Virginia State Route 56

{{Short description|State highway in Virginia, United States}} {{Use American English|date=April 2025}} {{Use mdy dates|date=January 2025}} {{Infobox road |state = VA |type = VA |route = 56 |length_mi = 60.87 |length_ref = <ref name="VDOT Traffic Data"/> |length_round = 2 |map = VA 56 map.svg |established = 1930 |tourist = 20px|alt=|link= Virginia Byway |direction_a = West |direction_b = East |terminus_a = {{jct|state=VA|US|11|Sec|851|county2=Augusta}} at Steeles Tavern |junction = {{jct|state=VA|US|29}} in Lovingston |terminus_b = {{jct|state=VA|US|60}} at Alcoma |counties = Augusta, Rockbridge, Nelson, Buckingham |previous_type = VA |previous_route = 55 |next_type = VA |next_route = 57 }}

'''State Route 56''' ('''SR 56''') is a primary state highway in the U.S. state of Virginia. The state highway runs {{convert|60.87|mi|km}} from U.S. Route 11 (US 11) at Steeles Tavern east to US 60 near Buckingham. SR 56 is the main east–west highway of Nelson County. The state highway connects the county seat of Lovingston with Buckingham to the east and the Blue Ridge Mountains and the Shenandoah Valley to the west.

==Route description== thumb|left|View west along SR 56 west of SR 151 near Roseland SR 56 begins at an intersection with US 11 (Lee Highway) at Steeles Tavern a short distance east of the historic Cyrus McCormick Farm. The junction is just north of the Augusta–Rockbridge county line. SR 56 heads southeast into Rockbridge County as Tye River Turnpike, which enters George Washington National Forest and passes under Norfolk Southern Railway's Roanoke District at the village of Vesuvius. The state highway follows Little Marys Creek along its winding ascent of the Blue Ridge Mountains. SR 56 intersects the Blue Ridge Parkway at Tye River Gap, where the highway enters Nelson County and becomes Crabtree Falls Highway. The state highway descends through Montebello and follows the South Fork of the Tye River past Crabtree Falls to Nash, where the highway begins to follow the Tye River proper.<ref name="VDOT Traffic Data"/><ref name="Google Maps VA 56"/>

thumb|right|View west along SR 56 in Rockbridge County during autumn SR 56 leaves the national forest and enters more gentle terrain just west of Tyro, the site of the Tyro Mill. The state highway follows the Tye River through Massies Mill to Roseland, where the highway turns south to join SR 151 on Patrick Henry Highway. The two highways run through the hamlet of Hendersons Store to just north of Piney River, where the highways diverge at a wye intersection; the short connector between SR 151 south and SR 56 east is SR 151Y. SR 56 heads east as Tye Brook Highway, which heads east and crosses the Tye River before intersecting US 29 (Thomas Nelson Highway) at Colleen. The two highways run concurrently northeast past historic Mitchell's Brick House Tavern, contemporary Nelson County High School, and historic Lovingston High School on their way to Lovingston.<ref name="VDOT Traffic Data"/><ref name="Google Maps VA 56"/>

SR 56 splits northeast from US 29 along Front Street, which also carries US 29 Business. At the south end of the Lovingston Historic District, SR 56 turns southeast onto James River Road. SR 56 heads southeast through an at-grade crossing of Norfolk Southern's Washington District at Shipman. The state highway passes through a gap between Findlay Mountain and Thomas Mountain to Red Apple Orchard. At Wingina, SR 56 passes the historic home Soldier's Joy and has an at-grade intersection with CSX's Rivanna Subdivision, then crosses the James River into Buckingham County. The state highway passes through Woods Corner before reaching its eastern terminus at US 60 (James Anderson Highway) in Alcoma west of the county seat of Buckingham.<ref name="VDOT Traffic Data"/><ref name="Google Maps VA 56"/>

