The above photo is courtesy Lou Corsaro, as are the next five.


In Fredericksburg; the second photo is on VA 3 WB. Look at how the VA shield has been corrupted over time.

In St. Josephs Villa at VA 161.

US 1 turns left.

The next four photos are courtesy J.P. Nasiatka.


As of 2003, this is the last known truss bridge left in Virginia, though in 2000 there were many more on US highways. This one's on the southbound side, original US 1, at the Dinwiddie/Brunswick Counties line.


More differences between original (southbound) and dualized (northbound) US 1, north of Warfield in Brunswick Co. - can you tell which is which?


Virginia likes its suicide highways, here in Dinwiddie Co. This was only restriped a couple of years ago, but the middle lane once allowed passing either way (i.e. attempting to pass was risking suicide, hence the term "suicide lane". Now, it's an alternating passing lane, leaving Colonial Parkway as the only suicide highway in the nation (to my knowledge, anyway).


This sign is in Fredericksburg, which is entirely a historical site, meaning it maintains its own signs. Uh oh... So, this one's wrong, though that's because of its age. ALT US 1 has become US 1 itself, while former US 1 through the heart of the city has become BUSINESS US 1 (and BUSINESS US 17 as well, with US 17 on I-95).


These old white signs date to 1930, which seems like it should mark a tercentennial of some sort (wasn't VA settled well before 1630 though? Maybe it just wasn't a colony until then). One of the signs points to Aquia Church, the first Roman Catholic settlement in America supposedly. (Wait a minute, I thought the Spaniards were Catholics. What would you call Saint Augustine, FL?) And then Maryland ended up being the only Roman Catholic colony anyway.


Now who would go name US 1 after a Confederate President? Folks, this here-all is the South.


US 1 NB and SB at VA Secondary 619, in Triangle VA, just west of the Quantico Marine Corps Base and just east of I-95 Exit 150.


On VA Secondary 619 just east of US 1, a pointer to VA Secondary 730. The secondary-route status of 619 and 730 (signified by the circle around the 616 and the rectangle containing 730) means that their numbers repeat across county lines, similar to 600- and 700- series routes in New Jersey. PennDOT also likes to sign its four-digit state routes with little white signs, but at least VDOT's are a little more conspicuous.


Southbound through the Wilson Bridge construction. The first photo is a look at the future US 1 SB to I-95/495 NB ramp, and the second is future signage on the SB-SB ramp. I-95/495 will be split into inner (express) and outer (local/C-D) lanes, and thus this ramp will split to either side.

The rest of the photos are once again courtesy Lou Corsaro, and all southbound, starting from DC.


One butt-ugly shield begets another... or in this case, RIDOT invades Virginia! Rhode Island: the smallest state with the biggest influence on non-cutout shields. Incidentally, in the backgrounds of these photos are some very wide US 1 shields:


Approaching the reaches of the Beltway, directional tags on green signs should really be regular ol' white letters.


Reverse shields even closer to the Beltway, and instead of telling you EAST or WEST on the I-495 overheads (which curiously lack I-95 on them), MARYLAND and VIRGINIA are given. This is only helpful until you realize that either direction on the Beltway will give you access to Maryland, since, well, it's a beltway.

Yum.


Springfield Interchange area reconstruction, including a new loop that US 1 SB will use to get onto the Beltway clockwise (I-495 EB/I-95 NB).

Onto US 301 and the 1/301 multiplex

Enter DC on US 1
Enter North Carolina on US 1
Onto US 17
To I-95
Onto I-95/495 and Lou's I-95/495 photos
Back to Virginia Roads
Back to Roads