The Massopax River Valley

[helomoto 28]

Great ideas on this CJ......i can tell this is going to be a CJ im going to like....

and......

WELCOME TO PAGE 4!!! WOOT WOOT FOR MASSOPAX RIVER VALLEY

[thatmonkeysim 8]

bump for helo's post...

and welcome to page 4!

[sloppet 3]

Congrats on page 4! Your last update was really nice, outstanding work!

[pickled_pig 7]

Not much new to say for this upate; great job!

[Equilibria 16]

Nice update. I especially liked the use of plopped BATs to really enhance things, and I don't just mean that growable Wendy's (which did grow in the perfect place). I like the hotels at the exit, although I'm surprised the Town of Arlington didn't get upset that those midrises can be seen from the downtown area. On that subject, Arlington iteslf looks great. Very realistic.

Thanks for the shields in the pics. It clears things up immensely (now I have to practice what I preach and put them in in New Boston).

[Cjah 15]

Good use of walls and nice Road layout!

[collgab 10]

wow just so cool, keep up the great job

.......................

[sloppy182 2]

I like this CJ. Good job! The stoplight illustrations and signs keep it interesting!

[dfnva 34]

Hey all, 

I've been out of town the last several days so (unfortunately) I don't have an update ready, but thought I'd respond to visitors since (wow!!) a lot of people wrote comments!

On a side note, on my way to Norfolk (where I've been for the last few days), I saw VDOT's first attempts at using Clearview for highway signs.

That Monkey Sim: Glad you liked the trip through Newton. I'll look forward to seeing you use the sign powerpoints in your Wood County updates (maybe you have already but I haven't seen it).

Micah: Glad you like the signs and signals. 

Helomoto: Thanks for the welcome to page 4, and glad you like the CJ.

Sloppet: Thanks for your visit

Pickled Pig: Glad you liked the update, hopefully my next peg pond will look better

Equilibria: There are some things I'm still in the process of fixing in Arlington, particularly some empty spaces, probably filled with some BATs and more trees. Usually when I do a zoomed-out shot, I like putting lables so that one can see where we are within the grand scheme of things.

Cjah: Thanks, glad you liked the walls (don't know if you're talking about the retaining walls or the sound walls on I-73). 

Collgab:  Thanks!

Sloppy182:  Thanks! Glad you like the signs and signals.

Over the next couple days I'm going to work on some portions of I-73 and hopefully get an update by mid-week. Thanks again for all the comments.

Dan

[sloppet 3]

Sloppet: Thanks for your visitquote>

I always hear that!

I'm looking forard for the next update my friend! Keep it up!

[dfnva 34]

Hi all,

Eeeek, this took longer than I thought, but luckily I have an update and some more pictures are waiting in the wings, so several updates are almost ready. 

So, to pick up where we left off last time, we just got back on I-73 South at Exit 69 after our tour of Newton along MP-146. Right now we're in the Arlington area of Prince William County. Here's the view.

Here's a sign for the next exit, Greenfield Pkwy / SR 944. Also, some advance signage for the impending intersection with I-473, which has been recently refurbished (hence the brand new clearview sign).

Here's a shot of Exit 68. A new Greenfield Town Center is in the process of being built at the corner of Greenfield Pkwy and Purcell Rd with the stores you see below in the picture. Some boutiques are trying to be put in the empty spaces. Belevdere's Express is an outlet branch of the downtown Alexandria Belvedere's department store. 

Here are some signs for this exit.

Here's a look at Exit 67. So you won't get lost in the myriad of ramps and Peg tree forests, follow the green arrows to stay on I-73 South. 

A couple of signs... right before the exits.

Here's another right before Exit 67A exits stage-left announcing the next exit.

Here's what things look like at Exit 66. The ramp to get off on Exit 66 comes long before the actual intersection with SR 644 to facilitate merging with I-73 and ramps from I-473. In fact, looks kinda like another infamous intersection with two (well, three) interstates and a road called SR 644, eh?

Here's the sign for Exit 66.

And finally, here's where I-73 crosses under SR 644 in the town of Beltsville. 

And how about one more sign? This is along the ramp to SR 644 where the ramp splits...

And here's a zoomed out look at Exits 67 and 66 in all their glory. Eek, some unbuilt lots, trying to get the residents to return to Beltsville after the Massopax State DOT seized some homes to fix these interchanges.

