Saturday, November 30, 2013

Spring City Thanksgiving

Route
Day 1: I 40 East, I 540 East, US 64 East, US 13/17 North, US 17 Bypass North, US 17 North, US 17 Bypass North, US 17 North, I 64 West, US 13 North, US 60 East to Virginia Beach, US 60 West, US 13 North, MD 67 South, MD 413 South to Crisfield, MD 413 North, US 13 North, US 50 Business West to Salisbury.
Day 2:  US 50 Business East, US 13 North, Local streets to Dover, US 13 North, Scarborough Road, DE 1 North, I 95 North, US 202 North, DE 92 East, Ebright Road North, PA 491 West, US 202 North, US 422 West to Sanatoga, US 322 East, Local roads to Spring City, PA 724 East, PA 23 East, PA 113 North, Local Streets to Oaks.
Day 5: US 422 East, I 76 East, I 476 South, I 95 South, I 495 South, I 95 South, I 895 South, I 95 South, VA 610 East, US 1 South, US 17 Business North, I 95 South, I 85 South, US 1 South, US 460 Business West, I 85 South, US 15/501 South to Chapel Hill.
Notes
Construction of the new HOT lanes on I 95 south of DC continues. There are new access ramps to the new lanes.
Results
Counties: Chowan NC, Perquimans NC, Pasquotank NC, Camden NC, Somerset MD, Wilcomico MD, for a new total of 1059.
MD: Clinched MD 413. Mileage on US 13, US 50, US 50 Salisbury, MD 677.
NC: Clinched US 17 Bypass Elizabeth City. Mileage on US 17.
PA: Mileage on US 422, PA 113, PA 491.
VA: Mileage on US 1, US 17, US 60.

Monday, October 14, 2013

US 311 Virginia

Route
NC 86 North, I 40 West, US 70 Connector, US 70 East, NC 86 North, US 58 West, US 58 Business East, US 311 South, NC 14 South, US 29 Business South, NC 87 South, Local Roads,  I 40 East, NC 86 South  to Chapel Hill 
Notes
US 311 is now fully signed in Virginia, but has not been extended from Eden NC to the state line.
The upgrade of US 29 Business in Reidsville is well underway, but the rerouting of US 158 south along US 29 Business/NC 87 has not been signed yet. 
Results
Clinched signed US 311 in Virginia (even though I have driven Berry Hill Road several times in the past).

Tuesday, October 08, 2013

Augusta - Mom's Memorial

Route
NC 86 North, I 40 West, I 85 South, I 77 South, US 1 South, I 20 West, GA 104 West to Augusta
GA 104 East, US 25 Business North to North Augusta, US 25 Business South, Local Roads , GA 104 West
GA 104 East, I 20 East, SC 555 North, I 77 North, I 85 North, I 40 East, NC 86 South to Chapel Hill 
Notes
The I 85 Yadkin River bridge is fully open. The old I 85/US 52 bridge is gone. The interchange of I 85/52 and US 29/70 is fully open.
Results
Clinched US 25 Business Augusta. Mileage on SC 555, US 25 Business North Augusta.

Thursday, September 26, 2013

Seattle

Route
Day 1: From SeaTac, WA 99 North, WA 516 West, I 405 North to Kirkland.
Day 2: I 405 North, WA 525 North, Mukilteo/Clinton Ferry, WA 525 North, WA 20 East, WA 20 Spur West, Anacortes/Lewis/Orcas Island Ferry, Orcas Rd to Moran State Park. Local Roads, Orcas Island/Shaw/Anacortes Ferry, WA 20 Spur East, WA 20 East, I 5 South, I 405 South to Kirkland.
Day 3: I 405 South, I 5 South, WA 504 East, WA 504 Spur East and back, WA 504 East to Johnson Observatory. WA 504 West, WA 505 West, I 5 North, I 705 North to Tacoma. I 705 South, I 5 North, I 405 North to Kirkland.
Day 4: Local Roads, WA 520 West, I 405 South, WA 167 South, WA 512 West, Local Roads to Washington State Fair. WA 512 East, WA 167 North, WA 516 West, I 5 North, I 405 North to Kirkland.
Day 5: I 405 South, WA 520 East, I 5 South, Local streets, WA 99 South, Local streets to West Seattle. Local streets, WA 99 North, Local Streets, WA 520 West,  I 405 North to Kirkland.
Day 6: I 405 South, WA 520 West, Local Streets, WA 202 East to Snoqualmie. WA 202 West, Snoqualmie Parkway, I 90 West, WA 519 West, Local Street, WA 519 East, I 90 East, I 5 North, WA 520 West, I 405 North to Kirkland.
I 405 North, WA 525 North, WA 525 Spur North to Boeing.  WA 525 Spur South, WA 525 South, I 405 South to Kirkland.
Notes
WA 504 (Spirit Lake Highway) is one of the magnificent drives from WA 504 Spur (Old WA 504) to the Johnson Observatory. 
Results
Counties: WA: Cowlitz, Island, San Juan, Skamania, for a new total of 1052.
Clinched WA 20 Spur, WA 504, WA 504 Spur, WA 525, WA 525 Spur. Mileage on I 5, I 90, I 705, WA 20, WA 99, WA 167, WA 202, WA 505, WA 512, WA 519.

