Special routes of U.S. Route 40
U.S. Route 40 has at least nine extant special routes.
WaKeeney business loop
U.S. Route 40 Business is a business route through WaKeeney, Kansas, that was recommended in 1979 as substitute for the formerly proposed Interstate 70 Business Loop. It begins at exit 127 on Interstate 70/U.S. Route 40 and travels to the north, concurrent with US-283 along South First Street. At the intersection with Barclay Avenue, US-40 Bus. and US-283 turn to the east. By the time Barclay Avenue encounters South 13th Street, US-283 turns left to the north, US-40 Bus. turns right to the south, and Old Highway 40 continues straight ahead to the east. After passing by the Kansas Veterans Cemetery, and the headquarters for the Western Co-Op Electric Association, US-40 Bus. terminates at exit 128 on I-70/US-40, while South 13th Street continues as a local road that changes its name to 260th Avenue.Junction City-Grandview Plaza business loop
Brownsville business loop
Business U.S. Route 40 is a -long loop through Redstone Township, Fayette County, Pennsylvania. While called the Brownsville business loop, it never officially enters the borough, but instead serves some of its associated commercial development. In 2009, a stretch of US 40 was relocated to provide better access to the new Pennsylvania Route 43 freeway. As a result of the protests of local businesses, the short bypassed stretch was signed.Uniontown business loop
Business U.S. Route 40 is a -long business route of U.S. Route 40 through downtown Uniontown, Pennsylvania, terminating at US 40 at both ends.This route was US 40's alignment through Uniontown prior to 1993, when a limited-access bypass around the southern edge of Uniontown was completed, causing US 40 to shift onto the expressway. The portion of the highway through the city center features a pair of one-way couplets along Main and Fayette Street. Trucks travelling westbound along Main Street are actually rerouted onto a street that is not state maintained, to avoid the narrow path in front of the Fayette County Courthouse.
Keysers Ridge–Cumberland alternate
U.S. Route 40 Alternate is the United States highway designation for a former segment of U.S. Route 40 through Garrett and Allegany Counties in Maryland. The highway begins at US 40 near exit 14 on Interstate 68 and runs eastward to Cumberland, where it ends at exit 44 on Interstate 68. is maintained by the Maryland State Highway Administration.The highway is known as Old National Pike to reflect the fact that it follows the original alignment of the National Road. As the route of the historic National Road, there are many historic sites along, including the Casselman Bridge in Grantsville and the last remaining National Road toll gate house in Maryland, located in LaVale.
When the National Freeway was built in western Maryland paralleling the old National Road, parts of U.S. Route 40 were bypassed. The part of the bypassed road between Keyser's Ridge and Cumberland became Alt US 40, and other bypassed sections east of Cumberland became Maryland Route 144 and U.S. Route 40 Scenic. Although has diminished in importance from its original status as the National Road due to the construction of Interstate 68, it remains an important route for local traffic and serves as the Main Streets of Grantsville and Frostburg.
Maryland scenic route
U.S. Route 40 Scenic is a scenic route of U.S. Route 40 in the U.S. state of Maryland. US 40 Scenic is the old alignment of US 40 over Town Hill in eastern Allegany County and Sideling Hill in far western Washington County. The highway was originally constructed as part of the National Road in the early 19th century and paved as a modern road in the mid-1910s. US 40 was relocated over Sideling Hill in the early 1950s and over Town Hill in the mid-1960s. The US 40 Scenic designation was first applied to the old highway over Town Hill in 1965. Following the completion of Interstate 68 at Sideling Hill, US 40 Scenic was extended east along old US 40's crossing of the mountain in the late 1980s. US 40 Scenic is the only U.S.-numbered scenic route, with US 412 Scenic becoming US 412 Alternate in 2012.Hagerstown–Frederick alternate
U.S. Route 40 Alternate is an alternate route of US 40 in the U.S. state of Maryland. The highway runs from Potomac Street in Hagerstown east to US 40 in Frederick. US 40 Alternate parallels US 40 to the south through eastern Washington County and western Frederick County. The alternate route connects Hagerstown and Frederick with Funkstown, Boonsboro, Middletown, and Braddock Heights.US 40 Alternate is the old alignment of US 40. The highway's path was blazed in the mid-18th century to connect the Hagerstown Valley and Shenandoah Valley with eastern Pennsylvania and central Maryland. In the early 19th century, US 40 Alternate's path was improved as part of a series of turnpikes to connect Baltimore with the eastern terminus of the National Road in Cumberland. The highway was improved as one of the original state roads in the early 1910s and designated US 40 in the late 1920s. Construction on a relocated US 40 between Hagerstown and Frederick with improved crossings of Catoctin Mountain and South Mountain began in the mid-1930s; the new highway was completed in the late 1940s. US 40 Alternate was assigned to the old route of US 40 in the early 1950s.
Baltimore truck route
U.S. Route 40 Truck is a truck route of US 40 to route truck traffic away from Baltimore's downtown area, which mainline US 40 passes through. US 40's mainline also includes several low bridges, including the bridge which Amtrak's Northeast Corridor uses to cross the route. US 40 Truck diverges from US 40 at the intersection of US 40 and Hilton Parkway, travelling north on the latter route to the western end of North Avenue. It runs east along the entire length of North Avenue, running concurrent with mainline US 1 from Fulton Avenue east. It turns north, along with US 1, onto Belair Road, and runs north until it meets Maryland Route 151. Here, it turns east again, following Erdman Avenue until it meets an interchange with mainline US 40 once again.Former routes
California alternate route
U.S. Route 40 Alternate was an alternate route of US 40. In 1954, US 40 Alt. was established, replacing a portion of California State Route 24 north of Davis. It roughly followed parts of present-day SR 113, SR 99, SR 20, SR 70, and U.S. Route 395 before ending in Reno. In 1964, US 40 Alt. was decommissioned in accordance with the state highway renumbering in California.Russell business loop
Business U.S. Route 40 was a short business loop through Russell, Kansas. It ran from Exit 184 along Interstate 70/US 40, overlapping part of U.S. Route 281 then makes a right turn onto East Wichita Avenue. Just before the intersection with 187th Street, the road curves from east to southeast as it follows the south side of a railroad line, and passes the northeast side of the Russell Municipal Airport. East Wichita Avenue ends at 189th Street and BUS US 40 makes a right turn south as it ends at Exit 189 on I-70/US 40.Business US 40 was formed in the mid-1980s after Alternate US 40 was decommissioned in Russell. US-40 Business was decommissioned on November 15, 2013.
Junction City alternate route
U.S. Route 40 Alternate was an alternate route of US 40.Kansas City optional route
U.S. Route 40 Optional was an optional route of US 40. Before 1938, US 40 Optional used to end east of the city limit. It was then truncated as of 1938 to make way for US 40 Alternate. It ran along present-day Beardsley Road, Pennway Street, Summit Street, 27th Street,Broadway Boulevard, Wyandotte Street, and Linwood Boulevard before ending at The Paseo. By 1964, US 40 Optional was decommissioned.