Winchester

[dfnva 34]

Welcome to Page 12!

Bruce (Schulmanator): For some reason I like medium-sized towns like Roanoke and Charlottesville. Probably it comes from living most of my life in the Washington, DC 'burbs.

Equlibria: Hmmm....I'm going to guess the Federal Building was built in 1964 and named in honor of Sen. Joe McCarthy to enhance its sinisterness (if that's a word). There's a proposal to rename it in honor of Dick Cheney.

Kyle (Ky72x): Thanks, glad you enjoyed the update. I saw the NASCAR track in another CJ and thought it would be a good addition, but it's no Richmond International Speedway. As for the underpasses, you'll see more today!

Ace of Spades: Thanks, glad you liked the downtown.

Benedict: Thanks. Sadly I forgot to take a new pic of the bank and museums... but here's an old one from December.

KJ3400: I should work on a mass transit system. All of my rails are for industrial purposes at this point, though I don't feel commuter rails or subways are needed at this point. A bus system might be good though. Glad you liked the update.

Travis (SCDawg): Thanks, glad you liked the NASCAR Track.

Edmonton_Stinks: Haha, the St. Ritzy's grow like weeds. I actually demolished some in your honor.

Finally, we're back to what this CJ does best... driving! Here's a view of where we left off when we were last driving (probably a month ago or so). We turned left onto US 84/Hartford Blvd from MP 39/Kings Hwy. Shortly after, US-84 passes its final at-grade intersection in downtown Winchester at N. Adams Ave. Notice the numerous hotels and even a St. Ritzy in Edmonton's honor.

At this signal at Adams Ave., there are trailblazers for the Winchester-Piedmont Convention Center and N. Parson Ave. because US-84 passes over N. Parson Ave.

 

As part of a major highway project, completed in 2005, US-84 was grade-separated with N. Parson Ave. to make it easier to access the convention center from both US-84 and then I-134 (now I-79). Just past the convention center, you can see the ramp to go onto I-79 south.

Here's a gantry full of signs just past the convention center. Of note is the sign for Mountain View Regional Airport as previously, one would've kept straight down US-84 to get to the old airport.

Here is the junction of US-84 and I-79/US-27. In the same 2005 highway project a more efficient interchange was built here. Previously there was an o

[SCDawg 0]

Very Nice Dan. That is one crazy interchange, I wonder who long it took to build. That Marriot looks familiar, I think I've seen it in real life somewhere, but I can't remember where.

Keep It Up

Travis

[edmonton_stinks 5]

Whoa, those interchanges are insane! And thanks for the St. Ritzy's.

[Benedict 3,119]

Hey! Thanks for the picture... and no public transport? *faints* I guess that's ope way to get traffic on the roads.

[Equilibria 16]

Another great update. I like the humor in your reply. Reminds me of my old New Boston CJ.

[Superchan 23]

nice mall placement, i hope the industry right next to the property is removed, and some of the other near by industry is also converted to commercial or residental, not many want to shop near industry.

[Haljackey 17,325]

Whoa, very cool update, dfnva! That mall looks like its going to fit in a good spot, getting rid of all that dirty industry!

[lucky7 73]

Cool update, and what a crazy interchange... Keep trucking, looking forward to more,

lucky7

[kj3400 178]

 Awesome update. I noticed the signs looked different, too. So, are we going to Scarborough?

[packersfan 666]

Nice interchange, guess we're going to have to start competing to see who can make a wilder interchange!

[Schulmanator 5,787]

An enjoyable drive! I am gonna go ahead and nominate you for a trixie for Best Road Signs. They look so real!

[ky72x 13]

Ah, Richmond. Saturday night race there this Saturday.

Sparkythepenguin's buildings are still getting lots of attention months after their release. I can understand why, when they fit in just about anywhere and still look good. Nice underpasses once again, and the interchange is one heck of an engineering job. Maybe except for those walls, though. They look kinda ugly and land, especially the ones in between the overpasses. I would suggest using Buddybud's sunken walls instead.

As for the Marriott, why couldn't they just construct a stop sign instead of the traffic light? Oh well. At least we get something good out of it - another excellent traffic signal! Can't wait to see JaWood's mall in all of its glory in the next update.

