US 33, VA 33, and US 250 endpoints in Richmond, VA

[Mapmikey]

Here is a WP article from 2000 with discussion of this issue.  May be behind a paywall (let me know and i will copy excerpts):
https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/local/2000/09/17/vdot-takes-steps-to-reduce-truck-traffic-on-rte-17/998c7e34-8ab9-4b12-8ddd-9bc09c94aca4/

It also implies the truck ban did not come at the same time as the speed limit drop.  I don't remember if it did or not.

[plain]

Finally had a chance to check out Harrison St north of Broad St, early this morning. I only saw 2 new signs:

This is Harrison NB at Leigh.



However, there's this totally unnecessary one on Harrison SB at Leigh. This should've been on Leigh WB at Harrison.




Also, these US 33 signs at the end of Hancock St NB (at Leigh) have been removed.

https://maps.app.goo.gl/kf4whVqwLqWJcCJEA?g_st=ac


As well as this trailblazer

https://maps.app.goo.gl/u3pxGASXdAReogUf8?g_st=ac


The US 33 postings on Leigh at Belvidere St remains.


Nowadays there's no left turn available from Broad St EB to Harrison, nor to Hancock (which, to add insult to injury, is a one-way street facing the opposite direction). US/VA 33 should've been moved to Belvidere St already.

[sprjus4]

That said, US 17 should be truncated to Marshal, since trucks are prohibited between I-66 and US 50, and the speed limit on that segment has been permanently reduced to 45.

And I don't understand why. When I drove that route, I didn't see any problems at all with the road. It's a lot better than a lot of roads that are very busy with trucks, with a 55 mph speed limit.

The residents and politicians of Fauquier County don't want anything outside of Warrenton that impedes their idyllic concept of rural living.  That includes big smelly trucks and "through traffic".  I don't recall if it was lobbying VDOT or actual legislation they were able to push through the General Assembly, but they were successful in banning through trucks on 17 (requiring them to take 66 to 81) and forcing a 45mph speed limit even though the road is easily done at 55.

Yes, there's the nasty at-grade rail crossing at Delaplane, but there's 6 miles of well-designed highway north of that which would easily otherwise be 55mph.

Is this the same reason US-17 between Fredericksburg and Marshall is still only 55 mph? It is a divided highway for the entire length, and the state law allows for 60 mph, yet I believe the counties have repeated rejected that idea in the name of "safety" (and convenient for police running radar).

[74/171FAN]

The residents and politicians of Fauquier County don't want anything outside of Warrenton that impedes their idyllic concept of rural living.  That includes big smelly trucks and "through traffic".  I don't recall if it was lobbying VDOT or actual legislation they were able to push through the General Assembly, but they were successful in banning through trucks on 17 (requiring them to take 66 to 81) and forcing a 45mph speed limit even though the road is easily done at 55.

When I drove through there on July 3rd, I saw at least three trucks (two Sheetz fueling trucks and another that I passed on before the US 17/US 50 split) on that section of US 17.