For 2,000+ mile round-trip drivers only!

[pwdebbie]

White shirt in shirt: My car is broken down, Mr. Police man...please don't tow it?

As far as I know, anything tucked into the driver's side window on a disabled vehicle means "I'll be back, don't tow it away." I sort of thought this was one of those "universal" symbols that everyone just knows.

 

[pwdebbie]

Starting today, there are some major lane changes on I-81 northbound and southbound in the Chambersburg, PA, area. Anyone that has come through here knows there has been construction going on for who know how long (seems like forever) but now there some major lane changes occurring. These changes are significant enough that they've been announced on the TV news and the newspapers. Just want to give you all a heads up.

 

[Becky2005]

I thought I read in the "what to do when your car breaks down" manual of life, that you are supposed to raise your hood & tie something white to the door handle to signal you have broken down/need help type of thing.

I have no idea where I read this at though, don't know if it was in our Rules of the Road book or just in the general AAA travel guides type of things.

Just looked it up to know I'm not crazy & have known this for as long as I can remember...

From the National Safety Council:

http://www2.nsc.org/library/facts/carbreak.htm

"However, when the car is beyond repair, it is best to get professional help. Do not try to flag down other vehicles. Raise your hood and tie something white to the radio antenna or hang it out a window so police officers or tow truck operators will know help is needed. "

 

[dvczerfs]

Starting today, there are some major lane changes on I-81 northbound and southbound in the Chambersburg, PA, area. Anyone that has come through here knows there has been construction going on for who know how long (seems like forever) but now there some major lane changes occurring. These changes are significant enough that they've been announced on the TV news and the newspapers. Just want to give you all a heads up.

same amount of lanes and just pushing you over or less lanes? that area is like jacksonville, its been under construction for 30 years. there were some massive potholes in that area.

 

[BC1836]

...that area is like jacksonville, its been under construction for 30 years.

So true!

We've been driving regularly to WDW since 2002 and the Jacksonville section of I-95 is challenging, especially the narrow construction-lane that curves downward to the left. Driving that area at night for the first time can be, well...

Any word from Jacksonville area folks about when the construction is due to be completed? (Hopefully not another 30 years!)

 

[dvczerfs]

So true!

We've been driving regularly to WDW since 2002 and the Jacksonville section of I-95 is challenging, especially the narrow construction-lane that curves downward to the left. Driving that area at night for the first time can be, well...

Any word from Jacksonville area folks about when the construction is due to be completed? (Hopefully not another 30 years!)

seriously, it got to be a good 30 years around jacksonville. i remember when i was a kid that was under construction. something tells me there was a toll booth set up years ago before getting into jacksonville. we have been lucky all these years we never got stuck there.(knock on wood) in traffic. i remember the childrens hosp. moving closer to the road. i dont know if was always there. than they built that walk way over the highway. its like that building they put up on int4 on the left side heading west. its all glass w/ a curved glass roof on it. it looks like a fancey parking garage. it doesnt look like theres any wall or anything in it. have you noticed that one bc1836?

 

[BC1836]

i remember the childrens hosp. moving closer to the road. i dont know if was always there. than they built that walk way over the highway. its like that building they put up on int4 on the left side heading west. its all glass w/ a curved glass roof on it. it looks like a fancey parking garage. it doesnt look like theres any wall or anything in it. have you noticed that one bc1836?

We haven't taken a close look at the hospital because it's a bit dangerous to take our eyes off the road as we cross the Fuller Warren Bridge.

The modern Jacksonville buildings near the hospital are particulary impressive at night when they are illuminated by the various colored lights. But the key thing about the hospital is that it's at mm 350 on I-95 in FL.

And Exit 260 is less than 90 minutes away!

Exit 260 = I-4! And Exit #67 on I-4 = WDW!

 

[Pixieflip]

So we're driving again this Christmas...2900 miles roundtrip. We'll be fine, we are very used to it!

We are planning where to stop and spend the night on the way down and wonder if someone here can settle something for us. Looking at the map of Tennessee, what are the last towns before we get to the mountains? My map isn't clear on this and we can't remember. We'd like to stop before we get to the mountains going south on I-24, but as far as we can go so that the drive the next day is as short a drive as possible. That's my point. Can anyone help? Thanks!

