During the annual NFL Hall of Fame game in Canton they usually show I-77 in the background during their aerial views of the stadium while the game is in progress... it is awesome...
That 7 mile drive out of the mountains at the very end of the Virginia leg of I 77 is just awesome. Lots of runaway truck ramps (which I'm surprised wasn't mentioned)
Interstate 77 Southbound is my favorite because I like looking at the Appalachian Mountains, Lake Norman, and Charlotte, NC and Charleston, WV skylines when going south.
I-77, fun road to drive with all the mountains and curves… Keeps a driver engaged! Yeah, Statesville: I-77&40 interchange, the contractor must be putting his kids through college and law school, cause it’s taking like 7 years to complete!!
"The Baker Mayfield Highway"! Hilarious, Todd! The AFC North and the NFC South actually faceoff against each other this 2022 season and the Browns will see the Panthers at some point. It'd be so funny if the announcer addressed it at the beginning of the game: "Welcome everyone, to the I-77, Baker Mayfield Highway matchup"!
Marietta is a pretty significant stop on 77S. This is where truckers get off to adjust their weight before crossing into WV. There is another exit for Marietta. It’s a couple miles north of the main exit.
@@mxderate I think both this and the fact that Marietta is the state line make it a good choice for a secondary. it should not be the primary city. I still think Charleston should be the primary city. Unlike Texarkana or KC, Marietta is not big enough to be the primary. In my opinion, a city being on or near a state line is not enough to make it a control city if that is the only thing going for it. The overheads should say Marietta/Charleston, or just Charleston.
@@ianp1745 I completely agree. However, I'd just leave out Marietta and go straight for Charleston like you say, if not Parkersburg. (Although I do get why they sign it for truck traffic.)
Finally I-77, an Interstate I used to live on and have traveled on alot; I used to live just south of Charlotte NC in Fort Mill SC, beautiful town. I love this kind of content that you make, I'm a huge road enthusiast and I love the Interstate Highway system and just how all of that works. Love It!!
Here's why I'm excited: 1. We will be re-visiting 4 states we haven't been to in a while! (California, Nevada, Utah, Wyoming) 2. Lot's of interesting control city situations. 3. Goes through what used to be my hometown! (Strongsville, OH) 4. 2nd largest Interstate in the US. 5. Can't wait for Todd's rant on Wyoming and PA's control cities on 80.
As I-77 ends south at a Columbia, SC suburb named Cayce, SC on the other side of the Congaree River and county line, we find a nice 6-way interchange there that links I-26, US 21/US 176/US 321, and Fish Hatchery Rd.
I just drove on that part of I 77 the other day at the N.C. S.C. border. We went to Carrowinds which at this point, I am surprised North Carolina signed Columbia instead of Carrowinds. Great video as always!
Great video as always Todd! I thought for sure when you read off the Statesville Control City, you were gonna flash the North Carolina meme on the screen. Oh well. Looking forward to I-78!
Todd, before the construction on the 77/40 interchange, I-40 west was signed for Hickory instead of Asheville and I-77 North was signed for Elkin, a very small town in nc instead of Wytheville so at least the control cities have improved greatly at that interchange
From Cleveland, 490 is the east bound entrance to 77 south from 90, there was a direct southbound entrance up until about 2012, at which time the replaced and widened the 90 bridge going over the Cuyahoga river and eliminated that exit/entrance, during construction 490 became the detour to 77 and they just left it like that
and it really makes more sense to take 490 from 90E over to 77 .... the way that the 77/90 interchange squeezes into downtown, there wasn't a lot of feasibility for a direct 77S ramp from 90E. 90 is already tight enough as is with that L-curve about 2 miles north of the 77S interchange.
I have had to make trips back and forth from Charlotte to Cincinnati and the toll is $25.50 round trip. It is $4.25 per booth and there are 3 booths in either direction for a total of 6. I ended up avoiding this route in general and now use I-40 to I-75.
Been to the football hall of fame. It was the first year a Tampa Bay Buccaneer was inducted into the hall and that was Lee Roy Selmon. The Same year someone stole the OJ Simpson Bust and threw it out on I 77 near Downtown Cleveland.
Can’t wait to see I-78 next! Not only will we be going to New York for the first time in that video, we’ll also be setting foot in New York City itself as I-78 ends on the outskirts of NYC! (In Manhattan I think) Also, do you plan on doing videos on Hawaii’s interstates too? We can’t forget those of course.
Funny that they still sign Richfield for I 271. The only sign of the Richfield Coliseum is an open field next to a farm and Richfield is a small town. Maybe a suburb like Mayfield. Big Mall. Back in Pa. Next week. The Coliseum closed in 1988 or around not sure.
