Print

Please login or register.
1 Hour 1 Day 1 Week 1 Month Forever
Login with username, password and session length

[Beltway]

I-195 ends just west of the east wye of the delta freeway interchange.  An 0.9-mile section of the Downtown Expressway was funded and built by VDOT as Project 0088, to reduce the need for RMA to use toll revenue bonds, and that runs from the end of I-195 eastward.  Project 0088 is administered by VDOT and is VA-195, not I-195.  Project 0088 is very identifiable now as the concrete pavement that is being replaced on VA-195 and VA-146, and it will be overlaid with asphalt ... and that is a VDOT project.  RMA rehabbed and overlaid its concrete pavements about 10 years ago.

Explains the appearance of BEGIN and END shields on I-195, then. The VDOT page on the project only mentioned the pavement rehabilitation project, it didn't mention signage.

Most likely those signs were posted to clearly delineate the boundaries between VDOT and RMA administration, for agency uses.  Shows who is responsible for mowing, plowing, etc.

The title notwithstanding, this project includes portions of both I-195 and VA-195.  The north leg of the delta interchange up to the eastermost local ramps is I-195.

I-195 Concrete Repairs
http://virginiadot.org/projects/richmond/i-195_concrete_repairs.asp

I suppose it would be easier to make the whole thing I-195, or perhaps I-695.  Since the City of Richmond has no state secondary roads, 695 in the city would not interfere with any pre-existing routes.

[WillWeaverRVA]

Well, there are already signs that delineate where RMA jurisdiction begins; RMA always posts "Begin/End RMA Expressway" signs in the appropriate locations. There are such signs near the Downtown Expressway toll plaza, at the northern end of VA 76 at I-195, on VA 76 at the Chesterfield County/City of Richmond line, and on VA 146. There is also a "Begin RMA Expressway" sign at the onramp from VA 150 to northbound VA 76.

[1995hoo]

Had to go to Falls Church earlier today and I stopped to take some pictures from the Idylwood Road overpass above the Beltway. (That hill leading up to it is a lot steeper than it seems in a car!) There is also a new sign for the Express Lanes exit to I-66 on the Inner Loop between US-50 and US-29, and it isn't covered up yet, but I wasn't able to get a picture of that due to traffic. I assume it will be covered next time I go through there.

I understand that each of those white Botts dot–type mounds will eventually be topped with a pylon of the sort visible in this picture, which is looking north towards Tysons (sorry about the black obstruction on the sides; that's from the chain-link fence on the bridge):




Closer view of the same area:




Looking south towards I-66 now. It looks to me like it's being set up so the cops have space to park just past the toll collection gantries:




Close-up of the toll gantry with equipment installed. It's a bit jaggy because I didn't expect to have time to stop to take pictures and so didn't bring my real camera:

[cpzilliacus]

WRC-TV (Channel 4, NBC in Washington, D.C.) is promoting a sweeps month special about VDOT's failure to maintain its overhead signs to air on its Thursday (3-May-2012) late night news broadcast at 11:00 P.M.

[1995hoo]

WRC-TV (Channel 4, NBC in Washington, D.C.) is promoting a sweeps month special about VDOT's failure to maintain its overhead signs to air on its Thursday (3-May-2012) late night news broadcast at 11:00 P.M.

Thanks for that info, I may set the DVR to record it. I normally watch their 11:00 news, but I have a feeling I may not make it that late tonight since it was after 1:00 by the time we got home from last night's Caps game and then I couldn't fall asleep. I'm feeling it this morning....

[cpzilliacus]

TOLLROADSnews: New toll system for Dulles Toll Road - first steps

[cpzilliacus]

WRC-TV (Channel 4, NBC in Washington, D.C.) is promoting a sweeps month special about VDOT's failure to maintain its overhead signs to air on its Thursday (3-May-2012) late night news broadcast at 11:00 P.M.

The report concentrated on structural problems with overhead signs and high-mast lighting.

More to come tomorrow night (Friday, 4-May-2012). 

Curiously, there was a campaign-style ad by the Virginia Republican Party featuring incumbent Gov. Bob McDonnell.  I say curiously since Virginia governors may not succeed themselves, and I have to wonder if the ad was designed to counteract the impact of this news story.

[oscar]

Curiously, there was a campaign-style ad by the Virginia Republican Party featuring incumbent Gov. Bob McDonnell.  I say curiously since Virginia governors may not succeed themselves, and I have to wonder if the ad was designed to counteract the impact of this news story.

Looked a lot like promoting McDonnell as a possible running mate to Mitt Romney.  Only a snippet about transportation issues.

