Virginia

[Mapmikey]

Wasn't Celebrate Virginia Parkway built on some of the Outer Connector's proposed routing/ROW?

The Outer Connector was proposed several miles north of there.

Line 4 was approved by VDOT, then Line 1 was approved by CTB, in 2002
-- https://tinyurl.com/ybnowfom

This has been resurrected by the Fredericksburg MPO ten days ago - http://www.fredericksburg.com/news/transportation/getting-there-western-bypass-option-appears-again/article_c0d395b4-49a1-5d26-8c2e-9e62964f943b.html

The map (scroll to a pdf version) shows an Eastern Outer Connector as well.  The original Outer Connector is now being pitched by one Spotsylvania guy to run out to the VA 3-20 area and then maybe southeast back to I-95.

Evidently his proposal didn't garner much more support than previous tries...

[Beltway]

Wasn't Celebrate Virginia Parkway built on some of the Outer Connector's proposed routing/ROW?

The Outer Connector was proposed several miles north of there.
Line 4 was approved by VDOT, then Line 1 was approved by CTB, in 2002
-- https://tinyurl.com/ybnowfom

This has been resurrected by the Fredericksburg MPO ten days ago - http://www.fredericksburg.com/news/transportation/getting-there-western-bypass-option-appears-again/article_c0d395b4-49a1-5d26-8c2e-9e62964f943b.html
The map (scroll to a pdf version) shows an Eastern Outer Connector as well.  The original Outer Connector is now being pitched by one Spotsylvania guy to run out to the VA 3-20 area and then maybe southeast back to I-95.
Evidently his proposal didn't garner much more support than previous tries...

The OC NWQ to VA-3/VA-20 in Orange County was one of the alternates that was studied in the Draft EIS, and was rejected as it connected to VA-3 too far west to provide significant traffic relief to the congested area of VA-3 for several miles west of I-95, and not being able to be connected into an OC southwest quadrant.

[LM117]

The Danville City Council is considering applying to VDOT to designate a stretch of US-29 between the NC state line and US-58/360 as the Wendell O. Scott Memorial Highway.

http://www.godanriver.com/news/danville/highway-stretch-may-bear-name-of-danville-racing-legend-wendell/article_4d6718b2-2e22-11e8-b409-3fea602f2adc.html

[74/171FAN]

From VDOT's Website: VDOT TO HOLD PUBLIC HEARING ON ROUTE 288/BROAD STREET ROAD INTERCHANGE IMPROVEMENTS PROJECT IN GOOCHLAND COUNTY

This project mainly seems to add left-turn lanes and traffic signals at the intersections of the ramps at US 250.

[Beltway]

From VDOT's Website: VDOT TO HOLD PUBLIC HEARING ON ROUTE 288/BROAD STREET ROAD INTERCHANGE IMPROVEMENTS PROJECT IN GOOCHLAND COUNTY
This project mainly seems to add left-turn lanes and traffic signals at the intersections of the ramps at US 250.

I think traffic has reached the point to where it needs signals.  It opened in 2005 and I appreciate the fact that it has been kept signal-free for as long as it has.  There has been a lot of development in that area since then.

The interchange between VA-288 and VA-711 Huguenot Springs Road in Powhatan County  is a diamond interchange and it opened with signals on the ramp intersections from the very first day, and I don't really think that signals are needed there.  Probably the county pressured VDOT into doing it.

[WillWeaverRVA]

Those signals were needed a couple of years ago when the developments close to the Henrico-Goochland line started opening. They're badly needed now, especially now that Short Pump development is beginning to spill across the county line (office park/large upscale apartments in a disconnected chunk of the West Creek Business Park, plus additional development between the county line and North Gayton Road), with some proposed plans involving properties west of VA 288.

[plain]

I think VA 288 itself will need to be widened to 6 lanes sometime soon between US 250 and US 360. I know it will be costly but traffic is already thick now during rush hour and I can see it getting worse with all the new development coming along that stretch

[Jmiles32]

I think VA 288 itself will need to be widened to 6 lanes sometime soon between US 250 and US 360. I know it will be costly but traffic is already thick now during rush hour and I can see it getting worse with all the new development coming along that stretch

Honestly all of VA-288 needs to be widened to at least 6 lanes in the near future. The question is whether or not it can be done without HOT Lanes.