Looking it up ,Richfield coliseum opened October 26, 1974 and Closed September 24 1994. Demolished March- May 1999. Saw Foreigner and Billy Squire. Billy opened supporting the Don't Say No Album and Foreigner supported the 4 Album. November 1981. The 15th to be exact.
On I-77 Southbound in WV as you approach the 77/64 split near Beckley, there is one separate gantry showing I-64 East to Richmond and I-77 South to Charlotte. You must not have seen that on GSV. I understand you dislike Lewisburg and Bluefield as the usual WV control cities, but WV deserves at least some credit for the separate special one-time gantry for the long-range control cities. (I-95 South in Petersburg, VA has one like this as you approach the 95/85 split: I-95 South to Miami, I-85 South to Atlanta. I hope you will find and show that one in either the 85 or 95 video, or both.)
There is one SB millage sign in Ohio that does mention Charleston. However it's in an out of ordinary place it's not right after an interchange which most millage signs are.
I can only guess the reason Bristol is used as a control city is because NASCAR has a race track there which has been in the area since 1960 and they race there twice a year.
Always thought I-77 should be extended south from I-26 to Savannah Ga along the 321 corridor crossing the Savannah River where U.S. 17 does ending at I-16. I-95 and I-26 have some very annoying traffic clogs. The 321 corridor runs through some very poor and run down towns. Speaking of Bojangles, they have a location in Mt Vernon, Illinois and Blytheville, Arkansas. Both are in Loves truck stops.
@@ControlCityFreak That’s the Yeager Airport. I don’t think it’s really visible from 77/64 even though it is close to downtown. But the view of the gold-domed WV state Capitol building is great. (I don’t recall; I think you did show that on the 64 video.)
5:20 I saw some additional off-to-the-side signs before the split that guide you to Richmond VA and Charlotte NC, and which roads to take (I-64 goes to Richmond, I-77 goes to Charlotte).
Just out of curiosity, have you read the manual of required rules that MUST be followed for setting control cities? One of the main rules that must be followed is that the highway must flow directly to the control city. As far as signing Bristol (TN or VA), you do realize that there is a famous NASCAR track in Bristol that thousands of people attend throughout the year (and hosts a Christmas light display during December). Bristol is an appropriate city. As far as Marietta goes, it is signed because it is a city that the highway flows through and it is between Parkersburg and Canton. It is also in-state (and the drivers of Ohio prefer an Ohio control city).
You have no idea Todd. Construction has been ongoing at the 77/40 interchange for the better part of a decade. I think they're trying to see how big a mess they can make before everyone gets angry enough to pull the plug. And really 277 doesn't go anywhere, it's just a loop around downtown. I call it the 4.5 mile Freeway of the Damned because I hate getting on it and can never remember which way I need to go.
I think that, from Canton through the I-70 junction, it should probably be signed I-77 South Cambridge (that being the 77/70 junction, which has three exits).
@@StewartUSAF AASHTO? They don't even do the best job. Sure, Interstate junction, but has anyone heard of the place? Is Cambridge anyone's final destination?
@@mxderate Frankly with how many people Charleston continues to lose it may not be too long before it won't have many more than Parkersburg for whatever reason nobody but me agrees it should be a control city.
Some of the Southbound ramps in Canton are signed for Cambridge. Also the building that you showed was the Tamarack was actually not the Tamarack, but actually the building at the rest area there, the Tamarack actually has a window rood of several triangles.
Yes, you are correct: the building Todd showed was the rest area building, not the round, very distinctive Tamarack building where the West Virginia craft shop is located.
When driving from NE Ohio south on I77 Marietta is a good stopping point. Easily accessible food and fuel plus stores for necessary items missed during last minute packing. This is where we most likely make a driver change as well. BTW Charlotte is awful to drive through on I77, early Sunday morning would be my best recommendation.
That's completely useless for long-distance traffic. If you were going to Winston-Salem, you'd get off at I-74 East in Mount Airy. If you were going to Asheville, you'd have taken I-81 South to Bristol and switched to I-26 East. Statesville is not a proper control city, nor is it fit to be a navigation city. There are other ways to get to Winston-Salem and Asheville from Wytheville.
@@samseddmedia What if you're not going to those cities tho? You have to stay on 77 to go to Charlotte, and you pass right by Statesville where you would exit to get on I 40 to also go to Asheville, which is about 100 west on 40 or Winston-Salem which is about 40 miles east. I'm not saying it's right or wrong, but just trying to understand why NC uses Statesville as a control city.
