Winchester

[dfnva 34]

Woohoo... time for another update....

Will: Thanks for visiting and glad you like the interchange. 

Amerikaner: Glad you like the road system and stoplights. When building this region, the first thing I dwelled on was the road system before I developed the region.

Edmonton: Thanks for visiting, the song "Kings Highway" was good.... 

...... and speaking of Kings Highway.....

it's time to get back on the road.

Last time, we exited off of of I-134/US 27 onto MP-165/Deltown Rd in order for us to explore some of Piedmont Heights as well as find our way back to US 27 Business/Kings Hwy, and ultimately, Winchester.

First we see these signs...

Here's the intersection with SR 622/Piedmont Pkwy. Piedmont Pkwy is pretty much a road that connects various residential areas. There's a church, police station, and office buildings.

Here's the signal for the intersection. Nothing terribly special or unusual.

Next, we see a sign notifying us of an impending interchange with US 27 Business.

But first, here's the intersection with Willow Drive and Medical Drive. Turning right gives one access to Piedmont High School and the Piedmont Heights Medical Center.

Another fairly bland signal display, though of note is the lack of backplates on these signals and the fact they're hung on wires, which means they're probably from an older generation (late 1980s).

Finally we approach the interchange with US-27 Business/Kings Hwy. This interchange was recently built in late 2006 as the signalized intersection with US 27 Business and MP 165 was causing lots of traffic backups. While traffic moves more smoothly through here now, some businesses are complaining that it is harder for customers to access them.

Here's the signal for the ramp onto US-27 Business/Kings Hwy North.

And here are more signs attached to the bridge. We're going to exit here on to US-27 Business/Kings Hwy South.

And finally (gosh! another sign), here are the signs we see once we merge onto US 27 Business.

And our last shot will show the intersection with SR 656/Barnesfield Rd. As you can see by the signage, SR 656 has a short multiplex with US 27 Business. 

It is worth noting that Kings Highway is actually 6 lanes at this point.

And the signal for Barnesfield Rd....

Hope you enjoyed it, let me know your thoughts.

Dan

[penguin007 27]

Nice update I like the retail parks

Will

[granto93 4]

awsome update! i love those signs sooooo much!! how did you make them?

[suplado! 23]

those signs are really helpful...great update!

[edmonton_stinks 5]

More great stuff. I love this driving CJ.

[dfnva 34]

Penguin: Thanks!

Granto: Glad you like the signs... I make them in Powerpoint. 

Suplado: Glad you enjoyed the signs.

Edmonton: Thanks for visiting.

Well... time once again to drive... here's the view where we left off on US-27 Business (aka Kings Highway) through suburban Piedmont Heights. In case you're un sure about our where-abouts, you can see the regional map on Page 1.

And of course here's a traffic signal for the intersection depicted above.... an older incarnation.

Next, we come to this intersection with Barnett Rd (SR 660) and Parson Ave (SR 656). We passed Barnett Rd earlier when we were on MP-165. Additionally, this is where the SR 656 multiplex with US 27-Business diverges.

And here's a (fairly new) traffic signal for the junction.

Next we cross Maplewood Ln and pass by some nice apartments and condos.

And another older signal installation. Along Midlothian Turnpike (US 60), just outside Richmond, VA, there are some older signals like these hanging from long pipes below a span wire.

Here's a sign for the next road we cross, a  major intersection as SR 617/Backlick Rd not only is a way to get back to I-134, but also because Backlick Rd serves as the border between Piedmont County and the city of Winchester.

Here is the intersection with SR 617/Backlick Rd in all it's glory. Several office buildings built in the 1970s and the venerable, but ailing, Winchester Mall are major landmarks. As you can see, we will be turning left on Backlick Rd.

Here's the vantage point of the signal... also an older installation from the early '80s with some replacement signals added.

Before we start going down Backlick Rd, I thought I would explain a bit about Winchester Mall....

Winchester Mall originally opened in 1975, to much fanfare. Beyond here, most of Kings Highway was still rural, and there was no regional shopping center. There were department stores such as Belvedere's (a Alexandria-based chain) in downtown Winchester.

Winchester Mall's original anchors were Belvedere's (causing the downtown location to close), Sear's, and JCPenney. The mall boasted 120 additional stores in the mall. Throughout the 1980s and early 1990s, Winchester Mall was the place to shop in the region.

