Historic US highway endpoints in Fredericksburg, VA

Photo credits: Chris Elbert

The original north terminus of US 17 was at US 1 in Fredericksburg VA. Beginning in 1926, US 1 came into town from the north via Princess Anne Street, and then continued south on Lafayette Boulevard. US 17 came in from the south on Dixon Street, which connects with Princess Anne. So the original north end of US 17 was on Princess Anne at Lafayette. The photo below is looking east on Lafayette:

Elbert, July 2006

This was northbound US 1, which continued to the left. To the right was the north beginning of US 17. The signage at left is shown close-up below:

Elbert, July 2006

The original routes are now business loops - at least according to maps - but in most cases they're signed as if they're still the mainlines. (The reason US 1 is directed straight ahead is because Princess Anne is now one-way southbound, so northbound traffic uses Caroline Street, one block ahead.)

At some point, mainline US 1 may have been rerouted along the Jefferson Davis Highway, which bypasses downtown to the west (again, the uncertainty is due to whether signage on the maps or signage in the field is correct). If that happened, then US 17 would've been extended north on old US 1 (Princess Anne), ending at its junction with the new US 1. The photo below shows where Princess Anne ends at Jefferson Davis:

Elbert, July 2006

US 17 may have ended here. The frontside of the signs at far right are shown below:

Elbert, July 2006

Maps indicate that mainline US 17 follows I-95, and that this is Business US 17. Maps also show that mainline US 1 follows Jeff Davis (on the right), and that Princess Anne (on the left) is Business US 1 - but you can see how signage differs. Anyway, if the maps were ever correct, then US 17 once began to the left.

In 1965, US 17 was extended north to Winchester - you can view photos and get more info on my main US 17 page.