of the highway through the city center features a pair of one-way couplets along Main and Fayette Street. Trucks travelling westbound along Main Street are actually rerouted onto a street that is not state maintained, to avoid the narrow path in front of the Fayette County Courthouse.

Keysers Ridge–Cumberland alternate

U.S. Route 40 Alternate
Location	Keysers Ridge–Cumberland, Maryland
Length	31.80 mi^[3] (51.18 km)
Tourist routes	Historic National Road   Mountain Maryland Scenic Byway

Main article: U.S. Route 40 Alternate (Keysers Ridge–Cumberland, Maryland)

U.S. Route 40 Alternate (Alt US 40) is the United States highway designation for a former segment of U.S. Route 40 (US 40) through Garrett and Allegany Counties in Maryland. The highway begins at US 40 near exit 14 on Interstate 68 and runs 31.80 miles (51.18 km) eastward to Cumberland, where it ends at exit 44 on Interstate 68.^[4] Alt US 40 is maintained by the Maryland State Highway Administration (MDSHA).

The highway is known as Old National Pike to reflect the fact that it follows the original alignment of the National Road. As the route of the historic National Road, there are many historic sites along Alt US 40, including the Casselman Bridge in Grantsville and the last remaining National Road toll gate house in Maryland, located in LaVale.

When the National Freeway was built in western Maryland paralleling the old National Road, parts of U.S. Route 40 were bypassed. The part of the bypassed road between Keyser's Ridge and Cumberland became Alt US 40, and other bypassed sections east of Cumberland became Maryland Route 144 and U.S. Route 40 Scenic. Although Alt US 40 has diminished in importance from its original status as the National Road due to the construction of Interstate 68, it remains an important route for local traffic and serves as the Main Streets of Grantsville and Frostburg.^[4]

Maryland scenic route

U.S. Route 40 Scenic
Location	Allegany–Washington County, Maryland
Length	9.50 mi^[3] (15.29 km)
Tourist routes	Historic National Road

Main article: U.S. Route 40 Scenic

U.S. Route 40 Scenic is a scenic route of U.S. Route 40 in the U.S. state of Maryland. US 40 Scenic is the old alignment of US 40 over Town Hill in eastern Allegany County and Sideling Hill in far western Washington County. The highway was originally constructed as part of the National Road in the early 19th century and paved as a modern road in the mid-1910s. US 40 was relocated over Sideling Hill in the early 1950s and over Town Hill in the mid-1960s. The US 40 Scenic designation was first applied to the old highway over Town Hill in 1965. Following the completion of Interstate 68 (I-68) at Sideling Hill, US 40 Scenic was extended east along old US 40's crossing of the mountain in the late 1980s. US 40 Scenic is the only U.S.-numbered scenic route, with US 412 Scenic becoming US 412 Alternate in 2012.

Hagerstown–Frederick alternate

U.S. Route 40 Alternate
Location	Hagerstown–Frederick, Maryland
Length	22.97 mi^[3] (36.97 km)
Tourist routes	Historic National Road   Antietam Campaign Scenic Byway

Main article: U.S. Route 40 Alternate (Hagerstown–Frederick, Maryland)

U.S. Route 40 Alternate is an alternate route of US 40 in the U.S. state of Maryland. The highway runs 22.97 miles (36.97 km) from Potomac Street in Hagerstown east to US 40 in Frederick. US 40 Alternate parallels US 40 to the south through eastern Washington County and western Frederick County. The alternate route connects Hagerstown and Frederick with Funkstown, Boonsboro, Middletown, and Braddock Heights.

US 40 Alternate is the old alignment of US 40. The highway's path was blazed in the mid-18th century to connect the Hagerstown Valley and Shenandoah Valley with eastern Pennsylvania and central Maryland. In the early 19th century, US 40 Alternate's path was improved as part of a series of turnpikes to connect Baltimore with the eastern terminus of the National Road in Cumberland. The highway was improved as one of the original state roads in the early 1910s and designated US 40 in the late 1920s. Construction on a relocated US 40 between Hagerstown and Frederick with improved crossings of Catoctin Mountain and South Mountain began in the mid-1930s; the new highway was completed in the late 1940s. US 40 Alternate was assigned to the old route of US 40 in the early 1950s.

