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Regional Boards => Mid-Atlantic => Topic started by: NE2 on December 09, 2011, 05:35:56 PM

Title: How do the truck restrictions on I-66 in VA-DC work?
Post by: NE2 on December 09, 2011, 05:35:56 PM
According to VDOT (http://www.virginiadot.org/info/resources/Restricted_Truck_List.pdf) the truck restriction ends at North Lynn Street in Rosslyn, where I-66 stops being HOV-only. But in DC the Roosevelt Bridge is clearly posted 'no trucks'. A look at Google's street view photos shows very spotty signage; in particular, there does not seem to be a sign banning trucks from accessing the bridge from Constitution Avenue (US 50). So what are the official restrictions?
Title: Re: How do the truck restrictions on I-66 in VA-DC work?
Post by: froggie on December 09, 2011, 08:16:24 PM
The official restriction is no trucks period on the Roosevelt Bridge.
Title: Re: How do the truck restrictions on I-66 in VA-DC work?
Post by: NE2 on December 09, 2011, 08:45:32 PM
Quote from: froggie on December 09, 2011, 08:16:24 PM
The official restriction is no trucks period on the Roosevelt Bridge.
Where is this restriction codified?
Title: Re: How do the truck restrictions on I-66 in VA-DC work?
Post by: froggie on December 10, 2011, 06:20:10 AM
It's on DDOT's website if you dig deep enough.  Roosevelt Bridge is under DDOT jurisdiction so DC would call the shots.
Title: Re: How do the truck restrictions on I-66 in VA-DC work?
Post by: NE2 on December 10, 2011, 11:34:12 AM
Quote from: froggie on December 10, 2011, 06:20:10 AM
It's on DDOT's website if you dig deep enough.  Roosevelt Bridge is under DDOT jurisdiction so DC would call the shots.
I dug but found no bone.

Are trucks allowed on I-66 between North Lynn and SR 110?
Title: Re: How do the truck restrictions on I-66 in VA-DC work?
Post by: Sykotyk on December 10, 2011, 06:07:46 PM
Trucks can't go inside the I-495 loop on I-66 as far as I was aware.
Title: Re: How do the truck restrictions on I-66 in VA-DC work?
Post by: cpzilliacus on December 10, 2011, 09:08:21 PM
Quote from: NE2 on December 09, 2011, 05:35:56 PM
According to VDOT (http://www.virginiadot.org/info/resources/Restricted_Truck_List.pdf) the truck restriction ends at North Lynn Street in Rosslyn, where I-66 stops being HOV-only. But in DC the Roosevelt Bridge is clearly posted 'no trucks'. A look at Google's street view photos shows very spotty signage; in particular, there does not seem to be a sign banning trucks from accessing the bridge from Constitution Avenue (US 50). So what are the official restrictions?

(1) No trucks on I-66 between I-495 and the Rosslyn Tunnel under N. Lynn Street and N. Fort Myer Drive (there's no exit marked N. Lynn Street on I-66). 

(2) No trucks allowed on the T. Roosevelt Bridge (I-66/U.S. 50) crossing the Potomac River.  And, for that matter, no trucks allowed on Constitution Avenue, N.W. (which is U.S. 50) between Virginia Avenue and the T. Roosevelt Bridge.  That section of Constitution Avenue (but not the T. Roosevelt Bridge) is under the jurisdiction of the National Park Service.  Additionally, most of U.S. 50 (Arlington Boulevard) between the D.C./Virginia boundary and Fairfax Circle in the City of Fairfax prohibits trucks with a gross vehicle weight over 8 tons.  No such truck restrictions on U.S. 29 (which is mostly Lee Highway from Fairfax Circle to Rosslyn and the Virginia side of the Key Bridge).

(3) However, trucks are allowed on the (very short) segment of I-66 between the Rosslyn tunnel (Exit 73, marked U.S. 29 on the westbound side) and Va. 110 (Exit 75, marked Va. 110 South on the eastbound side). Trucks northbound on Va. 110 can get to U.S. 29 via I-66 westbound. Trucks going in either direction on U.S. 29 (Lee Highway in Virginia or coming from D.C. across the Key Bridge) [/b]can[/b] get to Va. 110 southbound via I-66 eastbound.
Title: Re: How do the truck restrictions on I-66 in VA-DC work?
Post by: Mapmikey on December 10, 2011, 09:30:13 PM
Street view shows signs telling motorists they can go 110 NB to US 29 via I-66 without worrying about HOV but there are oddly no signs that I could find on street view telling trucks they had to do the same.

There were also no signs on 66 EB at the 110 SB ramp saying trucks must follow 110, should any have gotten onto 66 from 29.

