| Virginia Highways
Project Sign Errors of Virginia |
If you can get pictures of error shields in the Commonwealth, send them to me.
Last update (4/24/08): US 58 ALT, VA 99, VA 234, US 460, US 460 ALT
Route: US 1
Location:Gun Hill Rd eastbound at US 1 in the Bronx; south of Petersburg
Notes: OK...we start off with a bonus error of a Virginia US route elsewhere. A rather unique interstate error shield. Thanks to Steve Alpert for pointing this out in a response to me on mtr. From the other direction on Gun Hill Rd, US 1 is posted correctly with 70s vintage shields.
Photos: (by Mapmikey 6/24/06; 4/24/07)
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Route: VA 6 Location:US 250 westbound at VA 6, Afton Mountain Notes: Pointed out to me originally by Amy Barden who says it showed up around November 2004. It was still there last time I checked in summer 2006. Photos: (by Mapmikey 5/27/06) |
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Route: VA 10 Location:Eastbound VA 10 just after crossing Appomattox River, Hopewell. Notes: A 3-digit shield for a 2-digit route. The light in the distance is VA 36. Photos: (by Mapmikey 5/5/06) |
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Route: US 11
Location:Southbound US 11, Marion; VA 43 eastbound, Buchanan; US 11-460, Salem; Wytheville
Notes:1. It appears someone tried to make the bottom of the VA 11 shield look like a US shield. This is truly one ugly sign.
2. and 3. There is no such thing as US 11 Business in Buchanan or Salem
5. This is a little north of Troutdale at SR 640
6. This is just north of where US 21 (unposted) joins US 11 in Wytheville
Photos: (by Chris E, May 2006; Mapmikey 1/26/06; Chris E 7/3/05; HB Elkins fall 1999); Mapmikey 1/26/07, 4/13/07
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Route: US 15 Location:VA 234 northbound, near Catharpin Notes: A 3-digit shield on a 2-digit route. Photos: (by Mapmikey 5/27/06) |
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Route: VA 16 Location:Northbound US 11, Marion. Notes: This shield looks fairly new. Marion was full of cutouts not too long ago, and in the early 90s there was a US 16 cutout error, though I don't think it was at this intersection. Photos: (by Chris E, May 2006) |
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Route: US 17
Locations:near Yorktown; Gloucester
Notes:
1. This clearview sign is pretty new. At the last moment I noticed they misspelled Fredericksburg
2. Not sure about the age on this one...I hadn't driven this way in a number of years
Photos: (by Mapmikey, 4/26/07)
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Route: VA 18
Location:Both directions on US 60-220, Covington.
Notes: The first two have been here since at least the mid-90s, at one of the few intersections in Covington with full size shields. The third one was found by HB Elkins and looks newer.
Photos: (by Mapmikey, 5/27/06; HB Elkins 6/27/07)
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Route: US 19 Location:US 11 jct, Abingdon Notes: The word "business" is mispelled here. Photo: (by HB Elkins) |
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Route: VA 20 Location:Northbound VA 20, Orange. Notes: This has been here back to at least 1995 and was still there in summer 2006. Photos: (by Mapmikey, 1/17/07) |
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Route: US 21
Location:US 21 southbound, Elk Creek
Notes: This first photo replaced a cutout version that was a correct US shield. When I discovered the second error sign just north of US 58-221 I -think- the first one had been fixed.
Photos: (by HB Elkins February 2000; Mapmikey 4/13/07)
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Route: VA 22 Location:Eastbound US 33, VA 22, VA 208, Louisa. Notes: This one looked fairly new. Photos: (by Mapmikey, 4/29/06) |
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Route: US 23
Location:Wise.
Notes: Someone was cleaning out the sign-blanks barn apparently.
Photos: (by Rich Carlson, 3/13/00)
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Route: US 29 Location:Westbound US 60, Amherst. Notes: Don't think this one has been up too long. Photos: (by Mapmikey, 1/26/06) |
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Route: VA 36
Location:Petersburg; Ettrick
Notes: This first photo is just before the Appomattox River and has a circle 36 in the background as a bonus; The second is at the entrance to Virginia State Univ.
