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[Ian]

Hey all,

I plan on heading over to New Philadelphia, OH in May and was wondering on things to go stop and see on the way to and/or back. My route includes following I-70 west through West Virginia (avoiding I-470, as I would like to see the Wheeling Tunnel) then up US 250 once in Ohio and up to New Philadelphia. On the way back, I was thinking on going to see any remaining button copy on I-77 between New Philly and I-70 as well as I-76 between I-77 and West Virginia. Now, a few questions...

1) How much button copy (if there is any) is left on both I-77 and I-70 in Ohio in the places mentioned above? How much has been replaced with clearview?

2) When was the last time anyone traveled on I-70 in West Virginia? I'd like to know because I was wondering if there was any button copy left on there.

3) Would it be worth taking US 30 in lieu of the PA Turnpike in Pennsylvania? I was thinking of hopping on US 30 in Breezewood and taking that west to PA 31, where I’d take that to I-70 west of New Stanton, just for something interesting (only so much of the Turnpike I can stand). Thoughts/opinions?

4) Either on the way there or back, I plan on taking a tour of Wheeling to go see a few things (including one old I-470 shield I discovered), which include the Wheeling Suspension Bridge. Where would be a good place to get a good photo of the bridge from the side? Any parks I should be aware about?

5) Along the route I planned, is there anything worth detouring off the highway to go see? Anything in Washington, PA or New Philadelphia, OH that you’d recommend I go see?

Any help/suggestions are very much appreciated!
-Ian

[Hot Rod Hootenanny]

Hey all,

I plan on heading over to New Philadelphia, OH in May and was wondering on things to go stop and see on the way to and/or back. My route includes following I-70 west through West Virginia (avoiding I-470, as I would like to see the Wheeling Tunnel) then up US 250 once in Ohio and up to New Philadelphia. On the way back, I was thinking on going to see any remaining button copy on I-77 between New Philly and I-70 as well as I-76 between I-77 and West Virginia. Now, a few questions...

1) How much button copy (if there is any) is left on both I-77 and I-70 in Ohio in the places mentioned above? How much has been replaced with clearview?

2) When was the last time anyone traveled on I-70 in West Virginia? I'd like to know because I was wondering if there was any button copy left on there.

3) Would it be worth taking US 30 in lieu of the PA Turnpike in Pennsylvania? I was thinking of hopping on US 30 in Breezewood and taking that west to PA 31, where I’d take that to I-70 west of New Stanton, just for something interesting (only so much of the Turnpike I can stand). Thoughts/opinions?

4) Either on the way there or back, I plan on taking a tour of Wheeling to go see a few things (including one old I-470 shield I discovered), which include the Wheeling Suspension Bridge. Where would be a good place to get a good photo of the bridge from the side? Any parks I should be aware about?

5) Along the route I planned, is there anything worth detouring off the highway to go see? Anything in Washington, PA or New Philadelphia, OH that you’d recommend I go see?

Any help/suggestions are very much appreciated!
-Ian

I don't know about any button copy. I haven't been east of I-77 in 8 years now.
As for stops in Wheeling.
There is Wheeling Waterfront Park, south of the suspension bridge from where you can photograph the bridge (unless the ampatheatre there is in use when you show up)
If you follow US 40 north from DT Wheeling, at the top of the hill (Mount Wood Rd) is a scenic lookout (built akin to a castle) from which you can look down on Wheeling and the bridges.
One can look at the unfinished ramps at the I-70/US 250 interchange on the eastside of Wheeling Tunnel.
Wheeling has a 'Madonna of the Trail' Statue (not to be confused with the Madonna of MTV award) along US 40, just north of the I-70/470 east junction

[froggie]

3) Would it be worth taking US 30 in lieu of the PA Turnpike in Pennsylvania? I was thinking of hopping on US 30 in Breezewood and taking that west to PA 31, where I’d take that to I-70 west of New Stanton, just for something interesting (only so much of the Turnpike I can stand). Thoughts/opinions?

If you don't mind the slower pace and the occasional traffic signal, US 30 is a reasonable alternative to the Turnpike between Breezewood and Bedford.  It's also 4 lanes the whole stretch between Breezewood and Bedford.

[Mr_Northside]

Also, you may lose some time going thru downtown Somerset & downtown Mt. Pleasant on PA-31  (Though otherwise it's not a bad drive).  
If you have that bit of extra time, though, I endorse it.

[stormwatch7721]

I-77 South of new Philly, OH are all refective. The exit tabs are skinner in Gurensey(sp?) County.

