The Attempt to Fix Virginia Signage Featuring WillWeaverRVA

[WillWeaverRVA]

Posting 315 trailblazers on 161 seems plausible, if nothing else. It's not like it's a gated route like 327 and even 410 are. My thought is that the museums may just not want to encourage through traffic on it by having the route posted, and may have told the city such.

US 522 is posted from the south end of VA 410, so there likely was a conscious decision not to post it when it was opened.

VA 410 was actually secondary for a brief period before it was upgraded, IIRC. I might have to find an old version of the ArcGIS map to find out what it was before it became VA 410.

[Takumi]

Posting 315 trailblazers on 161 seems plausible, if nothing else. It's not like it's a gated route like 327 and even 410 are. My thought is that the museums may just not want to encourage through traffic on it by having the route posted, and may have told the city such.

US 522 is posted from the south end of VA 410, so there likely was a conscious decision not to post it when it was opened.

VA 410 was actually secondary for a brief period before it was upgraded, IIRC. I might have to find an old version of the ArcGIS map to find out what it was before it became VA 410.

While you're there, could you check to see if the road leading to Wallis Ridge Prison in Big Stone Gap has a number? I can't get the map to load right to save my life.

[WillWeaverRVA]

While you're there, could you check to see if the road leading to Wallis Ridge Prison in Big Stone Gap has a number? I can't get the map to load right to save my life.

The map says it's an unnumbered town road.

[WillWeaverRVA]

GSV has updated in much of Alexandria and none of the signage I requested has been installed (someone who messaged me on Bluesky also confirmed this a bit earlier). Go figure.

(By the way, MapGenerator is extremely useful for finding GSV updates. I think it was created for GeoGuessr. https://map-generator-nsj.vercel.app/)

[dfnva]

VDOT sent me notifications that my requests regarding VA 393 (NOVA Manassas campus off VA 234) and VA 394 (NOVA Woodbridge campus off SR 638) in Prince William County have been completed/resolved.

Since I work relatively close to the Manassas NOVA campus, I decided to drive by there after work today. The VA-393 signs have not been posted yet. I'm thinking it would only be posted on VA-234 northbound as the southbound approach does not allow left turns.

[Mapmikey]

VDOT sent me notifications that my requests regarding VA 393 (NOVA Manassas campus off VA 234) and VA 394 (NOVA Woodbridge campus off SR 638) in Prince William County have been completed/resolved.

Since I work relatively close to the Manassas NOVA campus, I decided to drive by there after work today. The VA-393 signs have not been posted yet. I'm thinking it would only be posted on VA-234 northbound as the southbound approach does not allow left turns.

I also drove by there today and through campus. There are at least 3 VA 234 shields on campus.

I can also confirm that VA 213 is not posted anywhere either

[WillWeaverRVA]

VDOT sent me notifications that my requests regarding VA 393 (NOVA Manassas campus off VA 234) and VA 394 (NOVA Woodbridge campus off SR 638) in Prince William County have been completed/resolved.

Since I work relatively close to the Manassas NOVA campus, I decided to drive by there after work today. The VA-393 signs have not been posted yet. I'm thinking it would only be posted on VA-234 northbound as the southbound approach does not allow left turns.

I also drove by there today and through campus. There are at least 3 VA 234 shields on campus.

I can also confirm that VA 213 is not posted anywhere either

Sigh. Thanks for checking.

[Alex]

I commend your efforts Will!

When I drove to Delaware for Christmas, I worked in U.S. 1/301 from Petersburg north to the split in Richmond. Beyond SR 145, the next reassurance markers for U.S. 1/301 I saw were a set in the median after SR 161 (Bells Road) and another in the median by Webber Avenue.

There was no junction shield for U.S. 360 but at least there were west/east shields at Hull Street. No signage whatsoever at Semmes Avenue for U.S. 60.

Also no signage Idlewild Avenue and Cumberland Street for SR 195. You have no idea that the Downtown Expressway exists...

Granted there was construction at the southeast corner of Broad Street, but no shields posted for any route. On Broad Street westbound there was at least a shield assembly for U.S. 1/301 south and trailblazers for I-95/64 referencing U.S. 1/301 north.

