How did the framers of the original Interstates decide what cities to include?

[Beltway]

That saves 5 miles, and there is no need to use that, particularly a large truck would be more suited to use US-360 and US-460.  VA-307 is an ok 2-lane highway, but not a "high type" 2-lane highway.

VDOT signs VA-307 as "To US-460 West; Farmville / Lynchburg" on US-360 heading westbound, and simply "VA-307 East; Richmond" on US-360 heading eastbound.
For a trucker, taking US-360 to US-460 would add 7.5 miles, which you've pointed out in the past mileage for truckers is strict.
VA-307 is a suitable road for trucks, and is mostly straight and has rolling terrain. VDOT wouldn't sign it as the main route between the two points if it couldn't handle truck traffic.

Given the steep grades and narrow shoulders and the 2-lane 2-way traffic, I would not find it preferable as an operator of a large vehicle.

That eastbound directional sign is right at the intersection and is the only sign signifying that movement eastbound.

That westbound directional sign is a small sign and is only 1,000 feet from the intersection and is the only sign signifying that movement westbound.

So I can't say that VDOT is recommending using VA-307 in lieu of staying on the 4-lane highway system, given the paucity of markings.  It is marked so that if you know about it in advance you can see where the intersection is.

The Virginia Highways Project states that VA-307 was given that routing and designation in 1940.  It would have been the obvious choice back then when all of US-460 and US-360 was 2 lanes and there was no Burkeville Bypass.  Plus I will wager that there two major railroad grade crossings in Burkeville for the Norfolk and Western Railroad mainline, with all sorts of delays for road traffic on US-360 and US-460.  The bypass project in the 1970s grade separated the railroad for thru traffic.

With the 4-lane highway system vehicles can follow them if they want, or take VA-307 if they want.

To me it is about 50-50 either way, but in inclement weather (thing like snow, ice, heavy rain) I would avoid VA-307.

Richmond does have continuous 4-lane highway connections to Lynchburg with US-360 and US-460.

[sprjus4]

Given the steep grades and narrow shoulders and the 2-lane 2-way traffic, I would not find it preferable as an operator of a large vehicle.

In fairness, doesn't US-360 and US-460 have the steep grades and narrow shoulders as well? The only difference is the elimination of two-way traffic. The road design is the same as the original roadway was still utilized, and the parallel carriageways aren't all that high quality either. This applies to the majority of the arterial system as well. Only on recent dualization projects have efforts been made to not only 4-lane the road in question, but also upgrade it to high quality design standards with level roadways, paved shoulders, etc. This is one feature that was lacking in the construction of the original system, and still remains today.

[Beltway]

Given the steep grades and narrow shoulders and the 2-lane 2-way traffic, I would not find it preferable as an operator of a large vehicle.

In fairness, doesn't US-360 and US-460 have the steep grades and narrow shoulders as well? The only difference is the elimination of two-way traffic.

Which is a huge difference, having two one-way 2-lane roadways.  No head-on traffic, and no need to pass in an oncoming lane.

The parts of US-360 and US-460 in question don't have excessive grades.

The road design is the same as the original roadway was still utilized, and the parallel carriageways aren't all that high quality either. This applies to the majority of the arterial system as well. Only on recent dualization projects have efforts been made to not only 4-lane the road in question, but also upgrade it to high quality design standards with level roadways, paved shoulders, etc. This is one feature that was lacking in the construction of the original system, and still remains today.

Depends on when the original roadway was built.

I categorize into three groups based on decades, 1930s are lacking (like parts of US-360 east of Amelia), 1940s is reasonable, 1950s is close to modern standards (much of US-460 between Petersburg and Blackstone for example).  The US-29 corridor is about 30% by mileage bypasses and the remaining 70% is mainly in the 1940s and 1950s for the original roadways.

[sprjus4]

The parts of US-360 and US-460 in question don't have excessive grades.

This isn't excessive?

