You don't pass a tank on the Interstate every day.

[1995hoo]

Don't see this sort of thing too often. I was wondering what the heck the oversized load coming off the I-95 flyover bridge was earlier this afternoon because it seemed to be fascinating all the other drivers. Then I caught up and saw this.

[agentsteel53]

I remember driving I-80 in Nebraska a few years back and passing a semi that would have been nondescript, apart from the escort provided by two police cars, three jeeps with .50 cals, and a helicopter overhead.

great way to disguise your nuclear warheads, guys.

[Takumi]

I've seen Tank Crossing signs on VA 40 on Fort Pickett, but never the reason for them...

[vdeane]

I've seen tanks around I-81 in Watertown a few times.

[djsinco]

Looks like he is driving in one of the truck restricted lanes on the Beltway. Probably not wise to pull him over, the road rage could be epic!

[Takumi]

I drove the road where the tank crossing signs are this afternoon. I did see a tank off to the side, but it looked like it wasn't being operated at the time.

[74/171FAN]

I drove the road where the tank crossing signs are this afternoon. I did see a tank off to the side, but it looked like it wasn't being operated at the time.

I got to go on that road (VA 40) not too along ago as well, but I did not see any tanks.  It was a rainy day though so I did not get a great photo of the tank crossing signs themselves.

[kphoger]

I've passed by military convoys quite a few times over the years, and a few of those have had tanks riding on trailers.  Now, has anyone ever driven by a tank that was actually being driven on a roadway?  I haven't.

In June, we overtook a military convoy on Mexican federal highway 40 that was heading east toward Saltillo.  It was a little unnerving when we got up to the truck with a couple dozen soldiers in the back, all dressed in camo, with several standing up with riot gear on and rifles at the ready.  Although, that sort of thing gets less and less unnerving the more and more you encounter it.  It freaked pretty much everybody out a couple of years ago, however, when a military pickup pulled up at the next gas station pump over from us, with guys in riot gear and rifles standing in the back and eyeing us through their facemasks.  That kind of thing has started making me feel safer rather more vulnerable; they are, after all, the good guys.

[1995hoo]

Looks like he is driving in one of the truck restricted lanes on the Beltway. Probably not wise to pull him over, the road rage could be epic!

I'll have to try to remember to keep my eyes peeled for truck restriction signs tonight, but I don't think there's a restriction there for three reasons:

(a) In Virginia the general restriction on the Beltway now is that HAZMAT trucks must remain in the two right lanes.

(b) That picture is a very short distance east of the northbound I-95 flyover ramp that merges onto the Beltway from the left (it becomes the two left lanes). Trucks aren't lane-restricted over that flyover for rather obvious practical reasons. That truck was in the second lane from the left and had just come off the flyover. Even if there were a lane restriction, I expect they'd give the truckers time to get over since the flyover merges onto the Beltway on an uphill grade.

(c) That part of the Beltway splits into a divided "THRU/LOCAL" configuration about three miles east of that point in advance of the Wilson Bridge to Maryland, and the majority of the truckers use the "THRU" lanes over the bridge. To get to the "THRU" lanes you need to be in the two left lanes. Making the trucks move over to the right and then move back to the left for that short segment would be kind of dumb.

As I say, though, if I remember, and if I can get a good look, I'll keep my eyes out tonight. I've just never paid much attention to the truck signage in that area because, well, I don't drive a truck!

I've passed by military convoys quite a few times over the years, and a few of those have had tanks riding on trailers.  Now, has anyone ever driven by a tank that was actually being driven on a roadway?  I haven't.

....

I have not driven past one, but I've seen tanks being driven on DC city streets and over Arlington Memorial Bridge during the Desert Storm victory parade back in 1991.

[djsinco]

Now, has anyone ever driven by a tank that was actually being driven on a roadway?  I haven't.

Nor have I.

I have, however, driven on roads that were so rough I am certain tanks had been driven there previously.

[Takumi]

I'm sure if I hung out near the tank crossing long enough I'd see one, if I didn't get detained first

[1995hoo]

Following on my earlier comment about checking the signs, there was a wreck on I-395 so we came home a different way. Oh well.