Photos from October 2007 Trips
Kentucky-Indiana-Tennessee-Virginia-North Carolina-West Virginia

These photos are from several trips I took in October 2007. Included are photos from a trip to the Sparta, Ky.-Vevay, Ind. area for the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet's Equipment Roadeo Oct. 1-3; a trip to the Kentucky Association of Government Communicators fall conference at Shakertown in Mercer County, Ky., followed by my trip to the Greensboro, N.C. roadgeek meet Oct. 4-7; and a short trip through eastern Kentucky and western West Virginia on Oct. 26. To view the full-sized photos, click on one of the thumbnails on this page. You will then be presented with navigation controls to view the images on individual Web pages as a slide show.




This set of photos begins with a logo sign for the Kentucky Bourbon Trail, which is a tourist promotion of distilleries in the Central Kentucky area. This sign is at the end of the ramp for I-64 westbound to US 60 in Frankfort. Photos from my trip to the Kentucky statewide equipment operating contest were taken Monday-Wednesday, Oct. 1-3.


Here is another example of the directional plate with the larger first letter. On US 60 and US 421 just past KY 676 in Frankfort.


This view is of US 127 between Frankfort and Owenton, in Owen County. The road was rebuilt over a period of time from the late 1980s through the early 2000s and now the entire 30-mile route is improved.


Intersection of KY 355 and US 127 near Monterey in Owen County. KY 355 runs along the Kentucky River and is a shortcut from US 127 to KY 227, and from Frankfort to Carrollton.


Bridge on KY 355 crossing Severn Creek in Owen County. This is right at the mouth of the creek at the Kentucky River.


Intersection of KY 22 and KY 355 at Gratz in Owen County. The two routes join together for approximately the length of a city block.


Split of KY 355 and KY 22.


KY 355 and KY 325 near Perry Park in Owen County.


The end of KY 355 at KY 227.


KY 227, formerly US 227, has been rebuilt from Carrollton southeast to just beyond the KY 355 intersetion.


Approaching I-71 at Carrollton.


Ramp from KY 227 to I-71 north.


Ramp from KY 227 north to I-71 south. This is a folded diamond interchange.


US 42 and KY 47 in Ghent (pronounced "gent" as in "gentle.")


Very old white, faded and peeling mileage sign, on KY 47 in Ghent.


KY 47 passes under I-71 near the Owen-Gallatin county line. There is no interchange here.


KY 47 intersects KY 467 on the north side of the railroad tracks at Sanders. The two routes continue to KY 36, where KY 47 ends and KY 467 continues west along with KY 36.


On KY 467 looking west. Actually, KY 47 officially goes both ways and ends at 36.


Crossing the railroad tracks, KY 467 intersects KY 36.


White mileage sign looking east on KY 36 and KY 467.


Signage showing that KY 47 begins at KY 36.


Looking west on KY 36. The arrow sign under KY 467 is in error; it should be a "left and straight" arrow.


Heading into the afternoon sun, westbound on KY 36 and KY 467.


In Carrollton, KY 36 and KY 227 join for the final mile of the former US 227's route to US 42. However, westbound traffic on KY 36 sees this sign for KY 227. Although this is the official end of KY 227 in the state log books, KY 227 is actually signed on to US 42.


Beyond the KY 36-227 intersection is this sign for US 42.


This is the historic end of US 227 in Carrollton, KY 36 west continues along US 42 west.


On the west side of the Kentucky River, beyond the town of Prestonville, KY 36 and US 42 split.


Looking east on KY 36 and US 42 in Prestonville, this sign with an unusual font is at the northern end of KY 55.


The setting sun's glare obscures the numbers on these westward-facing US 42 and KY 36 signs.


US 42 crosses the Kentucky River just prior to that stream's mouth at the Ohio River.


Crossing the Kentucky River bridge.


Entering Carrollton on the east end of the Kentucky River bridge.


Advance signage for the KY 227 intersection and the departure of KY 36.


Looking east on US 42 at the historic northern terminus of US 227, now KY 227.


Signage at the KY 227 and KY 36 intersetion with US 42.


The first KY 227 sign with a KY 36 sign.


A view of the Kentucky Speedway, site of the 2007 Kentucky Transportation Cabinet Equipment Roadeo.


The speedway's start-finish line looking into Turn 1.


A better look at the start-finish line.


The speedway grandstand.


This old mileage sign is located on eastbound US 42 in Warsaw.


