I-77 choices

NC Hauler wrote:
... It's a good highway, but as ricitic explained, from Flat Top (Ski Resort, Winter Place just outside of Beckley to Charleston is Toll road)....don't know why, but it is...( I figure I own a couple of slabs of that concrete part of I77:)

That section from Beckley to Charleston was originally built back in the '50s as the West Virginia Turnpike. This was in the days before the Interstate System existed, there weren't big barrels of federal highway money. The State set up a Turnpike Commission to build and manage the highway, and the commission sold bonds to finance the construction. Those bonds are paid off through the collection of tolls, which also pay for routine maintenance, plowing and salting, etc.

I bet most of you have never seen a two-lane turnpike. The original WVTurnpike was one lane in each direction, with the occasional 3-lane section where passing was permitted in either direction! Rest stops were on one side or the other, with crossovers for traffic on the other side of the highway.

When the Turnpike was added to the Interstate System, numerous upgrades were made, including 4-laning of the entire length, elimination of the rest stop crossovers, etc. It's one of the most scenic highways (I think) in the Eastern U.S., although my personal preference is U.S. 219 from Lewisburg to Davis WV.

Allworth wrote:
Interstate is Interstate.

There are Federal design limits on grades, curves, lane widths, and bridge clearances. What you see at home is what you get anywhere else.

I spent years doing highway design and construction and there is no way around the FHWA rules when you are dealing with Interstates.

Not necessarily true.....You travel I 26 from Johnson/Kingsport TN and it is ROUGH....You travel 26 just about anywhere else and it's smooth...Travel I 77 in northern WV, its ROUGH, drive it from border to about Beckley and it's SMOOTH....some interstates are in better shape than others...

not all the same...some have three lanes of highway going up some long steep grades, some don't...some have three lanes going down long grades...some down...that blanket statement about "what you see is what you get" depends on how well they've been maintained..just a fact:)

NC Hauler wrote:
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It is faster and again, even going through the Toll gates, you'll have no issues. The drive is very scenic and all 4 to 6 lane highway....shouldn't be a problem.

I enjoy I-77 and toll's amount to 7.50 each way (3 booths @ 2.50) I-40 from I-75 has steeper grades and more twisting curves. Randu

Interstate is Interstate.

There are Federal design limits on grades, curves, lane widths, and bridge clearances. What you see at home is what you get anywhere else.

I spent years doing highway design and construction and there is no way around the FHWA rules when you are dealing with Interstates.

I just made the trip down last fall and back again last week and the road is good and the toll isn't that much. There are three toll stations and pulling my fiver it was $2.50 each time.

Having been "born and raised" in Beckley, WV, and traveled I 77 on so many occasions, I've lost count, It's a good highway, but as ricitic explained, from Flat Top (Ski Resort, Winter Place just outside of Beckley to Charleston is Toll road)....don't know why, but it is...( I figure I own a couple of slabs of that concrete part of I77:)

It is faster and again, even going through the Toll gates, you'll have no issues. The drive is very scenic and all 4 to 6 lane highway....shouldn't be a problem.

I have ran both of these routes many times...if you are leaving from Columbia Station, it will be much shorter and less time taking I77...it is a good route but there are some tolls down south...but being from Ohio, you are likely used to that nonsense...

Being from Michigan, I take I75...much less time in Ohio for the Ohio Tax Collectors to try to steal some money...I do buy fuel in Ohio because it is usually several cents lower than in Michigan...

Regards