June 2007 Road Trip
Virginia-West Virginia
Day 2

These photos are from the second day of a three-day road trip through Kentucky, Virginia and West Virginia. This trip was a loop beginning and ending at Staunton, Va. Photos here are from Virginia (mostly), along with the State Highway 259 corridor in West Virginia. This loop went through Broadway, Va.; Baker and Wardensville, WV; Winchester, Strasburg, Woodstock, Columbia Furnace, Timberville, New Market, Elkton, Waynesboro, Buena Vista, Amherst, Charlottesville and Waynesboro, Va. again. To view the full-sized photos, click on one of the thumbnails on this page. You will then be presented with navigation controls to view the images on individual Web pages as a slide show.

PICT0340
This photo, on I-81 north, shows the route number change from VA 275 from VA 262 on the Staunton bypass. Look closely and you can see that the route numbers have been installed on a green plate overlay on the sign.
PICT0341
Use the bypass to get around to US 250 east to go to Monterey.
PICT0342
The "Old" notation is handled a bit differently on this sign.
PICT0343
Lots of routes in the 200 series here in this region of Virginia.
PICT0344
The exit for Weyers Cave and Grottoes.
PICT0345
Tenth-mile markers have been installed on I-81 in Virginia.
PICT0346
Another exit for a 200-series Virginia primary route.
PICT0347
At the exit.
PICT0348
This is the southernmost exit for Harrisonburg. This exit consists of a flyover to US 11.
PICT0349
At the US 11 exit.
PICT0350
In Harrisonburg, another directional sign for VA 42 and I-81.
PICT0351
This assembly has a state name I-81 sign.
PICT0352
US 33 and VA 42 signage.
PICT0353
This assembly has an older US 11 marker.
PICT0354
These signs have replaced the "odd font' US 11 and US 33 signs that were here for years.
PICT0355
A US 11 and US 33 "unisign" replaces signage that had the US 33 numerals in an odd font.
PICT0356
Another "unisign" for US 11 and US 33.
PICT0357
A cutout US 33 marker in Harrisonburg. It's the only US 33 cutout I found remaining in the town.
PICT0358
VA 42 and US 11 cutouts -- likewise, the only ones that I was able to find after so many existed as little as seven years ago when I was last there.
PICT0359
This "unisign" replaced a set of cutouts that existed in 2000.
PICT0360
A closeup of the "unisign."
PICT0361
Heading north out of Harrisonburg.
PICT0362
Like the southern US 11 exit for Harrisonburg, this exit consists of a connector route and a flyover.
PICT0363
Exit signage for US 11 and VA 259.
PICT0364
At the exit.
PICT0365
Signage at the end of the ramp.
PICT0366
Advance signage for the VA 259 intersection and an advance for the turn onto the I-81 southbound ramp.
PICT0367
A different angle of the photo shot the previous day at this intersection.
PICT0368
The first VA 259 sign. Although Mauzy was listed on the interstate exit sign, it's not listed here.
PICT0369
Typical view as VA 259 travels through rolling farming country between I-81 and Broadway.
PICT0370
Approaching Alternate 259.
PICT0371
Approaching VA 42.
PICT0372
At the VA 42 intersection.
PICT0373
No destinations for VA 42 here, only for VA 259.
PICT0374
A repeat from the day before.
PICT0375
Another repeat from the day before.
PICT0376
And yet another repeat in Broadway.
PICT0377
VA 259 heads into the mountains and begins a sweeping right turn that will change its heading from west to north.
PICT0378
Heading closer to West Virginia.
PICT0379
Almost to West Virginia.
PICT0380
Part of VA 259's final mileage before crossing the state line.
PICT0381
At the state line and entering West Virginia.
PICT0382
The first WV 259 sign. The direction has changed from east-west to north-south.
PICT0383
Beyond Mathias, mileage for two other unincorporated communities along WV 259.
