West Virginia Route 972
{{short description|State highway in West Virginia, United States}}
{{Use American English|date=May 2025}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=October 2012}}
{{Infobox road
|state=WV
|type=WV
|route=972
|map={{maplink|frame=yes|plain=yes|frame-align=center|frame-width=290|frame-height=240|type=line|raw={{Wikipedia:Map data/Wikipedia KML/West Virginia Route 972}}}}
|map_custom=yes
|map_notes=WV 972 highlighted in red
|length_mi=2.19
|length_ref={{cite web|url=http://gis.wvdot.com/gti/GISTemplates/CompleteRoutes.aspx|title=Complete Routes|year=2009|publisher=West Virginia Department of Highways|accessdate=June 6, 2013|format=ESRI Shapefile}}
|established=1972
|decommissioned=2017
|direction_a=South
|terminus_a={{jct|state=WV|US|50}} near New Creek
|direction_b=North
|terminus_b={{jct|state=WV|US|220}} near New Creek
|counties=Mineral
|previous_type=WV
|previous_route=971
|next_type=WV
|next_route=2
}}
West Virginia Route 972 was a short north–south state highway in Mineral County, West Virginia. It was decommissioned in July 2017, becoming an extension of WV 93.{{cite web|url=http://www.times-news.com/news/route-changing-to/article_bea8e13c-51db-11e7-a0e9-0b11812fcf9b.html|title=Route 972 changing to 93|publisher=Cumberland Times-News|date=2017-06-15}} The route connected U.S. Route 220 to U.S. Route 50 in the New Creek Valley. New Creek, West Virginia, the only populated place on the route, is located midway between US 50 and US 220. Route 972 was the highest numbered road in the state of West Virginia. Prior to 1972, WV 972 was part of US 220. In 1972, US 220 was moved to its present alignment east of New Creek.
Route description
Route 972 began at the New Creek Wye in the community of Claysville, West Virginia at an intersection with U.S. Route 50. The highway progressed to the northeast, crossing through residences to the west and forests to the east, crossing Del Signore Farm Road and passing the New Creek School. Route 972 continued through the residences along the nearby mountainside, entering the community of New Creek after an intersection with Kings Run Road. The highway continued northward through New Creek, passing through the downtown farmland and continued its northeastern trek through the mountainside. As Route 972 curved to the north, it passed through downtown New Creek's large set of residences before intersecting with Meadowlark Acre Road and terminating at an intersection with U.S. Route 220 (Cut-Off Road).{{Bing maps|url=http://www.maps.bing.com/maps/?FORM=Z9LH9#JmNwPTM5LjM4MjMzNzE4Mjc2MDI0Nn4tNzkuMDIyNjM2MTUyODAzOSZsdmw9MTQmc3R5PWgmcnRwPXBvcy4zOS4zNjk3ODkzMjIxMjY1OV8tNzkuMDMzNDU3ODYwMzUwNjFfbmVhciUyMFdWLTk3MiUyMCUyNiUyME5ldyUyMENyZWVrJTIwV3llJTJDJTIwTmV3JTIwQ3JlZWslMkMlMjBXZXN0JTIwVmlyZ2luaWElMjAyNjc0MyUyQyUyMFVuaXRlZCUyMFN0YXRlc19fX2FffnBvcy4zOS4zOTUxOTQzNTE2NzMxMjZfLTc5LjAxMjUzNTI4ODkyOTk0X19fX2FfJm1vZGU9RCZydG9wPTB+MH4wfg==|title=Overview map of West Virginia Route 972|accessdate=May 10, 2010}}
History
Route 972 was a former alignment of U.S. Route 220{{cite web|url=http://www.transportation.wv.gov/highways/traffic/Documents/TED220.pdf|title=Traffic Engineering Directive – 220|date=October 1, 1993|publisher=West Virginia Department of Transportation|page=12|accessdate=May 10, 2010}} prior to the building of the New Creek Cut-Off, constructed through Keyser before 1943 through the New Creek Valley.{{cite book|last=Woodward|first=Herbert Preston|title=Devonian system of West Virginia|publisher=West Virginia Geological Survey|year=1943|volume=15}} In July 2017, the route became part of an extended WV 93.
Major intersections
References
{{reflist}}
External links
{{commonscat|West Virginia Route 972}}
{{Attached KML|display=inline,title}}
- [http://www.millenniumhwy.net/wvroads/wvthree-digitstate.html WV Highways – 3 digit highways]