I am no fan of trucks, but it's hard to blame the truckers for choosing the shorter route. I also find it hard to have but so much sympathy for people who locate next to a long existing U.S. highway and then complain about the people who use the road. The beautiful segment of Route 17 between Warrenton and Marshall demonstrates the right way to fix these problems. This roadway is uncongested, and traffic flows smoothly at an even speed. Expanding the remaining segment of Route 17 from two lanes to four lanes, and replacing the stoplight intersections on Route 50 with interchanges would yield similar benefits for both the highway users and the adjacent property owners.
Smoother running traffic is quieter, safer traffic.
Route 17 between Warrenton and Marshall proves an efficient roadway can still be a beautiful roadway.