Friday, July 19, 2013

Ashe County NC

Route
I 40 West, I 85 South, I 73 North, I 40 West, US 421 North, US 221 North, US 221 Business South, US 221 North, NC 16 South, US 421 South, NC 115 South, US 70 East, NC 150 East, Local Road, I 85 North  I 40 East, NC 86 South  to Chapel Hill 
Notes
NC 88 is closed west of US 412 Business in Jefferson for a bridge replacement.
The Yadkin River Bridge is now fully open for four lanes both directions for I 85/US 52. The  ramp from US 29/70 to northbound I 85 at exit 184 is still under construction, but the other ramps appear to be open. 
Results
County: Ashe NC, for a new total of 1048.
Clinched US 421 Business Wilkesboro, US 221 Business Jefferson. Mileage on US 29, US 70, US 221, NC 16, 18, 88, 115, 150, 194, 268, 801.

Wednesday, June 12, 2013

I 74 High Point Bypass, Yadkin River Bridge

Route
I 40 West, I 85 South, I 73 South, I 74 West to Cedar Square, I 74 East, US 64 West, US 29 South to Spencer, US 29 North, NC 14 North, NC 770 East, Berry Hill Road, US 58 Business West, US 58 East, NC 86 South, Churton Street, I 40 East, NC 86 South   to Chapel Hill 
Notes
Signage for I 73/74 upgrade is progressing. Exit numbers have been changed from exit 94 to exit 77, but the road is still signed as I 73/74 Future.
I 74 is open from US 220 to High Point. The I 73/74 interchange is completely signed as if I 73 goes north and I 73/74 goes south, but both roads are still signed Future.
The routing of NC 150/US 29/US 70 has been changed at the Yadkin River Bridge. Formerly, NC 150 multiplexed with I 85/US 29/52/70 from exit 183 to exit 182, where US 29/70/NC 150 exited directly onto the Yadkin River Bridge. Now that I 85/US 52 has been routed onto the new interstate bridges, exits 182 and 183 have been removed. Now, US 29/70 exits at exit 184 onto Hilltop Road, where NC 150 joins them. Hilltop Road runs adjacent to I 85/US 52 and then onto the Yadkin River Bridge. The new NC 150 routing has no multiplex with I 85 at all. Currently, Hilltop Road is being detoured on Sowers Road and Old Salisbury Road to the bridge. Eventually Hilltop Road will connect directly to the bridge. The northbound span of the bridge is currently carrying two way traffic for US 29/70/NC 150, while the southbound span of the bridge is being replaced. The northbound I-85 ramps at exit 184 are under construction, so there is a not well signed detour to get to northbound I-85/US 52. The detour takes Old Salisbury Road north from NC 150, past the former exit 185 (now removed) to exit 186. Old Salisbury Road is now closed west of NC 150, so there are two segments: the west segment used by the detour for Hilltop Road and the east segment used by the detour to I-85 north. 
Results
Mileage on the new I 74 freeway.

Monday, June 10, 2013

Annville PA

Route
Day 1: US 15/501 North, I 85 North,  I 95 North, VA 895 East, I 295 North, I 95 North, I 495 North, I 270 Spur West, I 270 West, to Rockville MD.
Day 3:  I 270 West, MD 27 North, I 70 East, Local Streets, I 83 North, I 695 East, I 95 North, MD 24 North, US 1 North, PA 52 North, US 322 Business North, MD 3 East, US 202 North, Local Roads to Devon-Berwyn, US 202 North, I 76 West, PA 72 North, US 322 West, PA 934 North, US 422 East to Annville, US 422 West, PA 934 North, I 81 North to Johnstown PA.
Day 4: I 82 South, US 22 East, PA 230 South, local streets, US 15/11 South, PA 581 East, I 83 North, US 322 East, PA 39 North to Hershey Park, US 422 East, Local Streets, PA 934 South, Local Streets to Annville, US 422 West, PA 934 North, I 81 North to Johnstown PA.
Day 5: PA 72 South, US 22 West, I 83 North, I 81 South to Harrisburg, I 81 North, I 83 South, PA 581 West, US 15 South, US 17 South, I 95 South, I 85 South, US 15/501 South to Chapel Hill.
Notes
Construction of the new HOT lanes on I 95 south of DC continues. Heading north, 511 was not reporting major backups near Quantico. We decided to take I 95/495 into the city. Heading south, we took US 15/US 17 to bypass DC to the west. That route works pretty well.
The HOT lanes on I 495 are complete. They were not very busy, though.
Results
Counties: Carroll MD, for a new total of 1047.
MD: Clinched I 270 Spur, US 15. Mileage on I 70, I 83, I 270, MD 27.
PA: Clinched PA 934. Mileage on I 81, I 83, US 22, US 222, US 322, US 422, PA 39, PA 72, PA 230, PA 581.
VA: Clinched US 15, VA 895. Mileage on US 17.

