In late 1940, the Commonwealth of Virginia renumbered some of its state highways in order to provide continuous numbers across state lines. At the same time, Maryland, North Carolina, and West Virginia took part by renumbering some of their highways to match Virginia's, and Tennessee planned to renumber one of its highways but never did.
List of renumbered routes
3 - truncated
State Route 3 was eliminated northwest of Sperryville by State Route 261 (now State Route 739) and State Route 522 (a placeholder for the extension of U.S. Route 522 into Virginia).
4 - newly assigned to match Kentucky
State Route 4, which had not existed immediately prior to 1940, was assigned as a renumbering of State Route 84 to match Kentucky Route 4. This is now U.S. Route 460.
7 - truncated
State Route 7 was eliminated northwest of Winchester and replaced by State Route 522 (a placeholder for the extension of U.S. Route 522 into Virginia).
9 - eliminated and reassigned to match West Virginia
Former State Route 9 was split between State Route 120 and State Route 123. The State Route 9 designation was then used as a renumbering of State Route 238 to match West Virginia Route 9.
10 - truncated
State Route 10 south of Suffolk became State Route 32 to match North Carolina Highway 32.
15 - realigned
U.S. Route 15 was relocated between Warrenton and Gilberts Corner. The old alignment became an extension of State Route 17 (to match Maryland Route 17), while the new alignment replaced a secondary route and part of State Route 234.
16 - eliminated and reassigned to match North Carolina and West Virginia
Former State Route 16 was renumbered State Route 27. This allowed State Route 16 to be used for all of former State Route 92 from North Carolina to Mouth of Wilson, followed US 58 to Volney, State Route 88 from Volney to Tazewell, and part of former State Route 81 from Tazewell to West Virginia. In North Carolina, North Carolina Highway 16 was rerouted over former North Carolina Highway 681 to match, while the former NC 16 to Tennessee became North Carolina Highway 88. West Virginia Route 12, at least near the Virginia line, became an extension of West Virginia Route 16.
17 - extended to match Maryland
State Route 17, which continued U.S. Route 17 northwest from Fredericksburg to Opal, was extended over U.S. Route 15 from Opal to Warrenton, former US 15 from Warrenton to Middleburg, secondary routes from Middleburg to south of Purcellville, and the northern piece of State Route 234 through Purcellville to Maryland. This is now U.S. Route 17, State Route 245, secondary routes, and State Route 287. Maryland swapped its Maryland Route 17 and Maryland Route 33 to match; SR 287's connection in Maryland is still MD 17. (The number 33 could not be used in Virginia because of U.S. Route 33.)
27 - eliminated and reassigned
State Route 27 was renumbered as State Route 170. On the North Carolina side, North Carolina Highway 170, which had ended at Sligo, was extended north along former North Carolina Highway 34. This is now State Route 168 and North Carolina Highway 168. The State Route 27 designation was reused for former State Route 16.
32 - eliminated and reassigned to match North Carolina
State Route 32 had run from Boykins west to Emporia, north to Purdy, and east through Jarratt. A short piece from Boykins to Branchville became an extension of State Route 195, which had ended at Branchville. SR 32 from Branchville to Purdy became a new State Route 88, and the piece east from Purdy became an extension of State Route 137. This had the effect of freeing up the State Route 32 designation for a renumbering of State Route 10 south of Suffolk to match North Carolina Highway 32.
34 - eliminated
State Route 34, which had run from Kenbridge via Lawrenceville to North Carolina, was eliminated. It became State Route 46 to match North Carolina Highway 46, but was realigned to end at Blackstone rather than Kenbridge; State Route 137 (which had run to Blackstone) was rerouted over former SR 34 to Kenbridge.
37 - eliminated and reassigned to match North Carolina
State Route 37, from Petersburg east to Garysville, was renumbered State Route 106. This freed up State Route 37 (now U.S. Route 13) to match North Carolina Highway 37, replacing all of State Route 53.
38 - extended
State Route 38 was extended northwest from Amelia along former State Route 49 to Tobaccoville. This eliminated an overlap with SR 49 and U.S. Route 360 southwest of Amelia; SR 49 north of Tobaccoville was replaced by the extension of U.S. Route 522 into Virginia.