Who's in charge of the signs? And how old before they are removed?

I've noted a couple of signs in Northern Virginia that indicate the way to Dulles Airport.  One is on Route 50 in Arlington just past the Courthouse exit at the 10th St. exit.  The other is on Little River Turnpike between Braddock Road and Old Columbia Pike. 

View Dulles Airport signs in a larger map

Here's what they look like:   

This is the sign on Route 50 in Arlington.

Here's its location.  You can see the 10th St. exit sign that is in the median.

Here's the one on Little River Turnpike.

The existence of these signs raises a number of questions:

• Who owns them?
• How long have they been there?
• Why are they still there?
• What purpose do they serve?

I suspect these signs date from before I-66 was built, since no one would take Route 50 to get to Dulles with I-66 available.  Also, neither of these--as far as I have noticed--has any follow on signs, so a traveler who noted the sign would never see another one to guide them on their way.  A single directional sign far from its destination without any more to assist the traveler is probably worse than no sign at all.

There may be more of these Dulles airport signs.  Have you seen any?  Where?

Taking a macro view, who is responsible for signage in general?  Once a sign is placed is it ever taken down?  I've seen signs in my neighborhood that have rusted so badly they can barely be read and that are completely outdated.  Signs like these are everywhere, and they just accumulate.

Perhaps every sign should have information on the back of it that tells who owns the sign and who is responsible for it, as well as contact information.  At least that way someone could try to follow up and notify the owner if it gets damaged or becomes obsolete.

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Steve Offutt, Arlington

 

 

Comments

[westwit]

Also noticed that the most recently posted signs have barcodes on the back, which I presume can aid in tracking.

[westwit]

Abandoned signs are far more common than you think. For instance, there are a number of US 29 signs scattered throughout various places in DC where US 29 no longer serves (Dupont Circle has one for instance).

I know for instance there *is* one more Dulles Airport sign on Little River Turnpike in Annandale, just beyond Columbia Pike and Annandale Road before I-495. I figure those signs do no harm, given VA-236 is several miles to the south of both I-66 and the Dulles Toll Road at that point, and that if you continue straight on 236 and then 50, you will reach VA-28 whose destination for the northbound direction is Dulles Airport.

"Perhaps every sign should have information on the back of it that tells who owns the sign and who is responsible for it, as well as contact information. At least that way someone could try to follow up and notify the owner if it gets damaged or becomes obsolete."

Signs like that (or at least the recent variety) do have that information on the back, though it is simply typed paper affixed to it via adhesive.

[Todd Todd]

no kidding! did not know this. thanks for the research T, D & J.

[Jefferson]

HOV access on I-66 is available to anyone who has business at Dulles Airport. This includes personal travel as well as picking up passengers to and from the airport. According to VDOT's own studies regarding HOV enforcement, it is nearly impossible to enforce efficiently as there are numerous loopholes for who can and cannot use the HOV lanes. Besides those special hybrid license plates, personal vehicles for the police are also allowed as long as they are commuting to or from work. The HOV-3 lane outside the beltway is also for airport traffic.

[Thomas]

That's great for those traveling on business...but not for personal travel? ;-) Clearly that's not what they meant, but that's what it says.

[David]

I'd like to claim the bonus points offered by Thomas. Here's what I found on VDOT's website under HOV FAQs:
2. Motorists traveling to and from Dulles International Airport on business are permitted to use I-66 inside the Beltway during HOV hours.
Here's the link: http://www.virginiadot.org/travel/hov-rulesfaq.asp

[Thomas]

According to this page, I-66 is open to all vehicles using the airport, regardless of vehicle occupancy. Bonus points to someone that can find something more official from VDOT or the State Police.

http://www.roadstothefuture.com/Dulles_Trans_Corridor.html

[Todd Todd]

Dulles Airport is a 24 hour facility. I-66 is not a 24 hour facility for single occupancy vehicles.

[crin]

Look on the back of any modern stop sign and you'll see a label with punch outs showing which month and year it was installed.