Bristol is a combined 50k roughly. It's not as bad as some. Clarksburg is bad though for 79 in Charleston. But as you said about Erie, you wouldn't go south to go north to Pittsburgh or Washington PA. Morgantown you would go east on 70 then south on 79. So by default, Clarksburg does make some sense. However, going north on 77, definitely should be Morgantown or Pittsburgh. And yes Statesville going south is terrible. Absolutely should be Charlotte from at least Wytheville if not Charleston WV.
you pronounced wythville like withville and it should be like whythville also bristol makes sense because it’s a pretty big city and it has some good attraction
A weird signage thing that SC does around Columbia... I-20 has interchanges with 26 and 77 on the outskirts of the city, but going east, only 77 gets signed for Charleston. Not 26, which goes directly to Charleston. So SC expects drivers on 20 East to shoot past 26, get off on 77 South, and loop back around to 26 to go to Charleston? Or did they install the signs in the wrong direction? 😄 Because going west on 20, 77 South to Charleston makes much more sense.
Samm Said's "The Way It Should Be" for I-77 Southbound: Akron (Junction with I-76, which Westbound Canton (I-277) and Columbus (I-71)) Youngstown/Canton (I-76 East goes to Youngstown) Canton/Charleston Parkersburg/Charleston (skip over Cambridge and Marietta) Charleston Charleston/Huntington (traffic from I-79 to I-64 West goes to Huntington/Lexington) Beckley Richmond/Charlotte (skip over Bluefield and Lewisburg/I-64 goes to Richmond) Wytheville Bristol/Charlotte (I-81 South goes to Bristol/Knoxville) Charlotte/Roanoke (I-81 North goes to Roanoke) Winston-Salem/Charlotte (I-74 to US 52 goes to Winston-Salem) Charlotte (skip over Statesville) Columbia Charleston (I-26 East goes there) If there's anything you'd leave out on this list, please let me know.
I can understand North Carolina signing Statesville because it's at the junction of I-77 and I-40. In the end, I agree with you-- it should be Charlotte.
Yes, the gorgeous view of the North Carolina Piedmont and Yadkin River valley, as you descend from the Blue Ridge plateau at Fancy Gap for the last 7 miles of I-77 SB in Virginia. The distant view of Pilot Mountain in the background is always striking if it’s clear enough.
I could also justify adding in Cambridge, OH after Canton. Although it is not a big city, it is the junction with I-70 and does have several motels and gas stations. There is a lack of large cities from Akron to Charleston WV (and it's a stretch to call Charleston a large city), but many smaller towns and cities
before it was completed, i-77 from i-26 to Bluff Rd was supposed to be signed as i-326 , and in Akron the exit numbers on the concurrency are from i-76, not i-77
Hey Todd, just want to let you know that when you get to I 87 near Albany they sign a CANADIAN CITY! How cool is that for them to not sign like Plattsburgh or something lol
Yep. They sign Montreal. New York does a great job with control cities. Montreal does make sense out of Albany as it is the 2nd largest city in Canada, and a fairly well known city to both Canadians and Americans.
FWIW, for “provincial” (essentially secondary) control city choices within WV, Princeton seems to me to be a much better choice than Bluefield (for both 77 SB and NB). Princeton and Bluefield are similar sizes in terms of population. Bluefield has never had much in the way of services available anywhere near its one exit, and lately has been losing what few services it had. In contrast, the Princeton exit has loads of convenient services, and is an important regional interchange with US 460, the Appalachian Regional Highway Corridor Q, especially for traffic going toward Blacksburg/Virginia Tech and Roanoke.
It's fun to predict what you're going to say about Interstate 78. I'm pretty sure you'll approve of Harrisburg and Allentown as control cities in the western part of the route, you might think Phillipsburg is a provincial choice of New Jersey, but I know you're going to be annoyed at how often 78 westbound is signed for Clinton in NJ lol.
On I-77 Southbound in VA, approaching Wytheville, there is a mileage sign listing Wytheville, Bristol, and Roanoke. No mention of any NC I-77 (or TN I-81 or I-40) destinations. I was hoping you might see that one and comment on it.
The Baker Mayfield Highway…it never occurred to me before until you mentioned it 🤔😂 I wonder if Cleveland and Charlotte reach the Super Bowl, would they rename 1-77? 🤪🙄
@@ControlCityFreak I'd 100% consider both states. Plus, you can go on the Hawaii Interstates. I wouldn't recommend doing the Alaska Interstates as they are unsigned and really are more like US Highways.
In Charlotte, the central business district is know as "Uptown" not downtown. Not sure why. There is reference to this on the sign in the background at 9:25.