[CanesFan27]

are you talking about this I-470 WV shield I took in 2004?

http://www.gribblenation.com/wvpics/varied/i470wv.jpg

[PAHighways]

3) Would it be worth taking US 30 in lieu of the PA Turnpike in Pennsylvania? I was thinking of hopping on US 30 in Breezewood and taking that west to PA 31, where I’d take that to I-70 west of New Stanton, just for something interesting (only so much of the Turnpike I can stand). Thoughts/opinions?

US 30 is four lanes between Breezewood and Wolfsburg, with a ridiculously low 45 MPH zone between the Bud Shuster Byway (Everet Bypass) and the Bedford Plaza where the PSP will sometimes sit.  It is then two lanes from Wolfsburg to PA 31, and while 31 can move quickly, things can change especially if you get stuck behind a truck climbing the ridge east of Somerset.  The only other places along 31 where traffic increases is in the Donegal and Mount Pleasant areas.

5) Along the route I planned, is there anything worth detouring off the highway to go see? Anything in Washington, PA or New Philadelphia, OH that you’d recommend I go see?

I'd be remiss if I didn't put on my Lincoln Highway Heritage Corridor Board VP hat and not mention our Roadside Museum.  If you want a good, home cooked-quality meal at a fair price, stop at the Traveler's Rest restaurant between Breezewood and Everett.  One of our gas pumps and exhibits are next door at the Traveler's Rest Motel.

Also, there are some old signal installations in Mount Pleasant along 31 and in Washington along US 40.

[agentsteel53]

are you talking about this I-470 WV shield I took in 2004?

http://www.gribblenation.com/wvpics/varied/i470wv.jpg

the one I recall was the same spec but in a different context.  I have it written down somewhere where that shield is.  It may be the last old '61 spec shield in WV.  (There are a few random brand new ones for I-64 in Charleston.)

[hbelkins]

Hey all,

I plan on heading over to New Philadelphia, OH in May and was wondering on things to go stop and see on the way to and/or back. My route includes following I-70 west through West Virginia (avoiding I-470, as I would like to see the Wheeling Tunnel) then up US 250 once in Ohio and up to New Philadelphia. On the way back, I was thinking on going to see any remaining button copy on I-77 between New Philly and I-70 as well as I-76 between I-77 and West Virginia. Now, a few questions...

1) How much button copy (if there is any) is left on both I-77 and I-70 in Ohio in the places mentioned above? How much has been replaced with clearview?

2) When was the last time anyone traveled on I-70 in West Virginia? I'd like to know because I was wondering if there was any button copy left on there.

Most of the button copy on I-77 is gone and some of it has been replaced with Clearview. I traveled it in both directions last May, I have photos on my site if you want to dig around.

Last June, the Wheeling Tunnel was closed going westbound. I-470 was the marked detour but you can drive up to the tunnel and then take US 250/WV 2 south to hit I-470. No problems going through the tunnel eastbound. Plenty of button copy; photos are on my site of this trip as well if you want a preview.

[Ian]

Thanks for all the suggestions guys! As for US 30/PA 31 as an alternate, I’ll have to look into this a little more. I’d certainly want to take that route just for something different.

I-77 South of new Philly, OH are all refective. The exit tabs are skinner in Gurensey(sp?) County.

So all the button copy is gone? How about on the US 250 freeway around New Philadelphia?

are you talking about this I-470 WV shield I took in 2004?

http://www.gribblenation.com/wvpics/varied/i470wv.jpg

Nope, the one I am talking about is in downtown Wheeling, at the intersection of 16th and Chapline Streets. According to the street view image, there looks to be 2 on the southeast corner. However, where is the one linked in the photograph? Is it still there?

I'd be remiss if I didn't put on my Lincoln Highway Heritage Corridor Board VP hat and not mention our Roadside Museum.  If you want a good, home cooked-quality meal at a fair price, stop at the Traveler's Rest restaurant between Breezewood and Everett.  One of our gas pumps and exhibits are next door at the Traveler's Rest Motel.

Also, there are some old signal installations in Mount Pleasant along 31 and in Washington along US 40.

Thanks for the tip! Someone told me about 1 old 4-way signal still hanging at one particular intersection along PA 31 in Mount Pleasant.

Most of the button copy on I-77 is gone and some of it has been replaced with Clearview. I traveled it in both directions last May, I have photos on my site if you want to dig around.

Last June, the Wheeling Tunnel was closed going westbound. I-470 was the marked detour but you can drive up to the tunnel and then take US 250/WV 2 south to hit I-470. No problems going through the tunnel eastbound. Plenty of button copy; photos are on my site of this trip as well if you want a preview.

