The roadway in Hampton and Newport News (which has never connected directly with the "other" Military Highway) was later renamed to honor the Project Mercury space program of NASA's Langley Research Center which is located adjacent to, and shares a runway with Langley Air Force Base.
The route in Hampton and Newport News, which had not previously connected with "the other" Military Highway, was subsequently named after the Project Mercury space program of NASA's Langley Research Center. This center is located nearby and shares a runway with Langley Air Force Base.