You get an "I-95/64 THIS LANE" overhead mounted to the signal mast arm at Clay Street as your lone indication of the forthcoming interchange. North from there no shields were posted until an assembly for SR 197 east and trailblazers for I-64/95 at Laburnum Avenue, followed by the first reassurance markers for U.S. 1/301 posted since Webber Avenue.

And of course which you have already addressed, at the north split of U.S. 1/301, there was only a set of North U.S. 301/TO SR 2/TO I-95/TO I-295 shield assembly preceding Azalea Avenue. No indication of U.S. 1 turning west.

[WillWeaverRVA]

I commend your efforts Will!

When I drove to Delaware for Christmas, I worked in U.S. 1/301 from Petersburg north to the split in Richmond. Beyond SR 145, the next reassurance markers for U.S. 1/301 I saw were a set in the median after SR 161 (Bells Road) and another in the median by Webber Avenue.

There was no junction shield for U.S. 360 but at least there were west/east shields at Hull Street. No signage whatsoever at Semmes Avenue for U.S. 60.

Also no signage Idlewild Avenue and Cumberland Street for SR 195. You have no idea that the Downtown Expressway exists...

Granted there was construction at the southeast corner of Broad Street, but no shields posted for any route. On Broad Street westbound there was at least a shield assembly for U.S. 1/301 south and trailblazers for I-95/64 referencing U.S. 1/301 north.

You get an "I-95/64 THIS LANE" overhead mounted to the signal mast arm at Clay Street as your lone indication of the forthcoming interchange. North from there no shields were posted until an assembly for SR 197 east and trailblazers for I-64/95 at Laburnum Avenue, followed by the first reassurance markers for U.S. 1/301 posted since Webber Avenue.

And of course which you have already addressed, at the north split of U.S. 1/301, there was only a set of North U.S. 301/TO SR 2/TO I-95/TO I-295 shield assembly preceding Azalea Avenue. No indication of U.S. 1 turning west.

Thanks!

[WillWeaverRVA]

I'm gonna see if the city will at least just rotate the rectangles so they point the right way. I'm sure I can word the request in a way where they'd be fine with doing that.

And the city just told me VDOT needs to fix those rectangles, but they're going to contact VDOT themselves to let them know so we're not going back and forth on the issue.

[WillWeaverRVA]

VDOT has indeed fixed the rectangles after Richmond contacted them.

Also, US 1/US 301 is now posted on Idlewood Avenue in Richmond leaving VA 195 - previously it hadn't been, and the exit from VA 195 is signed as being for US 1/US 301 Belvidere St.

[plain]

I've been out of town the past few weeks but now that I'm home I've noticed a lot of new signs around Richmond. I'm going to try and get some pics today.

[WillWeaverRVA]

I've been out of town the past few weeks but now that I'm home I've noticed a lot of new signs around Richmond. I'm going to try and get some pics today.

Thanks! My car is out of commission again so I haven't been able to do as much field checking.

[Takumi]

VA 327 and 366 have no changes.

[bwana39]

Richmond has a new mayoral administration, and the new mayor seems to be extra committed to public works and public utility projects after Richmond's water crisis earlier this month. A bunch of 311 requests people have submitted as long ago as 2 years are now being completed, including a bunch of my requests related to signage. It's possible that a bunch of signage errors (or locations where signage is missing) may soon be fixed, including ones related to US 250 - in previous requests, the city kept referring to cryptic emails about signing US 250 in the city and closing requests related to installing signage.

I haven't had a chance to go into the city recently to check on any of them, though.

Requests I put in that are now showing as completed:

- VA 353 posting on Duval St at 8th St (to match the one leaving the VCU Health System staff parking area)
- Missing signage on Sheppard St directing traffic onto Cary St to reach VA 161 (since the exit from VA 146 is signed for VA 161)
- Missing signage for VA 195/I-64/I-95 on Belvidere St at Cumberland St (signage used to exist but was removed)
- Missing VA 147 signage at Main St/Belvidere St intersection (even though Cary St is signed as VA 147)
- "END VA 6" sign missing at Kensington Ave and Arthur Ashe Blvd (was removed a long time ago for a signal upgrade and never replaced)
- Missing US/VA 33 and US 250 signage at Harrison St and Broad St intersection
- Missing VA 33 signage on Leigh St at Harrison St (though there is a reassurance marker on Harrison St)

Requests I put in that have notes saying signage will be installed:

- Missing US 250 and US 360 signage at 17th and Broad (I-95 exit is signed for US 250)
- Missing US 1/US 301/VA 2 signage at Azalea Ave and Chamberlayne Ave

My response to this is. The city may have larger fish to fry.

