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Author Topic: Virginia  (Read 1668595 times)

roadman65

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Re: Virginia
« Reply #5600 on: March 30, 2021, 03:33:14 PM »

It does make sense--overall.  However, a majority of the motorists are locals.  Having cardinal directions going opposite of what they are supposed to is bound to confuse many of the motorists ("Why does this say WEST when I am headed East?").  That is why there weren't any cardinal directions posted, until the ones on the BGS's at the Oak Grove interchange.
Both IL and WI have the same issue between Milwaukee and Chicago with I-94. The former is north of the latter and you need to take I-94 west to travel north.  I-94 East, on the other hand travels south to Chicagoland. Still both agencies sign it E-W even with the redundant I-41 signed north- south with it part of the way.
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Re: Virginia
« Reply #5601 on: March 30, 2021, 09:01:02 PM »

It does make sense--overall.  However, a majority of the motorists are locals.  Having cardinal directions going opposite of what they are supposed to is bound to confuse many of the motorists ("Why does this say WEST when I am headed East?").  That is why there weren't any cardinal directions posted, until the ones on the BGS's at the Oak Grove interchange.
Both IL and WI have the same issue between Milwaukee and Chicago with I-94. The former is north of the latter and you need to take I-94 west to travel north.  I-94 East, on the other hand travels south to Chicagoland. Still both agencies sign it E-W even with the redundant I-41 signed north- south with it part of the way.

At least in the case of I-94, the cardinal direction is not the opposite direction.  I-94 west is north.  But it is far worse to have a signed I-64 to the east, when the road goes to the west.
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Re: Virginia
« Reply #5602 on: March 31, 2021, 08:07:12 AM »

It does make sense--overall.  However, a majority of the motorists are locals.  Having cardinal directions going opposite of what they are supposed to is bound to confuse many of the motorists ("Why does this say WEST when I am headed East?").  That is why there weren't any cardinal directions posted, until the ones on the BGS's at the Oak Grove interchange.

Both IL and WI have the same issue between Milwaukee and Chicago with I-94. The former is north of the latter and you need to take I-94 west to travel north.  I-94 East, on the other hand travels south to Chicagoland. Still both agencies sign it E-W even with the redundant I-41 signed north- south with it part of the way.

At least in the case of I-94, the cardinal direction is not the opposite direction.  I-94 west is north.  But it is far worse to have a signed I-64 to the east, when the road goes to the west.

Well, it used to be similar to the I-94 situation when I-64 was the main route west from Norfolk/Portsmouth/Chesapeake.  Now, much of this area is better served by I-664 and the Second Crossing (Merrimack-Monitor Bridge-Tunnel).  Also, overall improvements to US-460 and US-58 have made them much more viable for westward travel.  I think it is fair to say that most of the non-local traffic on I-64 between Bowers Hill and Virginia Beach is now heading eastbound instead of westbound.  I know it's tough for VDOT to consider downgrading this from a 2di to a 3di, but that is probably the best solution to solve this East-West reversal issue.
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Re: Virginia
« Reply #5603 on: March 31, 2021, 01:55:13 PM »

I still say just have I-64 terminate in Hampton and designate the entire Hampton Roads Beltway as I-664. I know that no city wants to lose a 2di but at least the confusion would be gone.

Look at the Bay area in California. San Jose has never had a 2di, yet it has grown to become the 3rd largest city in CA and one of the largest in the country.

At this point both Virginia Beach & Norfolk is already well known and Chesapeake will always be a suburb so it shouldn't be much of a problem.

Also, there's no telling what's going to happen with I-87.
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sprjus4

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Re: Virginia
« Reply #5604 on: March 31, 2021, 02:55:22 PM »

Also, there's no telling what's going to happen with I-87.
My logical assumption would be that it will terminate at the I-64 / I-464 / VA-168 interchange and not travel inside the Hampton Roads Beltway.