Man.. I really want some Bojangles now that I can't get here. Thanks for that lol anyways I don't know why Marietta so much, but they do it both ways. Maybe there's something going on there that we don't know. Southern Ohio is also very pretty, underrated I would say, so maybe they think we are so distracted so we won't notice. Tamarack is signed "The best of West Virginia". A rest area is the best thing you have? No wonder that state is shrinking in population so quickly. I don't know why they just don't sign Charlotte most of the way until you get there, with maybe Bristol because you join I-81. I don't have a problem with Bristol with Knoxville being so far off. If you are suggesting Knoxville from here then why not sign Atlanta? Bristol seems like a good choice. Hey why don't we all show up in Statesville on the same day. We could probably double it's population and NC could finally have a good reason to sign it lol
Next up, finally an NYC area interstate I-78. Cant wait to see how he handles the conrtol cities in NYC. And the fact that the road has traffic lights. And that it doesnt connect to ANY of its auxiliary routes
If you have grass allergies, avoid US 35/I-64/I-77 when Ohio and WV are cutting grass. I was heading down towards Charlotte, and by the time I arrived at the Love's in Bland, VA, it felt as though I had glasses of water on my eyes. Called my dispatcher, told her that I couldn't see anything, and was going to shower and drug myself up on Benadryl. I slept for 4 hours and felt *wonderful*. Traversing the Appalachians with horrible allergies is NOT fun. Violently sneezing and hitting my head on the steering wheel while trying to slow down for a toll booth was a new experience.
At the US 460 exit near Bluefield I’d like to see an exit sign for to 81 North - Roanoke, with the pull through sign for 77 also saying to 81 South - Knoxville (or Bristol). Not a fan of signing interstate junction towns as control cities. I don’t think that registers with most long distance travelers, unless of course you’re from Baltimore and traveling I-15 or I-70 in Utah.
The US 460 exit (exit 9) is the Princeton exit. It is currently signed for 460 East only to Pearisburg, VA. I like your idea of adding “To I-81 North: Roanoke” and pull-through “To I-81 South”. That is actually the route which I-73, if it is ever built as planned along the current US 460 corridor (Appalachian Corridor Q), will go to join I-81 to Roanoke.
I disagree about Beckley and Wytheville. I don't think splits are a good reason to sign it. Plus, if you sign Wytheville, then it would only make sense to sign Fort Chiswell as well.
Origin’s the way it should be: Akron Canton Charleston, WV Wytheville Charlotte/Roanoke Charlotte (at I-81 split) Charlotte/Winston-Salem (from NC border to I-74 split) Charlotte Columbia Charleston, SC
What would everyone (Todd and everyone else) think if, in VA on I-81 Southbound past Wytheville, VA signed “Tri-Cities” instead of Bristol (or Knoxville)? The Bristol/Kingsport/Johnson City area is known as the “Tri-Cities”. (May be better left as a topic for the I-81 Southbound video.)
@@ControlCityFreak Signing I-81 South with Knoxville over Bristol or Tri-Cities is what I figured you’d say. I don’t necessarily disagree; I just thought Tri-Cities was another alternative that was worth bringing up. (And you’re the expert and it’s your channel!) I hope you know how much I appreciate your taking all the time to put these interesting videos together each week and then read and answer the comments. We get lots of interesting discussion out of this, and it’s informative, too! Thanks!!!
It's sort of a business loop through Columbia. A Freeway ending up on surface streets. The surface streets connect with I 126. I 126 was unsigned but I'm not certain if it still is.
Northbound, yes. Should be Morgantown/Pittsburgh. Southbound, probably not. Morgantown doesn’t make much sense either southbound with US 50 in Parkersburg, but at least you’re keeping it in state, and probably only short-distance traffic headed that way.
“I-77 Southbound from Cleveland to Charlotte, the Baker Mayfield Highway”! Love it! 😂👍🏼✔️🏈
Thanks!
As a native Oklahoman and a Sooners fan I love it even more.
That was well done 😂😂
During the annual NFL Hall of Fame game in Canton they usually show I-77 in the background during their aerial views of the stadium while the game is in progress... it is awesome...
Nice!
That 7 mile drive out of the mountains at the very end of the Virginia leg of I 77 is just awesome. Lots of runaway truck ramps (which I'm surprised wasn't mentioned)
Interstate 77 Southbound is my favorite because I like looking at the Appalachian Mountains, Lake Norman, and Charlotte, NC and Charleston, WV skylines when going south.
It’s pretty awesome looking!
Also a good view of the Cleveland skyline going NB.
@@mxderate I have only been I-77 Northbound from Charlotte, NC to Charleston, VA. It’s hard to see the Charlotte skyline on the Northbound side.
@@tigerraven7552 1. You mean Charleston, WV? 2. I said Cleveland, not Charlotte.
