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View east along U.S. Route 58 (Laskin Road) at U.S. Route 58 Business (Virginia Beach Boulevard) in Virginia Beach, Virginia. Photo by Famartin.

Top 10 Facts about Virginia Beach Boulevard

Virginia Beach is an independent city in the Commonwealth of Virginia, situated on the Atlantic Ocean. Transportation within the city and across its neighboring towns is served by air, rail, bridge-tunnel complexes, and highways.

The Virginia Beach Boulevard is one of the major connector highways and a significant commercial corridor in the city. It runs from downtown Norfolk to the oceanfront area of Virginia Beach, linking the two independent cities by road.

The highway dates back to the early 20^th century and has now extended over the years to a major traffic artery. Several grand shopping complexes have been established along some of its major intersections.

The highway also passes through the newly set up New Urbanist Town Center Development in the Pembroke area.

Here are the top 10 facts about Virginia Beach Boulevard.

1. Virginia Beach Boulevard was opened in 1922

Steam-powered locomotive by Ronile-

Originally, Virginia Beach mainly relied on steam-powered railroads after the construction of a rail system in 1883, and later on electric trolley service for transport.

In the early 20^th century, rubber-tired automobiles started emerging, becoming a more preferred mode of personalized transport.

The first concrete roadway from Norfolk to Virginia Beach was then opened in 1922. It became known as the ‘Boulevard’.

2. It greatly contributed to the growth of the oceanfront area in Virginia Beach

Virginia Beach Oceanfront skyline by Jc7792.

In the late 19^th century, the oceanfront area of present-day Virginia Beach began to steadily grow. The resort strip was already attracting visitors from around the region.

Rail and electric trolley services were still the main means of transport. These were later complimented by automobiles in the early 20^th century. Tourists preferred these as a more personalized means of travel.

The Virginia Beach Boulevard was the primary access to the oceanfront area. It traversed the outskirts of Norfolk, the rural areas of former Princess Anne County to reach the developing oceanfront resort town.

It, therefore, opened up the area by granting access to buses, trucks, and automobiles to the area.

3. It links two independent cities in Virginia

These are Norfolk and Virginia Beach. Norfolk shares a land boundary with Virginia Beach to its east. As it is bordered by water masses, Elizabeth River on its west, and the Chesapeake Bay to the north, Norfolk has a stretch of beaches and bayfront properties.

Transportation is by bridges and tunnels, bus and rail services, and highway connectors to neighboring cities. Virginia Beach Boulevard connects Norfolk downtown to the oceanfront area of Virginia Beach.

4. The Boulevard has been extended over the years

As traffic increased, Virginia Beach Boulevard was expanded. Service roads were built along both sides. The Boulevard now covers approximately 18.55 miles, most of it being across Virginia Beach. Its west end is at W.Olney Road in Norfolk, stretching through to its east end at Atlantic Avenue in Virginia Beach.

5. Most of its length is signed U.S Route 58

View north along U.S. Route 25E at U.S. Route 58 (Wilderness Road) just southeast of Cumberland Gap in Claiborne County, Tennessee. Photo by Famartin.

The U.S State 58 is the longest numbered route in Virginia, running a full 818 kilometers from Virginia Beach to Tenessee.

Most of it is, however, within Virginia. It stretches from U.S Route 25E just south of the Cumberland Gap Tunnel at Tenessee to U.S Route 60 in Virginia Beach.

A huge portion of Virginia Beach Boulevard is signed as U.S Route 58, as the latter traverses Virginia Beach. An exception is the Boulevard’s easternmost section, east of Great Neck Road, signed State Route 279.

6. It is regarded as an equivalent of Virginia Beach’s ‘Main Street

Virginia Beach Boulevard is one of the major traffic arteries of Virginia Beach. It stretches approximately 18.55 miles, beginning at Norfolk’s western terminus, and traversing through Virginia Beach to its Oceanfront area.

It passes through the New Urbanist Town Center around the Pembroke area at Independence Boulevard. It continues to serve as a major connector highway within the city, and several development projects have been established around some of its major intersections. It is therefore a significant commercial corridor in the city as well.

7. It is served by only one Hampton Roads Transit bus service route

Hampton Roads Transit bus. Photo by Ben Schumin.

Route 20 is the only Hampton Roads Transit bus service route that serves Virginia Beach Boulevard. It is notably one of the busiest and longest routes in the region, stretching from downtown Norfolk to the Virginia Beach Oceanfront area.

It serves several points, including London Bridge, Newtown Road, Laskin Road, and Virginia Beach Town Center.

8. Major shopping complexes have been established at some of its intersections

Shopping mall by StockSnap –

The JANAF Shopping Yard was built at the intersection of Virginia Beach Boulevard and Military Highway in 1959.

The latter is a 4 to 8-lane roadway in the South Hampton Roads Region of eastern Virginia built during World War II. JANAF was the largest shopping center in Virginia at the time, covering more than 80 acres.  It is still one of the largest open-air shops in the region.

Pembroke Mall was built in 1966, with more than 48 stores near the intersection as well.  It is currently under redevelopment.

As an influx of people moving into the area for work, or to live increased, more malls have been built, and of course, traffic has increased as well.

9. It is largely paralleled with Virginia Beach Expressway

Virginia Beach Expressway, now designated Interstate-264, is an interstate highway connecting the central business districts of Virginia Beach, Portsmouth, Norfolk, and Chesapeake. It is the primary east-west highway cruising through the South Hampton Roads region in southeastern Virginia.

As traffic increased on the Boulevard, the Expressway was installed as a toll road. It was completed in 1967.

Having been funded by tolls, these were later removed in 1996. Virginia Beach Boulevard, however, remained a major connector highway in the city.

10. Virginia Beach Boulevard currently terminates at Atlantic Avenue

Virginia Beach, VA 28th Street, Atlantic Avenue. Photo by AboutMyTrip.

At the Great Neck Road intersection, Laskin Road splits from the Boulevard and takes Route 58 designation. The Boulevard becomes Business U.S Route 58 until it terminates at Atlantic Avenue in the oceanfront area.

It previously terminated just a few blocks before reaching the oceanfront, with the road continuing as 17^th Street. The Boulevard designation was later extended, replacing 17^th street, to terminate at Atlantic Avenue.