The northern end of KY 35 at US 42 in Warsaw. At one time, KY 35 was a border-to-border highway, but most of it was absorbed when US 127 was certified in Kentucky in the 1950s. Now it stretches only from US 42 at Warsaw to US 127 in Owen County.


This car, testing at Kentucky Speedway on the day of the KYTC Roadeo setup and practice, was the #40 Dodge from Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates. Speedway PR officials did not know who was doing the test driving that day, but it was not believed to be David Stremme, current driver, or Dario Franchitti, who will take over the car in 2008.


The #40 car comes out of turn 4 and enters the front dogleg.


The #40 car in turn 4.


More testing by the #40 car.


The #40 car in the backstretch.


The Kentucky Speedway pressbox.


This is the #40 car in the garage area, being worked on prior to another trip out onto the track.


Statue of Kentucky native and three-time NASCAR champ Darrell Waltrip at the entrance to the speedway gift shop.


This is the new KY 1035, which runs from I-71 to the Markland Dam bridge and crosses into Indiana.


Descending toward the Ohio River on KY 1035. The hills in the background are in Indiana.


A look at the Markland Dam bridge and the grade-separated intersection of KY 1035 and US 42.


To US 42 sign at the ramp.


Crossing the Markland Dam Bridge.


Entering Indiana.


End IND 101 sign at the end of the ramp from the bridge.


IND 156 and Ohio River Scenic Byway sign.


The Belterra casino seems to rise out of nowhere from the cornfield.


IND 156 just before the casino entrance.


KY 35 adjacent to the Kentucky Speedway, looking at the I-71 interchange.


Entering Owen County on KY 35 at Sparta.


Approaching US 127 and the end of KY 35.


An "Alternate I-71" route is posted for times when the traffic is heavy due to a speedway event.


US 127 intersects KY 36 and KY 227 in northern Owen County.


US 127 and KY 227 are posted on the same sign post, KY 36 gets its own post.


Advance signage for KY 36's departure at Long Ridge.


KY 36 leaves KY 227 and US 127.


This portion of US 127 north of Owenton was originally concrete. It has since been resurfaced with asphalt.


KY 227 and US 127 signage near Owenton.


This portion of US 127 in the northern part of Owenton still has a concrete surface.


In Owenton, KY 22 joins.


This is US 127 south of Owenton, one of the last sections to be built and opened to traffic.


KY 922, I-64 and I-75 signage on KY 4, New Circle Road, in Lexington. This is the first of the photos taken on my trip to the Kentucky Association of Government Communicators fall conference, then on to the Greensboro roadgeek meeting. This was taken Thursday, Oct. 4.


Overheads on KY 4 for KY 922 south and US 25.


A big huge new two-color Clearview sign on KY 4 approaching US 421.


Exit signage on KY 4 for US 60 with the new Bluegrass Parkway signage.


Overheads on KY 4 for US 60 and the Bluegrass Parkway.


Originally built for the square "BG Parkway" signs, this sign on US 60 barely has room for the wider new version of the sign.


Overhead at the ramp from US 60 west to the BG Parkway.


Overheads at the US 127 exit on the BG Parkway at Lawrenceburg.


US 127 heading south, between Lawrenceburg and Harrodsburg. This is one of Kentucky's older four-lane surface routes, dating back to the 1960s.


Approaching the new US 127 bypass route in Harrodsburg.


Junction signage for the bypass and KY 390.


The bypass was extended west from US 127 to offer a new connection to KY 390 on the west side of Harrodsburg.


The agencies haven't been known as "Department of Transportation" or "Bureau of Highways" for at least 20 years. The correct terms are "Transportation Cabinet" and "Department of Highways." This is located in Harrodsburg.


Wire-hung overhead signs at US 68, KY 152 and US 127 south.


Overheads where US 68 and KY 152 west depart US 127 south.


Looking east on US 68/KY 152.


This sign on US 127 south of Harrodsburg lets drivers know they can use the median to make left turns.


A shot of the mountable median.


This big huge cumulonimbus cloud dominated the sky looking east from Harrodsburg on the afternoon of Thursday, Oct. 4.


US 68 at the US 127 bypass.


KY 1989 at the US 127 bypass.


Approaching the north end of the US 127 Harrodsburg bypass.


Two different shield shapes for US 127 signage.


US 127 and KY 390 at the north end of the US 127 bypass.


US 127 and KY 390.


Looking north on US 127 in Harrodsburg where US 68/KY 152 east depart.


Typical view of US 68 going east from Harrodsburg toward Lexington. This is the first of the photos from Friday, Oct. 5.