The Lake you pass over is Lake Norman. Very well known. Also, the "Panthers Stadium" is currently Bank of America Stadium.
I-77, fun road to drive with all the mountains and curves… Keeps a driver engaged! Yeah, Statesville: I-77&40 interchange, the contractor must be putting his kids through college and law school, cause it’s taking like 7 years to complete!!
"The Baker Mayfield Highway"! Hilarious, Todd! The AFC North and the NFC South actually faceoff against each other this 2022 season and the Browns will see the Panthers at some point. It'd be so funny if the announcer addressed it at the beginning of the game: "Welcome everyone, to the I-77, Baker Mayfield Highway matchup"!
pretty sure its the season opener
Haha that would be awesome! They play in Week 1 lol. In Carolina though, a Baker Bowl in Cleveland would definitely be a bigger deal
The I 77 bowl
Wish Carowinds was pictured when you showed the SC border
Marietta is a pretty significant stop on 77S. This is where truckers get off to adjust their weight before crossing into WV. There is another exit for Marietta. It’s a couple miles north of the main exit.
That's literally the definition of a secondary. The next substantial town with services.
@@mxderate I think both this and the fact that Marietta is the state line make it a good choice for a secondary. it should not be the primary city. I still think Charleston should be the primary city. Unlike Texarkana or KC, Marietta is not big enough to be the primary. In my opinion, a city being on or near a state line is not enough to make it a control city if that is the only thing going for it. The overheads should say Marietta/Charleston, or just Charleston.
@@ianp1745 Agreed.
@@ianp1745 I completely agree. However, I'd just leave out Marietta and go straight for Charleston like you say, if not Parkersburg. (Although I do get why they sign it for truck traffic.)
@@ianp1745or go straight for Charlotte. Charlotte is the only city over 50k population after Canton so either one would work
Finally I-77, an Interstate I used to live on and have traveled on alot; I used to live just south of Charlotte NC in Fort Mill SC, beautiful town. I love this kind of content that you make, I'm a huge road enthusiast and I love the Interstate Highway system and just how all of that works. Love It!!
Thanks!
Im getting more and more excited for I-80 as a Nebraskan
It’ll be a cool one!
That’s be an interesting one, so many cities that shouldn’t be there. Especially in Wyoming and Pennsylvania!
@@highway2heaven91 Yeah those are two horrible DoTs. And for once, California does a good job on an entire Interstate.
Here's why I'm excited:
1. We will be re-visiting 4 states we haven't been to in a while! (California, Nevada, Utah, Wyoming)
2. Lot's of interesting control city situations.
3. Goes through what used to be my hometown! (Strongsville, OH)
4. 2nd largest Interstate in the US.
5. Can't wait for Todd's rant on Wyoming and PA's control cities on 80.
@@mxderate lots of important CA Cities
As I-77 ends south at a Columbia, SC suburb named Cayce, SC on the other side of the Congaree River and county line, we find a nice 6-way interchange there that links I-26, US 21/US 176/US 321, and Fish Hatchery Rd.
Nice!
Nice!
I just drove on that part of I 77 the other day at the N.C. S.C. border. We went to Carrowinds which at this point, I am surprised North Carolina signed Columbia instead of Carrowinds. Great video as always!
Thanks!
There is Charlotte on a sign at the 64/77 split near Beckley.
Great video as always Todd! I thought for sure when you read off the Statesville Control City, you were gonna flash the North Carolina meme on the screen. Oh well. Looking forward to I-78!
Thanks, me too!
Todd, before the construction on the 77/40 interchange, I-40 west was signed for Hickory instead of Asheville and I-77 North was signed for Elkin, a very small town in nc instead of Wytheville so at least the control cities have improved greatly at that interchange
Hickory lol. I thought it was just signed as the turnoff to Charlotte
From Cleveland, 490 is the east bound entrance to 77 south from 90, there was a direct southbound entrance up until about 2012, at which time the replaced and widened the 90 bridge going over the Cuyahoga river and eliminated that exit/entrance, during construction 490 became the detour to 77 and they just left it like that
and it really makes more sense to take 490 from 90E over to 77 .... the way that the 77/90 interchange squeezes into downtown, there wasn't a lot of feasibility for a direct 77S ramp from 90E. 90 is already tight enough as is with that L-curve about 2 miles north of the 77S interchange.
Going thru Canton on hof day is fun….
Said no one ever. 77 is a nice ride.
I have had to make trips back and forth from Charlotte to Cincinnati and the toll is $25.50 round trip. It is $4.25 per booth and there are 3 booths in either direction for a total of 6. I ended up avoiding this route in general and now use I-40 to I-75.
Yes, $12.75 in each direction on the WV Turnpike.