We'll keep driving down I-73 and check out the town of Middleton in the foreseeable future. 

Thanks for visiting!

Dan

[mightygoose 92]

wow that is an impressive junction you got going on there, i like this city journal you know

[Equilibria 16]

This update is very busy in appearance, which certainly is not a bad thing. Your interchanges are dense but well designed, though I might suggest the new seasonal tree set (I use it in New Boston and I've really liked it). I also like the way you've strung two exits together, which is very realistic and shows intense planning. I hope the neighborhood rebuilds soon.

One other tip: you can use the "zoneria" cheat code to make all empty zones go away for the pictures. The landscape may look barren, there won't be any neon green anymore.

Great work, and belated congrats on you're 100th post in MRV .

[Micah 16]

Really great update. And yes, like I keep saying, I love those signs.

As towards Equilibria's suggestions... I don't agree with you about those trees, but maybe you (dfnv) can use that cheat to get rid of the green neon lights. (Personally, I just cover all my unused lots with trees so that you can tell a lot is there... but that's when Simcity 4 was working for me).

[oroen 0]

I like that by using a combination of sunken, ground level, and elevated, and by skewing things slightly, you could sort of replicate a three-level stack. SR-644, excellent, and it's even Larson Mill Road, like Old Keene Mill Road.

Have you tried using mayor mode trees rather thank PEG's lots? I've vacillated numerous times between which I like better, especially because the Maxis default trees are quite ugly. But I've found Cycledogg's mayor-mode trees to be an excellent fit for interchanges. PEG and jeroni have both made some good mayor mode trees too, but I'm partial to Cycledogg's, especially the lodgepole pines, which look great inside of loop ramps. I'm finding that they give me some better flexibility for how thick or thin I want my foliage to be.

I noticed my first sighting of Clearview in VIrginia as well. It was on US-29, somewhere between I-66 and Warrenton.... or was it between Warrenton and Culpeper. Anyway, it was on a non-freeway section and was a small sign for an at-grade crossing, and it came so fast I couldn't get my camera out in time.

[Drederick_Tatum 0]

DFNVA -- Nice work! I am in NOVA too and I think you've done a nice job of capturing some of the highway-dependent, medium-density suburban sprawl with all your mid-rise offices and condos and your complicated interchanges. Keep it up!

[dfnva 34]

Hi all, 

Thanks for the comments....

Mightygoose: Thanks, glad you like the souther I-73/I-473 interchange. I think that's the best one I've made so far, as I'm getting better at putting the one-way puzzle pieces the right way.

Equilibria: I forgot the cheat code for the zones, thanks. I agree with you, now looking at the interchange, that there are an awful lot of trees... they actually are seasonal trees. Glad you like the interchange. 

Micah: Thanks, glad you like the interchange and the signs, hopefully those will be the last ones with the clearview font for a while, one can hope. That's a good idea too, covering up the zones with trees.

Dave: IT would be great if there were a three level nam puzzle piece. I've downloaded some mayor mode trees, and I think I might download some more. The changeover to clearview in VA must have been quite sudden because I didn't notice any signs a couple months ago, yet there are quite a few that I've noticed. None yet in Northern VA, even with all the new BGS's going up at the Springfield interchange and the Wilson Bridge.

Drederick Tatum: That's cool you're in NoVa. The first time I heard numerous people from other parts of VA call this region Nova was in college and I thought it was odd because I thought Nova usually was just what the community college was referred to. Somehow, I'm basing this region on NoVa but also Richmond, VA. I'm sure you've noticed a lot of road names and area names based on ones in NoVa or Richmond.

Today, I'll leave you with a map of the southern part of the region, since I've never posted one. We're going to continue south along I-73 and go through Middleton via US 19 and then go back on I-73 and checkout Stafford, and that will be the end of our I-73 tour. Then we'll have to figure out a new road to cover.

On this map, I labeled major roads/highways, towns, counties, and bodies of water. Red Boxes show exit ramps.

And maybe this is a good opportunity to reacquaint you with the method to my madness for route numbering.... a lot like VA's

Massopax State Primary Routes

 

 

Numbered 1-599, State Primary Routes are funded by the state and are used for roads deemed by the state to have a significant intrastate or intercounty function.

 

Rtes. 1 – 99: Used primarily for significant roads that connect long distances.

