RT7 West - 01/17/08

[mike_s104]

Few pictures on my way home today

 

[mike_s104]

more pictures

 

[JESSERABBIT]

Looks kind of like a bowling alley. I miss those days of commuting to Loudoun. Yea right!
Good relaxing photo of the Shenandoah. They are still crashing and crushing this evening around here. BTW Jefferson Schools are closed tomorrow.

 

[freqhopping]

I'd like to know what the hell VDOT was up to all day. They surely weren't taking care of the roads. Never did hear them on the radio.

 

[mike_s104]

I'd like to know what the hell VDOT was up to all day. They surely weren't taking care of the roads. Never did hear them on the radio.

I heard them a few times on the way home. They were having trouble with RT9 and RT7 due to so much traffic. When I was going down Mt. Weather, I could see a VDOT truck stuck in the traffic as well as everyone else. As I was going west up Mt. Weather on the Loudoun side, I did see a VDOT truck going east into Loudoun.

 

[trainman111]

VDOT was very active down here. I saw them quite frequently when I was on the roads, and I heard them on the radio every now and then.

 

[JESSERABBIT]

I left Leesburg from work a few years back in a snowstorm. Took the back roads to get to Rt 7 Business. Got back on in Round Hill. Went a few miles, then hit stopped traffic. Went stop and go until about Hill High Orchard, then mostly stop from there until the top of the mountain. There only were a few vehicles stopped along side of the road. Nobody was stuck in the travel lanes. They had the road blocked at the top so that VADOT from Clarke Co could clear their lanes. At the top, it was clear sailing all the way to Berryville.
I chalked it up to just something that had to be done. Luckly my truck has 4WD Low. Made it a lot easier. BTW, I think they have to wait until there is enough snow to plow and apply abrasives/chemicals in a large storm. I had the scanner to let me know what was happening and that kept me "entertained".

 

[W4UVV]

Thank you.

Few pictures on my way home today

Thank you for the pictures and providing another reminder to me of how fortunate I am not to have to live...strike that...survive/exist in NOVA anymore. People who lived there in 1972 will remember the big flood. In May 1972, I believe, on the very day of the worst flooding NOVA had ever experienced and all major roads in the area were flooded and no way out, I had to leave. My job had been transfered to Ft. Hood, TX. I tried to leave early that morning from the Lee Highway area. Amazingly one lane on a west bound bridge on Rt. 7 was barely passible if you drove slowly. The east bound bridge lanes being slightly lower in elevation were totally flooded. The other westbound bridge lane was very close to flooding from the raging water from some creek or small river that overflowed. Although very scary and touchy, my VW Beetle peformed just fine. The old style VW Beetles would float if the water level was high enough. I had an additional concern of floating off and on Rt. 7. Fortunately for me I made it out of the area safely and subsequently returned only for tdy requirements.

 

[mike_s104]

the traffic started to back up at Hill High Store. I hit it about 12:30PM. I left early to miss all the people that cannot drive in the snow. there were only about 2 cars on the side of the road going west. I guess it was people slowing down to see what was going on in the other lanes.

Thank you for the pictures and providing another reminder to me of how fortunate I am not to have to live...

anytime. another reminder...today the I took the Greenway. the toll booth didn't read my Smart Tag. I got out and pushed the gate open and did a 1-finger wave to the camera and drove through. I promptly called and left a msg with time, day and phone number the account is under. what a bunch of thieves. we usually take Syclin Rd. to RT7W Bypass in Leesburg, then get off on RT15N (N. King Street) in Leesburg, then Dry Mill Rd. to RT9 then RT7 to another back road. we probably use back roads for about 40% of our drive. in the past 2 years, we've cut out the tolls (unless its bad weather) and shaved off about 20min on our drive.

the scanner has saved us a few times. we knew well in advance of a wreck and re-routed. also have "heard" about some speed traps on RT7 a few times too.

the black Mercedes in the next to last photo was still there this morning. "Daddy, I don't know what happened to my car! I was just driving and texting Suzzie while putting on some lipstick and listening to Britney on my iPod and all of a sudden I was like, spinning and stuff. Like why would it do that? Can I get a new car? I don't like this one now...it's like dangerous and stuff. Ohh, can I get my new 6 series convertible BMW in pink?"

 

[freqhopping]

They have no excuse. I rode my motorcycle yesterday, granted it's a dirtbike style with knobbies, but I made it just fine.

Listening to the scanner before I left this morning I decided to take the truck. It's dark and the coldest part of the day when I leave for work. Snow isn't that bad, but ice is taking it to another level. I ended up on my ass real fast while scraping the windows clean before I left this morning.:lol:

 

[mike_s104]

They have no excuse. I rode my motorcycle yesterday, granted it's a dirtbike style with knobbies, but I made it just fine.

Listening to the scanner before I left this morning I decided to take the truck. It's dark and the coldest part of the day when I leave for work. Snow isn't that bad, but ice is taking it to another level. I ended up on my ass real fast while scraping the windows clean before I left this morning.:lol:

I did a 180 in the parking lot when I was leaving work yesterday. it was really bad when I left.