7:35 Todd PREACH! 😂🤣
Been to the football hall of fame. It was the first year a Tampa Bay Buccaneer was inducted into the hall and that was Lee Roy Selmon. The Same year someone stole the OJ Simpson Bust and threw it out on I 77 near Downtown Cleveland.
Probably not the best omen for OJ and freeways
WVDOT has a great overhead sign near the 64/77 junction pulling traffic through to Richmond/Charlotte respectively!
Literally the only good sign in WV
I been to the Pro football hall of fame
The defunct Cleveland Barons also played in Richfield
I love going on I-77 south. I take this to Pigeon Forge, TN via the WV Turnpike to Wytheville, 81 to the end in TN, and 40 to exit 407.
Bojangles is wonderful, my only criticism is that there are none where I live. Maybe you can get them to sponsor you? 🤣
Would be awesome. They definitely have my endorsement!
Can’t wait to see I-78 next! Not only will we be going to New York for the first time in that video, we’ll also be setting foot in New York City itself as I-78 ends on the outskirts of NYC! (In Manhattan I think)
Also, do you plan on doing videos on Hawaii’s interstates too? We can’t forget those of course.
H1 H2 and H3
While we are at it, a portion of the Glenn Highway in Alaska is secret Interstate A1 and meets interstate standards. Why not sign it?
I plan to do those. AK too.
@@armandoperez7967 H-201 too.
@@ControlCityFreak AK's Interstates are unsigned.
Funny that they still sign Richfield for I 271. The only sign of the Richfield Coliseum is an open field next to a farm and Richfield is a small town. Maybe a suburb like Mayfield. Big Mall. Back in Pa. Next week. The Coliseum closed in 1988 or around not sure.
Oh yeah that’s been a while now. I thought it was still Richfield in the 90s in all those Jordan games
Looking it up ,Richfield coliseum opened October 26, 1974 and Closed September 24 1994. Demolished March- May 1999. Saw Foreigner and Billy Squire. Billy opened supporting the Don't Say No Album and Foreigner supported the 4 Album. November 1981. The 15th to be exact.
On I-77 Southbound in WV as you approach the 77/64 split near Beckley, there is one separate gantry showing I-64 East to Richmond and I-77 South to Charlotte. You must not have seen that on GSV. I understand you dislike Lewisburg and Bluefield as the usual WV control cities, but WV deserves at least some credit for the separate special one-time gantry for the long-range control cities. (I-95 South in Petersburg, VA has one like this as you approach the 95/85 split: I-95 South to Miami, I-85 South to Atlanta. I hope you will find and show that one in either the 85 or 95 video, or both.)
Good point, I missed that sign.
One of my favorite highways to drive in NC! Thanks
Looks awesome!
There is one SB millage sign in Ohio that does mention Charleston. However it's in an out of ordinary place it's not right after an interchange which most millage signs are.
Oh cool, wish I’d seen it
@@ControlCityFreak It's right at the Church Hill Road overpass which is just north of Kimbolton.
I can only guess the reason Bristol is used as a control city is because NASCAR has a race track there which has been in the area since 1960 and they race there twice a year.
Always thought I-77 should be extended south from I-26 to Savannah Ga along the
321 corridor crossing the Savannah River where U.S. 17 does ending at I-16. I-95 and I-26 have some very annoying traffic clogs. The 321 corridor runs through some very poor and run down towns.
Speaking of Bojangles, they have a location in Mt Vernon, Illinois and Blytheville, Arkansas. Both are in Loves truck stops.
Driving 77 through Charleston WV one of the landmarks is the airport on the mountain top near downtown. Not recommended for nervous flyers
Oh wow, haven’t seen that
@@ControlCityFreak That’s the Yeager Airport. I don’t think it’s really visible from 77/64 even though it is close to downtown. But the view of the gold-domed WV state Capitol building is great. (I don’t recall; I think you did show that on the 64 video.)
I went to Marietta for Thanksgiving one year.
5:20 I saw some additional off-to-the-side signs before the split that guide you to Richmond VA and Charlotte NC, and which roads to take (I-64 goes to Richmond, I-77 goes to Charlotte).
Just out of curiosity, have you read the manual of required rules that MUST be followed for setting control cities? One of the main rules that must be followed is that the highway must flow directly to the control city.
As far as signing Bristol (TN or VA), you do realize that there is a famous NASCAR track in Bristol that thousands of people attend throughout the year (and hosts a Christmas light display during December). Bristol is an appropriate city.
As far as Marietta goes, it is signed because it is a city that the highway flows through and it is between Parkersburg and Canton. It is also in-state (and the drivers of Ohio prefer an Ohio control city).