Photos: (by Mapmikey 4/24/07)
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Route: VA 39 Location:Eastbound US 60 at US 11 bypass, Lexington. Notes: This is the second version of this error shield. A US 39 shield was also at this location in 1991. Photo: (by Mapmikey, 1/26/06) |
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Route: VA 40
Location:Rocky Mount
Notes: These were all correct shields in the summer of 2006...also see US 220
Photos: (by Mapmikey 12/8/07)
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Route: VA 43 Location:Eastbound VA 43, Eagle Rock. Notes: Several of these shields were posted between Eagle Rock and Buchanan. Other examples of 0 in front of the number are not reported on any other routes. Photo: (by Mapmikey, 1/26/06) |
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Route: US 48 Location:SR 848 at VA 55, Strasburg. Notes: This is east of I-81, and therefore an error of location. Photo: (by Mapmikey, 2/1/06) |
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Route: VA 49 Location:Chase City Notes: The error is that VA 49 south does not go straight at this intersection. Photos: (by Mapmikey, 11/10/07) |
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Route: US 52 Location:Northbound US 52 at VA 69, Poplar Camp. Notes: No idea how long this one has been up. Photo: (by Mapmikey, 7/16/06) |
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Route: VA 55
Location:Westbound US 211, Massanutten Mtn.
Notes: The Forestry Service sign has had two versions over the years. The second one is another of the innumerable US 55 shields that have come and gone.
Photo: (by Mapmikey, 3/18/06; HB Elkins 6/28/07)
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Route: US 58 Location:Eastbound VA 457, Martinsville. Notes: This looked fairly new, next to the Martinsville minor league baseball stadium. Photo: (by Mapmikey, 9/23/06) |
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Route: US 58 ALT Location:I-81 NB ramp, Abingdon. Notes: This one has been there a while, I think Photo: (by Chris Yoder, 1/21/04) |
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Route: US 60
Location:Williamsburg; Norfolk
Notes: This first photo is westbound approaching VA 5; The second is at the north end of VA 168.
Photos: (by Mapmikey 3/17/07; 4/26/07)
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Route: VA 61 Location:Eastbound VA 61 beginning, North Tazewell. Notes: In a 3-digit shield to boot! This goes back at least to 2002. Photos: (by HB Elkins, summer 2004) |
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Route: VA 72 Location:Northbound US 23-58-421 Business, Gate City. Notes: The TO VA 71 sign should be TO VA 72. This intersection is VA 71. Photo: (by HB Elkins) |
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Route: VA 75 Location:Southbound VA 75, Abingdon. Notes: This one is fairly recent. Unsigned US 58 Alternate is probably the inspiration for this gaffe. Photo: (by Nicholas Mooneyhan, June 2006) |
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Route: VA 83 Location:Grundy. Notes: You can see the destruction of the original Grundy in this picture. The shield was not very old. Photo: (by Mapmikey, 8/18/07) |
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Route: VA 89 Location:Blue Ridge Pkwy, near Low Gap Notes: Even the National Park Service gets in the act..this is a new photo replacing one that HB Elkins took in Aug. 2001 Photos: (by Mapmikey, 4/13/07) |
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Route: VA 92
Location:US 360 jct east of Clover
Notes: I presume the detour is for work on the Roanoke River Bridge.
Photos: (by Mapmikey, 11/10/07)
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Route: I-95 Location:strip mall off US 17 Falmouth Notes: ok this one is not on VDOT, but an unusual shield for 95 and no shield at all for US 17. This is about a mile north of I-95. Photos: (by Mapmikey, 8/31/06) |
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Route: VA 99
Location:All over Pulaski
Notes: The first photo shows a non-reflective 99 circle shield, which were sprinkled throughout Pulaski. Recently, Pulaski replaced these with modern circles. As far as I know there is only one correct VA 99 shield not at I-81, which is located at the transition to SR 738 north of town.
The first row are VA 99 northbound and the second row starts at the beginning of VA 99 southbound working back through Pulaski.
Even with all these I didn't get them all. In the photo with two US 11 shields, the trailblazer for VA 99 is also pointing the wrong way.
Photos: (by Chris E 5/06; Mapmikey, 3/14/08)
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Route: VA 102
Location:westbound VA 102, Bluefield.
Notes: The "real" I-102 would be buried in the Everglades...