Baltimore truck route

U.S. Route 40 Truck
Location	Baltimore, Maryland

U.S. Route 40 Truck is a truck route of US 40 to route truck traffic away from Baltimore's downtown area, which mainline US 40 passes through. US 40's mainline also includes several low bridges, including the bridge which Amtrak's Northeast Corridor railroad line uses to cross the route. US 40 Truck diverges from US 40 at the intersection of US 40 (Edmondson Avenue) and Hilton Parkway, travelling north on the latter route to the western end of North Avenue. It runs east along the entire length of North Avenue, running concurrent with mainline US 1 from Fulton Avenue east. It turns north, along with US 1, onto Belair Road, and runs north until it meets Maryland Route 151 (Erdman Avenue). Here, it turns east again, following Erdman Avenue until it meets an interchange with mainline US 40 once again.

Former routes

California–Nevada alternate route

U.S. Route 40 Alternate
Location	Davis, California–Reno, Nevada
Existed	1954^[5]^[6]–1964^[7]^[8]

U.S. Route 40 Alternate (US 40 Alt.) was an alternate route of US 40. In 1954, US 40 Alt. was established, replacing a portion of California State Route 24 (SR 24) north of Davis.^[9][6] It roughly followed parts of present-day SR 113, SR 99, SR 20, SR 70, and US 395 before ending in Reno. In 1964, US 40 Alt. was decommissioned in accordance with the state highway renumbering in California.^[8]

Russell business loop

U.S. Highway 40 Business
Location	Russell, Kansas
Existed	mid-1980s^[10]–2013^[11]

Business U.S. Route 40 was a short business loop through Russell, Kansas. It ran from Exit 184 along Interstate 70/US 40, overlapping part of U.S. Route 281 (South Fossil Street) then makes a right turn onto East Wichita Avenue (old US 40). Just before the intersection with 187th Street, the road curves from east to southeast as it follows the south side of a railroad line, and passes the northeast side of the Russell Municipal Airport. East Wichita Avenue ends at 189th Street and BUS US 40 makes a right turn south as it ends at Exit 189 on I-70/US 40.

Business US 40 was formed in the mid-1980s after Alternate US 40 was decommissioned in Russell.^[12][10] US 40 Bus. was then decommissioned in 2013 in favor of transferring to local control.^[13]

Junction City–Grandview Plaza alternate route

U.S. Highway 40 Alternate
Location	Junction City–Grandview Plaza, Kansas
Existed	yes

U.S. Route 40 Alternate was an alternate route of US 40.

Kansas City optional route

U.S. Route 40 Optional
Location	Kansas City, Missouri
Existed	yes

U.S. Route 40 Optional was an optional route of US 40. Before 1938, US 40 Optional used to end east of the city limit.^[14] It was then truncated as of 1938 to make way for US 40 Alternate.^[15] It ran along present-day Beardsley Road, Pennway Street, Summit Street, 27th Street, Broadway Boulevard, Wyandotte Street, and Linwood Boulevard before ending at The Paseo (former US 40/US 71).^[16] By 1964, US 40 Optional was decommissioned.^[17]

Kansas City city route

U.S. Route 40 City
Location	Kansas City, Missouri
Existed	1935^[18]–1938^[15]

U.S. Route 40 City was a city route of US 40. US 40 City was established in 1935 after US 40 was rerouted west to connect to downtown Kansas City.^[18] US 40 City ran along what used to be the former alignment of US 40.^[19][18] It originally ran from Oak Street to 31st Street via Admiral Boulevard and The Paseo.^[14] By 1938, US 40 City was decommissioned in favor of rerouting US 40 back to its original alignment.^[15]

Kansas City alternate route

U.S. Route 40 Alternate
Location	Kansas City–Independence, Missouri
Existed	1938^[15]–1966^[20]

U.S. Route 40 Alternate was an alternate route of US 40.

