This page is a collection of various curiousities I've noticed and photographed in the eastern half of Virginia. Old route shields, unusual signage, old bridges, and anything else that strikes my fancy.
I found this one while driving along Route 5 in James City County one day.
This one and the next are in West Point; the post office is to the left of this view.
This one is farther down the road that runs to the right in the picture above, by the McDonald's.
This is the only old-style "county" marker I've come across, in upper Gloucester County. This is the intersection with CR 601.
This picture and the next are along US 1 over Massaponax Creek south of Fredericksburg.
I would assume that the abutment was washed out by a flood at some point.
The deck is accessible from the other side, but I didn't feel up to it.
Note how the sides were cast in layers, and fairly roughly by later standards.
I would guess this bridge to date from the Teens or perhaps early 1920s.
Time has worn away some of the concrete to reveal a rather large amount of river gravel in the mix.
This is the approach to another abandoned bridge; this one on VA 3 east of King George.
Looking west, the current VA 3 is to the right in this shot, and this road took a fairly sharp turn
to the right beyond the bridge (no doubt the reason it was bypassed).
This is a closeup of an exposed section of the approach road, taken at about the same spot as the previous view.
The north side of the bridge, looking east. VA 3 is in the background.
South side, looking east. It's not a trick of the camera or the scanner; this bridge does have a slight arch.
Closeup of the joint between the two deck sections. The "head" of the arrow is pointing east.
Side view of the west half of the bridge. Note the three recesses in the side, and the beams below the deck.
Wider view of the bridge. VA 3 is behind me in this shot. I would guess this bridge dates from the mid-late 1920s, or maybe the *very* early 1930s.
Last Updated: 4-2-00
David Thompson - email me at jaydeet@inna.net