The designation of I-87 in the Hampton Roads area will most likely not impact any of I-64's routing, it will merely act as an interstate highway designation for the US-17 corridor towards North Carolina leaving to the south of the Hampton Roads Beltway.

The most I could see, and this is diving into fictional territory, but is to replace I-464 with I-87 to connect it to Downtown Norfolk and terminate at I-264.

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Re: Virginia
« Reply #5605 on: March 31, 2021, 03:48:16 PM »

Also, there's no telling what's going to happen with I-87.
My logical assumption would be that it will terminate at the I-64 / I-464 / VA-168 interchange and not travel inside the Hampton Roads Beltway.

The designation of I-87 in the Hampton Roads area will most likely not impact any of I-64's routing, it will merely act as an interstate highway designation for the US-17 corridor towards North Carolina leaving to the south of the Hampton Roads Beltway.

The most I could see, and this is diving into fictional territory, but is to replace I-464 with I-87 to connect it to Downtown Norfolk and terminate at I-264.



Another option that would set up I-87 to continue up the Eastern Shore 50 years from now...

Have I-64 replace I-264 to the Oceanfront
Have I-87 replace I-64 from I-464 to I-64/264
Have I-664 replace I-64 from Bowers Hill to I-87/464

It would also at that point make more sense for 464 to become 287 but not strictly necessary.
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roadman65

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Re: Virginia
« Reply #5606 on: March 31, 2021, 03:52:35 PM »

Also, there's no telling what's going to happen with I-87.
My logical assumption would be that it will terminate at the I-64 / I-464 / VA-168 interchange and not travel inside the Hampton Roads Beltway.

The designation of I-87 in the Hampton Roads area will most likely not impact any of I-64's routing, it will merely act as an interstate highway designation for the US-17 corridor towards North Carolina leaving to the south of the Hampton Roads Beltway.

The most I could see, and this is diving into fictional territory, but is to replace I-464 with I-87 to connect it to Downtown Norfolk and terminate at I-264.



Another option that would set up I-87 to continue up the Eastern Shore 50 years from now...

Have I-64 replace I-264 to the Oceanfront
Have I-87 replace I-64 from I-464 to I-64/264
Have I-664 replace I-64 from Bowers Hill to I-87/464

It would also at that point make more sense for 464 to become 287 but not strictly necessary.

Probably in 2100 they may decide to do it. The hierarchy of today will be gone and new generations may see the need to make theUS 13 corridor  a freeway then.  I-87 is now left open for the number to be used.

Probably Ohio may decide to complete the link of I-74 as well.
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Sheryl Crowe

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Re: Virginia
« Reply #5607 on: March 31, 2021, 04:42:16 PM »

https://twitter.com/VaDOTNOVA/status/1377358041838874629

The proposal involves extending Town Center Parkway underneath the Dulles Access and Toll Roads and the Silver Line tracks and then tying it into Sunrise Valley Drive to the west of the CoreSite Data Center building. On the map linked below, the existing Town Center Parkway is underneath the "J" in the word "Joint" to the north of the highway.

https://www.google.com/maps/@38.9527506,-77.3646395,1035m/data=!3m1!1e3
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mrsman

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Re: Virginia
« Reply #5608 on: March 31, 2021, 06:02:30 PM »

^^^^

I think making this new road would be a good idea.  There needs to be more local roads crossing over/under the Dulles Toll Road to improve traffic circulation in this area.  And if the road does not have ramps to the toll road, that is a plus, as a road without ramps will have less traffic and be more useful as a N-S road in the area.

