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41-500: In the late 18th century, there were two roads over the Blue Ridge Mountains between Alexandria and Winchester , crossing at Snickers Gap (now along State Route 7 ) and Keyes Gap ( State Route 9 ). The Virginia General Assembly , in 1785, passed a law appointing nine commissioners (a non-profit turnpike trust ) and instructing them "to erect, or cause to be set up and erected, one or more gates or turnpikes across

82-491: A distance of about 17.5 miles (28 km). The turnpike company continued to operate - at least over the gap - as late as 1915, and the road later became part of the state highway system - State Route 7 over the Blue Ridge Mountains west of Bluemont, and secondary State Route 734 between Bluemont and Aldie. The state had plans to transfer SR 734 to the primary system as part of State Route 234 , renumbering

123-522: A faster and more reliable travel option. Buses , carpools , motorcycles and emergency vehicles will be able to use the HOT lanes for free while drivers with fewer than three occupants can use the HOT lanes by paying a toll. The HOT lanes will use dynamic or congestion pricing to manage the number vehicles, and to keep them free-flowing. On average, vehicles are expected to be traveling 55 miles per hour, even during peak travel times. The first HOT Lanes in

164-468: A massive texture and missed the main episode of Mesoproterozoic compression. At the time of their emergence, the Blue Ridge were among the highest mountains in the world and reached heights comparable to the much younger Alps . Weathering , erosion , and mass wasting over hundreds of millions of years has resulted in much shorter peaks. At the foot of the Blue Ridge, various tribes including

205-467: A number of neighborhoods affected by the construction, said: Once the project is truly underway, eventually pretty much all the trees in the VDOT right of way are going to be cleared ... I know I didn't have an appreciation of the extent of the clearing that was going to be done ... Do they really need to clear every teeny piece of vegetation in their right of way? The Virginia General Assembly established

246-422: A professor and geologist at George Washington University , provide greater insight into the petrologic and geochronologic history of the Blue Ridge basement suites. Modern studies have found that the basement geology of the Blue Ridge is made of compositionally unique gneisses and granitoids , including orthopyroxene-bearing charnockites. Analysis of zircon minerals in the granite completed by John Aleinikoff at

287-615: A state study of similar proposals for the Maryland side of the Capital Beltway. The governor believed it would be unfair to low-income residents to allow affluent drivers to buy their way out of traffic. In 2003, Virginia Department of Transportation Commissioner Philip A. Shucet stated that "[s]ingle drivers could pay $ 1 to $ 4 to get off of the congested regular lanes." By 2009, transportation planners in Washington estimated

328-657: Is divided into nine districts: Many US states, as well as several US local governments and Canadian provinces , provide 511 systems. VDOT provides the Virginia 511 service, which may be accessed by the 511 telephone number, the https://www.511virginia.org/ website, and Twitter. In May 2012, VDOT introduced the Virginia 511 smartphone apps for Apple and Android devices. The Virginia 511 system provides traffic cameras , real-time road and traffic conditions, trip planning, weather information, and alternatives to traveling by car. In July 2009, VDOT closed 19 of its rest areas around

369-606: Is located in the Eastern United States and extends 550 miles southwest from southern Pennsylvania through Maryland , West Virginia , Virginia , North Carolina , South Carolina , Tennessee , and Georgia . The province consists of northern and southern physiographic regions, which divide near the Roanoke River gap. To the west of the Blue Ridge, between it and the bulk of the Appalachians, lies

410-629: Is the agency of the state government responsible for transportation in the state of Virginia in the United States . VDOT is headquartered at the Virginia Department of Highways Building in downtown Richmond . VDOT is responsible for building, maintaining, and operating the roads , bridges , and tunnels in the commonwealth . It is overseen by the Commonwealth Transportation Board , which has

451-629: The Great Appalachian Valley , bordered on the west by the Ridge and Valley province of the Appalachian range. The Blue Ridge Mountains are known for having a bluish color when seen from a distance. Trees put the "blue" in Blue Ridge, from the isoprene released into the atmosphere. This contributes to the characteristic haze on the mountains and their perceived color. Within the Blue Ridge province are two major national parks:

