Most likely the original cobble street surface.

Correct. It’s the only thing I enjoy whenever they repave main.

Not cobble stones. Those are bricks. There is exactly one cobble stone road left in richmond, the alley behind the pie museum. *poe

When did Richmond get a pie museum?!?!

Maybe Poe. Not pie. Lol

So what’s in Shockoe then?

Granite blocks, known as Belgian block. Cobble stones are round.

Oh, interesting! Those Belgian blocks are cool looking, but miserable to drive or walk on.

I’ll have to check out that alley behind the museum.

Are there some trolley tracks too?

Yep. Main street had street car tracks as part of the west bound line.

https://www.reddit.com/r/MapPorn/comments/24je1k/the_usas_first_electric_streetcar_system_richmond/

Those look like the old asphalt pavers that were used on Monument Ave.

As for trolly tracks, I live on China St on a trolly line. The water main is under the tracks. Any time someone requests lead line removal they have to cut out the trolly rails. I have a few segments saved! :)

As I have been told, the small almost square stones used in the bottom were ballast from ships. I don't know if this is true. But interesting

Accidentally biking down that stretch of road is a Richmond rite of passage

Damn, I can’t imagine. I had trouble just hiking around that area on foot.

TIL. neat

https://rictoday.6amcity.com/history-cobblestone-streets-shockoe-slip-richmond-va?_amp=true