The completion of the silver line will bring more growth to this area.  The roads need to be put in now.
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Re: Virginia
« Reply #5609 on: March 31, 2021, 06:34:02 PM »

https://twitter.com/VaDOTNOVA/status/1377358041838874629

The proposal involves extending Town Center Parkway underneath the Dulles Access and Toll Roads and the Silver Line tracks and then tying it into Sunrise Valley Drive to the west of the CoreSite Data Center building. On the map linked below, the existing Town Center Parkway is underneath the "J" in the word "Joint" to the north of the highway.

https://www.google.com/maps/@38.9527506,-77.3646395,1035m/data=!3m1!1e3

Is VDOT pulling some kind of April's Fools joke? Because I don't see this happening
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sprjus4

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Re: Virginia
« Reply #5610 on: April 01, 2021, 11:01:33 AM »

Toll rates on the VA-168 Chesapeake Expressway will be increasing from $3 to $4 off-peak and from $8 to $9 during peak summer weekends, beginning May 1.
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Re: Virginia
« Reply #5611 on: April 01, 2021, 01:05:11 PM »

Toll rates on the VA-168 Chesapeake Expressway will be increasing from $3 to $4 off-peak and from $8 to $9 during peak summer weekends, beginning May 1.

And still 55 mph  :colorful:
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Re: Virginia
« Reply #5612 on: April 01, 2021, 01:36:30 PM »

Toll rates on the VA-168 Chesapeake Expressway will be increasing from $3 to $4 off-peak and from $8 to $9 during peak summer weekends, beginning May 1.

Oof - that weekend toll is closing in on NYC-level :wow:

I don't have as much of an issue with the weekday-rate (and by coincidence, I've only ever been thru there on weekdays), but I would definitely shunpike on weekends.  I imagine the city knows it can still count on enough unaware out-of-towners heading to/from OBX rentals on Saturday to offset the shunpikers?
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sprjus4

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Re: Virginia
« Reply #5613 on: April 01, 2021, 01:37:23 PM »

Toll rates on the VA-168 Chesapeake Expressway will be increasing from $3 to $4 off-peak and from $8 to $9 during peak summer weekends, beginning May 1.

And still 55 mph  :colorful:
Yup. And the city still refuses to increase it. City ordinance was updated around 2015 to allow up to 65 mph on limited access highways, but then the city did not want to spend the money necessary for a speed study and instead just lowered the speed limit on parallel Battlefield Blvd to 45 mph.

IMO, all of both VA-168 and US-17 in the city should be at least 60 mph, with 65 mph on at minimum the toll road, if not more of the Expressway north to I-64.
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sprjus4

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Re: Virginia
« Reply #5614 on: April 01, 2021, 01:40:34 PM »

Toll rates on the VA-168 Chesapeake Expressway will be increasing from $3 to $4 off-peak and from $8 to $9 during peak summer weekends, beginning May 1.

Oof - that weekend toll is closing in on NYC-level :wow:

I don't have as much of an issue with the weekday-rate (and by coincidence, I've only ever been thru there on weekdays), but I would definitely shunpike on weekends.  I imagine the city knows it can still count on enough unaware out-of-towners heading to/from OBX rentals on Saturday to offset the shunpikers?
Yup, and that’s why they keep raising it. The off peak toll is barely worth it now (I’ll usually only take it at night when on a long drive from like the Outer Banks), it certainly isn’t going to be worth it at $4. You bypass 6 miles of 45-55 mph two lane road that, unless during rush hour, is maybe 2-4 minutes slower.

If the speed limit was 65 mph, maybe I’d have second thoughts. But with the toll road only being 55 mph, it’s not worth it. That rural freeway can easily handle 70 mph speeds.
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Re: Virginia
« Reply #5615 on: April 01, 2021, 02:08:15 PM »

Toll rates on the VA-168 Chesapeake Expressway will be increasing from $3 to $4 off-peak and from $8 to $9 during peak summer weekends, beginning May 1.

Oof - that weekend toll is closing in on already NYC-level :wow:

FTFY.
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Re: Virginia
« Reply #5616 on: April 01, 2021, 02:18:27 PM »

Toll rates on the VA-168 Chesapeake Expressway will be increasing from $3 to $4 off-peak and from $8 to $9 during peak summer weekends, beginning May 1.