PICT0384
County 59 used to be WV 59, but the state route lost its primary status and became a county route a few years ago. This is the signage on WV 259 that designates the former state route.
PICT0385
Here's another shot of the sign.
PICT0386
This sign may have been a remnant of when County 59 was WV 59. Truthfully, the road is not suitable for large trucks here, much less four miles ahead. It's narrow and crooked and the pavement is in questionable shape.
PICT0387
This is a shot looking west on County 59, former WV 59, toward WV 259 at Lost City.
PICT0388
This signage is located at the former intersection of WV 55, which has now been relocated onto the Corridor H four-lane.
PICT0389
Junction signage for WV 55 and WV 29 approaching Corridor H.
PICT0390
Advance signage for the Corridor H interchange.
PICT0391
At the entrance ramp to Corridor H.
PICT0392
Looking at four-lane WV 55/259.
PICT0393
The first signage for the combined routes on Corridor H.
PICT0394
Mileage sign for Wardensville and Strasburg, Va., where Route 55 intersects I-81.
PICT0395
Getting ready to cross the Lost River on Corridor H.
PICT0396
This bridge across the Lost River and the old route of WV 55 is a sweeping curved span.
PICT0397
Another shot of Corridor H.
PICT0398
The four-lane ends just outside Wardensville.
PICT0399
Prior to the end of the four-lane, another mileage sign.
PICT0400
Coming to the end of the four-lane.
PICT0401
Some grade work has been done beyond the end of the current four-lane but it will be years before further progress is made to build the road on into Virginia.
PICT0402
WV 55/259 takes a convoluted journey down to the old route and continues at a sharp right turn.
PICT0403
Just outside downtown Wardensville, WV 55 and WV 259 split.
PICT0404
The US 50 intersection for Route 259 is in Virginia.
PICT0405
Signage at the split.
PICT0406
North of Wardensville, this is the terrain that WV 259 traverses.
PICT0407
WV 259 enters Virginia and becomes VA 259.
PICT0408
Here, VA 259 keeps West Virginia's directional signage and is labeled as a north-south road.
PICT0409
The new Virginia welcome sign. This is the only one of these signs I saw on my trip.
PICT0410
Approaching US 50 and the end of VA 259.
PICT0411
Washington is posted as Washington D.C. on some mileage signs along US 50, but not this one.
PICT0412
The initials "D.C." are present on this mileage sign.
PICT0413
Approaching VA 37, which is the western bypass of Winchester.
PICT0414
Overheads at US 50 and VA 37.
PICT0415
Advance signage for north VA 37.
PICT0416
On VA 37 heading south.
PICT0417
Mileage on VA 37 lists I-81 destinations.
PICT0418
This Virginia secondary route exit sign is signed with an ellipse instead of the standard circle.
PICT0419
Approaching US 11 and I-81.
PICT0420
US 11 intersects VA 37 just before the bypass ends at I-81.
PICT0421
End signage for VA 37 is very prominent.
PICT0422
Overheads for I-81 and US 11 on VA 37.
PICT0423
Smaller US 11 and VA 277 signs with a standard sized I-81 sign in Stephens City.
PICT0424
An older US 11 sign beneath a newer directional banner (with the larger first letter) past Stephens City.
PICT0425
There are several Virginia Civil War Trails signs in this area of the state.
PICT0426
A newer US 11 sign adorns this mileage sign.
PICT0427
Another Civil War Trails marker.
PICT0428
Just prior to the I-81 exit at Strasburg.
PICT0429
VA 55 joins US 11 briefly in Strasburg. No mention of US 48 here, which begins just west of this intersection at the I-81 interchange and is marked concurrently with VA 55 to the West Virginia state line.
PICT0430
VA 55 and I-81 signage in Strasburg.
PICT0431
VA 55 and US 11 on their brief ride together through Strasburg.
PICT0432
Advance signage for the split of the two routes.
