[Malaki86]

Today, I had a load coming out of Latrobe, PA going to Scranton, PA. It's been quite a few years since I've had to run across US-22 and, WOW, what a change.

The first time I ran out of Latrobe, it went to New York. I can't remember the name of the town it delivered to, but it was at the junction of US-15 &, what is that, I-86? When I made that run, I thinky that I MAY have had 2 weeks experience in the truck (besides school). I still wasn't too good on shifting gears and such. You know what I'm talking about. I can vividly remember all the twisting, turning, 2 lane hills from Route 982 (you couldn't use 981 then because it had the low bridge then). I remember having to use US-220 to get from Altoona to I-80. I remember when I got to I-80, I was so relieved to see a 4 lane highway, only to get off of it and onto US-15 heading north.

Not now - US-22 is 4-lane from where I-376 ends until you get to Altoona/I-99. Then you have I-99, which is a breeze. US-15 is also 4-lane most, if not all, of the trip north of I-80.

What makes me feel old is that I hear my dad talk about what it was like before I-79 was built in WV. I barely remember when US-50 west of Clarksburg was 2-lane. I also remember driving 2-lane sections of what is now I-68 (then US-40/US-48) between Cumberland & Hancock. They were working on finishing that up not long after I got out of high school.

I just can't wait until they eventually finish US-33 between Elkins, WV & Harrisonburg, VA.

[Windwalker]

I remember picking up a load at Latrobe brewery, years ago. The docks were on a 45 angle backing into the building. With a little snow cover, you could not see any painted lines to set yourself up with. Never did like those angled docks, and especially backing into the building.

Another driver, from another company (not in business for some years anymore) backed into the building instead of hitting the hole and buckled the trailer... Hit on the driver's side.

Everything in the area was 2-track back then. But, I can tell you that getting "old" isn't all that bad.

[Mr. Ford95]

Originally Posted by Malaki86

I just can't wait until they eventually finish US-33 between Elkins, WV & Harrisonburg, VA.

Have you been East of Harrisonburg on 33? I was shocked about 2 years ago when I came off of the mountain headed East and hit 4 lane road to Ruckersville. I don't know how many times I've been across there but up until at least 10 years ago it was always 2 lane from the mountain to Ruckersville. 10 years ago was the last time I had been across there. They are doing work West of Harrisonburg now?

[Malaki86]

I read a story awhile back about the plans for WV's side of US-33, which they call Corridor H. It's already 4-lane from I-79 to just east of Elkins. The plan is to have it completed in the next 10 years, or something like that. It's been a few years since I've been past Elkins, but a section in that story said that another section was due to be completed in the next year or 2. It may be between Elkins & Parsons.

The last time I was in that area (actually closer to Keyser, WV), they were working on a 4-lane highway, but I don't know what it is. This was in the area of Shear Mountain, if any of you know where that is (close to the junction of US-50 & US-220). The construction sign said it was US-48. That's also about the same time I saw that they changed the highway number on a crossing road on I-81 in VA, just south of the end of I-66 (may have been VA-55). What I'm thinking is that they're changing the highway to US-48 to get the federal funding, then eventually will change that to I-66. It just seems to make sense. Besides, word is that there's government "hiding" areas in the vicinity of Elkins. When 9-11 happened, the local news was getting reports of military planes in the sky over Elkins.

Edit: Found a couple of links and it looks like I was spot-on with the road change to US-48:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/U.S._Route_48
http://www.gribblenation.com/vapics/corrh/
http://www.takemytrip.com/08vapawv/08n_15a.htm
http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&cl...ed=0CCMQ8gEwAA