A virtual Street View drive eastbound along VA-307 doesn't appear to have any grades of excess like that one, most of them are longer and spread out. At least 7 tractor trailers were traveling in the opposite direction, so there's indeed truck usage on that road.

[Beltway]

The parts of US-360 and US-460 in question don't have excessive grades.

This isn't excessive?

A series of shallow grade changes.

There are some large long grades on VA-307.

A virtual Street View drive eastbound along VA-307 doesn't appear to have any grades of excess like that one, most of them are longer and spread out. At least 7 tractor trailers were traveling in the opposite direction, so there's indeed truck usage on that road.

Some trucks do use it, but we would need to see a traffic count of large trucks on each of the two routes, making that thru movement.

You only addressed one of three associated issues --
-- "having two one-way 2-lane roadways.  No head-on traffic, and no need to pass in an oncoming lane."

-- The issue of inclement weather.

[sprjus4]

Some trucks do use it, but we would need to see a traffic count of large trucks on each of the two routes, making that thru movement.

The AADT for all vehicles on US-360 is 13,000 north of VA-307 (prior to the split), and 6,100 south of VA-307 (after the split). On US-460, the count is 14,000 west of VA-307 (prior to the split), and 7,400 east of VA-307 (after the split). The traffic count on VA-307 itself is 5,400. There's certainly a major split that uses that segment.

For 3-axle truck traffic specifically, it's 1% on all the counts. That would mean, as a rough estimate, on US-360 there's 130 north of VA-307 (prior to the split), and 61 south of VA-307 (after the split). On US-460, the count is 140 west of VA-307 (prior to the split), and 74 east of VA-307 (after the split). The truck count on VA-307 itself is 54.

For the rest of the trucks staying on US-360 and US-460 south of VA-307, those could be trucks making the out-of-way movement as you mentioned, or thru trucks on US-360 and US-460 not switching routes, more than likely the latter.

[J N Winkler]

I'm aware of (and do not really agree with) Virginia's practice of leaving the existing carriageway alone in dualization projects, but even so I don't view SR 307 as an especially advantageous alternative to US 360/US 460, owing to sight distance constraints that are severe enough to attract signing.

[sprjus4]

I'm aware of (and do not really agree with) Virginia's practice of leaving the existing carriageway alone in dualization projects, but even so I don't view SR 307 as an especially advantageous alternative to US 360/US 460, owing to sight distance constraints that are severe enough to attract signing.

My comments were in regards to the fact that traffic between US-360 and US-460 does utilize that, and this is backed up based on the traffic counts.

[Beltway]

Some trucks do use it, but we would need to see a traffic count of large trucks on each of the two routes, making that thru movement.

The AADT for all vehicles on US-360 is 13,000 north of VA-307 (prior to the split), and 6,100 south of VA-307 (after the split). On US-460, the count is 14,000 west of VA-307 (prior to the split), and 7,400 east of VA-307 (after the split). The traffic count on VA-307 itself is 5,400. There's certainly a major split that uses that segment.

Those numbers don't add up... look at them... consider that VA-307 has local traffic of its own, and that VA-307 only serves one quadrant of the arterial crossroads at Burkeville.  There is thru traffic on the US-360 corridor and thru traffic on the US-460 corridor.

Look, you started this subtopic when you questioned whether there is a 4-lane highway between Richmond and Lynchburg, along the US-360 and US-460 routes.  There IS SUCH A ROUTE, and frankly I am done with this subtopic.

[webny99]

Isn't the correct answer "They included all major cities"?
Most or all of the cities that are excluded have grown significantly since the 1940's and probably had little or no national importance at the time.

[bandit957]

Isn't the correct answer "They included all major cities"?

I'm not sure what they considered "major" - or what pairs of cities were considered "major" enough to have a direct connection.

[froggie]

Isn't the correct answer "They included all major cities"?

I'm not sure what they considered "major" - or what pairs of cities were considered "major" enough to have a direct connection.

Mentioned upthread...