For I-77, how about the intersecting roads? I remember seeing on street view there being some old button copy entrance signs (complete with button copy I-77 shields) around New Philly as well as one old button copy sign (again, complete with a button copy I-77 shield) on US 250 @ I-77 in New Philly. And how much of the new signs on I-77 are clearview? Are those old button copy signs on I-77 southbound at I-70 still alive?

How about I-70? How much of that is still button copy? How much is clearview? Sorry for rambling. I’ll need to go search on your website for photos.

And is the Wheeling Tunnel westbound still closed?

Thanks!

[CanesFan27]

*SPOILER ALERT*

I-470 Exit 2

I took the photo in July 2004.  I couldn't even tell you why I exited there that rainy afternoon.  I've never thought twice about it since.

[Ian]

Just checked where it is on street view... it's gone 

[rickmastfan67]

5) Along the route I planned, is there anything worth detouring off the highway to go see? Anything in Washington, PA or New Philadelphia, OH that you’d recommend I go see?

Last time I was in Washington, they still had a lot of button copy on US-19 for the I-70/79 interchange signage.

Also, going NB on I-79 from US-40 to I-70, most of that signage is still in button copy, but that will not last much longer because of the new flyover they plan to build for the I-79 NB > I-70 WB/I-79 NB movement.

[Ian]

Another question, does US 22 in West Virginia still have all of its button copy?

[agentsteel53]

Nope, the one I am talking about is in downtown Wheeling, at the intersection of 16th and Chapline Streets. According to the street view image, there looks to be 2 on the southeast corner. However, where is the one linked in the photograph? Is it still there?

that's the one I remembered.

while you're in WV, see if you can find us some '61 spec US shields.  they're getting pretty hard to come by.  I found two US-50s in November that was it.  also, any two-digit-width state route markers with Series C numbers, which are also '61 spec.

(if you can find us two-digit-width US or state route markers for three-digit route numbers, likely with Series B font, that would be extra super appreciated!)

[stormwatch7721]

I don't know about the U.S. 250 freeway, PennDOTFan.

[Steve]

A little late to the thread - you'll find button copy on I-70 within Wheeling (button copy Exit 0 is neat). PA 31 moves pretty well, so as long as you minimize your time on US 30 you won't be too badly off. I'd suggest Bedford exit instead.

Another question, does US 22 in West Virginia still have all of its button copy?

Check out my US 22 page, that's your answer.

[PAHighways]

I'd be remiss if I didn't put on my Lincoln Highway Heritage Corridor Board VP hat and not mention our Roadside Museum.  If you want a good, home cooked-quality meal at a fair price, stop at the Traveler's Rest restaurant between Breezewood and Everett.  One of our gas pumps and exhibits are next door at the Traveler's Rest Motel.

Also, there are some old signal installations in Mount Pleasant along 31 and in Washington along US 40.

Thanks for the tip! Someone told me about 1 old 4-way signal still hanging at one particular intersection along PA 31 in Mount Pleasant.

This pagoda is the one you were probably told about, and it was still in operation the last time I was in Mount Pleasant.

And is the Wheeling Tunnel westbound still closed?

The rehabilitation project is complete.

[Ian]

Oh, so it was a rehabilitation project. Do you think the old signs around the tunnel got replaced in the project? If so, then hopefully those old button copy signs on US 22 that Steve showed will still be around.

[PAHighways]

I don't know if the signs were replaced.

Since I was just on them today, US 30 and PA 26 in the Everett area has several old button copy distance signs.  There are two on PA 26 south of the interchange ramps with US 30, there is one eastbound and one westbound on 30 just east of Everett, and one westbound on 30 just west of Everett.

[hbelkins]

while you're in WV, see if you can find us some '61 spec US shields.  they're getting pretty hard to come by.  I found two US-50s in November that was it.  also, any two-digit-width state route markers with Series C numbers, which are also '61 spec.

(if you can find us two-digit-width US or state route markers for three-digit route numbers, likely with Series B font, that would be extra super appreciated!)

You may be interested in the offerings on this page: http://www.millenniumhwy.net/oldsigns/wv/index.html

[CanesFan27]

If you do take the Turnpike, you should seriously try to pull off and stop at the church.  (If access is still allowed).

http://www.gribblenation.com/breezewood/church.html

[6a]

You can't go through Wheeling without stopping at the Palace of Gold

[Ian]

If you do take the Turnpike, you should seriously try to pull off and stop at the church.  (If access is still allowed).

http://www.gribblenation.com/breezewood/church.html

Wasn't the turnpike widened through this area?

You can't go through Wheeling without stopping at the Palace of Gold

Arrrr! 

[Hot Rod Hootenanny]

You can't go through Wheeling without stopping at the Palace of Gold

I must say I've never heard of this location before.