Oof - that weekend toll is closing in on already NYC-level :wow:

FTFY.

Well played :-D (Not to be outdone, the toll-by-plate/out-of-state E-ZPass rate at MTAB&T facilities goes above $10 on 4/11.  But I will concede that if you have a NY E-ZPass, those crossings remain cheaper than the Chesapeake Expressway on a weekend.)
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Re: Virginia
« Reply #5617 on: April 01, 2021, 02:58:48 PM »

Toll rates on the VA-168 Chesapeake Expressway will be increasing from $3 to $4 off-peak and from $8 to $9 during peak summer weekends, beginning May 1.

And this is why I always shunpike the Chesapeake Expressway, even with the lowered speed limit on Battlefield Blvd.
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Re: Virginia
« Reply #5618 on: April 01, 2021, 03:02:22 PM »

Toll rates on the VA-168 Chesapeake Expressway will be increasing from $3 to $4 off-peak and from $8 to $9 during peak summer weekends, beginning May 1.
And this is why I always shunpike the Chesapeake Expressway, even with the lowered speed limit on Battlefield Blvd.

If I ever go to the Outer Banks again, I want to take US 17 BUS through Deep Creek than US 17 SB to NC 343 SB in South Mills to US 158 EB to avoid the problem entirely.
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MillTheRoadgeek

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Re: Virginia
« Reply #5619 on: April 01, 2021, 09:29:46 PM »

Also, there's no telling what's going to happen with I-87.
My logical assumption would be that it will terminate at the I-64 / I-464 / VA-168 interchange and not travel inside the Hampton Roads Beltway.

The designation of I-87 in the Hampton Roads area will most likely not impact any of I-64's routing, it will merely act as an interstate highway designation for the US-17 corridor towards North Carolina leaving to the south of the Hampton Roads Beltway.

The most I could see, and this is diving into fictional territory, but is to replace I-464 with I-87 to connect it to Downtown Norfolk and terminate at I-264.



Another option that would set up I-87 to continue up the Eastern Shore 50 years from now...

Have I-64 replace I-264 to the Oceanfront
Have I-87 replace I-64 from I-464 to I-64/264
Have I-664 replace I-64 from Bowers Hill to I-87/464

It would also at that point make more sense for 464 to become 287 but not strictly necessary.
That does remind me. This is my concept, which is far less likely to happen, but has lots of stuff there for it.
  • Through Portsmouth, Norfolk and Hampton: Replace 64 to 664/264/64, then take it on 664 or replace 464 and VA 164, to 664 and then through the Monitor-Merrimac Bridge Tunnel
  • Concurrency with 64 from Hampton to around/after Williamsburg
  • Near Williamsburg: Either branch off earlier around US 17, or later in order to meet 301
  • In Maryland, overtake 301, MD 3, and 97 (Annapolis spur becomes I-187)
  • Somehow go through Baltimore to I-83, overtake all the way through PA
  • Weasel through PA to meet the northern I-87
Regarding the Town Center underpass, I'm in approval for that. The question is, how will they do that especially with the Silver Line being recently built?
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Re: Virginia
« Reply #5620 on: April 10, 2021, 02:33:17 PM »

Chesapeake Bay Bridge wreck victim found in Outer Banks

"AVON, N.C. – A body that washed up Friday morning in the Outer Banks is that of Erik Mezick, the Maryland man whose box truck plunged off the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel more than three months ago.

His family announced the news through “Finding Erik Mezick,”  a Facebook page they created after the Dec. 29 accident. In the months since Mezick went missing, his body drifted more than 100 miles before it came to rest on the beach between the villages of Salvo and Avon.

A resident reported finding the body of a male at 9:14 a.m. on the beach within the Cape Hatteras National Seashore. It appeared to have been in the ocean for a long time, according to a release from the seashore.

