Rockfish Gap, Mountain pass in Blue Ridge Mountains, Virginia, United States
Rockfish Gap is a mountain pass rising about 1,900 feet above sea level through the Blue Ridge Mountains between Charlottesville and Waynesboro. Interstate 64, U.S. Route 250, and the CSX railway line all utilize this natural opening to connect the Shenandoah Valley with Virginia's Piedmont region.
The pass became a site of historic significance in 1818 when President James Monroe and Thomas Jefferson met at Mountain Top Tavern to decide on Charlottesville as the location for the University of Virginia. This meeting shaped decisions about education and development in the region during the early 19th century.
The Appalachian Trail passes through this gap, linking hikers to both the Skyline Drive and Blue Ridge Parkway mountain roads that shape the region's outdoor identity.
The pass is easily accessible via multiple transportation routes and serves drivers, train passengers, and hikers alike. During foggy weather and low visibility conditions, travelers should expect slower traffic and drive with extra caution.
The pass features a specialized pavement lighting and marking system designed to help drivers maintain lane control during dense fog. This safety innovation was installed to reduce the frequency of multi-vehicle collisions that once occurred regularly in these weather conditions.
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