There aren’t any rules that must be followed, just suggestions. There are tons and tons of cases of signing cities that aren’t on the highway’s route
That would mean that LA can't be signed on 15. There is no rule about control cities.
Ok.. there's 1. It can't be stupid.
@@mxderate Plenty of pretty stupid ones out there
@@ControlCityFreak LIMON
@@ControlCityFreak Limon and Cape Girardeau: couldn't be me
You have no idea Todd. Construction has been ongoing at the 77/40 interchange for the better part of a decade. I think they're trying to see how big a mess they can make before everyone gets angry enough to pull the plug. And really 277 doesn't go anywhere, it's just a loop around downtown. I call it the 4.5 mile Freeway of the Damned because I hate getting on it and can never remember which way I need to go.
The 40/77 interchange rebuild is now projected to be done in 2023 (not this year)
I-78 is my home interstate in Allentown! Can't wait for it! I-79 after this will be cool. I-80, I-85, I-90, and I-95 are probably the most hyped.
Will be cool!
They should extend 77 to Savannah, GA.
Ahh North Carolina’s obsession with statesville strikes again.
Great video Todd. 2 more to go to get in the 80s
Yep!
I think that, from Canton through the I-70 junction, it should probably be signed I-77 South Cambridge (that being the 77/70 junction, which has three exits).
I wouldn't sign a city just because of an Interstate junction. I'd go straight to Charleston out of Canton.
@@mxderate Interstate junction is one of AASHTO's guidelines for Control Cities.
@@StewartUSAF AASHTO? They don't even do the best job. Sure, Interstate junction, but has anyone heard of the place? Is Cambridge anyone's final destination?
@@mxderate Frankly with how many people Charleston continues to lose it may not be too long before it won't have many more than Parkersburg for whatever reason nobody but me agrees it should be a control city.
@@dvferyance True. But right now it still has a much bigger metro population than any other city near it.
Bristol TN is a city because most NASCAR shops are located off of Interstate 77 in Charlotte
Cleveland-Canton-Charlotte-Columbia nearly all major cities on this route start with a C
Also 4:36 is the 2nd toll plaza, not the first
Looking forward to next week's I-78, as I live close to its east end in NYC. Plus, I think you will "enjoy" the control cities on this route.
They look interesting so far
The title has south in it so this video will be two part
@@alexthemtaandr211weatherfa2 he did northbound already, so I-78 is next unless he has other plans
I 78 is the closest Interstate from my house
@@alexthemtaandr211weatherfa2 he already did NB before SB.
Some of the Southbound ramps in Canton are signed for Cambridge.
Also the building that you showed was the Tamarack was actually not the Tamarack, but actually the building at the rest area there, the Tamarack actually has a window rood of several triangles.
Yes, you are correct: the building Todd showed was the rest area building, not the round, very distinctive Tamarack building where the West Virginia craft shop is located.
When driving from NE Ohio south on I77 Marietta is a good stopping point. Easily accessible food and fuel plus stores for necessary items missed during last minute packing. This is where we most likely make a driver change as well. BTW Charlotte is awful to drive through on I77, early Sunday morning would be my best recommendation.
True, but that’s what makes Marietta a perfect secondary
Total toll on the WV Trpke is $12.75, Statesville is for I-40 crosses I-77, plus not as bad as PA.
Not sure why Charleston, SC is included as a control city, since I 77 ends in Columbia.
I believe the reason Statesville is included is because I 40 goes thru it and you exit off at Exit 51 to access it.
That's completely useless for long-distance traffic. If you were going to Winston-Salem, you'd get off at I-74 East in Mount Airy. If you were going to Asheville, you'd have taken I-81 South to Bristol and switched to I-26 East. Statesville is not a proper control city, nor is it fit to be a navigation city. There are other ways to get to Winston-Salem and Asheville from Wytheville.
@@samseddmedia What if you're not going to those cities tho? You have to stay on 77 to go to Charlotte, and you pass right by Statesville where you would exit to get on I 40 to also go to Asheville, which is about 100 west on 40 or Winston-Salem which is about 40 miles east. I'm not saying it's right or wrong, but just trying to understand why NC uses Statesville as a control city.
Interstate 78 East/West is next. I am so excited for this for the next two weeks
Bristol is a combined 50k roughly. It's not as bad as some.
Clarksburg is bad though for 79 in Charleston. But as you said about Erie, you wouldn't go south to go north to Pittsburgh or Washington PA. Morgantown you would go east on 70 then south on 79. So by default, Clarksburg does make some sense. However, going north on 77, definitely should be Morgantown or Pittsburgh.
And yes Statesville going south is terrible. Absolutely should be Charlotte from at least Wytheville if not Charleston WV.