[plain]

I can't even fathom the idea of HOT lanes in the Richmond metro, though for widening projects of that magnitude... you're right. It might not be possible without them, as far as widening the entire VA 288 goes. But for now traffic between US 360 and VA 10 still seems pretty light, even during rush hour.

[Beltway]

I can't even fathom the idea of HOT lanes in the Richmond metro, though for widening projects of that magnitude... you're right. It might not be possible without them, as far as widening the entire VA 288 goes. But for now traffic between US 360 and VA 10 still seems pretty light, even during rush hour.

The section between US-360 and VA-76 certainly needs to be 6-laned.  Not so sure north of there where the AADTs are in the low-to-mid 40,000s range.

Between I-95 and US-360 seems light enough to work at 4 lanes.

[cpzilliacus]

I can't even fathom the idea of HOT lanes in the Richmond metro, though for widening projects of that magnitude... you're right. It might not be possible without them, as far as widening the entire VA 288 goes. But for now traffic between US 360 and VA 10 still seems pretty light, even during rush hour.

I agree.  There are not that many places on the Richmond system of freeways where HOV/Toll lanes could possibly work because I do not think there are enough concentrated employment centers like Tysons, the Dulles Toll Road corridor, Ballston, Pentagon City and of course the Pentagon itself. 

The alternative in and near Richmond would be to just impose variable or time-of-day tolling and leave it at that, though adding an HOV component (with mandated use of E-ZPass Flex transponders as in Northern Virginia would be relatively cheap and easy). 

[plain]

I can't even fathom the idea of HOT lanes in the Richmond metro, though for widening projects of that magnitude... you're right. It might not be possible without them, as far as widening the entire VA 288 goes. But for now traffic between US 360 and VA 10 still seems pretty light, even during rush hour.

I agree.  There are not that many places on the Richmond system of freeways where HOV/Toll lanes could possibly work because I do not think there are enough concentrated employment centers like Tysons, the Dulles Toll Road corridor, Ballston, Pentagon City and of course the Pentagon itself. 

The alternative in and near Richmond would be to just impose variable or time-of-day tolling and leave it at that, though adding an HOV component (with mandated use of E-ZPass Flex transponders as in Northern Virginia would be relatively cheap and easy).

Yeah there isn't many "business districts" in the metro outside of downtown Richmond itself, though there is Innsbrook and Westcreek, which are just large office parks. The I-95/I-64 overlap, I-64 west of I-95, and I-195 are really the only expressways in the area that gets congested in both directions during both rush hours, and just a general lane added on these in each direction can help with this (though impossible in I-195's case)

[WillWeaverRVA]

I can't even fathom the idea of HOT lanes in the Richmond metro, though for widening projects of that magnitude... you're right. It might not be possible without them, as far as widening the entire VA 288 goes. But for now traffic between US 360 and VA 10 still seems pretty light, even during rush hour.

The section between US-360 and VA-76 certainly needs to be 6-laned.  Not so sure north of there where the AADTs are in the low-to-mid 40,000s range.

Between I-95 and US-360 seems light enough to work at 4 lanes.

At the very least the segment between I-64 US 250 and VA 6 (or maybe SR 711?) could stand to be widened to 6 lanes. The area around Capital One Drive/Tuckahoe Creek Parkway is a major chokepoint for traffic (in both directions) during rush hour, and seems to have higher AADT than the Powhatan and Chesterfield County segments (around 50,000 according to the 2016 traffic data).

[froggie]

50K is still within the capacity realm of an urbanized 4-lane freeway.  Unless you're seeing more than a couple hours a day of stop-and-go, it's unlikely to see widening.

