VA 49 original 3 pieces 1929 Official

VA 49 all connected up 1931 Official

In July 1933 the following happened:
1. VA 49 south was extended east with VA 6, then replaced VA 419 through Maidens to end at VA 44 (now SR 711) Jefferson.
2. A separate piece of VA 49 was put in place as a renumbering of VA 707 from US 211 Ben Venue south to about Cordova.
3. A third separate piece was put in place from US 60 (now VA 13) Tobaccoville south to Amelia (replaced part of VA 406); duplexed with US 360 west to Burkeville; replaced VA 44 south through Victoria, Lunenburg CH, and Chase City to Clarksville; replaced VA 59 to about Buffalo Junction
4. A fourth separate piece replaced more VA 59 from US 501 through Virgilina to the Mecklenburg Line.
In Aug 1933 (CTB), the northern separate piece of VA 49 was extended south to VA 29 (now VA 229) above Culpeper, then duplexed with VA 29 and VA 3 to make VA 49 continuous in Culpeper County.
In Sept 1934 (CTB), VA 49 was extended north 1.4 miles from Ben Venue. Also, the gap in VA 49 between Virgilina and Buffalo Junction was placed into the primary system.
In 1934, VA 49 was placed on brand new construction (today's US 522) from VA 20 Unionville south to SR 719. The old route via Lahore became SR 602 and SR 668 (now SR 649, 629, and 669).
In Oct 1935 (CTB), VA 49 was made continuous when a segment between US 60 near Powhatan CH and VA 44 Jefferson was placed into the primary system, then VA 49 duplexed with VA 13 over to Tobaccoville.

VA 49 extended south 1933 Official

VA 49 gap closed in Powhatan Co 1936 Official

Also in Oct 1935, VA 49 was extended north as new primary routing to VA 3 (now SR 641) Flint Hill.

VA 49's new northern piece in 1933 1933 Official

VA 49 Culpeper to Flint Hill 1936 Official

Around 1935, VA 49 was placed on new construction southeast of Winston to SR 647 in Culpeper County, using present US 522. The old route became SR 655.
In Feb 1937 (CTB), VA 49 was rebuilt in Averett to stay to the north of the railroad instead of using two railroad crossings in a 1.3 mile stretch. The old route became secondary but was abandoned entirely by 1958. Some of this is now SR 748 Hobgood Dr.
In Oct 1938 (CTB), the new construction in Culpeper County continued across the Rapidan River and into Orange County to connect with the newer section at VA 20 (using more of US 522's route), leaving behind more SR 655 (Orange Co side now SR 636), SR 663, abandoned routing and SR 617 through Everona to Unionville, VA 20 duplex (now SR 671).

VA 49 new route south of VA 20 1935 Official

VA 49 partially rebuilt in Culpeper County 1936 Culpeper County

VA 49 new route north of VA 20 1940 Official

In April 1940 (CTB), VA 49 was removed from SR 762 in Mayo. Also in April 1940 (CTB), VA 49 was placed on current US 58/58 Bus routing west of Clarksville (upgrade to SR 723) leaving behind SR 750. In Oct 1940 (CTB), VA 49 north was truncated to US 360-460 Burkeville leaving behind VA 242 from Flint Hill to outside Culpeper (now SR 729); VA 29 (now VA 229) into Culpeper; VA 522 from Culpeper to Powhatan (today this is US 522 to southern Orange County; SR 719 via Belmont to Louisa County; US 522 to Goochland (numerous abandoned alignments visible); Maidens Loop; US 522); VA 13 Powhatan to Tobaccoville; VA 38 Tobaccoville to Amelia (now SR 681); US 360 Amelia to Burkeville. Additionally, VA 49 south was truncated to Virgilina with the route to US 501 becoming VA 96.

VA 49 north end 1940-48 1946 Nottoway County

VA 49 extended to US 501 in 1933 1933 Official

VA 49 truncated to Virgilina 1941-42 Official

In Aug 1941 (CTB), VA 49 was extended south to the North Carolina line.
In May 1948 (CTB), VA 49 replaced VA 136 from near Victoria through Crewe to end at US 360 Jennings Ordinary. The old route to Burkeville became SR 723.