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492-478: The New York–New Jersey Highlands . The petrologic and geochronologic data suggest that the Blue Ridge basement is a composite orogenic crust that was emplaced during several episodes from a crustal magma source. Field relationships further illustrate that rocks emplaced prior to 1.078–1.064 billion years ago preserve deformational features. Those emplaced post-1.064 billion years ago generally have

533-658: The Shenandoah National Park in the northern section and the Great Smoky Mountains National Park in the southern section. The Blue Ridge Parkway , a 469-mile (755 km) long scenic highway, connects the two parks and runs along the ridge crest-lines, as does the Appalachian Trail . Eight national forests include George Washington and Jefferson , Cherokee , Pisgah , Nantahala and Chattahoochee . Although

574-763: The Siouan Manahoacs , the Iroquois , and the Shawnee hunted and fished. A German physician-explorer, John Lederer , first reached the crest of the Blue Ridge in 1669 and again the following year; he also recorded the Virginia Siouan name for the Blue Ridge ( Ahkonshuck ). At the Treaty of Albany negotiated by Virginia Lieutenant Governor Alexander Spotswood with the Iroquois between 1718 and 1722,

615-505: The U.S. Geological Survey has provided more detailed emplacement ages. Many of the features found in the Blue Ridge and documented by Tollo and others have confirmed that the rocks exhibit many similar features in other North American Grenville-age terranes . The lack of a calc-alkaline affinity and zircon ages less than 1.2 billion years old suggest that the Blue Ridge is distinct from the Adirondacks , Green Mountains, and possibly

656-635: The Blue Ridge Mountains is Roanoke , located in Southwest Virginia , while the largest Metropolitan Statistical Area is the Greenville metropolitan area in Upstate, South Carolina . Other notable cities in the Blue Ridge Mountains include Charlottesville , Frederick , Hagerstown , Chambersburg , Asheville , Johnson City , and Lynchburg . Virginia Department of Transportation The Virginia Department of Transportation ( VDOT )

697-726: The Blue Ridge: the Brushy Mountains and the South Mountains . In Virginia the Southwest Mountains are an anticlinal range that similarly parallels the Blue Ridge. The Blue Ridge extends as far south as Mount Oglethorpe in Georgia and as far north into Pennsylvania as South Mountain . While South Mountain dwindles to hills between Gettysburg and Harrisburg , the band of ancient rocks that form

738-712: The Iroquois ceded lands they had conquered south of the Potomac River and east of the Blue Ridge to the Virginia Colony . This treaty made the Blue Ridge the new demarcation point between the areas and tribes subject to the Six Nations, and those tributaries to the colony. When colonists began to disregard this by crossing the Blue Ridge and settling in the Shenandoah Valley in the 1730s, the Iroquois began to object, finally selling their rights to

779-700: The VDOT without a permit. VDOT will install a roadside memorial sign, normally for a period of two years. The sign may not deviate from the standard roadside memorial sign specifications. The cost must by paid by the person requesting the sign. Not everyone agreed with the new program. Vowing to ignore the program, Del. Robert G. Marshall (R-Prince William), whose son was killed in an auto accident along Interstate 81 in November 2001, said: By marking an accident site, survivors create "a living memory of this person's life," said Donna Schuurman, president of Association for Death Education and Counseling. Americans have swept

820-449: The bridge. The Virginia Department of Transportation temporarily closed the bridge on May 24, 2007 for a more than nine month rebuilding. The deteriorated mortar , and some of the stones, were replaced, and the approaches were rebuilt, however the bridge remains in its original state. Blue Ridge Mountains The Blue Ridge Mountains are a physiographic province of the larger Appalachian Highlands range. The mountain range

861-636: The core of the Blue Ridge continues northeast through the New Jersey and Hudson River highlands, eventually reaching the Berkshires of Massachusetts and the Green Mountains of Vermont . The Blue Ridge contains the highest mountains in eastern North America south of Baffin Island . About 125 peaks exceed 5,000 feet (1,500 m) in elevation. The highest peak in the Blue Ridge (and in

