Is Va. 228 the least-signed primary highway in the Commonwealth?

[cpzilliacus]

Aside from the TRUCK Va. 228, directing trucks to use Herndon Parkway, I saw no reassurance shields at all for 228 within the corporate limits of Herndon when I drove it recently. 

North of Herndon, in unincorporated Fairfax County (Dranesville Road), the 228 shields are almost as rare.  There are some on Va. 7 approaching Va. 228, but on 228, not much showing.

And why in Sam Hill does it not extend at least as far south as Va. 267 (Dulles Toll Road)?  It's Va. 657 south of the corporate limits of Herndon.

[Takumi]

To answer the thread's title, not even close. There are dozens that are completely unposted.

[froggie]

http://www.vahighways.com/route-log/va221-240.htm#va228

[Mapmikey]

VA 228's south end was VA 28's northern discontinuous piece southern end beginning in the mid 1930s, far predating the Dulles Access Road and the later VA 267 designation.  Yes it would make sense to extend the designation the short distance to VA 267, just as it would for VA 401 to go to the beltway (though extension beyond that is supposedly coming).  Virginia used to end primary routes at corporate limit and county lines all the time.  VA 290 is a well-signed example where both ends are at Dayton's CLs.

There was at least one VA 228 reassurance at Monroe at Pine in 2008: https://www.google.com/maps?q=Herndon,+VA&ll=38.966883,-77.378597&spn=0.061462,0.132093&t=m&hnear=Herndon,+Fairfax+County,+Virginia&z=14&layer=c&cbll=38.970808,-77.383752&panoid=MZmlcLwW3jOmBowHNhDMkw&cbp=12,351.79,,0,0

If you discount the state facility routes, here are some other poorly posted routes:

Not at all: US 522 Bus Washington; VA 113 Bristol; VA 192 (I think) Norfolk; VA 209 Herndon; VA 213 Manassas Park (last sign removed ~2000); VA 261 Staunton (signs removed ~1999); VA 283 Norton; VA 381 Bristol; VA 404 and 405 in Norfolk; VA 420 Alexandria

Barely at all: VA 154 only at I-64; VA 246 (S. Norfolk) is down to one sign; VA 296 West Point is no longer posted at either end but a couple shields remain; VA 412 Blacksburg only at its west end

There are others that are posted poorly in one part or another so folks could argue for some other routes but I don't think anyone will dispute the list above...

Mapmikey

[cpzilliacus]

http://www.vahighways.com/route-log/va221-240.htm#va228

Adam, I went there (your site with Mapmikey is as good as or better than the VDOT log) - and, of course, the entry was correct, though I am not sure I agree with the "fully posted part."

[cpzilliacus]

VA 228's south end was VA 28's northern discontinuous piece southern end beginning in the mid 1930s, far predating the Dulles Access Road and the later VA 267 designation.  Yes it would make sense to extend the designation the short distance to VA 267, just as it would for VA 401 to go to the beltway (though extension beyond that is supposedly coming).  Virginia used to end primary routes at corporate limit and county lines all the time.  VA 290 is a well-signed example where both ends are at Dayton's CLs.

I do not recall Va. 28 taking the path of present-day Va. 228, but I do recall the earliest days of present-day Va. 28, a two lane road that wanted to be a Super-2 but did not quite make it (only after it morphed to a divided highway did the intersections start to be replaced with interchanges). 

I recall someone telling me about VDH ending and beginning routes at municipal boundaries.  Wonder if the Town of Herndon does not want Va. 228 signed on Va. 267? 

There was at least one VA 228 reassurance at Monroe at Pine in 2008: https://www.google.com/maps?q=Herndon,+VA&ll=38.966883,-77.378597&spn=0.061462,0.132093&t=m&hnear=Herndon,+Fairfax+County,+Virginia&z=14&layer=c&cbll=38.970808,-77.383752&panoid=MZmlcLwW3jOmBowHNhDMkw&cbp=12,351.79,,0,0

I had a devil of a time finding that Va. 338 marker (eastbound side east of U.S. 29) in Falls Church, though I finally did - hiding there in plain sight, so it is quite possible that I missed the Va. 228 shield.