PICT0433
The cutouts at this intersection in 2000 are gone, but have been replaced with US 55 error signs.
PICT0434
Heading out of Strasburg.
PICT0435
Oversized I-81 and Secondary 651 signs.
PICT0437
Getting closer to Woodstock and the spot where I will depart US 11 for VA 42.
PICT0438
Even closer.
PICT0439
Advance signage for the VA 42 intersection in Woodstock.
PICT0440
At VA 42.
PICT0441
The first VA 42 signage with mileage.
PICT0442
Again, the secondary sign is dwarfed by the full-size VA 42 sign.
PICT0443
This is a typical view of VA 42 in the Columbia Furnace area.
PICT0444
Outside Columbia Furnace, VA 42 enters more hilly terrain.
PICT0445
Approaching the crossroads of VA 42 and VA 263.
PICT0446
At the intersection. Here, VA 42 traffic must stop and VA 263 is the through route.
PICT0447
VA 42 and Virginia Byway signage.
PICT0448
The route winds through a rural area north of Timberville.
PICT0449
Advance signage for VA 42 and Secondary 614 and 767.
PICT0450
Again, VA 42 traffic must stop.
PICT0451
Past Forestville and heading for Timberville.
PICT0452
Just north of Timberville, VA 42 runs along a ridge before descending into town.
PICT0454
Back at the intersection of VA 211 and VA 42.
PICT0455
This time, VA 211 is correctly signed.
PICT0456
This shot, from secondary 1517, shows an incorrect US 211 sign.
PICT0457
The first VA 211 sign.
PICT0458
Why is this sign incorrect? It depicts "divided highway ends" and in reality, the divided highway is beginning.
PICT0459
In New Market, after a brief shared run, US 11 and US 211 split.
PICT0460
Heading east out of New Market, US 211 has a brief run of four lanes at the foot of Massanutten Mountain.
PICT0461
The first US 211 sign east of US 11.
PICT0462
Climbing Massanutten Mountain, the road has two lanes east. At left is a truck escape ramp for westbound traffic.
PICT0463
Descending the east side of Massanutten Mountain.
PICT0464
Advance signage for the intersection of US 211 and US 340.
PICT0465
Here, US 340 bypasses the town of Luray.
PICT0466
Heading south on US 340 from US 211.
PICT0467
This is a representative view of US 340 as it bypasses Luray.
PICT0468
A small US 340 sign along with secondary 614 and 615 signage.
PICT0469
Advance for Business US 340, which takes the road's old route through Luray.
PICT0470
At the turnoff for Business 340.
PICT0471
Beyond the business route.
PICT0472
Getting closer to Elkton, beyond Shenandoah, and Lexington appears as a destination.
PICT0473
Near Elkton, a summer storm resulted in a driving downpour as I passed the US 33 interchange.
PICT0474
The rain continued to fall as I passed US 33.
PICT0475
These cutouts are located near the Merck factory south of Elkton.
PICT0478
Another shot of the cutouts.
PICT0479
More rain obscured this sign.
PICT0480
The weather was starting to clear by this point.
PICT0481
Advance signage for VA 253.
PICT0482
US 340, I-81 and VA 256.
PICT0483
A squre US 340 sign on this assembly.
PICT0484
Beyond Grottoes and heading toward Waynesboro.
PICT0485
In the previous sign, Rte. 11 was abbreviated, but not here.
PICT0486
In Waynesboro, these US 250 and US 340 signs are joined by an I-64 non-cutout sign.
PICT0487
US 250 and US 340 have an odd alignment through town. US 340 continues straight and eventually makes a left turn further west; US 250 turns right here and at the aforementioned intersection, turns right.
PICT0488
VA 254 sign along US 340 in Waynesboro.
PICT0489
Approaching the aforementioned intersection. US 340 makes a left turn while US 250 comes in from the right and continues straight.
PICT0490
These signs are on the left side of the road at the intersection in the photo before.
