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79 north goes somewhere. 68 east goes somewhere. 79 south, once you get past Bridgeport/Clarksburg, goes through a whole lot of nothing for 130 miles before it gets anywhere at all, and that ain't much once it gets there.
From my perspective, I-79 North out of Charleston goes nowhere for about 225 miles or so, until you get to Pittsburgh, PA. I might use it from time to time if i am going to a WVU sporting event. But yeah, i agree CT, it's a pretty lame, untravelled highway.
Same deal with I-68, It's over 150 miles just to get to Martinsburg, and that's just the outer edge of the DC exurbs.
I travel Rt. 19 to I-79 to I-64 and back two to three times a week hauling bottled water and I see a lot of folks going nowhere. I don't understand the road to nowhere thing. That route gets me from Craigsville to Lesage and back, so that's why I don't understand the road to nowhere. I always see a lot of trucks (like the one I drive) carrying goods through there and a lot of civilian vehicles going somewhere. From what I can see I-79 and I-64 are used quite a lot! Including Rt. 19! All highways must start somewhere and end somewhere and during that course they will run through some areas that aren't very populated. That's just the way it works. Unless I'm missing something here? This also applies to the WV turnpike. As far as I know it runs from around the Beckley area to the Charleston area. It begins somewhere and it ends somewhere Right? So how is it a road to nowhere? That road connects two major cities in southern WV right, or am I missing something?
I travel Rt. 19 to I-79 to I-64 and back two to three times a week hauling bottled water and I see a lot of folks going nowhere. I don't understand the road to nowhere thing. That route gets me from Craigsville to Lesage and back, so that's why I don't understand the road to nowhere. I always see a lot of trucks (like the one I drive) carrying goods through there and a lot of civilian vehicles going somewhere. From what I can see I-79 and I-64 are used quite a lot! Including Rt. 19! All highways must start somewhere and end somewhere and during that course they will run through some areas that aren't very populated. That's just the way it works. Unless I'm missing something here? This also applies to the WV turnpike. As far as I know it runs from around the Beckley area to the Charleston area. It begins somewhere and it ends somewhere Right? So how is it a road to nowhere? That road connects two major cities in southern WV right, or am I missing something?
You are correct ZC, it is a road to somewhere, a very important artery and part of our State, a certain poster on here wants to call this area nowhere due to jealousy, hatred, and I guess more jealousy....
From my perspective, I-79 North out of Charleston goes nowhere for about 225 miles or so, until you get to Pittsburgh, PA. I might use it from time to time if i am going to a WVU sporting event. But yeah, i agree CT, it's a pretty lame, untravelled highway.
Same deal with I-68, It's over 150 miles just to get to Martinsburg, and that's just the outer edge of the DC exurbs.
I-68 does not go to Martinsburg. It goes to Hagerstown, MD. I-81 goes to Martinsburg. South of Clarksburg it is basically 130 miles before one arrives at any town of significance. That is a primary reason for Charleston's relative isolation. The unfortunate thing is, even though it is the state capital, they seem rather content to be isolated there. There is no real effort to connect Charleston with other areas of the state by public transporation, for example. West Virginia is essentially the only state to have that situation... the state capital basically cut off from most of the rest of the state.
I-68 does not go to Martinsburg. It goes to Hagerstown, MD. I-81 goes to Martinsburg.
I-68 connects I-79 near Morgantown with I-70 in Hancock, MD. Following I-70 east from Hancock, you'll eventually cross I-81 near Hagerstown, MD. I-81 south from Hagerstown passes thru Martinsburg. I-68 cuts across the state in the north-central section, I-64 cuts across the state in the south. I use Rt 55 and Corridor H to access Canaan Valley. Once completed as a four lane between I-81 and I-79, Corridor H will ease access to the ski resorts and central portion of the state.
Just so everyone knows...south of Buckhannon (that's how the town's name is spelled btw) lives most of the people in the state of WV. There are over 1 million people located below Upshur County and thus most of the people in the state.
Just so everyone knows...south of Buckhannon (that's how the town's name is spelled btw) lives most of the people in the state of WV. There are over 1 million people located below Upshur County and thus most of the people in the state.
The road would have been built regardless of tolls. Its a primary interior north/south route, not only in the state, but in the region.
It was built with tolls because it was built before the interstate when there were less federal highway dollars. Its expensive to blast and tunnel through mountains. Tolls also generate a guaranteed income for highway maintenance and improvement, which is why they're popular in heavily populated states like NJ and MA.
The problem in WV isn't simply tolls, its the fact that WV only has one toll road in a single region of the state, rather than maintaining a statewide network. If there was a statewide network, or even just the entirety of 77 was toll, there would likely be less serious outcry to eliminate the tolls.
I wouldn't be so sure about that. It is possible they would have diverted the traffic further east and used I-81. The Turnpike is so busy because it is essentially an extension of US 19, which takes most of I-79's traffic load south of Clarksburg southward saving more than 30 miles and the need to drive through Charleston.
I wouldn't be so sure about that. It is possible they would have diverted the traffic further east and used I-81. The Turnpike is so busy because it is essentially an extension of US 19, which takes most of I-79's traffic load south of Clarksburg southward saving more than 30 miles and the need to drive through Charleston.
Keep in mind that the original impetus for the Interstate System, way back in the 1950s, was to facilitate the movement of troops and supplies. In fact, the official name is The Dwight D. Eisenhower National System of Interstate and Defense Highways. Buffalo, Pittsburgh, Cleveland, and Detroit were the heart of our industrial production, while many military bases were located in the southeast.
Because I-81 generally runs from southwest to northeast, it's really not ideal as an alternative from the "Rust Belt" to the South... you have to go too far east to pick it up, and then it takes you too far west as it goes south.
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