Winchester Mall's death spiral can be attributed to two things. As demographics changed around the mall, crime started to go up causing some stores to jump ship. Simultaneously, planning began for the Wingate Town Center (which you can see on page 1) which is further out near the junction of Kings Highway and I-34.

When the outdoor Wingate Town Center opened, it became the new popular place to shop. Many mall boutiques jumped ship. JCPenney closed their Winchester Mall location while Belvedere's operated stores at both shopping centers.

By the early 2000's, Winchester Mall was still about 75% occupied and replaced JCPenney with a Value City Department store on the lower level, while the top floor of the former JCPenney remained vacant. 

However, another problem occured when Macy's bought out Belvedere's parent company (May Department Stores). In 2005, the Winchester Mall Belvedere's was shuttered, while the Wingate Belvedere's became a Macy's in 2006.

The one thing currently preventing Winchester Mall from utter oblivion is that the region's ONLY Sear's is still going strong. However ,that may change as plans are being made for a new outdoor center south of Winchester that will feature a Sear's and Wegman's. 

As of now, much of the mall is vacant by these images from the mall directory... Many of the remaining stores are independent, there are few popular chain stores left.

In the meantime, there is a possibility of redemption.... Sear's has been contemplating the Sear's Grande idea for the Winchester region and the owners of Winchester Mall are trying to convince Sear's to convert the vacant Belvedere's in the front of the mall to a Sear's Grande. The owners of the mall are also trying to get some Big Box stores to join the mall line up or convert some empty mall corridors into bigger stores.

Alas... I leave you with one last picture as we start down Backlick Rd.

Thanks for visiting and please feel free to leave a comment!

Dan

[penguin007 27]

Nice update I like your mall map very imaganitive

Will

[jacqulina 162]

very nice work with the mall my friend,great road system too,love the signs.

[edmonton_stinks 5]

Signals and roadgeekery are fantastic again. Also, I really like the story behind Winchester Mall. Hope it gets back on its feet.

[pickled_pig 7]

Absolutely amazing ideas. As always, you're very knowledgeable about urban planning and its history. The Winchester Mall sounds like a mall we have here in Charlotte, the Eastland Mall, which also opened in the '70s and is halfway dead today since it is in what is considered a "bad" part of town.

Interesting how the JCPenney got converted into a Value City - another great dash of realism.

I really like the mall directory too - it's something I've never seen in a CJ or MD before and I applaud you for bringing some new and fresh ideas to the table. If the mall is as dead as you say, I'd add more low-wealth stores. More outlets, discount stores, dollar stores. Urban Outfitters looks way too out of place in that mall...

I'm very busy in real life... college application process, school, so on so on. I'll try to come around every once in a while.

-aaron

[Equilibria 16]

Whoops, missed a few updates. I love the mall piece. It reminds me of the Natick Mall in the '90s, before they rebuilt it (it was just expanded to no. 4 on the East Coast). Maybe a similar story here would fit your MO.

[Benedict 3,119]

Now that's unique in the CJs, right - a mall map? Made me think of the star wars episoide of family guy

[nihonkaranws 88]

Great CJ. I love the way you made custom interchanges using one-way roads and the NAM elevated one-way roads. Great job! Although you should use the highway on-ramps that are one-way, so you don't have those little nibs, and use cul-de-sacs (roundabouts) at the end of your sidestreets (streets)

GREAT JOB!!

[suplado! 23]

very nice tour...great mall layout and the road network in also cool!!

[dfnva 34]

Greetings,

 

Wow, the Winchester Mall update got quite a response. For some reason the growth and decay of inner cities as well as the growth and decay of inner suburbs simultaneous with the regrowth of inner cities and the sprouting of outer suburbs is fascinating to me as I’ve watched it happen the last 26 years in the Washington, DC area.

 

Personal Replies….

 

Penguin: Thanks for visiting, Glad you liked the mall map.

 

Jacqulina: Thanks for visiting and glad you like the road features and the mall update.

 

Edmonton: We’ll have yet to see about the future of Winchester Mall. As we venture further south, we’ll explore some proposed and newly built shopping destinations that may be harmful to Winchester Mall’s hopes. Thanks for visiting.

 

Aaron: Good luck with your college applications, I’m looking for some more updates from Travels on I-85. Glad you found the mall map and Winchester Mall history interesting. I don’t know if it’s as fresh an idea as you say, but thought I’d put it in as it makes things seem more real. On more important subjects, I’m curious to see what you think of Radiohead’s new album.

