US 29

US 29 is one of the longest highways in Virginia. This four lane divided highway starts in Arlington VA at Key Bridge in the north, goes west to Gainsville VA before turning south through Charlottesville, Lynchburg and leaving the state just south of Danville VA.

I drive this highway nearly every day as it is the one that fronts our complex. I have driven every mile of this highway and have come to know it well. Sunday, on my way back from Lynchburg (3 hour trip) I started to notice the various highway signs posted along the way. I was struck by the number of one particular sign.

This sign is by far the most numerous sign along the whole route. Can you guess what sign it is?

No it is not the speed limit sign. The sign in question outnumbers the speed limit signs by more than 20 to one.

While they are more numerous than the speed limit, the Hwy 29 sign is the the sign. The route sign is one of the more numerous signs but it is not close in the frequency of the sign in question. Below is the sign.

If you drive along the highway you will only see the backside of the sign. To see the front of the sign you have to look in your rearview mirror or at the two lanes on the other side of the divided highway. As the road is a two lane highway in both directions the sign appears in pairs. Below is the sign.

The red "Wrong Way" sign appears far more often that the next closest type of sign. Along nearly the whole route outside the Arlington/Fairfax area, the sign is posted at every major and minor cross road, mall and business exits, and turnarounds.