Another typical view of US 68 in eastern Mercer County.


KY 33 joins US 68.


This friendly kitty made herself right at home at Shakertown, she even walked into the room where we were having our meeting.




Ducks and geese love the pond at the entrance to Shakertown.




KY 33 and KY 152 cross in the small town of Burgin.


KY 33 heading south toward Danville.


KY 34, KY 52 and US 150 split in Danville.


KY 52 leaves US 150 on the east side of Danville.


US 150 becomes four lanes on the southeast side of Danville. The four-lane route bypasses town to the south and west.


Typical view of US 150 between Danville and Stanford. Again, this is one of Kentucky's older four-lane surface routes.


KY 300 used to be Business US 150 through Stanford.


Approaching the crossroads of US 27 and US 150 outside Stanford.


US 27 and US 150 signage.


Typo -- the town's name is "Brodhead."


US 150 squeezes from four to two lanes east of Stanford.


KY 78 here is the old routing of US 150 through Stanford.


Recently rebuilt portion of US 150 between Stanford and Crab Orchard.


Just outside Crab Orchard, the new portion of US 150 comes to an end.


In Crab Orchard.


This is an error. At this point KY 39 south runs concurrently with US 150 east.


In Brodhead, US 150 makes a 90-degree turn. A proposed new alignment of US 150 will take it on a course more in alignment with KY 1505 here and terminate at I-75 and US 25 north of Mt. Vernon.


KY 70 ends at US 150 between Brodhead and Mt. Vernon.


KY 461 is an improved route between I-75 at Mt. Vernon and KY 80 near Somerset.


This is the last US 150 marker before the route's terminus at US 25 in Mt. Vernon.


Approaching the terminus of US 150.


This is the signage that currently exists at the end of US 150.


US 25 runs through Mt. Vernon and has interchanges with I-75 on the north and south sides of town.


Looking south on US 25 at the I-75 interchange.


This shot of southbound I-75 in Rockcastle County shows the spot where the road widens to three lanes in each direction.


Here, there are three lanes of southbound I-75 and four lanes for northbound I-75. This is at the top of a steep hill which necessitated a fourth truck climbing lane for northbound traffic.


Looking down toward the Rockcastle River valley.


This portion of I-75 on the south side of the Rockcastle River is under construction and is being widened to three lanes in each direction.


Approaching KY 80 and the Hal Rogers Parkway near London.


Standalone Hal Rogers Parkway exit sign.


The spacing for the KY 80 and Hal Rogers Parkway signs on this guide sign is more conventional than on the one shown previously.


Overhead for KY 192 and Hal Rogers Parkway.


Overheads at the KY 192 exit.


Plenty of advance warning for this lane drop.


Great message on a VMS encouraging the use of motorcycle helmets.


Two mile advance signage for the exit for US 25E.


This is the intersection for the southern terminus of US 25 and the northern terminus of US 25W. US 25E is a through route and ends back at the I-75 exit.


US 25E has been known as the Cumberland Gap Parkway for several years, and it follows the approximate route of the old Wilderness Road. In the wake of the controversy of the renaming of the Daniel Boone Parkway for Congressman Hal Rogers, the state named US 25E in honor of Daniel Boone and erected signs near Corbin and Middlesboro.


The Wilderness Road has been designated as an America's Byway (like the Country Music Highway and Red River Gorge Byway) and has logo signs designating such. This is located on southbound 25E at the KY 229 intersection.


KY 11 joins US 25E for a short distance in Barbourville.


US 25E and KY 11.


Someone left off the "s" in "miles" on this sign.


In Pineville, US 25E runs along the floodwall built after devastating flooding along the Cumberland River in the spring of 1977. That route was recently resurfaced and the ride is greatly improved and much smoother.


US 25E on the Pineville floodwall.


KY 66 intersects US 25E. KY 221 runs along the north slope of Pine Mountain, parallel to US 119 on the other side of the mountain.


US 119's southern terminus is at US 25E in Pineville.


At the US 119 terminus.


US 25E and Wilderness Road America's Byway signage.


This US 25E sign is a bit off center from the horizontal.


This portion of US 25E between Pineville and Middlesboro is one of the older stretches of rural four-lane in Kentucky.


In Middlesboro, red warning signs for the Cumberland Gap tunnel begin appearing.


Here's another tunnel warning sign.


KY 441 intersects US 25E on the north side of the Middlesboro business district.


The KY 441 intersection also marks the end of the Wilderness Road byway.


US 25E and KY 74 in Middlesboro.