VA 49 extended via Burkeville 1933 Official

VA 49 avoids Burkeville 1949 Official

In Sept 1957 (CTB), VA 49 was removed from SR 1029 Sycamore St and a bit of VA 92 Main St in Chase City. Instead VA 49 was placed on some SR 742 plus new construction to meet VA 92 west of town as it does today.

VA 49 using Sycamore to then-VA 46 Main St 1936 Mecklenburg County

VA 49 removed from Sycamore 1958 Mecklenburg County

Also about 1957, VA 49 was removed from Old Court St in Victoria.
In April 1958 (CTB), VA 49 was removed from SR 775 Neblett Field Rd
In May 1958 (CTB), VA 49 was removed from SR 701 Irwin Rd near US 15.
In Feb 1959 (CTB), VA 49 was given its current routing from US 460 Crewe north to US 360. This left behind SR 1044 Archer St and SR 630 Maryland Ave.
In May 1964 (CTB), VA 49 was removed from SR 824 Wilkerson Rd east of Virgilina.
In May 1965 (CTB), VA 49 was rebuilt just south of Crewe, leaving behind abandoned segments plus SR 1045 at Crewe Cemetary.
In July 1965 (CTB), VA 49 was removed from SR 852 Sub Station Rd south of Chase City.
In Dec 1966 (CTB), VA 49 was removed from SR 871 Sandy Fork Rd between Buffalo Junction and US 58.
In Aug 1978 (CTB), VA 49 was removed from its zig-zag southward off US 460 in Crewe that used Russell St instead of The Falls Rd.

VA 49 on Archer St and Maryland Ave in western Crewe 1958 Nottoway County

VA 49 on Russell St zig-zag in central Crewe 1958 Nottoway County

In 2006, the US 58 Clarksville Bypass was opened and VA 49 was signed along it (but not US 15). I don't believe there is a VA 49 Business although some VA 49 postings remain in Clarksville.

VA 49 original Clarksville Routing 1936 Mecklenburg County

VA 49 rerouted in Clarksville 1958 Mecklenburg County

Clarksville has a bypass 2000 Official

Improvements:  The first segments of VA 49 to be paved were in 1932 from Goochland to Gum Spring; Cuckoo to Mineral; VA 702 duplex
In 1933, VA 49 was paved on its entire extension south to US 501.
In 1934, VA 49 was paved on its new section south of VA 20.
In 1935, VA 49 was paved from Culpeper to the Rapidan River.
In 1938, VA 49 was paved from Mineral to Belmont.
In 1940, VA 49 was paved from Belmont to the 1934 paved progress and from VA 20 to the Rapidan River.
VA 49 became fully paved in Oct 1940 when the unpaved portion from Culpeper to Flint Hill was renumbered as VA 242.
VA 49 is multilane only on its US 58 duplex, since 1975.
Posted:  Fully posted;
Multiplexes:  US 460 (1.89 miles)
VA 40 (3.39 miles)
VA 47 (1.26 miles)
VA 92 (0.75 miles)
US 15 (1.60 miles)
US 58 (4.14 miles)
VA 96 (0.13 miles)
Truck Route: There is a signed VA 49 TRUCK in Victoria using VA 40, Railroad Ave, and Tidewater Ave. The point is to avoid a tight turn onto VA 40-49 Court St.
Legislative names:  Earle Davis Gregory Highway, NC Line to Crewe (since 3-3-97)
Other names:  Watsons Wood Rd (US 360 to US 460); Virgnia Ave (Crewe); The Falls Rd (Nottoway Co s of Crewe); Nottoway Blvd/Court St (Victoria); Courthouse Rd (Lunenburg Co s of Victoria); Main St/2nd St (Chase City); 7th St/Florence Av (Virgilina)
Scenic Byway:  No segments
Comment: VA 49 is a pretty quiet route that I first drove in the late 80s late at night. In the daytime it is pretty empty outside the towns but can be an effective back route from north-central North Carolina to the Richmond area.
The latest traffic log shows VA 49 running through Clarksville but it is really well posted on the bypass.