PICT0491
Heading out of downtown Waynesboro toward I-64, which is in a black-background square.
PICT0492
Beyond I-64, US 340 continues as a four-lane route.
PICT0493
Given that "tinkling" is a euphemism for "urinating," I doubt I'll be drinking out of this spring anytime soon!
PICT0494
The end of US 340 is at US 11, just south of an interchange with I-64 and I-81.
PICT0495
Two different font sizes for I-81 here.
PICT0496
On the combined route of I-64 and I-81, which run together for 30 miles.
PICT0497
Charleston, in West Virginia, is the control city for I-64 here.
PICT0498
Approaching the split of I-64 west from I-81 south.
PICT0499
Overhead for the approaching I-64 exit.
PICT0500
Why is there a dot (or a period) after the exit number here?
PICT0501
Overheads at the I-64 split with the tri-level stack interchange in the background.
PICT0502
The tri-level stack with flyovers from I-81 north to I-64 west (middle) and I-64 east to I-81 north (top).
PICT0503
One-mile exit sign for US 60 on I-81.
PICT0504
This sign is surface mounted on posts instead of being overhead mounted on the bridge in the background.
PICT0506
Low-light conditions from clouds and rain screwed up this photo, but of note are the white posts and the tops of them.
PICT0507
US 60 looking toward Buena Vista.
PICT0508
Looking up at the Blue Ridge Mountains as US 60 descends into Buena Vista.
PICT0509
Advance signage for the northern terminus of US 501.
PICT0510
At the US 501 intersection.
PICT0511
Warning sign for truckers on US 60 as the route crosses the Blue Ridge Mountains.
PICT0512
Advance sign for the BRP.
PICT0513
Rain on the windshield as US 60 passes under the BRP.
PICT0514
Beyond the BRP, US 60 is still in a wooded area as it heads east.
PICT0515
Warning sign for truckers as US 60 head off the Blue Ridge.
PICT0516
Another wayside sign.
PICT0517
Trees obscure this sign.
PICT0518
Approaching a traffic circle in Amherst.
PICT0519
This sign warns of the upcoming roundabout and the various highways.
PICT0520
Beyond the roundabout.
PICT0521
A shot of the roundabout on US 60 looking west.
PICT0522
Rain and low light again.
PICT0523
Looking south on US 29.
PICT0524
Approaching the interchange of US 60 and the four-lane US 29.
PICT0525
At the ramp to US 29 south.
PICT0526
And at the ramp for US 29 north.
PICT0527
Washington DC is listed as the control city on US 29, even this far south.
PICT0528
Business 29 rejoins the parent route north of downtown Amherst.
PICT0529
This is a typical view of US 29. The speed limit is 60 mph.
PICT0530
Advance signage for VA 151.
PICT0531
A number of small towns are accessed via Va 151.
PICT0532
No mention of DC on this mileage sign.
PICT0533
US 29 and VA 56 have a brief run together.
PICT0534
At the intersection.
PICT0535
I've seen some ugly US route markers in my time, but this one is one of the ugliest.
PICT0536
US 29 and VA 56 combination route markers and mileage sign. Washington DC is back.
PICT0537
Approaching Lovingston and the departure of VA 56.
PICT0538
There should be a "Business" banner above that center US 29 sign.
PICT0539
VA 56 departs US 29 and takes Business US 29 with it.
PICT0540
Clearview sign for the Lovingston Historic District.
PICT0541
No other destinations besides Charlottesville and DC.
PICT0542
Truck warning sign as US 29 approaches VA 6.
PICT0543
Advance signs for the VA 6 intersection.
PICT0544
At Va 6.
PICT0545
US 29 and VA 6 run together for a few miles.
PICT0546
Advance signage for the the split of VA 6 and US 29. The top of that post looks sharp!
PICT0547
At the split.
PICT0548
Covesville has emerged as a supplemental destination.