VA 110 is definitely not on the VDOT truck exclusion list linked above.

NO TRUCKS signs are more prevalent at entry points to the Memorial Bridge. 

Mapmikey
Title: Re: How do the truck restrictions on I-66 in VA-DC work?
Post by: NE2 on December 10, 2011, 10:52:21 PM
Another question: are trucks going to/from Dulles allowed to use I-66 to the Airport Access Road like non-HOVs are?

Quote from: Mapmikey on December 10, 2011, 09:30:13 PM
VA 110 is definitely not on the VDOT truck exclusion list linked above.
Neither is the east end of SR 27 or US 50 east of the Rosslyn exit, but both lead only to no-trucks roads.


Getting into fictional land, it would seem that a US 50 Truck should be posted along US 29/I-66/E Street Expressway/Virginia Avenue.
Title: Re: How do the truck restrictions on I-66 in VA-DC work?
Post by: froggie on December 11, 2011, 06:48:58 AM
QuoteAnother question: are trucks going to/from Dulles allowed to use I-66 to the Airport Access Road like non-HOVs are?

No.  The truck prohibition on 66 between the Beltway and Rosslyn (mentioned by CP) is pretty clear.
Title: Re: How do the truck restrictions on I-66 in VA-DC work?
Post by: cpzilliacus on December 12, 2011, 08:18:42 AM
Quote from: NE2 on December 10, 2011, 10:52:21 PM
Another question: are trucks going to/from Dulles allowed to use I-66 to the Airport Access Road like non-HOVs are?

No.  No trucks over 10,000 pounds gross vehicle weight on I-66 between the Rosslyn Tunnel (North Lynn Street) and I-495 - and no trucks over 10,000 pounds gross vehicle weight on the Dulles Connector Road.  Eastbound on the Dulles Access Road, there is signage telling trucks to exit at the last slipramp exit to Va. 267 just prior to the I-495. 

Post Merge: December 13, 2011, 10:27:40 PM

Quote from: Mapmikey on December 10, 2011, 09:30:13 PM
Street view shows signs telling motorists they can go 110 NB to US 29 via I-66 without worrying about HOV but there are oddly no signs that I could find on street view telling trucks they had to do the same.

That's correct.

QuoteThere were also no signs on 66 EB at the 110 SB ramp saying trucks must follow 110, should any have gotten onto 66 from 29.

Trucks (mostly "local" trucks, as in trash trucks, dump trucks and locally-based delivery trucks, including tractor-trailer combinations (usually belonging to grocery store chains)) all know this route.

QuoteVA 110 is definitely not on the VDOT truck exclusion list linked above.

For some time after the 09/11 attack on the Pentagon, there were no trucks allowed on Va. 110 between Va. 27 and I-395, but since 110 was re-routed away from the Pentagon, that restriction has been lifted.

QuoteNO TRUCKS signs are more prevalent at entry points to the Memorial Bridge.

Probably because the Arlington Memorial Bridge is under jurisdiction of the National Park Service.  U.S. Park Police vehicles (cars and motor units) frequently sit at the east end of the bridge (on the west side of the Lincoln Memorial) and will stop and ticket trucks crossing the bridge in either direction.  I don't know what the law says, but they generally ignore trucks up to 10,000 pounds GVW, even if they have commercial markings.  Buses (WMATA, PRTC and all sorts of private charter and tour buses) are allowed on the Memorial Bridge.

Post Merge: December 31, 1969, 06:59:59 PM

Quote from: NE2 on December 10, 2011, 10:52:21 PM
Getting into fictional land, it would seem that a US 50 Truck should be posted along US 29/I-66/E Street Expressway/Virginia Avenue.

The perfect U.S. 50 truck would diverge from U.S. 50 proper at 15th Street and Constitution Avenue, N.W. and follow U.S. 1 south (back to 14th Street), across the 14th Street Bridge, then south on I-395 to Va. 236 (Duke Street/Little River Turnpike).

Then west on Va. 236 to the City of Fairfax, and north on Pickett Road (past the large petroleum tank farm) back to U.S. 50.
Title: Re: How do the truck restrictions on I-66 in VA-DC work?
Post by: Duke87 on December 12, 2011, 07:40:48 PM
So, what's the reason for this restriction? Bridges that can't take the weight?