[1995hoo]

WRC-TV (Channel 4, NBC in Washington, D.C.) is promoting a sweeps month special about VDOT's failure to maintain its overhead signs to air on its Thursday (3-May-2012) late night news broadcast at 11:00 P.M.

The report concentrated on structural problems with overhead signs and high-mast lighting.

....

Less interesting than it sounded, then. I recorded it and will watch it later today....I was nodding off on the couch by 10:00 last night and turned in for good by 10:15 (tell you what, getting over nine hours of sleep feels great!), so thanks for letting us all know it would be airing.

[Beltway]

Curiously, there was a campaign-style ad by the Virginia Republican Party featuring incumbent Gov. Bob McDonnell.  I say curiously since Virginia governors may not succeed themselves, and I have to wonder if the ad was designed to counteract the impact of this news story.

Looked a lot like promoting McDonnell as a possible running mate to Mitt Romney.  Only a snippet about transportation issues.

He's near the bottom of the list if at all ...

[WillWeaverRVA]

WRC-TV (Channel 4, NBC in Washington, D.C.) is promoting a sweeps month special about VDOT's failure to maintain its overhead signs to air on its Thursday (3-May-2012) late night news broadcast at 11:00 P.M.

The report concentrated on structural problems with overhead signs and high-mast lighting.

More to come tomorrow night (Friday, 4-May-2012). 

I suppose this might explain why VDOT seems to be moving away from bridge-mounted overhead signs and replacing them with overhead gantries or simple signs on the side of the road...

[MASTERNC]

FYI you can now send comments about VDOT's proposed E-ZPass fee

http://www.virginiadot.org/newsroom/e-zpass_info.asp

[oscar]

Had to go to Falls Church earlier today and I stopped to take some pictures from the Idylwood Road overpass above the Beltway. (That hill leading up to it is a lot steeper than it seems in a car!) There is also a new sign for the Express Lanes exit to I-66 on the Inner Loop between US-50 and US-29, and it isn't covered up yet, but I wasn't able to get a picture of that due to traffic. I assume it will be covered next time I go through there.

Here are pictures I took today of two signs for the I-495 express lanes, on westbound I-66 approaching I-495.  The first was taken from roadside, at exit 66 (VA 7/Leesburg Pike).  The second was taken just east of the first sign, from the shoulder of the bus-only ramp from the Dulles Access Road to the north side of the West Falls Church Metro station.  There are other signs for the I-495 express lanes, on I-66 both west and east of I-495 (one of those signs is in the background of the first photo below), but those are partially or fully covered.

[NE2]

That '2 axle vehicles buses only' doesn't jibe with the phrase structure of the other panels. On first reading it sounds like they're saying that the only 2 axle vehicles allowed are buses.

[1995hoo]

Went to Tysons for a deposition today and was surprised to see the I-66 exit sign isn't covered up yet. This gives a good sense of how the new exit signs will look essentially just like the regular ones except with the white "E-ZPass Express Exit [or Exits]" banner on top and the "Left Exit" tab without an exit number. Sorry the picture is so far away. I was going to try to snap a second one closer to the sign, but that white Cadillac started drifting over the solid line and the people ahead of me hit the brakes and I needed to shift.




They are really moving very quickly on the Beltway lately. Lots of progress, lots of new signs. Best part, however, is that they are gradually repaving the existing roadway.

[WillWeaverRVA]

Just wanted to mention that VDOT/RMA has completed installing mile markers on VA 195/I-195. They are odd in that, due to the shared mileage of both routes, VA 195's mile markers appear to be backwards - they increase from east to west, instead of the other way around. I'm pretty sure this is due to VDOT treating the entire route as a north-south route internally, but traffic logs don't seem to indicate that.

VA 76 also has the new mile markers (with shields and all), though not all of them are yet installed. Its mileposts ARE backwards - mile 0.0 is at VA 76's northern terminus (attached to the twin END VA 76/BEGIN I-195 signs), and the mile markers increase from north to south and not the other way around.

[Takumi]

Interesting, thanks for the update. I would also point out that VDOT treats I-295 as an east-west route internally; traffic logs for the counties it traverses say "East I-295 is signed as South I-295", so its mileage is technically backwards as well.

[WillWeaverRVA]

Interesting, thanks for the update. I would also point out that VDOT treats I-295 as an east-west route internally; traffic logs for the counties it traverses say "East I-295 is signed as South I-295", so its mileage is technically backwards as well.

I noticed that once and found that really strange. The east-west segment in Henrico and Hanover Counties was the first part of I-295 that was completed, and I wonder if it was signed as an east-west route at that point.

[Beltway]

Interesting, thanks for the update. I would also point out that VDOT treats I-295 as an east-west route internally; traffic logs for the counties it traverses say "East I-295 is signed as South I-295", so its mileage is technically backwards as well.