Rtes. 100 – 399: Used primarily for major roads within a region.

Rtes. 400 – 499: Used primarily for urban roads within an independent city’s limits, often become a secondary route outside the city limits.

Rtes. 500 – 599: Used primarily for state institutions such as colleges, government complexes, prisons, seaports, etc., often not posted, but numbered for record keeping purposes.

 

Massopax Secondary Routes

 

Numbered 600 and above, these routes are funded with a partnership between the county and state, secondary routes encompass most of the roads in the state from arterial roads within a county to farm roads to neighborhood streets. Usually the lower the number is indicative of an older route. Four-digit secondary routes are used, more or less, for shorter streets within a neighborhood or unicorportated town, or newer arterial roads when all the three-digit routes have been used up.

 

Each county has its own set of secondary routes, though, often roads retain their route number when crossing county lines.

 

Secondary Routes are posted either with shields or little white signs at intersections. Many counties post SR numbers on street signs, as well. 

 

Independent incorporated towns and cities (such as Alexandria) do not have secondary routes as all non-primary routes are maintained exclusively by the city. Primary routes in the 400-range are often used in this function on arterial streets within the city. 

And if you made it all the way here and read all that, congratulations!!

Dan

[sloppet 3]

nice small update there! Good work on the region pic!

[Battlecat 14]

Cool update!  That's quite the insance interchange there.  The highway signs are a nice touch!  That's also a very nice region map you've got there. 

[mightygoose 92]

wow, thats alot of transit interchanges, this is great stuff

[Equilibria 16]

Very interesting. I've never seen a secondary route in MA or any other state hereabouts, so I was interested to learn a little about how the thing is done (we're boring here in New England, no secondary routes, farm routes, county route numbers, loops, county trunk roads, etc.) Great job of explaining, and I like the authentic look of your route map.

By the way, when I said seasonal trees, I meant the new set that was put out a short while ago by Jeroni (which you might well already have). It is an update of the old set and can be found here.

One again, nice update.

[corsulian 0]

Nice.

Didn't realize my idea for Huntington, DC was not at all original.

[pickled_pig 7]

I realize that it has been far over a month but I don't think I have looked at the past two updates:

Doesn't Connecticut have secretly-named routes as well? Your route numbering system is certainly very complex and organized. Although I have not been through Virginia enough times (actually, I've only been through once) to catch the allusions you make with exit 66/SR644, it reminds me of a far more simplistic interchange in Rhode Island - the intersections of I-95, RI-37, and Jefferson Boulevard. When going north on I-95, you must take the RI-37 exit if you want to get off on Jefferson Blvd. When going south, Jefferson Blvd has a seperate interchange.

Will this CJ be coming back?

[SCDawg 0]

wow, this is a good CJ,  i wonder why i never commented before? (or did i). The numbering system is classic virginia. I hop thie CJ comes back. 

[dfnva 34]

Hey!

Ironically, I'm working on an update, with school and all, I haven't had the time. Also, I'll be moving out of my mom's house in two weeks, and since my mom has the newer computer, I probably will put this CJ on hiatus... until I get a newer computer.

Anyhow, I'll probably be ready with an update by Monday, and hopefully within the next two weeks, I'll show you Middleton, and get us all the way down I-73 through some more rural area.

Since I haven't made any replies since my last update.....

Sloppet: Thanks, glad you like the region pic, I don't want anybody to get lost along the drive.

Battlecat: Glad you like the interchange, slowly honing my skills with the puzzle pieces to make some unique interchanges.

Mightygoose: Thanks!

Equilibria: Thanks for pointing me to the new seasonal trees... a las I haven't downloaded them yet, and it will look like "winter" in my next update. I'm happy the explanation of the routes was helpful.

Corsulian: I've liked what I've seen in Huntington and looking forward to seeing what you do, as it's influenced on Northern VA.

Pickled Pig: It's not dead yet. Even after I move, I plan to eventually start working on this CJ more when I visit my mom's house or get a new computer.

SCDawg: Glad you like/understand the numbering system.

Thanks as always for the comments, and suggestions.

Dan

[dfnva 34]

So finally, we start going South along I-73 again. We’ve passed the SR 644 interchange and are headed toward the town of Middleton.

