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presents

The Roads and Rails of Mercer County, WV /

CR 18

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Highway	Names	Start	Terminus	Length (km)
CR 18	Hilltop-Laurel Creek Rd., Red Sulphur Turnpike	CR 9 east of Athens	Summers County line, Hilltop, continues as CR 28	11

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Overview

County Route 18 is a road in eastern Mercer County. It begins east of Athens, continuing in the same direction as the western segment of CR 9. It ascends the Tracy Fork valley to Pettry, then follows ridgetops to Hill Top on the Summers County line. In Summers County, the road continues as CR 28, and descends towards a historical ferry site on the New River. Although CR 18 is predominently a single-lane road, the segment west of Pettry is two-laned with a centre line.

History

Like the westernmost segment of CR 9, CR 18 has its origins in the Red Sulphur Turnpike of the mid-nineteenth century. It's likely one of the oldest roads in Mercer County.

CR 18 was commissioned in 1933, and routed upon this pre-existing infrastructure. Its course has been unchanged since its inception.

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All photos by the author, 2000:

One of many spectacular views to be seen from CR 18, taken from a turn-out east of Pettry at 37.4446,-80.9468. There's considerably more plant growth now, which affects the view...but the scenery speaks for itself.

The ridge in the distance is 4-5 km away, and carries CR 9/3 and 22/2 north of Elgood. Island Creek passes in the foreground.

This was taken from a hairpin curve at 37.4558, -80.9407, halfway between Pettry and the Mercer-Summers County line. There are two prominent ridges on the horizon. The nearer of these is Chestnut Knob, approximately 5 km away. Lurking behind it is Peters Mountain on the far side of the New River: It's roughly 12 km away, and partially in Virginia. You can see three counties in two states from this perspective!

This was taken at approximately 37.4604, -80.9310, facing north. The distant hill is Indian Ridge, located about 4.5 km away in Summers County. The stream winding in the foreground is Hackett Creek, while the nearest hillside to the left is part of Hackett Ridge. Neither had anything to do with Steve Hackett of Genesis.

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Fractional spur roads

Road	Names	Start	Terminus	Length (km)	Notes
18/1	Hackett Ridge Rd.	CR 18 east of Pettry	dead end	4	Original 1930s road with numbers assigned from west to east.
18/2	Basham Hill Rd., Island Creek Rd.	CR 18 east of Pettry	CR 9/3	4	Original 1930s road with numbers assigned from west to east.
18/3	Pettry Rd.	CR 18, Pettry	CR 44/4 and 44/7	insignificant	Added by 1935.

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