Photos: (by HB Elkins, spring 2003; Dave Strong 2003)
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Route: VA 121 Location:Northbound I-81, Ft. Chiswell. Notes: This one is fairly recent. Photo: (by Chris E, May 2006) |
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Route: VA 122
Location:Shopping center at east end of Bedford bypass.
Notes: These first two may not be a VDOT creation. There were 3 sets of these unusual 122 shields, 2 of which came out in pictures. The 3rd pic is in Rocky Mount where a bunch of shields were replaced since summer 2006 - see also VA 40.
Photo: (by Mapmikey, 1/21/07; 12/8/07)
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Route: VA 123 Location:SR 610 northbound near Burke Notes: This has been here a few years Photos: (by Mapmikey, 5/24/07) |
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Route: VA 144 Location:Colonial Heights Notes: This has been here a few years Photos: (by Mapmikey, 4/24/07) |
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Route: VA 150 Location:US 1-301 northbound near Bensley Notes: This is a newer sign replacing a different US 150 LGS that had been there back to the 90s. Photos: (by Mapmikey, 4/24/07) |
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Route: VA 157 Location:Eastbound Quiocassin Rd, Richmond. Notes: This one has been around since the late 90s at least. In late 2007 both Dan F and Will Weaver alerted me this sign had been replaced with correct shields. Photo: (by Mapmikey, 4/26/06) |
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Route: VA 161 Location:Eastbound US 33-250, Richmond. Notes: This is the third different US 161 shield at this location. I saw one here in 1981! Photo: (by Mapmikey, 4/26/06) |
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Route: VA 165
Location:VA 165 SB at US 13-VA 166; VA 165 southbound Wards Corner.
Notes: The 1st one is fairly recent.
Photos: (by Mapmikey, 4/7/06; Adam Froehlig 12/9/01)
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Route: VA 170 Location:US 60 westbound Norfolk Notes: This is a recent occurrence. There is also a circle 170 shield in the other direction on US 60. Photos: (by Mapmikey, 4/26/07) |
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Route: VA 190 Location:VA 225 southbound, Virginia Beach Notes: A circle shield that has been there since at least 1991. Photos: (by Mapmikey 4/7/06) |
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Route: VA 195 Location:VA 195 westbound, Richmond Notes: This is a newer sign. Photos: (by Mapmikey 5/5/06) |
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Route: VA 211
Location:Timberville and New Market
Notes: The US 211 shields at VA 42 were cutout US 211 shields in the early 90s.
Photos: (by Mapmikey, 3/18/06)
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Route: US 220
Location:Rocky Mount
Notes: A bunch of shields were replaced since summer 2006 - see also VA 40.
Photo: (by Mapmikey, 12/8/07)
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Route: VA 225
Location:US 60 eastbound, Little Creek
Notes: The US 225 is fairly recent, but the circle shields go back to at least 1991.
Photos: (by Mapmikey, 4/7/06; 4/26/07)
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Route: VA 231 Location:SR 609 eastbound, Barco Notes: These goes back only a few years. Photos: (by Mapmikey 11/10/05) |
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Route: VA 234 Location:SR 621 westbound, Manassas Notes: The error here is subtle...the BUSINESS banners are not present. Photos: (by Dan F 3/8/08) |
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Route: VA 236 Location:VA 123 southbound, Fairfax Notes: These goes back to the mid 90s at least. The missing shield in the middle was a circle 123 as well. Photos: (by Mapmikey 5/24/07) |
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Route: VA 242 Location:SR 600 eastbound, Lorton Notes: This has been here since at least 1995. Photos: (by Mapmikey 5/25/06) |
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Route: VA 244 Location:VA 236 eastbound, Annandale Notes: This was in place back to at least 1995; was gone when I drove by here in May 2007. Photos: (by Dan F spring 2005) |
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Route: VA 247 Location:US 460 eastbound, Norfolk Notes: This is an error of placement. VA 247 runs on the cross streets while US 460 forges ahead. These signs are quite recent. Photos: (by Mapmikey and Adam Froehlig 4/7/06) |
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Route: VA 255 Location:US 340 northbound, Briggs Notes: This one is only a few years old at most. Photos: (by Mapmikey 2/1/06) |
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Route: VA 270 Location:at US 58 ALT, St. Paul. Notes: Gone by April 1999. Photo: (by HB Elkins, October 1997) |
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Route: VA 274
Location:both ways on US 58-221, near Independence
Notes: These all looked quite new
Photos: (by Mapmikey, 4/13/07)
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Route: VA 279 Location:US 58 westhbound, Virginia Beach Notes: This one is relatively recent. In the early 90's there was no sign here at all. Photos: (by Mapmikey 4/7/06) |
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Route: VA 298
Location:VA 33 in West Point
Notes: These were installed with the completion of the VA 33 widening a month or two before the pics.