PICT0549
A looming cumulonimbus cloud that eventually produced a thunderstorm.
PICT0550
And now Culpeper arrives as a destination for US 29.
PICT0551
Drawing closer to Charlottesville.
PICT0552
A new sign. The font almost looks like Clearview.
PICT0553
This sign guides drivers to the University of Virginia.
PICT0554
State name sign for I-64 on US 29.
PICT0555
Overheads as US 29 approaches I-64.
PICT0556
Bridge mounted overhead for the ramp from north US 29 to west I-64.
PICT0557
Surface signage for the split of Business 29 in Charlottesville.
PICT0558
At the ramp to Business 29.
PICT0559
Richmond is accessed here by US 250 and the mileage is for that route.
PICT0560
Obscured by trees, the advance signage for the US 250 exit.
PICT0561
At the US 250 exit.
PICT0562
At the end of the ramp.
PICT0563
Note that on the "To" sign, an overlay has been added to the older sign to allow for the larger first letter.
PICT0564
Heading west on US 250, away from US 29 and Charlottesville.
PICT0565
State name sign for I-64.
PICT0566
Advance signage for the intersection of US 250 and VA 240.
PICT0567
Crozet is the setting for the "Mrs. Murphy Mysteries" series of books, which are in the same vein as the "The Cat Who...." series.
PICT0568
At the VA 240 junction.
PICT0569
Low light again.
PICT0570
VA 240 runs back into US 250 a few miles down the road.
PICT0571
This looks like a photo negative that was printed backwards, but it isn't. While I was at the traffic light at the US 250-VA 240 intersection, I saw this sign in my rear view mirror. The Clearview font jumped out at me. So I took a picture of the mirror and I got a reverse image of the sign.
PICT0572
This photo shows that VA 240 is also known as Crozet Avenue.
PICT0573
The mileages on this sign are obscured.
PICT0574
One state name and one non-state name I-64 sign on this assembly.
PICT0575
Beyond the I-64 exit.
PICT0576
Another sign warning of truck restrictions on VA 6 and VA 151.
PICT0577
Approaching the VA 151 intersection.
PICT0578
One side of this sign dwarfs the other side.
PICT0579
Getting ready to start climbing Afton Mountain.
PICT0580
There is a truck climbing lane on US 250 as it ascends the mountaion.
PICT0581
National Park info sign.
PICT0582
Approaching the terminus of VA 6.
PICT0583
Hey! Another error sign!
PICT0584
Nearly to the top of Afton Mountain.
PICT0585
Skyline Drive runs through Shenandoah National Park.
PICT0586
The turnoff to Skyline Drive and BRP.
PICT0587
The overpass at US 250.
PICT0588
State name sign for I-64.
PICT0589
Heading down the mountain toward Waynesboro.
PICT0590
Approaching the US 340 intersection in Waynesboro.
PICT0591
At the US 340 intersection. A previous photo showed this intersection from the perspective of US 340 south.
PICT0593
This is looking back east on US 250 at the upcoming US 340 intersection, with a unique angled "both ways" arrow.
PICT0594
US 250 and US 340 signage.
PICT0595
Approaching VA 254.
PICT0596
Approaching the second intersection of US 250 and US 340.
PICT0597
Heading out of Waynesboro toward Staunton.
PICT0599
At the northern terminus of VA 285.
PICT0600
Getting closer to Staunton.
PICT0604
A VA 254 "unisign" in Staunton.
PICT0605
A cutout VA 254 in Staunton.
PICT0608
Cutouts for US 250 and US 11 in Staunton where the two routes split downtown.
PICT0609
Heading out of Staunton and approaching the bypass.
PICT0610
This sign shows that VA 262 used to be VA 275.
PICT0611
Another sign assembly designating VA 262 as Old VA 275.
PICT0612
And yet another assembly.
PICT0613
Approaching US 11.
PICT0614
At US 11.
