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The Staunton-Parkersburg Turnpike was a major early road in Virginia, planned to connect Staunton (Virginia) to Parkersburg on the Ohio River. It was part of a larger plan to improve transportation through roads and canals that started in the early 1800s.
The route was first surveyed in 1823 by engineer Claudius Crozet. However, construction didn’t start seriously until 1841, and the road wasn’t fully finished until 1850 due to money problems, difficult terrain, and local disagreements. The road went through very remote areas, which also made the work slower.
This turnpike became the first continuous route from Richmond to the Ohio River through western Virginia. It later faced competition from the Northwestern Turnpike and railroads.
Today, much of the old road is followed by U.S. Route 250 and State Route 47, and it is remembered as the Staunton-Parkersburg Turnpike National Scenic Byway.