- Kyle

[djlee1999 3]

very good attention to detail, nice photoshop work too!

[dfnva 34]

Travis (SCDawg): Thanks, glad you liked the interchange. Originally, there was a half-diamond, half-cloverleaf interchange where US-84 crossed then-I-134 and at-grade intersections where US-84 crossed Speedway Blvd (then Airport Blvd) and Parson Ave. It was a bit interesting trying to figure out a way to make the interchange complex without demolishing a lot of development.

Edmonton_Stinks: Thanks! Lucky for you (and me) I don't think there are any St. Ritzy's in this update. 

Benedict: Sadly, the city council of Winchester, as well as the Piedmont County board of supervisors, aren't yet into public transportation the way the powers that be in Port Sinclair are. That may be a good thing, though. 

Equilibria: Thanks! At least the federal building is not being named after Ronald Reagan. I almost fainted when signs saying "Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway" were put up along VA-234 here in Virginia.

Superchad: Thanks for the suggestions, I will probably get rid of much of the industry in that area.

Haljackey: Thanks. The area around the Winchester Speedway is going to be filled with stores and some residences, most of the industry will be demolished right in the area.

Lucky7: Thanks for visiting and glad you liked the interchange!

KJ3400: Thanks. The newer signs at the interchange use Clearview font. The first time I saw it was several years ago in PA, but other states have begun using it in recent years. Many newer signs here in VA sport Clearview as opposed to Highway Gothic. I have yet to see a sign in Maryland with Clearview though. With regard to your avatar, where is I-70N or is it a failed proposal for an interstate through Baltimore? If I remember right, I-70 suddenly dead ends at a commuter lot. 

Packersfan: Thanks. Let the competition begin if that means I get to see more awesome interchanges like the ones you made before.

Bruce (Schulmanator): Thanks, glad you like the road signs, it's fun making them.

Kyle (KY72x): Thanks for your suggestion on the walls, I see what you mean under the bridges. Originally there was a stopsign where Winfred Ave. ended at US-84, but no break in the median strip, so traffic coming off of I-79 or US-84 Eastbound could not directly access the hotel without turning around at Speedway Blvd. While I have downloaded the mall, I have yet to finish the mall area, so that will be showcased in a subsequent update.

DJLee1999: Thanks for visiting.

Today, we re-enter Piedmont County via US-84 and inch closer to the town of Scarborough which we'll check out in the next update. As we enter Piedmont County, we see some signs...

Despite the in-game depiction, US-84 is actually six lanes wide at this point. To better depict this area, I've departed from showing the view along the road I usually do.

[dedgren 830]

Dan, yoiu've developed a style here in WatMP that is to die for.  Plenty of roadgeekery, great clean graphics add-ins and the signage (that of itself speaks of someone who has lived somewhere and paid attention) is always a huge plus.  I come here to have fun looking and never leave without having learned something.

David

[Explodingsims 3]

Looks like a nice city you have going here! Good explantions and street information.

[Schulmanator 5,787]

More excellent work. I enjoythe attention to detail. I wonder what the country station is playing now...

[SCDawg 0]

Very Nice Again! The suburbs are superb, as always. I know I say this a lot, but it seems more and more like Richmond, but thats just me.

Keep It Up!

Travis

[lucky7 73]

Great update, as always! looking forward to more,

lucky7

[kj3400 178]

Another fine update as usual. Lots of shopping centers.

Now about I-70N...(which reminds me, I need to change it)

I-70N was a designation given to the current I-70 between Frederick and Baltimore despite the fact construction crews had yet to finish it. The I-70S designation was given to I-270. I-70N was never completed; rather, they finished it as I-70. Yes, I-70 does end at a park and ride lot, but it was never completed either. I-70 was supposed to end at I-95, near US 1 (Washington Blvd.) heading through two very large parks (link). But because of community opposition, it was cancelled and it ends at MD 122 (Security Blvd.).

As for Clearview font, there is one sign in the median just after you leave the  I-695/I-70 stack going west It shows the distances to Denver, St, Louis, Columbus and some town near its terminus, Cove Fort. You can see it here. 