[Beltway]

At the very least the segment between I-64 US 250 and VA 6 (or maybe SR 711?) could stand to be widened to 6 lanes. The area around Capital One Drive/Tuckahoe Creek Parkway is a major chokepoint for traffic (in both directions) during rush hour, and seems to have higher AADT than the Powhatan and Chesterfield County segments (around 50,000 according to the 2016 traffic data).

VA-288 already has 3 lanes northbound between Capital One Drive/Tuckahoe Creek Parkway and US-250.

[jeffandnicole]

Here's the intentionally deceiving headline I saw this morning from MSN/USA Today regarding Left Lane Hogging: https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/driving-too-slow-on-virginia-highways-can-cost-you-dollar100/ar-AAvGCFC?ocid=spartandhp

Obviously...it's driving too slow IN THE LEFT LANE.  But simply saying "Driving too slow on Virginia Highways" is bound to pull in people that think driving slow is safer, and that speed kills.  Once they start reading the article, they're too angry to realize what it's really about.

[Beltway]

RICHMOND, Va. — At its monthly meeting this week, the Commonwealth Transportation Board (CTB) approved $20.2 million in contracts for projects by both the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) and the Department of Rail and Public Transportation (DRPT)
.....
[light awarding month]

Funding for $6 million was approved for VDOT to conduct an environmental study of a plan to extend the I-495 Express Lanes by approximately three miles from the I-495 and Dulles Toll Road interchange to the vicinity of the American Legion Bridge and Maryland line.  This northern extension to the 495 Express Lanes would help relieve a traffic-choked section of I-495 by providing more capacity, new travel choices and benefits for carpoolers.
.....

SMS:  It is important to start the location/EIS process for this project, it will take at least several years to complete.  Obviously MDOT SHA needs to conduct theirs as well between the state line and I-270, but VDOT can't control that, but they can conduct theirs.

It is apparent that the I-495/VA-267 interchange was only partly upgraded in the I-495 HOT Lanes project, likely because it was unknown at that point what scale of expansion would take place north of there on I-495.

I suppose that VDOT will develop both 5-5 and 4-2-2-4 lane configuration alternatives for this current project, so that it could match whichever scheme that is chosen by MDOT SHA.  Plus complete the expansion and modernization of the I-495/VA-267 interchange.

[cpzilliacus]

It is apparent that the I-495/VA-267 interchange was only partly upgraded in the I-495 HOT Lanes project, likely because it was unknown at that point what scale of expansion would take place north of there on I-495.

I suppose that VDOT will develop both 5-5 and 4-2-2-4 lane configuration alternatives for this current project, so that it could match whichever scheme that is chosen by MDOT SHA.  Plus complete the expansion and modernization of the I-495/VA-267 interchange.

Predictably, there are Montgomery County activists that are demanding that any  new managed lanes be limited to one new lane in each direction, which defeats the who purpose of adding them. 

The state of Maryland has no obligations to take orders from those activists (or county elected officials either), so I suppose we will see what happens.

[Beltway]

This is the first reference I have seen regarding the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel project to parallel the Chesapeake Channel Tunnel, the northern tunnel.

The Thimble Shoal Channel Parallel Tunnel is now under construction.

http://www.cbbt.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/2013GovRpt.pdf

"The Thimble Shoal Channel depth of 67 feet, with 3 feet of safety factor rating or "over dredge"  to allow for a net 70 feet of clearance with 10 feet of tunnel cover.  Correspondingly, Chesapeake Channel Tunnel will be scoped at a depth of 55 feet with 3 feet of over dredge, even though the existing channel is only maintained at 45 feet."

The Thimble Shoal Channel is deeper as it serves the Hampton Roads area commercial shipping and the largest warships in the world.

This is the first time I have seen an official statement that a parallel tunnel is planned at Chesapeake Channel.  Not a bridge.

"Thimble Tunnel would be completed first by 2025, and thereafter there will be an approximate 30-year period before Chesapeake Channel Tunnel is completed."

Hopefully funding will be found to build the Parallel Chesapeake Channel Tunnel by the end of the 2020s.