 

Equilibria: That’s a good ideas as one consideration could be to rebuild Winchester Mall into a mixed-use lifestyle center. Maybe along with that could be some improvements of the busy junction of US 27 Business and Backlick Rd into a freeway-style interchange, something that currently can’t be done because the intersection is land-locked by various office and retail buildings.

 

Benedict: Sadly I haven’t seen that episode of Family Guy, hopefully I’ll catch it sometime. I find mall maps interesting as they show where few people tend to go. In fairly healthy or somewhat failing malls, there’s always a corridor where there are few stores. In this case, that would be the second floor of Winchester Mall and the former Belevedere’s wing on the first floor.

 

nihonkaranws: Glad you like the roadgeekery. Some of these things that you suggest will probably show up once I d/l the newest version of the NAM, something I’m putting off until I buy a new computer (any time now, once I get some more money). Thanks for the suggestions.

 

Suplado: Thanks, I’m glad you like the road network and mall map!

Well now on to the update...

We're now travelling east along SR 617/Backlick Rd, which straddles the boundary of Piedmont County (physically to the left in this picture) and the city of Winchester (To the right). There's quite a bit of retail along this stretch of Backlick Rd between US-27 Business and I-134.

The above intersection depicted with an older mast arm traffic signal.

Once again we cross SR 656/Parson Ave. Parson Ave to the right is unnumbered as secondary routes do not exist within the limits of incorporated cities. With all the hotels, restaurants, and gas stations, it's obvious that we're almost to I-134. However, we're going to instead turn right on Parson Ave.

Woohoo, the zoo is to the right. Also, through trucks are restricted on this portion of Parson Ave. as it goes through a residential area. Many, however, use this stretch of Parson Ave. as cut-through from Backlick Rd to US 84 and other points in downtown Winchester.

Not necessarily the best area of town we're going through right now on Parson Ave.

Not far, though, is the Winchester Zoo. Since we're actually within the limits of the city of Winchester, the route numbers depicted below do not exist, but I have them there for record keeping purposes as when the roads emerge from the city limits, they pick up that route number.

Here's the Lomond Drive signal complete with more truck restrictions since the roads go through residential areas. Turning right on Lomond Drive takes you back to US-27 Business while turning left will return you to Backlick Rd.

Here we're in a middle to lower-middle class neighborhood that dates back to at least the 1940s or 1950s.

To slow down the cut-through drivers, four way stops have been put at major cross streets within the neighborhood.

And more residential neighborhood....

And another four-way stop.

Finally, we emerge at a recently built interchange with US-84/Hartford Blvd near the Winchester Convention Center. As you can see, we'll turn right to go West on US-84 to enter Downtown.

Some swank-looking signals on a stylized black mast arm and signs pointing to which way to get onto US-84 and I-134.

Here's a zoomed-out view showing the context of the area. Notice the complicated series ramps connecting I-134 to US-84 and Parson Ave allowing US-84 to pass over Parson Ave. Lots of accidents were created by people trying to make last minute left turns onto Parson Ave going toward the Convention Center from US-84 Westbound. 

That's all for now, thanks for visiting.

Dan

[edmonton_stinks 5]

Fantastic job again! I can just picture driving through this city. It's well done too; not too much building repetition. Is there more storyline coming up?

[pickled_pig 7]

As I've a minute to look at this new update, I figured I should. Great stuff as always.

As for the Radiohead record... an interesting change in their musical direction - not as much up as to the side. It was rather obvious after Hail to the Thief that this band was done being innovators - but this just settles it; the band wear their influences on their sleeve.

Some great songs, though - greatness from Radiohead I've not seen since Amnesiac. Reckoner, Arpeggi, and Jigsaw Falling into Place are absolutely fantastic.

-aaron

[bbfan02 23]

Excellent job! This cj is very underrated! Cant wait for more unique updates!

-bbfan02-

[dfnva 34]

Greetings... some replies...

Edmonton: Usually I don't do too much with storylines, but  as we visit various places I'll give some background on them. Thanks for visiting.