"The cause of the accident still hasn’t been determined. Conditions were windy that day on the CBBT but not enough to trigger traffic restrictions.

Erik Mezick, 47, was heading north on the 17-mile span, driving a 20-foot box truck on a delivery run for Baltimore-based Cloverland Greenspring Dairy. His truck crashed through the guard rail around 8:20 a.m. near milepost 14, about three-quarters of the way across, plummeting into frigid waters.

Witnesses saw him outside the cab, floating on the surface. He appeared unresponsive and was drifting west toward the bay when he went under.

Multiple agencies searched for him, covering nearly 200 square miles. Debris from the truck washed ashore days later in Virginia Beach.

"According to CBBT records, Mezick’s was the 16th over-the-side accident on the span. Most have been deadly, with bodies typically recovered within hours or a few days.


https://www.pilotonline.com/news/vp-nw-trucker-found-20210409-vi26d7bnyjdcbokoopa5kxiun4-story.html
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Re: Virginia
« Reply #5621 on: April 11, 2021, 03:15:56 PM »

Toll rates on the VA-168 Chesapeake Expressway will be increasing from $3 to $4 off-peak and from $8 to $9 during peak summer weekends, beginning May 1.

Oof - that weekend toll is closing in on NYC-level :wow:

I don't have as much of an issue with the weekday-rate (and by coincidence, I've only ever been thru there on weekdays), but I would definitely shunpike on weekends.  I imagine the city knows it can still count on enough unaware out-of-towners heading to/from OBX rentals on Saturday to offset the shunpikers?

They should give Battlefield Blvd another designation besides VA 168 Business to reduce the likelihood of shunpiking even further...  :colorful:
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sprjus4

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Re: Virginia
« Reply #5622 on: April 11, 2021, 03:19:26 PM »

Toll rates on the VA-168 Chesapeake Expressway will be increasing from $3 to $4 off-peak and from $8 to $9 during peak summer weekends, beginning May 1.

Oof - that weekend toll is closing in on NYC-level :wow:

I don't have as much of an issue with the weekday-rate (and by coincidence, I've only ever been thru there on weekdays), but I would definitely shunpike on weekends.  I imagine the city knows it can still count on enough unaware out-of-towners heading to/from OBX rentals on Saturday to offset the shunpikers?

They should give Battlefield Blvd another designation besides VA 168 Business to reduce the likelihood of shunpiking even further...  :colorful:
I doubt it would do anything. The route is already well known by locals and long distance travelers alike. Despite what many think, the toll road is still quite busy during peak weekends, so it does get well usage by many long distance motorists who have no problem paying the high toll, or don't think about driving off the main highway.
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Re: Virginia
« Reply #5623 on: April 11, 2021, 05:17:28 PM »

How is the Chesapeake Expy penciling out financially.
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sprjus4

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Re: Virginia
« Reply #5624 on: April 11, 2021, 05:24:40 PM »

http://www.cityofchesapeake.net/government/city-departments/departments/Public-Works-Department/chesapeake-transportation-system/bridges-dominion-blvd-improvements/chesapeake-transportation-system-disclosure-reports.htm

Revenue information from tolls collected on both VA-168 and US-17 are published on the city’s website.

Overall, despite a decrease in traffic volumes from the initial $6 peak toll, then to $8, toll revenue has gone up.

There is seemingly more interest by the city to increase revenues as opposed to addressing traffic problems on Battlefield Blvd. Lowering the toll would increase volumes on the Expressway and reduce them on Battlefield, but could potentially reduce revenues. At the same time, the city has a long range plan to widen Battlefield to 4 lanes. This seems counterintuitive because that was what the Expressway was constructed for - widening alternatives were dismissed and was preferred for new location alignment - and the money spent on such a project could be used to remove any remaining debts that need to be paid off, reducing or eliminating tolls entirely, and eliminating the need for widening on Battlefield.
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