Columbia business loop

U.S. Route 40 Business
Location	Columbia, Missouri
Existed	1960^[21]–1964^[17]

See also: Interstate 70 Business (Columbia, Missouri)

U.S. Route 40 Business was a business route of US 40. Before 1960, US 40 used to travel through present-day Interstate 70 Business.^[22] By 1960, US 40 was rerouted north onto present-day Interstate 70. As a result, US 40 Business was signed onto the former alignment of US 40.^[21] The business route was decommissioned in 1964 and then got replaced with Interstate 70 Business.^[17]

St. Louis bypass

U.S. Route 40 Bypass
Location	Wentzville, Missouri–Troy, Illinois
Existed	1938^[15]–1965^[23]

U.S. Route 40 Bypass was a bypass of US 40. The bypass route was established in 1938 as a northern bypass of St. Louis. Initially, US 40 Bypass ended in Bridgeton.^[15] In 1941, US 40 Bypass was extended to Wentzville after US 40 was rerouted to avoid St. Charles.^[24] In 1965, US 40 Bypass was decommissioned in favor of Interstate 270 and Interstate 70.^[23]

St. Louis truck route

U.S. Route 40 Truck
Location	Frontenac, Missouri–East St. Louis, Illinois
Existed	1942^[25]–1964^[17]

U.S. Route 40 Truck was a truck route of US 40.

St. Louis alternate route

U.S. Route 40 Alternate
Location	Bridgeton–St. Louis, Missouri
Existed	1941^[24]–1964^[17]

U.S. Route 40 Alternate was an alternate route of US 40.

East St. Louis–Collinsville business loop

U.S. Route 40 Business
Location	East St. Louis–Collinsville, Illinois
Existed	late 1930s^[26]–1977^[27]

U.S. Route 40 Business (previously U.S. Route 40 City) was a business route of US 40.

East St. Louis–Collinsville alternate route

U.S. Route 40 Alternate
Location	East St. Louis–Collinsville, Illinois
Existed	1960^[28]–1964^[29]

U.S. Route 40 Alternate was an alternate route of US 40. In 1960, a portion of US 40, as well as US 66, was moved onto the new freeway (signed as part of I-55/I-70). As a result, the former routing was signed as US 40 Alt.^[28] In 1963, US 40 and US 66 were realigned onto a newer portion of the freeway from IL 157 to Exchange Avenue. Then, as a result, the alternate route extended southwest to Exchange Avenue.^[30] In 1964, a freeway connection between Exchange Avenue and Veterans Memorial Bridge was made. As a result, US 40 Bus. was extended due southwest to East St. Louis, supplanting part of the alternate route.^[29]

Greenville–Vandalia alternate route

U.S. Route 40 Alternate
Location	Greenville–Vandalia, Illinois
Existed	1948^[31]–1967^[32]

U.S. Route 40 Alternate was an alternate route of US 40. Up until the mid-1940s, a piece of US 40 used to run what was later Illinois Route 11 (then US 40 Alternate; now IL 140). After a completed bypass rerouted US 40 away from Greenville, IL 11 acquired most of the old route.^[33] Then, in 1947, IL 11 briefly extended to Vandalia after US 40 moved onto another bypass to avoid Hagarstown.^[34] In 1948, the formation of US 40 Alternate subsequently replaced IL 11 in the process.^[31] However, in 1967, IL 140 acquired most of the alternate route. The extension subsequently decommissioned US 40 Alt.^[32]

Washington alternate route

U.S. Route 40 Alternate
Location	Washington, Pennsylvania
Existed	yes

U.S. Route 40 Alternate was an alternate route of US 40. From west to east, it followed south via Jefferson Avenue, east via Beau Street, south via Franklin Street, and east via Maiden Street before ending at Main Street (originally US 40).^[35] By the 1950s, U.S. Route 40 Thru replaced the entirety of US 40 Alt.^[36] Then, by the 1960s, US 40 Thru was replaced by US 40 so that US 40 avoids downtown Washington.^[37]

Uniontown alternate route

U.S. Route 40 Alternate
Location	Uniontown, Pennsylvania
Existed	yes

U.S. Route 40 Alternate was an alternate route of US 40.