 

[chellewashere]

The trip down was so great we left at 11PM made it to Kingsland GA at 11AM and they let us check in then quick 3 hour drive and we were in Disney. Back home was boring nothing to look forward to other than worrying about how my brother in law left my house Lots of construction in both directions. And the only cops we really saw were in Virginia. Oh yeah an my DD gets car sick and she made us stop basically when we got into FL and I got out in my flip flops to make sure she didnt have to let go of breakfast and I got ATTACKED by fire ants. My feet were killing me just a little side note there

 

[NALA 24]

Our ride down was pretty smooth. We left PA at about 5 am (FRIDAY). We drove 81/77/26/95/4. Our only slow down was on I-77 near Charlotte. We stayed overnight in Orangeburg, SC. (I would not recommend the hotel we stayed at, which was a Country Inns and Suites, with too many pets.) We arrived at WDW at 2:30 pm the next day.
On our ride home, (SATURDAY) we sat in traffic on I-95 in Georgia due to road construction and rain. It took us 3 hours to go the 100 miles in GA. We stayed overnight at a Fairfield Inn in Columbia, SC. This hotel was new and very nice. The next day (SUNDAY), we experienced very heavy truck traffic on I-81 in Virginia. (Many rest areas in VA were closed due to budget problems.) We were stopped again for about an hour near Nuangola on I-81 in PA. We arrived home about 11:30 pm.
Glad to be home safely.

Good Luck to all the drivers.

 

[blondietink]

It is about 1300 miles one way for us. So, when we add in our driving down here, around Orlando, going to the beach and back home, we drive well over 3000 miles.

 

[dvczerfs]

We haven't taken a close look at the hospital because it's a bit dangerous to take our eyes off the road as we cross the Fuller Warren Bridge.

The modern Jacksonville buildings near the hospital are particulary impressive at night when they are illuminated by the various colored lights. But the key thing about the hospital is that it's at mm 350 on I-95 in FL.

And Exit 260 is less than 90 minutes away!

Exit 260 = I-4! And Exit #67 on I-4 = WDW!

90 MINUTES? are you pushing the car? im just kidding.

 

[Flyerfan]

Our only slow down was on I-77 near Charlotte.

I REALLY wish there was a way to avoid Charlotte. Doesn't matter when we travel through there, we are always crawling.

Glad you are home safe!

 

[blondietink]

I also hate with a passion Charlotte. It is horrible from Statesville to south of Charlotte. They really need to complete a bypass around that city. I have wasted more time in traffic jams there than anyplace else.

I hate it so much this time we decided to come down 95 through Baltimore and around Washington. That was far easier than Charlotte ever has been. We will be taking 95 from now on whehever we can. It is also shorter for us by 50 miles or so than going through West Virginia and Charlotte.

 

[disneyfan55]

I REALLY wish there was a way to avoid Charlotte. Doesn't matter when we travel through there, we are always crawling.

Glad you are home safe!

We stay on 81 to 40 when we are driving to just west of Atlanta. Hardly any traffic. It may be a little longer but to go where we are going it works out fine.

 

[dvczerfs]

I REALLY wish there was a way to avoid Charlotte. Doesn't matter when we travel through there, we are always crawling.

Glad you are home safe!

when we use to go that way we would leave from home at 5pm. never had a problem in char. of course it was 2am when we hit it!

 

[pwdebbie]

same amount of lanes and just pushing you over or less lanes? that area is like jacksonville, its been under construction for 30 years. there were some massive potholes in that area.

On I-81 through the Chambersburg, PA, area, the lane change is confusing to read. I can't even sum it up so I am posting the info that was in the local paper:


CHAMBERSBURG -- Motorists need to stay alert on Interstate 81 through the Chambersburg area this week as changes -- including an express lane -- begin.

According to the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, from 3 to 6 p.m. Tuesday, traffic is to shift on Interstate 81 northbound and southbound, weather permitting.