Aaron: Everytime I listen to "In Rainbows" I like it better. At first I was shocked by the mellowness of some of the songs (like Nude, House of Cards), but they're good as I listen to them more and more.  I guess it could be comparable to the mellowness of some of the songs on Amnesiac, which is my favorite Radiohead CD. I like the gradual crescendo in Arpeggi followed by a sudden change to a softer section, though it's not as emotionally moving as the crescendo in Sit Down, Stand Up. I also like the part near the end of 15-Step that's an organ or some other synthesized instrument and drums. Then there are other songs that I find rather bland like Videotape. Usually I like Radiohead's slower piano songs (like Pyramid Song, Living in a Glass House, Sail to the Moon). Videotape does have some cool synthetic percussion and the rhythmic pattern harkens to the drum part in Kid's A's Morning Bell, but lacks the cool sounding chord progression and time signature of Pyramid Song, lacks a build up to a strong end such as the change in tonality/modality (minor to major and back to minor) in Living in a Glass House. Whoa, I could write forever about this, but it's off topic... argghhh. Thanks for visitng.

BBfan02: Thanks for visiting and hope you enjoy subsequent updates. 

After all that I've got some good news and bad news....

Bad News: I'm going on hiatus for a couple weeks to maybe a month.

Good News: I'm finally getting a new computer within that time which will mean more updates and glitzier graphics in those updates, plus I'll have more opportunities to actually play my region.

There's a lot to come..... a tour of downtown Winchester, a tour of Patrick Henry University, a tour of southern suburbs and booming construction of housing and shopping centers as rural area decreases.

Thanks for your support and visiting!

Dan

[bbfan02 23]

Cant wait for next update!

[2nerdy4u 1]

Great work. I especially like the roadsigns for the interchanges. Everything matches up.

[edmonton_stinks 5]

Sounds amazing! I'll be sure to check once this new update comes out.

[dfnva 34]

Greetings and Happy Holidays!!

Finally I have a new computer that I can actually play SC4 on!! Woohoo!! Hopefully that will mean much more playing and more updates. 

To officially end the hiatus, we will be taking a tour of downtown Winchester.

I will start with a general picture at where we left off... merging onto US 84 / Hartford Blvd from Parson Ave. As the majority of this CJ consists of driving through the region, just follow the green arrow as that's where we're driving.

Here's a zoomed up picture of where we'll be turning left onto MP-39/Jefferson Ave. Below you can see some notable points of interest such as a couple museums and the headquarters of Mort's Markets, a locally owned regional supermarket chain.

Of interest on this traffic signal is that to the right Jefferson Ave becomes Kings Hwy. US 27 Business actually merges off of Kings Hwy onto Union Ave about a mile or two north of here. Kings Hwy temporarily ends here but appears again south of town along US-27. The black antique-style painted traffic signal assemblies are prevalent in downtown Winchester.

Here's the view now that we're driving South along MP-39/Jefferson Ave.

A big project taken on by the city of Winchester and the Massopax State DOT has been the gradual grade separation of downtown surface streets and the freight railroad. Here's a recently completed bridge where Jefferson Ave. now has a bridge over the tracks.

We've now found our way back to I-134/US-27. To get back on is rather convoluted at this interchange as we have to turn right on Cambria St. and then turn from there onto the ramp.

Oddly enough, the signage here does not mention that US-27 is multiplexed with I-134.

Here's the view along I-134/US 27 Southbound.

And here are some signs posted along here.

At the interchange below, US 27 Business rejoins US 27. We're going to exit so we can go back north onto US-27 Business to look at more of downtown Winchester. I-134 ends unceremonially just past this interchange at a signal with MP-501/Moore St.

There are some proposed improvements to be made to this interchange so that through trucks don't have to use a cloverleaf to keep going southbound. 

Additionally, the USDOT and MP-DOT are working on figuring out an alignment for future I-79, which would be aligned roughly with US-27 south of I-34, and one possible alignment would be along I-134 and US-27, making it necessary to refurbish this and other interchanges further south on US-27. 

Another proposed alignment for I-79 is along MP-427 west of Winchester and Salem (see the map on page 1).

OH and finally here's that interchange that caused me to write all this stuff....

And of course some signage... I-134 doesn't actually end here, but about 1/4 mile past here.

Here's the view along US-27 Business / Union Ave as MP-501/Moore St.

No left turn onto Moore St?? Barnacles! 

We're going to end today's journey with a beautiful evening shot of City Hall. We're going to turn left here onto US-84/Cumberland St. so that next time we may go to some parties, errr, explore Patrick Henry University.

And how about one more signal? Another example of minimalist signage in downtown Winchester as there is no mention that East US-84 continues straight ahead.

Here's a zoomed out picture of downtown Winchester.

And one more...

