Virginia Roads - VA 55/US 11/US 340/US 522/Bus. US 17 (Marshall)

VA 55, US 11/VA 55, US 340/VA 55 (and US 522),
VA 55/Business US 17 (Marshall)



Eastbound onto the US 11/VA 55 concurrency in Strasburg. US 48 technically now follows VA 55 to end at I-81.


VA 55 EB leaves US 11 and attempts to upgrade on the spot. I like the US 55 error because it's a cute small shield.


There's no error on VA 55 WB, but the shields are older and cutout, so click for a closeup.


As VA 55 leaves Strasburg across the North Fork Shenandoah River, the abutment of the old bridge is visible to the south. A climate data station now sits in front of it.


SB/EB (first two photos, taken over my shoulder of course) and NB/WB (last two) on US 340/VA 55. The old signals at Main St. show you why the MUTCD now requires red arrows instead of the optional red ball treatment. Because, otherwise, what would you do in this situation?


US 340/522 NB and VA 55 WB in Front Royal, around a rather nasty S-curve. The first photo is the first two-toned square background I've ever witnessed - this is why we cut out Interstate shields, folks. Modern auxiliary signs omit "Safe Speed", but even the old ones don't say "Maximum", so this must be a city job.


Ugly shields, ugly attempt at slicing an LGS; there should just be a separate sign.


VA 55 EB, still with US 340/522 SB, across the South Fork Shenandoah River into Front Royal.


Eastbound by Apple Mountain. Southern Railway merged into Norfolk Southern in 1982, so we know the overpass predates that. VA 79 is an incredibly short connector from VA 55 to I-66 that has no business being a primary route.


Blurry twilight photos continuing east to Delaplane. I can at least tell you General Lee went to Gettysburg. The even blurrier first sign is for Brigadier General Turner Ashby, C.S.A.


US 17 clearly went through Marshall once, but it now jumps onto I-66 south of downtown, leaving a Business route to carry on. Either these shields predate that, or they're just wrong. VA 55 WB then meets up with Business 17 NB, and they turn south (it's opposite day) on Free State Rd. for Business 17 to end at its parent and VA 55 to jump on I-66 at the next interchange west, rather than follow the old road on Grove Lane.


EB with US 17 SB entering the west end of the I-66 concurrency.


EB into town until Business US 17 SB splits off, and then comes the gem of the entire route, an original Dulles Airport sign from the early 1960s, with rotatable arrow. Click on the last photo for a closeup. Now.


Two other approaches to the downtown Marshall junction, VA 55 WB and Business US 17 NB.


Heading east by fading twilight, here are some signs to the county line (marked by adjacent I-66) with more of Second Manassas/Bull Run.


In March 2013, VDOT was in the process of converting the east end of VA 55 from a signalized intersection to a SPUI with VA 55 over a free-flowing US 29. The roads were shifted to the south (55) and west (29) of the new overpass. These photos head east by the future bridge approach.

Onto US 522 and US 340/522
Onto US 11 alone
Onto US 340 alone

Onto US 17

Into West Virginia on 55
Onto I-81
To I-66
Onto US 29
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