This oversized US 25E sign, mounted on wooden posts, has been here for years at the entrance to Cumberland Gap.


A look at the gap itself.


Traffic was backed up approaching the tunnel, but no obstruction was present. Apparently a wreck had taken place earlier and traffic hat not yet cleared.


Lots of overhead VMS action approaching the tunnel.


Getting ready to enter the tunnel.


Bumper to bumper traffic going south on US 25E late on a Friday afternoon.


Just south of the tunnel, US 58's western terminus is at US 25E.


The Tennessee welcome sign is located in the exit gore of the ramp to US 58.


The first US 58 sign.


Another US 58 sign with the distance to Jonesville, Va.


Approaching the Virginia state line.


This is the new style of Virginia welcome sign. Signage commemorating Jamestown has also been installed in several places but at this location, we're a few hundred miles west of Jamestown.


Looking at US 58's four lanes within Cumberland Gap NHP.


The first US 58 sign in Virginia.


US 58's four-lane alignment just outside the national park boundary. The mountain ridge in the background is the Kentucky-Virginia state line.


Another look at US 58's four-lane alignment.


This is the first traditional Virginia US 58 sign with the usual accompanying mileage sign. Usually these are located very near the state line; this one's about nine miles in.


The old alignment of US 58 through Oak Hill and Ewing has a business designation.


The turn to Business US 58.


Another access to the business route.


Part of the four-lane US 58 in the Ewing-Rose Hill bypass area is a winding portion separated by a Jersey barrier.


This is where Business US 58 rejoins the mainline.


A look at a bridge along the last portion of US 58 between Jonesville and the state line to be completed.


Another US 58 sign with mileage, this one is on a new portion.


Here, US 58 turns away from paralleling the mountain ridge that forms the state line between Virginia and Kentucky.


Looking at Powell Mountain in the distance as US 58 approaches Jonesville.


Another shot of Powell Mountain in the distance.


Just west of Jonesville, US 58 narrows from four lanes into two.


The transition to a two-lane route.


US 58 makes a 90-degree turn in Jonesville; Alternate US 58 begins ahead.


The western sun shines on the signage at the intersection of US 58 and its alternate route's western terminus; in the background is the first mileage sign with Pennington Gap, Big Stone Gap and Abingdon the listed towns.


First US 58 sign beyond the alternate route's split.


Northern terminus of VA 70.


US 58 is a two-lane route east of Jonesville.


This section of US 58 is the worst between Jonesville and Duffield. It's winding and wedged onto a hillside.


Approaching the US 421 intersection.


Destinations at US 421.


FIrst US 58 and US 421 combined sign. The two routes run together all the way to Bristol.


A passing lane for eastbound traffic on US 58/421.


Unusual "Hill" sign with the grade on the sign instead of on an auxiliary plate.


The setting sun reflects off this signage.


On the other side of the mountain, shadows cause a little motion blur.


Shot of US 58/421 getting ready to cross Powell Mountain.


At US 23.


US 23 and several other routes in southwestern Virginia have this signage.


First sign for the three combined US routes.


US 23 is the Country Music Highway. Looks like Virginia stole Kentucky's idea.


Rockfall retaining wall just south of Duffield.


Signage at the entrance to the freeway jsut south of the Tennessee-Virginia state line has been changed to reflect I-181's renumbering as I-26. I-26 begins just a couple of miles to the south at the US 11W interchange. TN 36, going straight ahead, is the old route of US 23. Asheville has been added as a control city to this signage.


Another photo of the overhead sign, this one taken with a flash.


Surface sign for I-26 which replaced an older sign for I-181 at this location.


At the ramp from TN 36 to US 11W.


Jumping to photos from Saturday, Oct. 6, this sign on I-81 in the Abingdon area gives drivers going north on I-77 plenty of warning should they opt to take US 19 north to Bluefield and rejoin I-77 in West Virginia.


Several of the US route exits along I-81 have these unusually shaped US shields that appear to be a bit narrower than the typical shield. The exit numbers have also been placed over top of the old sequence-based numbers when the exit numbers were changed to mileage-based.


VA 140 is a short route linking I-81 to US 11-19. It provides access to the four-lane US 19 that runs northwest, then northeast toward Bluefield.


This exit marks the eastern terminus of Alternate US 58.


At the Alt US 58/VA 75 exit.


Along this portion of I-81, US 58 has been joined with the interstate. US 58 departs the interstate at Exit 19.


This sign features the narrower shields with the smaller numbers.


