Gribblenation

The end of another year, and quite an eventful one for followers of the progress in building I-73 and I-74 (and other new interstates) in North Carolina. A summary of what happened: I-73 It was quite a banner year for I-73, or should I say a removal of banner year, since by the end of 2017, for the first time in the routes existence, there was no section signed as Future I-73.  The I-73 shield was removed from the Future Route sign beyond the I-40 exit in Greensboro Two segments of the route north of Greensboro were completed adding 12 miles, or about 15%, to the route's total mileage. First was the I-73 Connector from the Bryan Blvd. at the PTI Airport to NC 68 construction which included a new taxiway bridge over I-73. I-73 Connector north lanes about to go under Airport Taxiway bridge in Greensboro. The new I-73 roadway crosses over NC 68 then crosses back with 2 separate exits for Greensboro/High Point and Oak Ridge traffic. Overhead signage for both...

In December of 2017 I drove the entirety of California State Route 165. CA 165 is a 38 mile north/south state highway traveling from CA 99 in Turlock to I-5 south of Los Banos. Part 1; a drive on California State Route 165 My approach to CA 165 southbound was from CA 99 in Turlock. From the Lander Avenue Exit traffic can turn left for Signed County Route J14 north and right for CA 165 south. South of Turlock CA 165 runs on Lander Avenue.  All of CA 165 is designated as a Safety Corridor and has heavy truck traffic between CA 99 in Turlock south to CA 152/33 in Los Banos. Just north of Hilmar CA 165 exits Stanislaus County and enters Merced county. Hilmar is 4 miles south of Turlock on CA 165.  Hilmar dates back to the late 1910s and once the southern terminus of the now defunct Tidewater Southern Railway.   The community is mostly known today as the location of the Hilmar Cheese Company which just so happens to be located on CA ...

My second route clinch on Saturday was the tiny 5 mile California State Route 219.  After making my way west on CA 108 I found the only CA 219 shield that I could find in the fog which just happened to have an "odd" design. CA 219 is signed along Kiernan Avenue between CA 108 west to CA 99.  At one point CA 219 may have once been signed as CA 108 but I've never found a map that proves it. CA 219 follows the north outskirts of Modesto and is a divided expressway the entirety of it's length.  Unlike other short state highways like CA 153 and CA 233 there seems to be a clear connector purpose to CA 219.  CA 219 is signed as the CHP Officer Earl Scott Highway. CA 219 terminates at the CA 99 freeway in Salida.  There is no "end" placard or really any indicator that CA 219 has ended.  I believe the only other signage for CA 219 is actually on the CA 99 freeway guide signs. CA 219 was created as a signed highway out of...