Topic: Virginia (Read 70376 times)

froggie · « **Reply #250 on:** December 19, 2011, 09:56:21 PM »

I wrote about the topic a couple months ago. Because they're required in the 2009 MUTCD, they're now the VDOT standard. Several locations where one can see them now.

NE2 · « **Reply #251 on:** December 19, 2011, 11:47:15 PM »

Quote from: froggie on December 19, 2011, 09:56:21 PM

Because they're required in the 2009 MUTCD, they're now the VDOT standard.

Instead of red balls with 'left turn signal', I assume?

Takumi · « **Reply #252 on:** December 20, 2011, 01:53:54 AM »

The left turn only signals around here with the red ball usually have a sign with a sweeping left arrow above the word "only". Somehow that's something I've never paid attention to when I visit other parts of the state.

froggie · « **Reply #253 on:** December 20, 2011, 06:46:42 AM »

Quote

Instead of red balls with 'left turn signal', I assume?

Just red balls, period. VDOT standard had long been one signal head per lane, including turn lanes. So they felt there was no need for the "left turn signal" sign.

Beltway · « **Reply #254 on:** December 22, 2011, 09:55:59 PM »

County hopes I-295 interchange will bring tenants to Meadowville park
http://www.chesterfieldobserver.com/news/2011-12-21/News/County_hopes_I295_interchange_will_bring_tenants_t.html

Looks like there are some immediate business improvements.

Amazon to open two local distribution centers, creating 1,350 jobs
http://www2.timesdispatch.com/business/2011/dec/22/tdmain01-amazon-to-open-two-local-distribution-cen-ar-1560928/

Quotes:

Amazon, based in Seattle, plans to invest $85 million to open a 1 million-square-foot fulfillment center in Meadowville Technology Park in eastern Chesterfield. That site would employ about 1,000 people.

In Dinwiddie, the company plans to invest $50 million to open a center in the Dinwiddie Commerce Park that would employ about 350 people.

........

The I-95 Walthall interchange, Exit 58, was greatly expanded in the late 1990s, for assisting in light industrial development in that part of Chesterfield County. Today there are at least 30 major businesses just to the east of that interchange, built since then.

1995hoo · « **Reply #255 on:** December 30, 2011, 01:42:55 PM »

Had to head over to Annandale this morning and spotted the first of the advance signs for the Beltway HOT lanes propped up on the left side of the road as I was heading west out of the Springfield Interchange. I assume the reason the left sign is higher relative to the gantry is that it looks like it will be posted with that particular sign over the yet-to-open ramp coming from the Shirley Highway express lanes.

Interesting to see no mention of the "HO" aspect of "HOT" on these signs, so presumably there will be another sign explaining that part.

NJRoadfan · « **Reply #256 on:** December 30, 2011, 03:08:40 PM »

Quote from: froggie on December 20, 2011, 06:46:42 AM

Just red balls, period. VDOT standard had long been one signal head per lane, including turn lanes. So they felt there was no need for the "left turn signal" sign.

Carl D. Silver Parkway at VA-3 had red arrow turn signals as far back as 2007 (might have been there forever, that was my first time driving in VA), so they were installing them at some intersections before the 2009 MUTCD changes.

froggie · « **Reply #257 on:** December 31, 2011, 06:46:35 AM »

IIRC, that location is (barely) within the Fredericksburg city limits, so it would have been a city installation, not a VDOT installation. The independent cities are not fully beholden to VDOT when it comes to traffic control devices. For example, both Norfolk and Virginia Beach have been using red left arrows for over 10 years.

74/171FAN · « **Reply #258 on:** December 31, 2011, 08:24:02 AM »

The new signal on VA 10 at Old Stage Rd(SR 732) just near I-95 as a result of the widening project in the area has the red ball instead of a red arrow. It was installed as of November but maybe it has to do with leftover stock???

Takumi · « **Reply #259 on:** December 31, 2011, 08:40:44 AM »

Yeah, I noticed that too. To me, the most interesting part of Old Stage is that it briefly has something similar to a suicide lane, with two lanes in one direction and a broken yellow line.