A bit of background on Middleton. The town of Middleton was founded in 1795. As railroads were built between Middleton and Alexandria and other points, industry made this town fairly important, and still does. During the mid 20th century, as people moved out of Alexandria and the inner suburbs, some people started moving out here and various shopping areas were built. However, there has been some decay of the Middleton area as some have moved back closer to the city, while the Middleton town council has been making improvements to downtown to make Middleton a destination, not just a bedroom community. 

So here's I-73, surprisingly, there's not much right now between Beltsville and Middleton, just some farms along US 19 and SR 643.

 

 

Here’s a classic old sign for US 19. The word south was pasted over as this was the original terminus of the highway we’re on, back when it was called MP-219, before it was upgraded to I-73. Fort Henry is a military complex for the Marines that’s 10 miles or so up the road off of US 19 North.

 

 

Here’s the view of Exit 63, which is the exit for US 19 / Middleton Blvd. Of course the original formation was not a cloverleaf, when this was the terminus, rather South US 19 traffic went off on an exit and then North US 19 came out at a stoplight. We’re going to get off on Exit 63B, on US 19. Numerous hotels and the Middleton Plaza are at this JCT. Middleton Plaza opened as an enclosed shopping mall in the early 1970s as people started moving down here and boasted Sears, JCPenney, and Belvedere’s (a local higher-class department store chain), but the mall started losing business toward the late 1990s was redeveloped as an outdoor “lifestyle” center. The JCPenney became a Kohls and the Belvederes’ became a Tractor Supply Company store, very popular with the local farmers. Also a new movie theatre was built.

 

 

Here’s the sign at the exit… a newer one, but not one of the new clearview ones (as are now popping up in VA).

 

 

Here’s the view once we’re on US 19 South. SR 641/ Old Ridge Rd is the first cross-street where the Denny’s is, and a Wally K’s Bullseye!

 

 

I drew a signal for SR 641 / Old Ridge Rd, the next intersection has a signal too but I didn't draw one.

 

 

The next intersection, SR 770 / Maple Ave. There’s a Signal here, you can imagine what it looks like.

 

 

Before the next intersection, various signs are posted to warn you to turn left at the next intersection to stay on US 19.

 

 

 

Here’s the intersection. Turning right will put you on SR 643/Purcell Rd, which we crossed way back when we were touring Newton and Arlington. Continuing straight will put you on SR 919 which retains the name Middleton Blvd and was built as an extension in the 1990s to allow through traffic to Northton and North MP 141 without going through downtown Middleton. We’re going to turn left to stay on US 19.

 

 

 

Here’s the signal… notice how SR 919 isn’t posted for going straight ahead, just a sign for MP-141 North.

 

 

 

Here, US 19 goes through a dirty-industrial area before crossing the Middleton Creek into downtown Middleton.

 

 

Here’s a signal for the JCT with SR 771. There's a rarity, a West Virginia-style doghouse signal.

 

 

 

Next time, we’ll explore downtown Middleton, turn south on MP 141 and get back on I-73.

 

 

Dan

[pickled_pig 7]

Looks good. The story about redeveloping the mall and getting rid of the old fashioned department stores adds some realism, especially in this age of Wal-Mart. When I lived in Florida (from 1995 to 2001) they did the same thing with the Winter Park Mall, a dinosaur-aged structure for all I remember. They ended up replacing it with an Albertsons, a Borders, a movie theater, some restaraunts, offices, and other small stores.

[Equilibria 16]

Nice to see this again! I like the signage (of course) and the attention to detail in the histories of the different roads. One request: could we have a map of this whole area so we can see where we're going (we're turning a lot)?

[Yoman3 5]

Great highways and cool intersections!

[dedgren 830]

Dan:

Somehow, I'm basing this region on NoVa but also Richmond, VA. I'm sure you've noticed a lot of road names and area names based on ones in NoVa or Richmond.quote>

How 'bout river/stream names?  The Ma, Ta, Po and Ni come to mind.  Nobody will believe you when you combine those four No Va rivers into the Mattaponi.

I received my planning grad degree from VCU and law degree from UR in Richmond.  The I-95/Beltway interchange (interchange h-ll, it's a frickin' major structural component of the universe) in Springfield was under construction for the entire decade I lived in the area.

Nice CJ- I see you like to think outside the box the NAM Gods have (unintentionally) created for us.  Man, I wish Tropod would show back up. 

David