Very odd indeed to have an interstate with a permanent truck ban.
Title: Re: How do the truck restrictions on I-66 in VA-DC work?
Post by: NE2 on December 12, 2011, 08:32:14 PM
Quote from: Duke87 on December 12, 2011, 07:40:48 PM
So, what's the reason for this restriction? Bridges that can't take the weight?
In Virginia it's part of the agreement to get the road built. Over the Potomac I think it's to keep trucks away from the parks.
Title: Re: How do the truck restrictions on I-66 in VA-DC work?
Post by: cpzilliacus on December 13, 2011, 01:54:11 PM
Quote from: NE2 on December 12, 2011, 08:32:14 PM
Quote from: Duke87 on December 12, 2011, 07:40:48 PM
So, what's the reason for this restriction? Bridges that can't take the weight?
In Virginia it's part of the agreement to get the road built. Over the Potomac I think it's to keep trucks away from the parks.

In Virginia, the truck restriction was part of the Coleman Decision which was a compromise which got I-66 built between the Capital Beltway and Rosslyn in the late 1970's and early 1980's. 

As far as I know, all of the bridges and the pavement on this section of I-66 were designed and built to normal Virginia Interstate standards in effect at the time.  Large buses and heavy dump trucks belonging to VDOT's maintenance contractor use the road on a daily basis.
Title: Re: How do the truck restrictions on I-66 in VA-DC work?
Post by: Alps on December 13, 2011, 09:49:47 PM
Quote from: cpzilliacus on December 12, 2011, 08:30:11 AM

For some time after the 09/11 attack on the Pentagon, there were no trucks allowed on Va. 110 between Va. 27 and I-395, but since 110 was re-routed away from the Pentagon, that restriction has been lifted.
Now that would be a roadgeek adventure - how to get into that parking lot, take photographs (the lot goes through a freeway-size underpass), and leave with them, and post them, and be able to keep them online.
Title: Re: How do the truck restrictions on I-66 in VA-DC work?
Post by: froggie on December 13, 2011, 10:19:03 PM
QuoteNow that would be a roadgeek adventure - how to get into that parking lot, take photographs (the lot goes through a freeway-size underpass), and leave with them, and post them, and be able to keep them online.

You won't...at least not by car.  There's a security gate less than 150ft south of the VA 110 ramps just south of VA 27, as well as on the bridges coming across 110 from Boundary Channel Dr.  One could theoretically walk onto the pedestrian overpasses on either side of the tunnel, but unless you're a badged employee, I wouldn't tempt the Pentagon Police too much.
Title: Re: How do the truck restrictions on I-66 in VA-DC work?
Post by: rickmastfan67 on December 13, 2011, 10:29:08 PM
cpzilliacus, please don't triple post (unless your last post in the thread was more than 24h ago).  There is an edit button.  Thanks. ;)
Title: Re: How do the truck restrictions on I-66 in VA-DC work?
Post by: NE2 on December 13, 2011, 10:36:56 PM
Here's an aerial view during construction: http://www.navy.mil/view_single.asp?id=11492
(The east tunnel carried the Pennsylvania Railroad's Rosslyn Branch.)
Title: Re: How do the truck restrictions on I-66 in VA-DC work?
Post by: oscar on December 13, 2011, 11:20:14 PM
Quote from: froggie on December 13, 2011, 10:19:03 PM
QuoteNow that would be a roadgeek adventure - how to get into that parking lot, take photographs (the lot goes through a freeway-size underpass), and leave with them, and post them, and be able to keep them online.

You won't...at least not by car.  There's a security gate less than 150ft south of the VA 110 ramps just south of VA 27, as well as on the bridges coming across 110 from Boundary Channel Dr.  One could theoretically walk onto the pedestrian overpasses on either side of the tunnel, but unless you're a badged employee, I wouldn't tempt the Pentagon Police too much.

The "taking photographs" part (at least for the former, rather than the current, highway right of way) could also be tricky.  The military can be rather camera-shy on its property.  There is even a "no photography" sign in the Metro subway station underground next to the Pentagon building (the only place, AFAIK, in the Metrorail system with "no photography" signs).

Driving the old highway, while the VA 110 truck restrictions were in effect, was quite an adventure in itself, with Humvee-mounted anti-tank guns pointing into the traffic lanes, to stop any trucks that slipped past the police cars stationed on VA 110 north and south of the Pentagon.  I drove past those guns about once a week while they were there.
Title: Re: How do the truck restrictions on I-66 in VA-DC work?
Post by: Duke87 on December 18, 2011, 04:13:53 PM
Quote from: oscar on December 13, 2011, 11:20:14 PM
The military can be rather camera-shy on its property.

I took several pictures on Fort Gordon (near Augusta, GA) when I was there and nobody bothered me about it.

Of course, that's not quite the same thing as The Pentagon, and the stuff I was taking pictures of was all mundane... nothing of military significance.