So my wife and I drove from Richmond, VA to Ann Arbor, MI for our niece's birthday this weekend. We made the drive all in one day, and it was a nice drive other than the Ohio Turnpike's perpetual construction.
I took over 400 photos (which are still uploading), so I've split them into albums by state. By the time we got to Michigan, it was too dark even for a DSLR) so I put the few photos from there so far in the Ohio album. I probably won't take as many photos on the way back. These photos are MUCH better than the Charlotte trip photos I took a couple months ago because I remembered to bring the stupid polarizing filter.
The route was
US 33 -> I-295 -> I-95 -> US 17 (Fredericksburg to Opal) -> US 15/17/29 (Opal to Warrenton) -> US 17 (Warrenton to Marshall) -> I-66 (Marshall to I-81) -> I-81 (I-66 to VA 37) -> VA 37 -> US 522 (Winchester, VA to Hancock, MD) -> I-70 (Hancock to Breezewood) -> I-70/76 (Breezewood to I-80 in Ohio) -> I-80 (and later I-80/90) Ohio Turnpike -> I-75 (Toledo to I-475) -> I-475 -> US 23
Virginia photos: https://www.flickr.com/photos/willshighways/albums/72157670959123283
West Virginia photos (including some in Berkeley Springs): https://www.flickr.com/photos/willshighways/albums/72157673124524250
Maryland photos: https://www.flickr.com/photos/willshighways/albums/72157674320264725
Pennsylvania photos: https://www.flickr.com/photos/willshighways/albums/72157674225852686
Ohio and Michigan: https://www.flickr.com/photos/willshighways/albums/72157673146450071
The photos are still uploading so right now the Ohio/Michigan gallery is still incomplete for now. It'll be complete in a little while though.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/willshighways/29602865690/in/album-72157670959123283/ (https://www.flickr.com/photos/willshighways/29602865690/in/album-72157670959123283/)
Had you seen this temporary sign for US 17 on I-95 NB before? I had never seen the interchange referred to as Exits 133A-B on NB but only SB
Quote from: 74/171FAN on September 25, 2016, 08:46:44 AM
https://www.flickr.com/photos/willshighways/29602865690/in/album-72157670959123283/ (https://www.flickr.com/photos/willshighways/29602865690/in/album-72157670959123283/)
Had you seen this temporary sign for US 17 on I-95 NB before? I had never seen the interchange referred to as Exits 133A-B on NB but only SB
This was installed sometime after Feb 2016 replacing an overhead assembly. Interestingly, the brown sign for Belmont has had a 133A tab since its installation in 2010-2011 timeframe.
Yeah, this was the first time I'd noticed that sign. I hadn't been up that way on I-95 in a while, though.
Somehow, it managed to rain during the entire 600+ mile trip back from Michigan, so there weren't too many photos on the way back. I've created an album with what I was able to get, including some ODOT contactor screwups along US 23 in Toledo.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/willshighways/albums/72157671122477594
Though it's a convenient little shortcut, I absolutely despise US 522 through West Virginia. One piece of farm equipment or a senior citizen and traffic backs up forever
Quote from: plain on October 02, 2016, 08:07:32 AM
Though it's a convenient little shortcut, I absolutely despise US 522 through West Virginia. One piece of farm equipment or a senior citizen and traffic backs up forever
I really wish there was a bypass of Berkeley Springs. Traffic was fairly heavy through there both ways.
I think this is another one of those instances where a state really doesn't want to spend millions of dollars basically for the benefit of out-of-state travelers. There have been a few proposals floated over the years to tie into Virginia's four-laning of 522.
Quote from: plain on October 02, 2016, 08:07:32 AM
Though it's a convenient little shortcut, I absolutely despise US 522 through West Virginia. One piece of farm equipment or a senior citizen and traffic backs up forever
Google says it is only 2 minutes faster to use US 522 versus I-81/I-70 from the Winchester area. However, if it is daytime I always use 522 even if there are sometimes slowdowns (lots of deer so not a good night time route).
If one were heading for Cumberland or further west on I-68 it is about 15 minutes shorter to use VA/WV 127, WV 29, WV 9, MD 51 which does not have a ton of actual mountain driving...
Quote from: hbelkins on October 03, 2016, 11:51:48 AM
I think this is another one of those instances where a state really doesn't want to spend millions of dollars basically for the benefit of out-of-state travelers. There have been a few proposals floated over the years to tie into Virginia's four-laning of 522.
Yeah now that you say that, makes sense (unfortunately smdh)
Quote from: Mapmikey on October 03, 2016, 01:18:14 PM
Quote from: plain on October 02, 2016, 08:07:32 AM
Though it's a convenient little shortcut, I absolutely despise US 522 through West Virginia. One piece of farm equipment or a senior citizen and traffic backs up forever
Google says it is only 2 minutes faster to use US 522 versus I-81/I-70 from the Winchester area. However, if it is daytime I always use 522 even if there are sometimes slowdowns (lots of deer so not a good night time route).
If one were heading for Cumberland or further west on I-68 it is about 15 minutes shorter to use VA/WV 127, WV 29, WV 9, MD 51 which does not have a ton of actual mountain driving...
Hmm never really thought of those routes before. Really does sound smart though since both I-81 and US 522 bears to the northeast at some point before reaching Maryland.
On another note and speaking of west of Cumberland lol, when I clinched I-68 the connection to WV/PA 43 didn't exist yet. I went to GSV recently to check out the interchange and noticed the 7% grade warning on the BGS for 43 on 68. I've never driven 43. Does anyone know where the steep grade is located?
Aww man. Of course you went through the narrowest part of Maryland, my home state. I'm sure you realize Maryland is much more than Hancock, though.
Quote from: plain on October 04, 2016, 11:03:29 PM
On another note and speaking of west of Cumberland lol, when I clinched I-68 the connection to WV/PA 43 didn't exist yet. I went to GSV recently to check out the interchange and noticed the 7% grade warning on the BGS for 43 on 68. I've never driven 43. Does anyone know where the steep grade is located?
It is the exit ramp itself. This warning was on the previous CR 857 BGS as well. In addition there is no warning coming the other direction on I-68...
Quote from: epzik8 on October 05, 2016, 01:22:50 AM
Aww man. Of course you went through the narrowest part of Maryland, my home state. I'm sure you realize Maryland is much more than Hancock, though.
Oh, I know. We just didn't want to deal with DC area traffic. :P
Quote from: Mapmikey on October 05, 2016, 06:37:40 AM
Quote from: plain on October 04, 2016, 11:03:29 PM
On another note and speaking of west of Cumberland lol, when I clinched I-68 the connection to WV/PA 43 didn't exist yet. I went to GSV recently to check out the interchange and noticed the 7% grade warning on the BGS for 43 on 68. I've never driven 43. Does anyone know where the steep grade is located?
It is the exit ramp itself. This warning was on the previous CR 857 BGS as well. In addition there is no warning coming the other direction on I-68...
Oh ok. I guess the fact that the ramp is extra long should've been a clue lmao