PICT0615
Cutouts for US 11 and US 250.
PICT0617
Cutouts for US 11, US 250 and VA 254 with an unusual "Low Bridge" warning.
PICT0618
Cutouts for VA 254.
PICT0619
Another VA 254 cutout.
PICT0620
And yet another VA 254 cutout.
PICT0621
A "unisign" for US 11 and US 250 with an unusual marker showing traffic how to get to the interstate.
PICT0623
Another "unisign" for US 11, US 250 and VA 254.
PICT0624
At the entrance ramp to VA 262 on US 11 south.
PICT0625
Another shot of signage at VA 262.
PICT0626
The exit for VA 252.
PICT0627
This shot shows that VA 262 is two lanes built on a four-lane right-of-way.
PICT0628
The VA 254 exit on VA 262. Believe it or not, the "Parkersburg" apparently refers to Parkersburg, W. Va. I have heard references to an old "Parkersburg-Staunton Turnpike" but I'm really not sure how one would get from Staunton, Va. to Parkersburg, WV these days, much less on a routing that uses VA 254.
PICT0629
This shot also shows the two lanes of VA 262 on a four-lane right of way.
PICT0630
Exit sign for Secondary 720.
PICT0631
The US 250 exit used to be the beginning point for VA 275 northbound; now that the bypass has been completed it's a continuation of VA 262.
PICT0632
This is the same sign assembly that was pictured under rainy conditions a few photos ago.
PICT0633
This sign assembly was also pictured under rainy conditions a few photos ago.
PICT0634
Turning around and heading back south on VA 262, this Clearview sign pops into view.
PICT0635
As was done northbound, there are "Old VA 275" signs along the bypass.
PICT0636
The route is also signed as Truck US 250 due to the tight turns in downtown Staunton.
PICT0637
More Clearview at the exit from southbound VA 262 to US 250.
PICT0638
This is looking west on US 250 just past VA 262.
PICT0639
Looking back east on US 250, there is a "JCT VA 262" assembly that is not commonly used in Virginia.
PICT0640
The turn from US 250 eastbound onto southbound VA 262.
PICT0641
This assembly is for the turn onto northbound VA 262.
PICT0642
This was the former terminus of VA 275, so an "Old VA 275" sign sits atop this assembly.
PICT0643
Small "East" banner atop a square US 250 sign in Staunton.
PICT0644
A cutout US 250 shield in Staunton.
PICT0645
Another US 250 cutout.
PICT0646
Cutouts where US 250 joins Business US 11.
PICT0647
"Unisign" for VA 254.
PICT0648
A "unisign" for US 11, US 250 and VA 254 and the unusual "To interstate" shield.
PICT0649
Another shot of cutouts previously seen.
PICT0650
Another shot of the oddly-shaped interstate markers.
PICT0651
A "unisign" for VA 254. This is located on unsigned VA 261, Statler Blvd.
PICT0652
A "unisign" for Truck US 250 and US 11 on Statler Blvd., unsigned VA 261.
PICT0653
Approaching VA 262 on northbound US 11.
PICT0654
This sign shows that VA 262 is Old VA 275.
PICT0655
Heading toward I-81 on VA 262.
PICT0656
Exit sign for US 250 on I-81 southbound.
PICT0657
Prior to reaching the US 250 exit, there is a sign for the approaching junction with I-64.
PICT0658
Note the darker brown strip with the exit number in this sign.
PICT0659
Waynesboro and Charlottesville can be accessed by either US 250 or I-64.
PICT0660
Another exit number overlay that is darker than the sign. This sign is probably a remant from when Virginia had numerical based exit numbering rather than milepost based.
PICT0661
Overheads for exits 222 and 221 on southbound I-81.
PICT0662
Signage at the end of the ramp from I-81 south to US 250. While the sign indicates East US 250 goes straight, you actually cross the median and make a left turn into the eastbound lanes.

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