I noticed that once and found that really strange. The east-west segment in Henrico and Hanover Counties was the first part of I-295 that was completed, and I wonder if it was signed as an east-west route at that point.

I don't recall that, but I do have the years that they were completed -- 1981 for the I-64 bypass section, and 1992 for the I-95 bypass section.

So the east-west I-64 bypass section was completed well before the north-south section.  And that ran between I-64 at Short Pump and US-60 at Seven Pines.

Environmental issues with regard to avoiding ACW battlefields in eastern Henrico was the reason for the delay in extending south from US-60.

[cpzilliacus]

TOLLROADSnews: Virginia DOT restarting US460 toll project with $500m and not-for-profit to carry risk - private sector only to design-build

[Beltway]

http://www2.tricities.com/news/2012/may/24/transportation-board-approves-location-i-77-i-91-o-ar-1940504/

Transportation Board approves location for I-77/I-81 overlap in SWVa.
Published: May 24, 2012

WYTHEVILLE, Va. -- The Commonwealth Transportation Board (CTB) recently selected the location for the I-77/I-81 overlap in Wythe County choosing Candidate Build Alternative B, which adds one travel lane in each direction at the current location of the overlap.

“The board took a significant action to improve mobility in a heavily congested region by approving a location for the I-77/I-81 Overlap in Wythe County,” said VDOT Bristol District Administrator Michael Russell, P.E. “This area is not only an important transportation link for Virginia but to North Carolina and West Virginia as well.”

VDOT presented three alternatives during a public hearing in September 2011; Candidate Build A, separation of the two interstates; Candidate Build B, the addition of one travel lane in each direction and a no-build option.

The next steps in the process are to revise the environmental assessment based on the board’s decision and public comment received during the September 2011 public hearing, then request a final decision on the environmental assessment from the Federal Highway Administration.

The cost estimate for Candidate Build Alternative B is $457 million and includes preliminary engineering, right of way and construction.  Currently, funding has not been identified for these phases.

..............

Beltway comment:  This project would include full semi-directional interchanges at each I-81/I-77 interchange.

[cpzilliacus]

http://www2.tricities.com/news/2012/may/24/transportation-board-approves-location-i-77-i-91-o-ar-1940504/

Transportation Board approves location for I-77/I-81 overlap in SWVa.
Published: May 24, 2012

Ages ago, wasn't this the very last "gap" of I-81 in Virginia? 

I seem to recall that there was a (short) section of divided arterial highway here (or near here). 

[hbelkins]

Yes. The overlap of I-81 and I-77 was finished much later than the rest of the highway in the area. I remember on family trips being forced off I-81 onto US 11 and US 52 northeast of Wytheville and the interstate didn't resume until past where I-77 and US 52 split to the south.

[Beltway]

The overlap of I-81 and I-77 was completed in 1987, the same year that the 4-lane upgrade of the West Virginia Turnpike was completed.

The single routed sections of I-77 were all completed in Virginia by 1979.

The overlap of I-81 and I-77 is 8.0 miles long, and part was completed in the late 1960s as I-81, but the middle 4.7 mile long section was completed in 1987.  The gap was served by a 4-lane divided highway US-11/US-52 with no traffic signals and seamless connections to adjacent I-81.

Why is it going to cost $450 million to add one lane each way to 8 miles of highway and upgrade 3 interchanges?  That seems exhorbitant.

BTW, separating the two Interstates was an interesting idea, but IMO it seems simpler and more logical to upgrade the existing overlap.  Why have two separate highways and rights-of-way when the existing right-of-way can suffice, with moderate added R/W acquisition?

[Steve]

The overlap of I-81 and I-77 was completed in 1987, the same year that the 4-lane upgrade of the West Virginia Turnpike was completed.

The single routed sections of I-77 were all completed in Virginia by 1979.

The overlap of I-81 and I-77 is 8.0 miles long, and part was completed in the late 1960s as I-81, but the middle 4.7 mile long section was completed in 1987.  The gap was served by a 4-lane divided highway US-11/US-52 with no traffic signals and seamless connections to adjacent I-81.

Why is it going to cost $450 million to add one lane each way to 8 miles of highway and upgrade 3 interchanges?  That seems exhorbitant.

BTW, separating the two Interstates was an interesting idea, but IMO it seems simpler and more logical to upgrade the existing overlap.  Why have two separate highways and rights-of-way when the existing right-of-way can suffice, with moderate added R/W acquisition?

Wait, does that mean that these signs were up as part of the gap??? Or am I misreading, and the gap started east of Wytheville?

large: www.alpsroads.net/roads/va/us_11/nto77c.jpg