[WillWeaverRVA]

VA 327 and 366 have no changes.

Yeah, at this rate I'm not expecting them to based on what VDOT told me.

[Mapmikey]

My response to this is. The city may have larger fish to fry.

Like what?

[bwana39]

My response to this is. The city may have larger fish to fry.

Like what?

Signage is pretty low priority for cities. The state DOT might have a higher one.

[Mapmikey]

As an independent city, Richmond gets money from VDOT to use on its non-interstate roads.  The state doesn't do anything within the city boundaries. Rectifying missing/erroneous/illegible signage is definitely worth the effort and in Richmond's case had been accumulating over 3 decades.

[Beltway]

My response to this is. The city may have larger fish to fry.

Like what?

I have lived in this city since 1985. I have at least 8 different major issues that I have complained to the city government about.

Here is the latest, that I sent to my city councilperson two weeks ago.

Tiny roundabouts that are proliferating around the city --
poor traffic engineering and unsafe road features. VDOT would never design something like this. DOTs  properly design them as at Maury Street interchange with I-95, and Dock Street near the Great Shiplock Park.

Tiny roundabouts can create several challenges, despite their intended benefits for traffic flow and safety. Some common problems include:
=> Confusion for drivers – Smaller roundabouts can be unclear, leading to hesitation or incorrect navigation.
=> Limited space for larger vehicles – Trucks, buses, and emergency vehicles may struggle to maneuver through tight roundabouts.
=> Pedestrian safety concerns – Crosswalks near small roundabouts can be difficult to navigate, especially if visibility is poor.
=> Inefficiency in high-traffic areas – When placed in busy intersections, tiny roundabouts may not handle congestion effectively.
=> Cyclist navigation issues – Cyclists may find it harder to merge safely with vehicle traffic in compact roundabouts.

Tiny roundabouts create more problems than they solve! When they're too small, they can lead to confusion, inefficient traffic flow, and difficulties for larger vehicles. Good roundabout design needs to balance safety, space, and usability—if those factors aren't considered properly, drivers end up frustrated instead of benefiting from the intended traffic improvements.

All these tiny roundabouts need to be removed.

Road Diets -- are proliferating all over the city.

Road Diets are where lanes are removed from arterial roads to make space for bike paths -- are controversial, especially when the new bike lanes remain underused. Some common concerns include:
=> Increased congestion – Reducing lanes can lead to longer travel times for drivers, especially in high-traffic areas.
=> Low bike usage – If few cyclists use the new lanes, it raises questions about whether the change was worth the disruption.
=> Business impact – Some businesses worry that fewer lanes mean less accessibility for customers, affecting revenue.
=> Emergency vehicle delays – Narrower roads can make it harder for ambulances and fire trucks to navigate quickly.

However, supporters argue that road diets can improve safety, encourage alternative transportation, and create more walkable communities. Some cities have even reversed road diets after public backlash.

These Road Diets may be useful in a few places, but the vast majority carry no visible bicycle traffic.

It is especially egregious to see them on arterials like Warwick Road. This road used to be a narrow 2-lane secondary road, and it was rebuilt, relocated and extended about 2000, to the 4-lane divided arterial it is now. VDOT and FHWA spent a lot of money to build it with roadways designed for cars, trucks and buses.

Now in the last year 2 lanes each way have been striped off so that only bicycles can use them. Normally you can drive the entire length and not see one bicycle using them.

The city needs to reopen this road to the 4-lane arterial that it was built to be. ASAP.

[Takumi]

VA 327 and 366 have no changes.

Yeah, at this rate I'm not expecting them to based on what VDOT told me.

VA 399 as well. I didn't go by VA 315 today but I'd be surprised if they signed it.