==Major intersections== {{jcttop|length_ref=<ref name="VDOT Traffic Data"/>}} {{VAint |county=Augusta |location=Steeles Tavern |mile=0.00 |road={{jct|state=VA|US|11|name1=Lee Highway|Sec|851|county2=Augusta|name2=Midway School Road|to3=to|I|81|city1=Lexington|city2=Staunton}} |notes=Western terminus }} {{jctco|state=VA|county=Rockbridge}} {{Jctint |state=VA |county=Nelson |cspan=7 |location_special=Tye River Gap |mile=5.43 |road={{jct|state=VA|BRP}} |notes=Interchange }} {{VAint |type=concur |location=Lanes Ford |mile=23.69 |road={{jct|state=VA|SR|151|dir1=north|name1=Patrick Henry Highway|city1=Wintergreen|city2=Afton}} |notes=Western end of SR 151 concurrency }} {{VAint |type=concur |location=Shady Lane |mile=26.25 |road={{jct|state=VA|SR|151|dir1=south|name1=Patrick Henry Highway|city1=Piney River|city2=Lynchburg}} |notes=Eastern end of SR 151 concurrency }} {{VAint |location=none |mile= |road={{jct|state=VA|Sec|655|county1=Nelson|name1=Roseland Road|city1=Roseland}} |notes=former planned SR 56 west }} {{VAint |type=concur |location=Colleen |mile=31.28 |road={{jct|state=VA|US|29|dir1=south|name1=Thomas Nelson Highway|city1=Lynchburg}} |notes=Western end of US 29 concurrency }} {{VAint |type=concur |location=none |mile=35.56 |road={{jct|state=VA|US|29|dir1=north|name1=Thomas Nelson Highway|city1=Charlottesville}} |notes=Eastern end of US 29 concurrency; western end of US 29 Bus. concurrency }} {{VAint |type=concur |location=Lovingston |mile=35.86 |road={{jct|state=VA|US-Bus|29|dab1=Lovingston|dir1=north|name1=Front Street|city1=Charlottesville}} |notes=Eastern end of US 29 Bus. concurrency }} {{VAint |county=Buckingham |cspan=2 |location=none |mile= |road={{jct|state=VA|Sec|602|county1=Buckingham|name1=Howardsville Road|location1=Glenmore|location2=Howardsville}} |notes=former SR 283 north }} {{VAint |location=Dentons Corner |mile=60.87 |road={{jct|state=VA|US|60|name1=West James Anderson Highway}} |notes=Eastern terminus }} {{jctbtm|keys=concur}}

==References== <references>

<ref name="VDOT Traffic Data">{{cite web|url=http://www.virginiadot.org/info/2009_traffic_data_by_jurisdiction.asp|title=2009 Traffic Data|publisher=Virginia Department of Transportation|year=2009|access-date=2011-08-30}} *[http://www.virginiadot.org/info/resources/2009/AADT_014_Augusta_2009.pdf Augusta County, City of Staunton, and City of Waynesboro] (PDF) *[http://www.virginiadot.org/info/resources/2009/AADT_081_Rockbridge_2009.pdf Rockbridge County, City of Buena Vista, and City of Lexington] (PDF) *[http://www.virginiadot.org/info/resources/2009/AADT_062_Nelson_2009.pdf Nelson County] (PDF) *[http://www.virginiadot.org/info/resources/2009/AADT_014_Buckingham_2009.pdf Buckingham County] (PDF) </ref>

<ref name="Google Maps VA 56">{{google maps|url=https://maps.google.com/maps?saddr=VA-56+E%2FThe+River+Turnpike&daddr=VA-56+E%2FS+James+River+Rd&hl=en&sll=37.926326,-79.198787&sspn=0.01244,0.019205&geocode=FXyyQgId7HZH-w%3BFQ0QPQIdmuNQ-w&vpsrc=0&mra=ls&t=h&z=10|title=Virginia State Route 56|access-date=2011-08-30}}</ref>

</references>

==External links== {{commons category}} {{Attached KML|display=title,inline}} *[http://www.vahighways.com/route-log/va056.htm Virginia Highways Project: VA 56]

056 State Route 056 State Route 056 State Route 056 State Route 056 Category:Virginia Byways