Northbound I-81 traffic will split south of Exit 14 for Pa. 316/Wayne Avenue. The northbound right lane will shift into the passing lane and continue to use the existing northbound roadway. Exits 14, 16 and 17 will be accessible via the northbound right lane.

The northbound left lane will split south of Exit 14, cross over the median and use part of the existing southbound passing lane and the newly constructed auxiliary lane. The northbound left lane will act as an express lane, serving only through traffic and will not be able to access exits 14, 16 or 17. The left lane will cross back to the northbound roadway north of Exit 16.

A series of signs notifying motorists about the northbound I-81 express lane will start 11/2 miles before the crossover.

Southbound I-81 traffic will shift to the right, using the existing southbound shoulder, right lane and a portion of the passing lane. This pattern will start north of Exit 16 (U.S. 30/Lincoln Highway) and continue through Exit 14.

All I-81 southbound lanes will have access to exits 16 and 14. The contractor will place temporary concrete glare-screen barrier to the left of the southbound
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lanes to separate southbound traffic from the northbound express lane.

Traffic is to remain in this pattern until next August.

Average daily traffic volumes on I-81 here is 45,500 to 49,700 vehicles.

The overall project should be completed by the end of May 2011.

 

[dvczerfs]

On I-81 through the Chambersburg, PA, area, the lane change is confusing to read. I can't even sum it up so I am posting the info that was in the local paper:


CHAMBERSBURG -- Motorists need to stay alert on Interstate 81 through the Chambersburg area this week as changes -- including an express lane -- begin.

According to the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, from 3 to 6 p.m. Tuesday, traffic is to shift on Interstate 81 northbound and southbound, weather permitting.

Northbound I-81 traffic will split south of Exit 14 for Pa. 316/Wayne Avenue. The northbound right lane will shift into the passing lane and continue to use the existing northbound roadway. Exits 14, 16 and 17 will be accessible via the northbound right lane.

The northbound left lane will split south of Exit 14, cross over the median and use part of the existing southbound passing lane and the newly constructed auxiliary lane. The northbound left lane will act as an express lane, serving only through traffic and will not be able to access exits 14, 16 or 17. The left lane will cross back to the northbound roadway north of Exit 16.

A series of signs notifying motorists about the northbound I-81 express lane will start 11/2 miles before the crossover.

Southbound I-81 traffic will shift to the right, using the existing southbound shoulder, right lane and a portion of the passing lane. This pattern will start north of Exit 16 (U.S. 30/Lincoln Highway) and continue through Exit 14.

All I-81 southbound lanes will have access to exits 16 and 14. The contractor will place temporary concrete glare-screen barrier to the left of the southbound
Advertisement
lanes to separate southbound traffic from the northbound express lane.

Traffic is to remain in this pattern until next August.

Average daily traffic volumes on I-81 here is 45,500 to 49,700 vehicles.

The overall project should be completed by the end of May 2011.

pendot!! i read this thing twice and i still have no idea what there talking about? we are going to be hitting it around 10am on a tuesday so im hoping it wont be to bad. its funny , we drive from the lehigh valley to orlando and the only place we have problems is in the first two hours. thanks for the heads up!!!!

 

[BC1836]

While we prefer to drive (instead of fly) to WDW, the long drive can be filled with challenging moments, especially relating to weather.

We just made it to the "safety(?)" of the GA Welcome Center last March during heavy rain. When we got inside we learned of a tornado warning in the area! Fortunately, the situation never got beyond the warning stage and soon we were on our way.

Anyone else have a memorable weather-related experience as you made the 2,000+ mile round trip drive?

 

[dvczerfs]

oh, the last time we took 81/77/26, it was jan of 1993. it was snowing and blowing so hard that we spent the night in the parking lot of whites truck stop. luckly we had alot of blankets and we were at a huge gas station so if we had to get stuck somewere,a truck stop is a place to get stuck. its scarey when there is nobody on a major interstate but you and the snow is pilling up. now we stick to 81/66/17/95. its faster and theres a hotel evey 100 feet. people traveling in the winter in those mountains should be prepared, the weather up there can change from good to bad fast!