Photos: (by Mapmikey, 10/27/07)
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Route: US 301 Location:Exit 41, I-95 Notes: The US 301 South trailblazer points the wrong way! 301 south follows VA 35 north across the I-95 overpass. Photos: (by Mapmikey, 11/10/07) |
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Route: VA 309
Location:Arlington near Fairfax County Line
Notes: VA 309 was having a bridge repaired with this detour posted all in circles
Photos: (by Mapmikey, 7/10/07)
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Route: VA 311
Location:SB US 11 Salem; EB VA 42 New Castle.
Notes: The Salem one has been around since the mid-90's; the New Castle one is not as old
Photos: (by Chris E, both March 2004)
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Route: VA 314
Location:Virginia Tech University, Blacksburg.
Notes: Why sign painters should avoid the 3 beer lunch...the second pic shows a wider view
Photos: (by HB Elkins, spring 2003; Mapmikey 12/8/07)
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Route: VA 331
Location:Each direction on VA 253, near Port Republic.
Notes: This is at the farm extension facilty for JMU. There were also two normal 331 shields.
Photo: (by Mapmikey, 1/17/07)
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Route: VA 343 Location:US 60 eastbound, Virginia Beach Notes: This is a second generation sign. In 1991 this was a simple circle. Photos: (by Adam Froehlig, 2/2/02) |
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Route: VA 344 Location:SR 716 SB Dryburg, near Staunton River State Park. Notes: No other SR in the area has any shield with 344 at all. Photo: (by Mapmikey, 7/22/06) |
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Route: VA 352 Location:VA 352 northern end, St. Charles. Notes: Existed at least 1998-2000. Photo: (by HB Elkins, summer 2000) |
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Route: VA 358 Location:VA 358 split, Woodrow Wilson Facility, Fishersville. Notes: While the shield is correct, the arrows are not. The other direction arrows are wrong too...they need to be switched with each other. Photo: (by Mapmikey, 1/22/06) |
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Route: VA 397 Location:eastbound beginning of route, Jarratt Notes: This has been here since at least 1995. Photos: (by Rush Wickes, taken 7/3/03) |
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Route: US 460
Location:US 460 Bus and VA 40, Blackstone; bottom of I-64 ramp, Chesapeake.
Notes: The 1st three are fairly recent.
Photos: (by Mapmikey, 1/30/06 (1,2); 2/15/08 (3); 1/21/06 (4) )
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Route: US 460 ALT
Location:US 460 ALT-VA 337-VA 337 ALT jct, Portsmouth
Notes: Portsmouth has started using these ugly state route shields around town.
Photos: (by Mapmikey, 4/19/08)
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Route: US 522 Location:Westbound US 50, Winchester Notes: There is a 'TO' banner missing off this assembly, implying US 522 runs on the VA 37 freeway. Photos: (by Mapmikey, taken 11/10/06) |
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Route: I-564 Location:Norfolk Naval Base Commisary entrance at VA 337. Notes: This is the only known interstate posted as a state route shield in Virginia. Photos: (by Adam Froehlig 12/10/01) |
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Route: SR 720 (Tazewell) Location:Ramp from US 460 at SR 720, Bluefield. Notes: This part of Virginia has a number of erroneous shields. Photos: (by HB Elkins, spring 2003) |
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Route: SR 738 (Fairfax) Location:VA 123 northbound, McLean Notes: This one has been around several years. In summer 2007 the 738 shield was missing (but other two shields were the same). Photos: (by Mapmikey 5/25/06) |
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Route: SR 3000 (Prince William) Location:US 1 southbound, Woodbridge Notes: When Prince William Parkway was extended to US 1, four of these VA 3000 shields were erected. By 5/25/06 these were corrected. Photos: (by Mapmikey 11/17/05) |
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