VA 80 exit.


This is an older section of I-81 as evidenced by the mature trees in the median.


VA 107 exit.


Nice view of I-81 heading north on a Saturday morning.


A warning to slow vehicles to stay out of the left lane.


Slippery when wet admonition.


The exit tab is wider than the sign for this exit sign.


This sign is a little wider than the one preceding it.


US 11 exit south of Wytheville.


On I-81 approaching I-77.


Nearing the northern terminus of US 21.


At the US 21 and US 52 exit.


US 52 joins I-81 for half of the famous "wrong-way multiplex" that Wytheville is known for among roadgeeks.


Overheads approaching I-77 north.


One-mile bridge-mounted overhead for I-77 north.


At the ramp to I-77 north.


Signage for the notorious I-77, I-81, US 11 and US 52 multiplex.


The interstate is three lanes in each direction where I-77 and I-81 run together.


Another set of signs for all four routes.


Advance signage for I-77 south's departure.


Overhead for US 52 and VA 121.


At the US 52/VA 121 exit.


Overhead for the lane splits for I-77 and I-81.


This part of I-77 and I-81 has dividers mounted atop the Jersey barrier to minimize headlight glare from oncoming traffic. The overhead sign for which the back is visible has an error US 121 sign on it instead of VA 121.


Approaching the split of I-77 and I-81.


Getting closer to the split.


Overhead signage at the split.


I-77 south after departing I-81.


Typical view of I-77 heading south toward the North Carolina line.


VA 69 exit with room for another town besides Poplar Camp.


At the VA 69 exit.


The speed limit here is 65 mph, most passenger vehicle traffic flows at that speed or faster; why would VDOT allow vehicles traveling significantly slower than the speed limit to clog the left lane?


The exit tab is definitely wider than the exit sign here.


At the US 58/US 221 exit.


At the end of the ramp from southbound I-77 to US 58/221.


Mileage sign for US 58/221 heading away from I-77.


US 58/221 is four lanes between I-77 and downtown Hillsville.


The intersetion of US 52, US 58 and US 221 in downtown Hillsville is dominated by newer, reflective, borderless cutouts such as these.


Another heapin' helpin' of cutouts.


Borderless US 52 cutout.


Five "digits," if you want to call the letter a digit, in a circular route shield.


US 52 signage with mileage.


Typical view of the two-lane US 52 south of Hillsville.


Another US 52 sign.


VA 148 provides access to I-77.


At the turn to VA 148.


Approaching the Blue Ridge Parkway.


Weight limit restriction signage on US 52. This really should have been placed before the VA 148 intersection, not past it.


Truck prohibition warning at Fancy Gap.


Blue Ridge Parkway overpass across US 52.


Heading down the mountain at Fancy Gap.


US 52 signage beyond the BRP.


Typical view of US 52 heading down the mountain at Fancy Gap.


The route is rather crooked but it does have a truck lane for northbound traffic.


This is an old sand truck escape ramp. This is my second trip down US 52 in this area. In my first trip, in the early 1980s, the ramp was a sand pile and there were few trees beyond it. It has certainly grown up in the nearly three decades since I was first on this route.


Entering North Carolina on US 52.


Of course the route is named for Mt. Airy's most famous native son.


First US 52 sign in North Carolina.


Approaching the bypass of Mt. Airy.


North Carolina still signs both the business and bypass routes in some locations, including this one.


Guide sign with a black-border NC diamond.


At the NC 89 exit.


Older I-77 sign at the NC 89 exit.


Approaching the northern terminus of US 601.


The I-74 signage has unusual verbiage -- "TO Wytheville" instead of just the city name.


Another sign with the "TO Wytheville" wording.


"TO Wytheville" again.


Future I-74 corridor signage on the US 52 freeway.


Cable barriers along US 52 in the Pilot Mountain area.


No, they didn't forget an "s" in this sign. The town in North Carolina is Elkin, not Elkins.


South of Mt. Airy, US 52 is the Pilot Mountain Parkway.


Another Future I-74 corridor sign.


Typical view of US 52 showing a recent resurfacing job. To the average observer, there is nothing evident here that's different from an interstate highway, yet this section of highway is inexplicably not allowed to be fully signed as I-74.


North Carolina Train Service signage on US 52.


Exit numbers have been added to the exit signs along the US 52 freeway.


But somehow this sign escaped getting an exit number.


Unusual signage for this exit.


NC 66 has a left exit off US 52.


Truck NC 67 is signed along US 52.