(edited to add pic)

cpzilliacus · « **Reply #260 on:** December 31, 2011, 04:35:53 PM »

Quote from: froggie on December 31, 2011, 06:46:35 AM

IIRC, that location is (barely) within the Fredericksburg city limits, so it would have been a city installation, not a VDOT installation. The independent cities are not fully beholden to VDOT when it comes to traffic control devices. For example, both Norfolk and Virginia Beach have been using red left arrows for over 10 years.

Adam, that's correct on all counts. In Northern Virginia, I have long observed that the incorporated cities and towns, which usually maintain everything within their limits save for some freeways and expressways, don't always comply with VDOT's way of doing things. Falls Church, Alexandria, (the City of) Fairfax, Vienna, Herndon and Leesburg all design their signals in ways that don't look like VDOT installations. Especially Alexandria

Even Arlington County, which maintains its secondary system (while VDOT maintains the numbered primary highways), seems to do some things in ways that do not always have the VDOT "look and feel."

1995hoo · « **Reply #261 on:** January 05, 2012, 01:51:07 PM »

Adam Tuss of WTOP reports that the Beltway HOT lanes are getting a name change. As foreshadowed by the photo I posted last week (see above), it seems they're going to be the "495 Express Lanes," similar to the "95 Express Lanes" down in Miami.

They're blaming the MUTCD.

Edited to add: The original version of that story contained MUTCD renderings of managed-lane signs. Transurban then saw the story and sent in some Beltway-specific renderings and the story has been updated.

1995hoo · « **Reply #262 on:** January 09, 2012, 10:00:49 AM »

Following up on my last comment:

The new website for the Beltway project is now operative. Parts of this duplicate what was on the old site, including some of the videos; parts of it are new, especially the parts showing renderings of the signage.

I found myself thinking the other day that the new lanes could almost be regarded, from a practical standpoint, as being akin to a new separate road within the Beltway footprint. That is, it's not going to be like I-270 where you can move back and forth between "local" and "express": Once you enter what are now being called the "Express Lanes," you won't be able to move back into the local lanes unless you go all the way to the other end, and you will not have access to all the same exits you would in the local lanes. (For example, if I were driving from Van Dorn Street and I entered the Express Lanes, my first opportunity to exit would be at the new US-29 exit near Merrifield.) The new website notes that there will be a $1000 fine for anyone caught cutting through the plastic bollards that will separate the Express and local lanes, but I have no doubt—given the overwhelming public ignorance about how this project will work and the unwillingness of many drivers to learn about it—that there will be plenty of squawking from people who don't understand it. Too bad. As I've said before, it looks to me as though Fluor and Transurban are going out of their way to make the signs amply clear.

cpzilliacus · « **Reply #263 on:** January 09, 2012, 02:00:51 PM »

[Emphasis added in quote below]

Quote from: 1995hoo on January 09, 2012, 10:00:49 AM

Following up on my last comment:

The new website for the Beltway project is now operative. Parts of this duplicate what was on the old site, including some of the videos; parts of it are new, especially the parts showing renderings of the signage.

The new website notes that there will be a $1000 fine for anyone caught cutting through the plastic bollards that will separate the Express and local lanes, but I have no doubt—given the overwhelming public ignorance about how this project will work and the unwillingness of many drivers to learn about it—that there will be plenty of squawking from people who don't understand it. Too bad. As I've said before, it looks to me as though Fluor and Transurban are going out of their way to make the signs amply clear.

Heck, many drivers move between the local and express (HOV) lanes in the I-95/I-395 corridor, and I see them regularly using the crossovers (which are clearly signed as being for emergency and official use only).

On the other hand, I have driven the Ca. 91 (Riverside Freeway) express lanes in Orange County, which serve as the model (at least in part) for the I-495 Express Lanes.