Thursday, May 23, 2013

Villanova Graduation

Route
Walt Whitman Bridge (I 76)
Day 1: US 15/501 North, I 85 North,  I 95 North, US 17 Business South, VA 218 East, VA 216 East, US 301 North, Saint Charles Parkway, US 301 North, MD 3 North, I 97 North, I 695 East, I 95 North, MD 24 North, US 1 North, I 476 North, PA 3 East, Local roads to Wynnewood PA, US 30 East, US 1 South to PA 352 South to Media PA.
Day 2: PA 352 North, PA 3 West, US 202 North, PA 100 North, I 76 West, US 202 South, PA 272 West to Landis Valley, US 30 East, PA 896 North, PA 340 East, PA 772 East, US 30 East, US 422 West, PA 23 to Valley Forge, Local Roads, US 30 West, US 30 East, Local Roads,  US 30 East, US 1 South, PA 352 South to Media PA.
Day 3: PA 352 North, US 1 North, I 476 South, I 95 North, US 30 West, Local Roads to Independence National Historic Park, Local Roads, I 95 South, PA 420 North, US 13 North, local roads to Wynnewood PA, local roads, PA 3 West, I 476 South, US 1 South, PA 352 South to Media PA.
Day 4: PA 352 North, US 1 North, I 476 North, US 30 East to Villanova, US 30 West, I 476 North, I 76 North, US 422 West, PA 23 West, PA 724 North to Spring City PA, PA 724 South, PA 23 East, US 422 East, I 76 East, I 476 South, US 30 East to Villanova, local roads to Wynnewood, local roads, PA 3 West, I 476 South, US 1 South, PA 352 South to Media.
Day 5: PA 352 North, US 1 North, I 476 North, US 30 East to Villanova, local roads to Wynnewood, local roads, PA 3 West, I 476 South, US 1 South, PA 352 South to Media.
Day 5: PA 352 North, US 1 South to Nottingham PA, US 1 North, PA 52 North, US 322 Business West, PA 3 East, US 202 North, local roads, US 202 North to King of Prussia, local roads, PA 320 South, local roads to Wynnewood, local roads, PA 3 West, I 476 South, US 1 South, PA 352 South to Media.
Day 7: PA 352 North, US 1 North, I 476 South, I 95 North to Philadelphia Airport, I 95 South, I 85 South, US 15/501 South to Chapel Hill.
Notes
Construction of the new HOT lanes on I 95 south of DC continues. Heading north, 511 was reporting 10 mile backups near Quantico. We decided to take VA 218 from Fredericksburg to the Nice Bridge to avoid the mess. Heading south, the only jam was where the HOV lanes merged with the mainline south of Dale City. The left lane was closed just after the merge, which made the drop from three mainline plus one HOV lane to two lanes a mess.
We stopped at the Visitor Center for Maryland just above the Nice Bridge and asked the information desk about avoiding Waldorf. They recommended the Saint Charles Parkway around the east side of Waldorf. This parkway comes into the MD 5/MD 5 Business intersection east of Waldorf. Continuing on MD 5 completed the bypass. This bypass is highly recommended.
Results
MD: Clinched MD 3. Mileage on MD 24, US 1.
PA: Mileage on I 95, US 1, US 13, US 222, PA 3, PA 52, PA 272, PA 352, VA 420, VA 772.
VA: Mileage on US 17 Business Fredericksburg, VA 218, VA 216.

Friday, March 15, 2013

US 74 Business Rockingham

Route
I 40 West, I 85 South, I 73 South, US 220 South, US 74 Business East, US 74 East, NC 144 North, US 501 North  to Chapel Hill 
Notes
Signage for I 73/74 upgrade is progressing. Exit 94 (Old Randleman Road) is now signed. I 73/I 74 are signed on overheads at the I 73/74 merge. There was a work crew erecting new posts for exit signs from Asheboro south to Ellerbe.Results
Clinched US 74 Business Rockingham. Mileage on NC 144.

Monday, February 18, 2013

Augusta - President's Day

Route
I 40 West, I 85 South, NC 73 East, I 77 South, I 485 West, I 77 South, US 1 South, I 20 West, GA 104 West to Augusta
GA 104 East, I 20 East, US 521 North, US 1 North, SC 9 East, NC 177 North, US 1 North, US 15/501 North to Chapel Hill 
Notes
Both lanes of the I 85 Yadkin River bridge are temporarily rerouted onto the northbound bridge.
I 85 is being widened from Concord west of NC 73 to I 485 in Charlotte. Due to the traffic backup into Concord, we took NC 73/I 77/I 485 north and west around Charlotte.
Results
Mileage on NC 73, I 485.