References

1. "Contact Us - Western Cooperative Electric". www.WesternCoop.com. Retrieved August 17, 2017.
2. Google (April 15, 2022). "Overview map of US-40 Bus. (Jctn. City)" (Map). Google Maps. Google. Retrieved April 15, 2022.
3. Highway Information Services Division (December 31, 2013). Highway Location Reference. Maryland State Highway Administration. Retrieved May 15, 2015.
   • Garrett County (PDF).
   • Allegany County (PDF).
   • Washington County (PDF).
   • Frederick County (PDF).
4. E. Arnett; et al. (1999). Maryland: A New Guide to the Old Line State. JHU Press. ISBN 0-8018-5980-8.
5. Nevada Department of Highways; Rand McNally & Company (1954). Official Highway Map of Nevada (Map). Scale not given. Carson City: Nevada Department of Highways. (PDF) from the original on May 12, 2005.
6. California Division of Highways (1955). Road Map of the State of California (Map). Scale not given. Sacramento: California Division of Highways.
7. Nevada State Highway Department; Rand McNally & Company (1963). Official Highway Map of Nevada (Map) (1963–1964 ed.). Scale not given. Carson City: Nevada State Highway Department.
8. California Division of Highways (1965). Road Map of the State of California (Map). [1:1,411,705]. Sacramento: California Division of Highways. OCLC 381149522.
9. California Division of Highways (1954). Road Map of the State of California (Map). [1:1,411,705]. Sacramento: California Division of Highways.
10. 1984 Kansas Highway Map (PDF) (Map). Retrieved 18 July 2020.
11. Kansas Department of Transportation (November 15, 2013). "Resolution to withdraw a highway in Russell County". Topeka: Kansas Department of Transportation. Retrieved July 16, 2020.
12. 1981-82 Kansas Highway Map (PDF) (Map). Retrieved 18 July 2020.
13. Special Committee on U.S. Route Numbering (October 28, 2013). (PDF) (Report). Washington, DC: American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials. Archived from the original (PDF) on June 3, 2019. Retrieved November 29, 2021.
14. 1937 Missouri Highway Map (Map). 1937. Retrieved 10 July 2020.
15. "Missouri Highway Maps Archive" (PDF). 1938.
16. Kansas City Map (1940) (Map). Retrieved 9 July 2020.
17. Missouri Highway Maps (Map). 1964.
18. "Missouri Highway Maps Archive" (PDF). 1935.
19. "1934 Missouri Highway Map". Retrieved 19 July 2020.
20. "Missouri Highway Maps Archive" (PDF). 1966.
21. Missouri Highway Maps Archive (PDF) (Map). 1960.
22. "Missouri Highway Map". Retrieved 9 July 2020.
23. Illinois Division of Highways; Rand McNally (1965). Illinois Official Highway Map (Map). [1:757,500]. Springfield: Illinois Division of Highways – via Illinois Digital Archives.
24. "1941 Missouri Highway Map" (PDF). 1941.
25. "1942 Missouri Highway Map" (PDF). 1942.
26. Illinois Secretary of State; Rand McNally (1939). Illinois Road Map (Map) (1939–1940 ed.). c. 1:918,720. Springfield: Illinois Secretary of State – via Illinois Digital Archives.
27. Illinois Department of Transportation (1977). Illinois Highway Map (Map). [1:772,500]. Springfield: Illinois Department of Transportation – via Illinois Digital Archives.
28. Illinois Division of Highways; H.M. Gousha (1960). Illinois Official Highway Map (Map). [1:790,00]. Springfield: Illinois Division of Highways – via Illinois Digital Archives.
29. Illinois Division of Highways; Rand McNally (1964). Illinois Official Highway Map (Map). [1:757,500]. Springfield: Illinois Division of Highways – via Illinois Digital Archives.
30. Illinois Division of Highways; H.M. Gousha (1963). Illinois Official Highway Map (Map). [1:790,00]. Springfield: Illinois Division of Highways. Retrieved October 4, 2020 – via Illinois Digital Archives.
31. Illinois Secretary of State; Rand McNally (1948). Illinois Road Map (Map). c. 1:918,720. Springfield: Illinois Secretary of State – via Illinois Digital Archives.
32. Illinois Division of Highways; Rand McNally (1967). Illinois Official Highway Map (Map). [1:772,500]. Springfield: Illinois Division of Highways – via Illinois Digital Archives.
33. Illinois Secretary of State; Rand McNally (1945). Illinois Road Map (Map). c. 1:918,720. Springfield: Illinois Secretary of State. Retrieved September 12, 2020 – via Illinois Digital Archives.
34. Illinois Secretary of State; Rand McNally (1947). Illinois Road Map (Map). c. 1:918,720. Springfield: Illinois Secretary of State. Retrieved September 12, 2020 – via Illinois Digital Archives.
35. "1940 Pennsylvania Highway Map" (PDF). Retrieved September 12, 2020.
36. "1950 Pennsylvania Highway Map" (PDF). Retrieved September 12, 2020.
37. "1960 Pennsylvania Highway Map" (PDF). Retrieved September 12, 2020.