I am not aware that they have had much issue there with drivers (illegally) cutting in and out of those express lanes.

cpzilliacus · « **Reply #264 on:** January 09, 2012, 06:30:53 PM »

Tom Jackman in the Washington Post: Herndon traffic roundabout causes an uproar

cpzilliacus · « **Reply #265 on:** January 10, 2012, 08:22:37 AM »

More from Adam Tuss of WTOP Radio: A look inside: Beltway express lanes will change your commute

Takumi · « **Reply #266 on:** January 14, 2012, 05:06:51 PM »

Disappointing news...the white border unisign on Arlington Road in Hopewell is no more. There's no replacement; the pole is gone and everything. The last VA 36 cutout (in front of the bowling alley downtown) and the ancient I-95 shield are still there, though.

cpzilliacus · « **Reply #267 on:** January 20, 2012, 05:28:14 PM »

Another toll bridge on U.S. 17 in Virginia (and this seems like a good improvement).

TOLLROADSnews: Chesapeake City VA launches toll financed bridge replacement/US17-Dominion Avenue

Beltway · « **Reply #268 on:** January 20, 2012, 05:39:07 PM »

Quote from: cpzilliacus on January 20, 2012, 05:28:14 PM

Another toll bridge on U.S. 17 in Virginia (and this seems like a good improvement).

TOLLROADSnews: Chesapeake City VA launches toll financed bridge replacement/US17-Dominion Avenue

Over $400 million to build? What will the toll be?

Mapmikey · « **Reply #269 on:** January 20, 2012, 06:07:49 PM »

The VDOT presentation on this project from their most recent meeting:

http://www.ctb.virginia.gov/resources/2012/jan/Pre/Agenda_Item_9_Dominion_Blvd_Presentation_to_CTB_1-12-12.pdf

It breaks down the costs to build this 3.6 mile project but does not suggest what toll would be set...

Mapmikey

Beltway · « **Reply #270 on:** January 20, 2012, 10:18:02 PM »

Quote from: Mapmikey on January 20, 2012, 06:07:49 PM

The VDOT presentation on this project from their most recent meeting:

http://www.ctb.virginia.gov/resources/2012/jan/Pre/Agenda_Item_9_Dominion_Blvd_Presentation_to_CTB_1-12-12.pdf

It breaks down the costs to build this 3.6 mile project but does not suggest what toll would be set...
Mapmikey

I saw that yesterday, and did not see any projected toll. Given over $200 million in toll revenue bonds, it sure would seem important to announce a projected toll schedule. It may be rather high.

Also, is there about 1.5 mile on the south end of the old VA-104, that will not be part of this project? IOW, will remain 2 lanes until a separate project is developed?

1995hoo · « **Reply #271 on:** January 25, 2012, 12:45:01 PM »

A dump truck whose bed was in the up position nailed a sign gantry in the Springfield Interchange this morning, shutting the Inner Loop of the Beltway. The road has now reopened. Picture below. Seems pretty pathetic to me, as I've noted that the Beltway work zones have a bunch of orange warning signs specifically directed at the dump truck drivers saying "CAUTION! Make sure your dump bed is DOWN!"

From the picture below this appears to be the sign bridge located just before the exit for I-395 (as the one after that has an "Exit Only" indicator for the ramp to Springfield).

froggie · « **Reply #272 on:** January 25, 2012, 01:49:19 PM »

The greened-out arrow on the far right of the photo is the give-away.

Takumi · « **Reply #273 on:** January 28, 2012, 01:01:43 AM »

http://www.progress-index.com/news/center-for-disabled-to-close-900-jobs-to-be-lost-1.1263482

VA 357 serves this facility. I'd imagine it would be decommissioned when the place closes.

Mapmikey · « **Reply #274 on:** January 28, 2012, 02:01:37 PM »

Quote from: Takumi on January 28, 2012, 01:01:43 AM

http://www.progress-index.com/news/center-for-disabled-to-close-900-jobs-to-be-lost-1.1263482

VA 357 serves this facility. I'd imagine it would be decommissioned when the place closes.

The Lynchburg (VA 334) and Hillsville (VA 392) facilities are also on the closure list. Target dates for these facilities to close are 2014-2020

Mapmikey

News:

Author Topic: Virginia (Read 70376 times)