NC 8 joins US 52 for the trip through Winston-Salem.


Exit to NC 8 north.


US 52 and NC 8 signage.


This portion of US 52, approaching Winston-Salem, has a Jersey barrier. Another Future I-74 corridor sign can be seen at right.


And there is the aforementioned sign.


The intersection of US 311 has surface signage rather than guide signage.


US 311 joins US 52 and NC 8.


At the US 311 intersection.


Approaching Business I-40 and related routes.


Overheads for the cloverleaf interchange.


Approaching the ramp to eastbound Green 40.


This is the sign on eastbound Business I-40 for North US 52 and associated routes.


Business I-40, US 158, US 421 and NC 150 all run together on this freeway which used to be "regular" I-40.


US 158 leaves the route.


Three routes are remaining signed on this freeway.


Another version of signage for the three routes.


This is how Green 40 looks east of Winston-Salem.


NC 150 prepares to leave the freeway.


NC 66 and NC 150 exit.


Overhead for what used to be the split of US 421 from I-40. Now US 421 continues along Green 40 and later I-40.


Overheads at the Colfax exit with the US 421 sign added to the Green 40 overhead.


Green 40 and US 421 sign. This one has the word "loop" which seems to be used 50 percent of the time and left off 50 percent of the time.


This is where Green 40 merges with I-40 east of Winston-Salem.


Overhead for NC 68 on I-40.


Most signs say "exits" instead of "interchanges" in this context. Not this one.


Green guide signage for route markers for I-40 and US 421.


Regulatory sign for what we call the "move over" and "quick clearance" laws in Kentucky.


Overheads above a four-lane I-40.


This blank sign bridge is for what will eventually be the new route of I-40 which will go to the south of Greensboro. The old route of I-40 will be signed as Green 40.


More overheads. My destination was the Wendover Avenue exit.


NC 6 exit signage at Wendover Avenue.


I-85 and I-40 signage on Spring Garden Drive.


Construction work on Joseph Bryan Blvd. in Greensboro.


Approaching NC 68 on Airport Parkway (Joseph Bryan Blvd.) None of us could figure out why the Virginia state line is signed here.


Overheads at the end of Bryan Blvd. at NC 68.


More construction. This is on West Friendly Avenue.


Signage on the under-construction freeway as seen from Stage Coach Trail.


Nothing like taking pictures of a bunch of roadgeeks taking pictures.


Recently-poured concrete.


Looking north.


Looking south from the middle of the northbound lanes.


Adam Prince (with tripod) gets ready to set up for a group photo.


This is on Guilford College Road getting ready to pass under future I-40.


A look at what will be I-40.


Cul-de-sac on the old alignment of Guilford College Road at the Wendover Avenue intersection.


Some of the attendees of the roadgeek meeting checking out the area.


Improvements on Hilltop Road.


Future I-40 passes over Hilltop Road.


This is a view of Future I-40 from where High Point Road crosses.


The High Point Road crossing of future I-40.


On the High Point Road bridge.


Another view from the bridge.


This is where the future I-40 crosses Groometown Road.


A look at where the under-construction I-40 will join I-85.


Freshly laid asphalt shoulder on I-40.


Looking toward where I-40 will interect I-85.


Heading back west on I-40, stack interchange where the new route will depart the existing alignment.


This is a very wide portion of I-40. Thru traffic uses the left four lanes.


Approaching the NC 68 exit.


Approaching the split of I-40 and Green 40.


Overhead for lane drop at Sandy Ridge Road.


Overhead for departure of Green 40 and US 421 from I-40.


Lane designation for US 421 and Green 40.


At the split of I-40 and Green 40.


Some interesting treatmets on this sign, including a second destination above the main part of the sign and an "east" banner above the NC 150 sign.


No exit number, but both town on this sign, and that "east" banner is there again.


NC 150 has joined Green 40 and US 421.


Here is the assembly after US 158 joins.


Overhead for the US 52/US 311/NC 8 exit.


At the US 52, etc. exit.


Overhead for South US 52.


More overheads.


NC 150 has left, leaving only three routes.


This is where US 158 leaves the interstate.


Overheads for NC 67 and I-40.


Lane designations for I-40 and US 421.


US 421 and Green 40 signs.


Overheads at the US 421 split.


This is a typical view of US 421 just west of I-40.


Overhead at US 601.


At the US 601 exit.


US 421's intersection with its parent route is at a grade-separated interchange now, instead of an at-grade.


At the US 21 exit, as the terrain becomes more rolling.