[suplado! 23]

cool tour...hehe! really like the nice road layout and the awesome interchanges around the area, the buildings looks great and blends well with each other...

[Mike the Mayor 51]

Very nice updates. The Mall floorplan looks great and the last update is very good too!

[Equilibria 16]

Really nice to see you back, and I like the touches of the retaining walls and little icon labels. As always, the signs look great and I like the local VA touches (the Civil War museum and future interstate storyline). And of course, you can tell a roadgeek by the nonexistant interstate numbers in his cities.

BTW, some of the pictures aren't coming through for me...

[bbfan02 23]

Great to see you back! I love the way you do all of your updates! Your transportation system looks fantastic.

-bbfan02-

[edmonton_stinks 5]

Wow! That update is huge! More great work on the signage, and great use of buildings in downtown Winchester!

Hope things work out with the new computer.

[dfnva 34]

BREAKING NEWS: The Iowa Caucus is no longer the first primary in the US! Why?? We'll find out soon.... But first.....



Suplado: Thanks for visiting! Glad you like the buildings and how they blend. I'm trying to put in big enough buildings yet not ones that are too tall as I'm trying to make the downtown for a medium-sized city.

Mike the Mayor: Glad you like the mall floorplan.... not sure if the owners of Winchester Mall agree with you, but hopefully things will improve over there next time we visit that area, and if not, maybe it will be redevelopment time.

Equilibria: Thanks for visiting. I think there was a problem with Imageshack's servers as I was noticing some pictures not showing up, but now they all do. Glad you noticed the comparisons to VA. The new interstate is definitely based on proposed I-73 in Roanoke. In a way, this region is my take on the Roanoke area even though in many ways there are no similarities.

BBFan02: Thanks for visiting. Transportation is one of things I like most about SC4 and the NAM, so glad you're enjoying it.

Edmonton: Thanks, glad you enjoyed the update. It's great having a new computer, my previous one dates back to 1999, when I was a freshman in college. It was cutting edge for back then but is slow and ancient now. 

And now....


Here's a picture just after turning onto Westbound US-84 / W. Cumberland St en route to Patrick Henry University. Here you can see the Piedmont County Courthouse.


And here's a picture of the signal at the second intersection depicted above at N. Horton Av. Of note here is the sign for SR 620 which does not begin until another 2 or 3 miles north of here once N. Horton Av. crosses into Piedmont County. But since SR 620 is a fairly important secondary route through northwestern Piedmont County, maybe it's good the sign is here.


We've now entered the fringes of Patrick Henry University. Of note here are the campanile (not sure if I spelled that right) which has a nice view of downtown from the top and the statue of the founder of the city of Winchester, George H. Winchester, who was also a Revolutionary War hero. George H. Winchester's great grandson, Charles Winchester, was a doctor in the Korean War (see if anyone watches TV Land).


Here's where we turn into the campus. A nice park here where students like to work and play outside. And where drunks like to uh... throw up into the waters of the Patrick Henry statue.


We shall turn left here onto MP-130 / Patrick Henry Drive. Staying on US-84 would take one to the town of Salem, a field trip for us for another day.


PHU is a leading research college. 


Unfortunately, The Fighting Hawks aren't known for being the most nimble at sports despite exceptional sports facilities and a first-rate marching band (hmmm.... sounds like my alma mater in VA).


The award winning music and theatre programs have recitals and performances at the Hamilton Theatre whilst The Winchester Superplex is the home to the Fighting Hawks' basketball team. Major bands also come and play here to sold out crowds of students, professors, and townspeople. 

Most recently Barack Obama had a rally there. Why?


Why? 

We'll find out after we see this picture of the signal where we're going to turn left onto MP-501 / Moore St depicted above (such a Howie Mandel teaser!). Moore St. to the right continues as MP-130. Interestingly, MP-501 is not posted here, then again it is not posted at all except from I-134.


Why??

Well... the state of Massopax is going to hold its primary on New Year's Day!!! 

How are the various candidates faring? Here are a couple recent polls from CBS-3....





Hmm.... it will be interesting to see who will win. I'll try (but not promise) to keep my political feelings out of this.

But for now here are a couple more pictures from the PHU campus....




Hope you enjoyed the update. Next time, we'll venture across the Wanata River en route southbound.

Thanks for visiting!

Dan

[bbfan02 23]

Wow, I love the university and the various buildings! You know, you can get a custom baseball field instead of the Maxis one. It could look a lot better.

-bbfan02-