Another quote --
'Following its opening on April 15, 1964, the Bridge-Tunnel was selected "One of the Seven Engineering Wonders of the Modern World"  in a worldwide competition that included more than one hundred major projects.  In addition, in 1965, it was distinguished as "The Outstanding Civil Engineering Achievement"  by the American Society of Civil Engineers.  In 2000, the Bridge-Tunnel was recognized by Structural Engineer magazine as one of the "Seven Structural Engineering Wonders of America for the 20th Century." '

All this is well-known.  The OCEA was awarded by the ASCE.  But I have two questions --
Who conducted the worldwide competition for the first award?
What were the other 6 projects?

I have searched all over the internet and have not found the answers to those questions.

[Mapmikey]

Another quote --
'Following its opening on April 15, 1964, the Bridge-Tunnel was selected "One of the Seven Engineering Wonders of the Modern World"  in a worldwide competition that included more than one hundred major projects.  In addition, in 1965, it was distinguished as "The Outstanding Civil Engineering Achievement"  by the American Society of Civil Engineers.  In 2000, the Bridge-Tunnel was recognized by Structural Engineer magazine as one of the "Seven Structural Engineering Wonders of America for the 20th Century." '

All this is well-known.  The OCEA was awarded by the ASCE.  But I have two questions --
Who conducted the worldwide competition for the first award?
What were the other 6 projects?

I have searched all over the internet and have not found the answers to those questions.

The 1964 designation appears to also be from ASCE - cited this way here - http://www.geoengineer.org/news-center/news/item/1767-chesapeake-bay-bridge-tunnel-an-engineering-wonder-of-the-modern-world and here - https://books.google.com/books?id=MmcqAwAAQBAJ&pg=PA98&lpg=PA98&dq=%22one+of+the+seven+engineering+wonders+of+the+modern+world.%22+1964&source=bl&ots=cyeCJWHV6Y&sig=ShlbcyvNnLiDAV-4_3vxxCfchLQ&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwibko3q9cnaAhUs1oMKHTZZBVU4ChDoAQhAMAc#v=onepage&q=%22one%20of%20the%20seven%20engineering%20wonders%20of%20the%20modern%20world.%22%201964&f=false

[WillWeaverRVA]

VDOT has added traffic data from 2017 to its website for anyone interested.

http://www.virginiadot.org/info/2017_traffic_data.asp

Oddly, traffic data for the Town of Columbia are included even though it officially dissolved in 2016 and is now an unincorporated part of Fluvanna County.

[LM117]

VDOT has added traffic data from 2017 to its website for anyone interested.

http://www.virginiadot.org/info/2017_traffic_data.asp

Oddly, traffic data for the Town of Columbia are included even though it officially dissolved in 2016 and is now an unincorporated part of Fluvanna County.

I see the traffic counts for the Central Blvd/Piney Forest Road corridor in Danville appear to be the highest overall in the city. No surprise there. Piney Forest Rd between Central Blvd and VA-41 is a nightmare. I dread every time I have to drive that stretch. It's usually a parking lot except for real early mornings and during the night. The suicide lane from hell is the worst part.

For a city no bigger than it is, Danville has terrible traffic.

[BrianP]

Would you advocate for a center barrier which requires U turns instead of left turns? 

[LM117]

Would you advocate for a center barrier which requires U turns instead of left turns?

I normally would, but in this case it might do even more harm than good. That whole corridor is cluttered with businesses practically butted up against each other. I'm not familiar with Danville's zoning, but it seems like the city allowed businesses to just pop up any ol' place with little thought given to what improvements US-29 Business might need in the future...which is now. It's a mess.

[Beltway]

I see the traffic counts for the Central Blvd/Piney Forest Road corridor in Danville appear to be the highest overall in the city. No surprise there. Piney Forest Rd between Central Blvd and VA-41 is a nightmare. I dread every time I have to drive that stretch. It's usually a parking lot except for real early mornings and during the night. The suicide lane from hell is the worst part.
For a city no bigger than it is, Danville has terrible traffic.

Do you think that completing the outer loop (building the northwest quadrant) would help those conditions?