If you discount the state facility routes, here are some other poorly posted routes:

Not at all: US 522 Bus Washington; VA 113 Bristol; VA 192 (I think) Norfolk; VA 209 Herndon; VA 213 Manassas Park (last sign removed ~2000); VA 261 Staunton (signs removed ~1999); VA 283 Norton; VA 381 Bristol; VA 404 and 405 in Norfolk; VA 420 Alexandria

Barely at all: VA 154 only at I-64; VA 246 (S. Norfolk) is down to one sign; VA 296 West Point is no longer posted at either end but a couple shields remain; VA 412 Blacksburg only at its west end

There are others that are posted poorly in one part or another so folks could argue for some other routes but I don't think anyone will dispute the list above...

Mapmikey

I am pretty sure I have driven all of Va. 213, and I do not recall seeing even one sign (IMO, VDOT should insist that municipalities post their primary routes if they want principal and minor arterial system payment dollars from the Commonwealth).

I don't think I have ever seen a Va. 209 shield - ever. 

[Mapmikey]

The one VA 213 shield was on VA 28 SB.  It was full size and non-reflective.  There were also VA 28 cutouts on 213 coming to 28.  All shields were removed for the construction project that put concrete at this intersection.

There was only one VA 209 posting of any kind, which was removed when the intersection with VA 28 was reconfigured.  Here is a pic from 2006.



The current list of routes that have an endpoint at a CL or County Line.  I probably have missed one or two...
VA 67, VA 68, VA 98 (sort of), VA 99, VA 136, VA 139, VA 142, VA 162, VA 181, VA 187, VA 188, VA 213, VA 227, VA 228, VA 244, VA 290, VA 397, VA 407

Mapmikey

[cpzilliacus]

The one VA 213 shield was on VA 28 SB.  It was full size and non-reflective.  There were also VA 28 cutouts on 213 coming to 28.  All shields were removed for the construction project that put concrete at this intersection.

There was only one VA 209 posting of any kind, which was removed when the intersection with VA 28 was reconfigured.  Here is a pic from 2006.

As always, thanks for your content. 

I remember when that (28 and 209) was a "real" signalized intersection.

I take it that between you and Adam, you have been to every county in the Commonwealth at least once?

The current list of routes that have an endpoint at a CL or County Line.  I probably have missed one or two...
VA 67, VA 68, VA 98 (sort of), VA 99, VA 136, VA 139, VA 142, VA 162, VA 181, VA 187, VA 188, VA 213, VA 227, VA 228, VA 244, VA 290, VA 397, VA 407

Mapmikey

Thanks.

[Mapmikey]

I have been to all counties/independent cities and had completed the regular primary system in 2010.

I still consider myself missing pieces of VA 302, VA 303, and VA 314.  Also, a piece of the new VA 280 and the US 460 Grundy "Bypass" has opened since 2010.

Mapmikey

[cpzilliacus]

I have been to all counties/independent cities and had completed the regular primary system in 2010.

I still consider myself missing pieces of VA 302, VA 303, and VA 314.  Also, a piece of the new VA 280 and the US 460 Grundy "Bypass" has opened since 2010.

I think the new routing of U.S. 460 as ADHS Corridor Q is going to be a pretty spectacular ride when it is completed. 

[dfnva]

I agree that state routes should be posted if an independent city wishes to have the funding.

VA-420 is one that has always baffled me, though, as VDOT, itself, does not even post the route on BGS's from I-395 (same with VA-402/Quaker Lane). I presume it is just laziness on VDOT's part in replacing carbon copies of BGS's that predated the route designation.

For example, a brand new Quaker Lane sign and gantry have appeared in the last few months on I-395 north, but the sign is a carbon copy of the previous generation signs that existed before (from the 1990s and the 1970s).

[Mapmikey]

Leaving routes off BGS's is not unique to VA 402/420...

I-64 does not mention VA 247 even though BGS's have been replaced at least twice since VA 247 was extended over that way.
I-264 does not mention VA 239, VA 225, or VA 190, all of which have been in place many years now.  VA 410, VA 411, and VA 414 were also not mentioned when they were active.

Mapmikey

[Arkansastravelguy]

I feel lucky I have this pic lol


iPhone

[Mapmikey]

Proof VA 213 was once posted...

This is probably the same assembly I saw in the late 1990s and torn down around 2000:

This is on the fairfaxunderground.com site



Mapmikey

[dfnva]

Off topic -- but that's a nice pic of a classic VA span-wire signal assembly with Marbelite signals -- very common at one time.  I think one similar assembly is still in existence with original Marbelite signals near the eastern terminus of Columbia Pike in Arlington County.  Several in Richmond and surrounding suburbs.