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902-518: The counties of Henrico and Arlington, maintain approximately 12,000 miles of local streets, and receive funds from the state for that purpose. VDOT operates and maintains: Highway maintenance and operations represent 41% of the total budget, followed by 32% for highway systems construction. Smaller portions of the budget are directed to address the needs and requirements of debt service, support to other agencies, administration, and earmarks and special financing. (in millions) (in millions) Virginia

943-614: The entire Appalachian chain) is Mount Mitchell in North Carolina at 6,684 feet (2,037 m). There are 39 peaks in North Carolina and Tennessee higher than 6,000 feet (1,800 m); by comparison, in the northern portion of the Appalachian chain only New Hampshire 's Mount Washington rises above 6,000 feet (1,800 m). Southern Sixers is a term used by peak baggers for this group of mountains. The Blue Ridge Parkway runs 469 miles (755 km) along crests of

984-579: The first State Highway Commission in 1906. In 1927, the Virginia Department of Highways (VDH) was established as a state agency. VDH became the Virginia Department of Highways and Transportation (VDHT) in 1974, adding railroads and public transportation to its portfolio. In 1986, the General Assembly authorized expanded revenue sources for transportation, including airports and seaports. Also during that same special session,

1025-399: The form of white crosses , Stars of David , bouquets of flowers, and photos of the dead, have been placed along roads at the scenes of fatal accidents. As of July 1, 2003, Virginia law has banned these memorials. Transportation officials have deemed them a threat to the safety of motorists. Virginia law §33.2-216 prohibits any person from installing a memorial on any highway controlled by

1066-659: The grieving process under the rug, and now it's popping up in public ways that few expected—and that some don't like, according to Ms. Schuurman. In 1995, Virginia passed the Public-Private Transportation Act (PPTA), which allows the state to enter into agreements with private entities to construct, improve, maintain and operate transportation facilities. Since then, Virginia has proposed or awarded several PPTA contracts, including: High-occupancy toll lanes (HOT lanes) are toll lanes operating alongside existing highway lanes. They provided drivers with

1107-695: The nation to open was the 91 Express Lanes project in Orange County, California , opening in December 1995. A computer adjusts the toll every six minutes, raising it if too many cars are on the highway, lowering it if the highway is underutilized. Even drivers who will not pay the toll appreciate the HOT lanes diverting traffic form the regular highway. But many people are not happy about the proposed HOT lanes in Northern Virginia . In 2001, Maryland governor Parris N. Glendening (D) stopped

1148-657: The northern route east of Leesburg was assigned to the Leesburg Turnpike in 1809, and in 1810 the Snicker's Gap Turnpike Company obtained a charter for the road from Aldie northwest over Snickers Gap and beyond to the Shenandoah River at Snicker's Ferry . (The Berryville Turnpike later improved the road beyond the Shenandoah to Winchester .) When completed, the turnpike had three toll gates over

1189-549: The power to fund airports , seaports , rail , and public transportation . VDOT's revised annual budget for fiscal year 2019 is $ 5.4 billion. VDOT has a workforce of about 7,500 full-time employees. Virginia has the nation's third largest system of state-maintained highways, after North Carolina and Texas. The Virginia highway system totals approximately 58,000 miles of interstate, primary, frontage, and secondary roads. The system includes about 20,000 bridges and structures. In addition, independent cities and towns, as well as

1230-502: The projected rush-hour toll need to be $ 1.60 a mile. According to VDOT's web site: There will be no toll cap, as tolls must be able to increase to the level necessary to manage real-time traffic demand and keep the lanes congestion free. Those who own property along the path of the Capital Beltway HOT Lanes are growing increasingly agitated with the project. Supervisor Sharon Bulova (D-Braddock), who represents

1271-456: The range lacks the tree line found at lower elevations in the northern half of the Appalachian range. Statistical modelling predicts that the alpine tree line would exist at above 7,985 feet (2434 m) in the climate zone and latitude of the southern Appalachians. The highest parts of the Blue Ridge are generally vegetated in dense Southern Appalachian spruce-fir forests . The area is host to many animals, including: The largest city located in