Just some history of our, in my opinion, poor highway network. I hope I didn't bore you too much.

[Equilibria 16]

^^

Oh, so lovely to read interstate histories. Very interesting conversation... we need a mile marker like that on I-90 in Boston.

Real nice update here, but would that be saying anything new?

[edmonton_stinks 5]

Nice suburbs and retail! I'm maybe not sure about combining the nice waterfront houses with the gritty highrises, but they could be a lot nicer than they look.

[masssc4 3]

Nice city! Great Work!!

[dfnva 34]

David (Dedgren): Thanks! Glad you've enjoyed the roadgeekery and signage. It's something I enjoy doing. Honestly I can say the same comment about Three Rivers, because of the work you've done with rural roads and your maps are inspiring.

ExplodingSims: Thanks. Glad you found the explanations useful. Sometimes I worry about over-explaining things but yet I want folks to have a good understanding of the areas we drive through.

Bruce (Schulmanator): Thanks. Sadly, as I don't listen to much country music so I wouldn't know but at least I can say a big corporate conglomerate like Clear Channel doesn't own the station, so probably plays actual good music and a broad variety of it. 

Travis (SCDawg): Thanks. I actually didn't base this particular update off of Richmond though the area near the river could look a bit like parts of Richmond. Areas around Three Chopt Road near U of R come to mind.

Lucky7: Thanks, glad you liked the update.

KJ3400: LOL I should've known that about I-70N. It's kind of funny how older road designations enter the vernacular of people who've lived in a place for a long time. I distinctly remember my parents referring to I-70S while going on I-270 and I would wonder why. Another one is calling US-29/Lee Highway through Fairfax County, VA as 29-211. The original route number for US-29's routing into DC was US-211, but US-29 was added at somepoint and then replaced the reduntant US-211 which was truncated out to Warrenton, VA. I think the US-29/US-211 multiplex, like I-70S, were long gone by the early 1980s when I was born. 

Equilibria: Thanks, glad you liked the update. As far as histories of roads, and proposed roads that didn't come to fruition, it is interesting. I think about that as I develop certain areas in my regions. 

Edmonton_Stinks: For some reason, I keep getting these gritty highrises instead of the mid-rise garden apartments for some reason despite repeated efforts to get them to grow. At any rate, I can promise you that these high rises are nice and have a nice view of the Wanata River.

Rusummer: Thanks!

And now we discuss the seeming never-ending encroachment of suburbia upon rural areas in...

Continuing east on US-84/Hartford Blvd, we pass this Big Box shopping center en route toward the town of Scarborough.

As mentioned in the previous update, US-84 is actually six-lanes wide at this point. Here's a traffic signal serving the big-box shopping center affectionately called Eastgate Center.

Next we cross Huntsman Drive and SR 627/Banfield Rd.

The signal at this interection is a newer one.

After crossing Forestdale Pkwy, US-84 crosses railroad tracks bound for Scarborough

[djf3591 1]

nice cj. I really like the signs and signals through the drive-throughs.

[Schulmanator 5,787]

Who would have thought a special wold be $2 a gallon?!?!

Great pix... it really comes alive here.

[edmonton_stinks 5]

So...many...signals. Great work on the shopping centers and traffic signals once again.

Looking forward to downtown Scarborough.

[ky72x 13]

I've probably said it many times before, but your shopping centers always look the best! With the parking lots and side streets placed around a realistic variety of stores and restaurants, the realism level is off-the-charts. Among other great points of this update included the avenue overpass (no more long train waits!) and the intersection of US-84 and SR 884/Old Fortlick Rd. I'm pretty surprised that it's not clogged with a long line of cars waiting to fill up on that cheap gas! For only two bucks, that's a steal. Lastly, the colorful flower fields look quite nice, but unfortunately they will probably succumb to development in the future. Keep it up, Dan!

- Kyle

[texanpride786 2]

hey good job on the cj... ur doin really well... i was wondering that where'd u get the hartford crossing shopping centres?

[kj3400 178]

That's suburbia for you.

US 84 reminds me of  MD 26 and US 40 which are nothing but shopping centers once you leave the city limits.