Virginia

[Beltway]

If the northbound work between Christiansburg and Ironto goes like the southbound work, there will be times that the whole road can be shut down and traffic detoured from Dixie Caverns to Christiansburg on parallel U.S. 11/460. That will speed the work that has to be done.

Wasn't that pretty brutal when they did that last time? At least for a day or two at time for blasting shots (there were 137 in all).

U.S. 11/460 over Christiansburg Mountain was dicey enough before that I-81 segment opened in 1972.

[VTGoose]

If the northbound work between Christiansburg and Ironto goes like the southbound work, there will be times that the whole road can be shut down and traffic detoured from Dixie Caverns to Christiansburg on parallel U.S. 11/460. That will speed the work that has to be done.

Wasn't that pretty brutal when they did that last time? At least for a day or two at time for blasting shots (there were 137 in all).

U.S. 11/460 over Christiansburg Mountain was dicey enough before that I-81 segment opened in 1972.

I have it backwards -- traffic would exit at Christiansburg and go down Christiansburg Mountain on U.S. 11/460 and get back on I-81 at Dixie Caverns. I don't know if that's how the project will go, but it makes sense if occasional shut-downs expedite the construction.

[Beltway]

Wasn't that pretty brutal when they did that last time? At least for a day or two at time for blasting shots (there were 137 in all). U.S. 11/460 over Christiansburg Mountain was dicey enough before that I-81 segment opened in 1972.

I have it backwards -- traffic would exit at Christiansburg and go down Christiansburg Mountain on U.S. 11/460 and get back on I-81 at Dixie Caverns. I don't know if that's how the project will go, but it makes sense if occasional shut-downs expedite the construction.

I agree from an engineering and construction standpoint, but at AADT 50,000 and 28% large trucks that must create some awful congestion. You live in the area so you would know first time what happened last time.

We had an ASHE presentation several years ago by the excavation company for that project. He said for safety reasons they must close the roadway to fire a shot, because the soil shifting behavior is unpredictable, and it usually takes hours or even a couple days to clear all the rubble off the roadway. They will not do any work (drilling, placing charges, firing) at night for safety reasons. Rain can interfere depending on how much. With that many shots within a two year period they cannot make weekends off limits, or try to do most of the work targeted on lower volume weekdays. Where both roadways are close together they may need to close both. This is the way that these contractors work, and they won't take the job unless they can do the above.

They said this is a harbinger of what will happen on many other sections of I-81 when they are widened.

[Pink Jazz]

I am visiting my aunt in Virginia, and lately I have been noticing signs that look brand new in FHWA Series E(M) instead of Clearview. I wonder if VDOT decided that the strict adherence to Clearview guidelines wasn't worth the headache.

[WillWeaverRVA]

I am visiting my aunt in Virginia, and lately I have been noticing signs that look brand new in FHWA Series E(M) instead of Clearview. I wonder if VDOT decided that the strict adherence to Clearview guidelines wasn't worth the headache.

Virginia's MUTCD ceased to require Clearview on most signs when it was spun off from the federal MUTCD last year. Clearview is now only specified for use on overhead signs on freeways and expressways and even then it's optional.

[1995hoo]

This tweet has video from VDOT's sign shop. Figured it might be of interest.

https://x.com/VaDOTRVA/status/2052402849670160405

[Mapmikey]

This tweet has video from VDOT's sign shop. Figured it might be of interest.

https://x.com/VaDOTRVA/status/2052402849670160405

This suggests that the many route shield error signs come from one location...?

[WillWeaverRVA]

This tweet has video from VDOT's sign shop. Figured it might be of interest.

https://x.com/VaDOTRVA/status/2052402849670160405

This suggests that the many route shield error signs come from one location...?

They would haaaaate me if I worked there.