One mile from I-77, which has local destinations rather than the typical "control city" destinations of Charlotte and Wytheville.


Approaching I-77, the Appalachian Mountains rise in the distance. Note too the cable barrier, which is something North Carolina has been very proactive in installing.


Overheads at I-77. Charlotte gets a mention on this sign.


The new freeway section of US 421 west of I-77 in Wilkes County is named after legendary NASCAR driver and owner Junior Johnson, who hails from nearby Ronda, NC. A couple of weeks after this trip, signs were unveiled on US 421 in another area namng the road for Benny Parsons, former NASCAR champion and announcer who died last year.


The mountains draw nearer as US 421 approaches Wilkesboro.


US 421 has a business route through North Wilkesboro.


At the NC 115/Business 421 exit.


NC 16 and NC 18 serve this area.


At the NC 18/NC 16 exit. NC 16 north joins US 421 here.


Yet another exit for Wilkesboro.


At the exit for NC 268.


Approaching the end of the US 421 freeway.


On the west side of Wilkesboro, US 421 becomes a surface four-lane route.


US 421 and NC 16 signage.


Along US 421, several signs are posted for an oversized vehicles detour for US 321.


More US 421 and NC 16 signage.


Approaching the departure of NC 16 from US 421.


Oversized US 421 sign with an "Alternate" US 321 sign with the "Alternate" tab in orange. Also a mile-marker for US 421.


The four-lane surface route of US 421 traverses rolling terrain west of Wilkesboro.


This section of US 421 is very scenic as it winds into a mountainous area.


Climbing toward the Blue Ridge Parkway and the Continental Divide.


Blue Ridge Parkway overpass on US 421. The Eastern Continental Divide is at the top of the hill.


Fading sunlight caused motion blur on this photo of the sign at the ECD.


Descending from the ECD, US 421 intersects US 221.


US 221 joins US 421.


Wrong-way multiplex of two x21's with an unusual US 321 detour sign thrown in for good measure.


Are there enough traffic lights here? This is east of Boone where the old route of US 421 crosses the new route.


US 221, US 421 and NC 194.


Overheads where US 221 splits from US 421.


Wrong-way multiplex in Boone.


At the intersection of US 421 and US 321 in downtown Boone, this sign announces the end of the oversized vehicle detour.


Jumping ahead to Sunday morning's photos, this is I-81 in the Bristol area, where the road has an eerie tunnel-like feel due to the sound walls on both sides.


This exit sign is mounted to the sound wall.


Exit for I-381 from southbound I-81.


A look at the stack interchange of I-81 and I-381.


Overhead for upcoming US 58/421 exit.


Overheads approaching the exit, the last one in Virginia.


Overheads where US 58 departs I-81.


First US 58/421 route and mileage combination assembly heading west from I-81.


Another of these signs, 10 miles further west.


Typical view of the two-lane US 58/421 between I-81 and US 23.


This bridge crosses the Middle Fork of the Holston River.


VA 224 advance signage as the route nears Gate City.


This intersection is part of a massive reconstruction project to improve US 23 between Gate City and the Tennessee line.


Approaching US 23.


Business routes for the three US highways depart at Gate City.


A "To VA 71" sign has been added for northbound traffic. There is no corresponding sign for southbound traffic.


Heading west out of Gate City toward Duffield.


Another route marker and mileage assembly. This mileage sign is somewhat older than the previous one.


This assembly, however, is newer.


This is a shot of US 23/58/421 approaching the Clinch River valley.


Advance signage for WV 65.


Route and mileage assembly beyond VA 65


I'm not quite sure what this is supposed to be. It looks like perhaps a circle was laid over top of where a US shield used to be on the blank. At any rate, this is at the entrance to Natural Tunnel State Park and VA Secondary 871.


A shot of the rockfall retention fence seen in Friday's photos, this time from the perspective of northbound US 23.


Upcoming departure of US 58 and 421 from US 23.


Signage where US 58 and US 421 leave US 23. Secondary 871 is the old routing.


Look closely and you can see some changes that have been pasted over the mileages for Norton and Jenkins. That would indicate that this sign existed before the four-lane between Big Stone and Jenkins was completed.


The next route-mileage combo sign.


VA 387 is the entrance to Mountain Empire Community College.


Approaching the turn to VA 387.


VA 387's terminus.


Signage for where Alternate US 58 joins US 23 outside Big Stone Gap.


Signage at the ramp to Business 23 and Alternate 58.


The first combo sign for US 23 and Alt. US 58.


This assembly is sans mileage board.


