Wednesday afternoon, CPZ took me on a little sightseeing tour that involved clinching the ICC, using the HOT lanes on I-495, clinching I-395 in Virginia and DC before coming back to Annapolis for dinner with a few of you all.
The route home was I-97 and MD 32 to I-70 for the rest of the journey back.
*Why is the speed limit on MD 32 only 55? Except for the curvy part near NSA, it seems no different in geometry than the 65 mph interstates.
*For the "routes that change directions" thread, I noticed that MD 32 changes from E/W to N/S, although I didn't spot the exact point where that happens.
*For the "interstates that narrow to one lane" thread, I-70 westbound at Frederick counts. There are two exit-only lanes to the right and only one through lane on I-70 as I-270 merges in.
*Unless I missed it, the "alternate route to Ohio and points west" sign advertising I-68 is gone from I-70. There are still a couple of signs touting as "alt route west" but I don't remember seeing the sign with the specific reference to Ohio. I still don't know why Maryland hates Pennsylvania so much that they're actively trying to divert traffic off the PA Turnpike.
*Why is the Sideling Hill visitors center closed? All that remains is a rest area with bathrooms and vending machines. I'd never stopped before, but since this may be the last time I ever pass that way again, I decided to stop and take some pictures from the walkway.
*Heavy, heavy police presence on I-68 west of Cumberland, especially the area west of the Frostburg and Finzel exits.
*There's still one button copy sign (for Exit 43A) on westbound I-68 but the one remaining mileage sign west of Frostburg that was button copy has been replaced by a Clearview sign.
*As mentioned earlier, the signage on I-68 in West Virginia has been replaced by Clearview, but some of the blue services signs still have the exit number and outlines in button copy.
*The exit sign for US 119 has been taken down off the bridge and placed on an overhead gantry.
*WV 279 has apparently been extended west (or north) of I-79 to the entrance to the FBI facility. There used to be an "End 279" sign at the I-79 exit, but the route is signed in both directions at the exit ramp and there's a North 279 sign there now. I gassed up at the new Sheetz there and drove up to the turnaround at the FBI facility.
*Interesting construction setup for work on the Kanawha River I-64 bridge in Charleston. The ramp from southbound I-77 to westbound I-64 is narrowed to one lane and set up as a "cattle chute" using a lane of the eastbound bridge.
*For the "exits from self" thread, add the I-64/I-77 interchange in Charleston. The through movement for eastbound I-64 is to northbound I-77, with I-64 curving to the right. And vice versa. The through movement for southbound I-77 is to westbound I-64 (and the aforementioned construction setup) with I-77 continuing as a left exit.
*The $x.xx3 gas price in Grayson is back to an $x.xx9 price now.