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1312-493: The rest stops would save VDOT 9 million dollars toward its 2.6 billion dollar budget deficit. In January 2010, governor Bob McDonnell announced that he would reopen all of the closed rest areas as part of his campaign promises. The state is using an "adopt a rest stop" program, pulling 3 million dollars from the reserve maintenance fund, and employing non-violent inmates to help reopen the rest stops. They all reopened on April 17, 2010. Spontaneous roadside memorials , often in

1353-474: The roads, or any of them, leading into the town of Alexandria from Snigger's [Snickers] and Vesta's [Keyes] Gaps". This was not the first law authorizing a toll road in the United States, but was the first recorded turnpike in operation, opening by the end of 1786. Thomas Jefferson , who was at least a moral backer of the enterprise, pronounced it a success. A 1793 for sale advertisement referred to one of

1394-428: The short State Route 245 spurring off SR 7 at Bluemont as a portion of SR 234 in the 1940 renumbering , but instead transferred this short stub (Clayton Hall Road) to the secondary system in 1943 due to low traffic. The road between Aldie and Bluemont , now known as Snickersville Turnpike (after the former name of Bluemont) remains a rural road, designated as a Virginia Byway by the General Assembly in 1988. It

1435-490: The southern Appalachians and links two national parks: Shenandoah and Great Smoky Mountains . In many places along the parkway, there are metamorphic rocks ( gneiss ) with folded bands of light-and dark-colored minerals, which sometimes look like the folds and swirls in a marble cake. Most of the rocks that form the Blue Ridge Mountains are ancient granitic charnockites , metamorphosed volcanic formations, and sedimentary limestone. Recent studies completed by Richard Tollo,

1476-513: The state, leaving some stretches of highway, such as I-81 which is a popular route for trucks, or the heavily traveled and often congested I-95 northbound between Washington, D.C. and Richmond , a distance of 106 miles (171 km), without a rest stop. Drivers complained that people who needed to use the restroom would have nowhere to go. VDOT countered that the I-95 corridor is highly developed, and many businesses have restrooms, and that closing

1517-773: The term "Blue Ridge" is sometimes applied exclusively to the eastern edge or front range of the Appalachian Mountains, the geological definition of the Blue Ridge province extends westward to the Ridge and Valley area, encompassing the Great Smoky Mountains , the Great Balsams , the Roans , the Blacks , and other mountain ranges. In North Carolina, two lower elevation ranges to the east, referred to as foothills , are also often included as "spurs" of

1558-544: The two roads as "the Turnpike Road, down which all the wheat, from an extensive and fertile Country, intended for the Alexandria Market, is conveyed". However, the lack of maintenance caused by low tolls led to the wearing out of the southern route. The Little River Turnpike , a private corporation chartered in 1802, realigned and improved the portion between Alexandria and Aldie . A similar charter for

1599-455: The valley, on the west side of the Blue Ridge, at the Treaty of Lancaster in 1744. The Blue Ridge Mountains have stunted oak and oak-hickory forest habitats , which comprise most of the Appalachian slope forests. Flora also includes grass, shrubs, hemlock and mixed-oak pine forests. While the Blue Ridge range includes the highest summits in the eastern United States, the climate is nevertheless too warm to support an alpine zone , and thus

1640-561: Was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2011, is named after the Hibbs Family that operated mills nearby, and has a posted — but often ignored — weight limit of 6 tons (5 metric tons). The Snickersville Turnpike Association, organized to prevent the replacing of the bridge, has more recently opposed other developments such as cellular towers , in addition to continuing to participate in matters related to

1681-455: Was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2022. The 124-foot (38 m) long by 22-foot (6.7 m) wide (38 m by 7 m) stone double- arch Hibbs Bridge ( 39°02′14″N 77°43′23″W  /  39.037332°N 77.72303°W  / 39.037332; -77.72303 ) over Beaverdam Creek between Mountville and Philomont , built ca. 1829, is in poor condition, but has not been bypassed due to local opposition. The bridge, which

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