Exit sign at Norton. Norton is home to one of the few "dual-bannered" US routes in the nation, Business Alternate 58.


This is the exit signage where Alt. 58 leaves US 23 at Norton, heading toward Coeburn and eventually Abingdon.


Beyond Alt. 58, US 23 coninues solo toward Kentucky.


Secondary 757 is the old routing of US 23 between Wise and Norton.


Pikeville begins showing up on the mileage signs.


Approaching Business US 23's loop in Pound.


The Crooked Road music trail departs US 23 at the Pound business loop. Apparently it takes a long and circuitous route around the state, or at least the southwestern portion.


The intersection where Business 23 departs at Pound.


The route numbered and directional markers were installed a bit further on the northbound side than they were on the southbound side.


Here you can see that they go all the way to milepoint 57.


Past Pound, there are no more Virginia destinations to be listed. It's surprising that the mileage to the state line is not shown, as it is in many places across the state.


Prior to leaving Virginia, signage begins showing up on US 23 for US 119, which does not enter the state but instead parallels the state line to the north.


Somewhere here is the actual state line and the crossing into Kentucky.


Heading down the mountain at Pound Gap and approaching the US 119 intersection.


Overheads approaching US 119; note the angle of the rock layers in the cut on the left. This portion of US 23 was the most expensive highway project ever in Kentucky.


Cumberland is on the other side of the mountain we just crossed (Pine Mountain) and Hazard is beyond Whitesburg on KY 15.


Ground-level advance turn sign for south US 119.


Overheads at the turn to US 119 south.


And there are surface-mounted signs too.


Heading south on US 119, this general area is the headwaters of the North Fork of the Kentucky River. This area is called Payne Gap, to the east of here (behind the camera) is the Big Sandy River watershed.


Mileage sign for three of the four towns mentioned on the previous overhead signage.


And here's a supplemental mileage sign for Hazard.


US 119 is four lanes in several places between Jenkins and Whitesburg. This route, an ARC corridor, runs parallel to the Kentucky-Virginia state line to Whitesburg, then crosses Pine Mountain on an old alignment and enters the Cumberland River valley. Letcher County is drained by three river systems. The Big Sandy flows into the Ohio near Ashland; the Kentucky about halfway between Louisville and Cincinnati, and the Cumberland near Paducah.


This is the southern terminus of KY 15, an improved ARC corridor that connects with the Mountain Parkway.


Jumping ahead to Oct. 26, this photo was taken heading east on KY 504 in Carter County near the Elliott County line. This is a very old KY 955 sign that dates back to the 1970s or earlier.


This is another KY 955 sign, located in Elliott County near the Carter County line, looking west on KY 504. It's of the same vintage as the previous photo.


Now we are on US 52 near Crum, WV. This is looking south on US 52 at the spot where the new route will cross over the existing route. No, that's not my truck in the photo above although it bears a striking resemblance.


This is on the US 52 new alignment, looking north. The construction stops at existing US 52. At right is what will be the exit ramp from the northbound four-lane to the old (existing) US 52 route; at left is the entrance ramp to the southbound four-lane. This photo was taken in the northbound lanes.


Another shot of the previous scene but from a different angle.


This photo shows the layers of asphalt that have been laid.


Looking south, you can see at least four layers of asphalt and two layers of gravel base.


The southbound lanes are not open on this alignment. This is looking at the spot where the ramp from existing US 52 will merge into the southbound lanes.


A look at that ramp from the southbound lanes.


Two-way traffic is established in what will be the northbound lanes of the new road. The sign on the left reads, "Parallel Roadway Closed."


Looking at the end of the existing four-lane and the connector to Jennies Creek Road.


Very little grade work is done beyond the end of the pavement.


This is back on US 52, looking north at the ramp to the new southbound highway. There is a "no right turn" sign to prohibit access.


The short four-lane route is signed as the Crum Bypass but there is no assigned county route number.


These KY 40 and KY 292 signs are located in West Virginia at the crossing from Warfield, KY to Kermit, WV.


This is a portion of KY 40 that was recently rebuilt, between Warfield and Inez in Martin County. The mountain crossing was improved to widen and straighten the road and add a passing lane.


The mountain climb is still steep but at least there's a passing lane, and the road is much wider than before.


This shows a part of the construction on the east side of Inez, where a grade-separated interchange is being built at the intersection of KY 40 and KY 645. This is part of a project that will eventually result in a new road from Inez to Warfield and eventually connecting to US 52 in West Virginia.

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