The Baker Mayfield highway lol, that is great.
you pronounced wythville like withville and it should be like whythville
also bristol makes sense because it’s a pretty big city and it has some good attraction
Mod's the way it should be:
Akron, Canton, Charleston, Richmond/Charlotte, Charlotte, Columbia, Charleston
A weird signage thing that SC does around Columbia... I-20 has interchanges with 26 and 77 on the outskirts of the city, but going east, only 77 gets signed for Charleston. Not 26, which goes directly to Charleston.
So SC expects drivers on 20 East to shoot past 26, get off on 77 South, and loop back around to 26 to go to Charleston? Or did they install the signs in the wrong direction? 😄 Because going west on 20, 77 South to Charleston makes much more sense.
Samm Said's "The Way It Should Be" for I-77 Southbound:
Akron (Junction with I-76, which Westbound Canton (I-277) and Columbus (I-71))
Youngstown/Canton (I-76 East goes to Youngstown)
Canton/Charleston
Parkersburg/Charleston (skip over Cambridge and Marietta)
Charleston
Charleston/Huntington (traffic from I-79 to I-64 West goes to Huntington/Lexington)
Beckley
Richmond/Charlotte (skip over Bluefield and Lewisburg/I-64 goes to Richmond)
Wytheville
Bristol/Charlotte (I-81 South goes to Bristol/Knoxville)
Charlotte/Roanoke (I-81 North goes to Roanoke)
Winston-Salem/Charlotte (I-74 to US 52 goes to Winston-Salem)
Charlotte (skip over Statesville)
Columbia
Charleston (I-26 East goes there)
If there's anything you'd leave out on this list, please let me know.
Solid
I love roads and my favorite interstate is i-80
80 is awesome!
@@ControlCityFreak agreed
I agree!
I can understand North Carolina signing Statesville because it's at the junction of I-77 and I-40. In the end, I agree with you-- it should be Charlotte.
You did not mention the incredible views towards the East as 77 descends from the high mountains.
Yes, the gorgeous view of the North Carolina Piedmont and Yadkin River valley, as you descend from the Blue Ridge plateau at Fancy Gap for the last 7 miles of I-77 SB in Virginia. The distant view of Pilot Mountain in the background is always striking if it’s clear enough.
I could also justify adding in Cambridge, OH after Canton. Although it is not a big city, it is the junction with I-70 and does have several motels and gas stations. There is a lack of large cities from Akron to Charleston WV (and it's a stretch to call Charleston a large city), but many smaller towns and cities
True, but I feel like Cambridge is a perfect definition of a secondary.
That's literally the definition of a secondary. Next substantial place with services.
before it was completed, i-77 from i-26 to Bluff Rd was supposed to be signed as i-326 , and in Akron the exit numbers on the concurrency are from i-76, not i-77
Hey Todd, just want to let you know that when you get to I 87 near Albany they sign a CANADIAN CITY! How cool is that for them to not sign like Plattsburgh or something lol
Awesome!
Yep. They sign Montreal. New York does a great job with control cities.
Montreal does make sense out of Albany as it is the 2nd largest city in Canada, and a fairly well known city to both Canadians and Americans.
Bojangles' is life.
i think instead of 77 south marietta it should be parkersburg its right below marietta
Why? Charleston is much more famous then Parkersburg.
Because there’s a NASCAR race track in Bristol
Still not a good reason. Not everyone knows NASCAR.
*Bluefield and Lewisburg:*
At least we're bigger than Limon!!!
*Limon:*
That hurt man, that hurt.
Lol
FWIW, for “provincial” (essentially secondary) control city choices within WV, Princeton seems to me to be a much better choice than Bluefield (for both 77 SB and NB). Princeton and Bluefield are similar sizes in terms of population. Bluefield has never had much in the way of services available anywhere near its one exit, and lately has been losing what few services it had. In contrast, the Princeton exit has loads of convenient services, and is an important regional interchange with US 460, the Appalachian Regional Highway Corridor Q, especially for traffic going toward Blacksburg/Virginia Tech and Roanoke.
@@jbm71 That's the definition of a secondary. Next substantial town with services.
@@mxderate Yes, I acknowledged that in my comment.
bristol has the nascar track and nascar traffic trying to get there
It's fun to predict what you're going to say about Interstate 78. I'm pretty sure you'll approve of Harrisburg and Allentown as control cities in the western part of the route, you might think Phillipsburg is a provincial choice of New Jersey, but I know you're going to be annoyed at how often 78 westbound is signed for Clinton in NJ lol.
Is I-78 at least signed for NYC?
78 is cursed with provincial control cities
@@alexjones3511 It's signed for Newark for most of NJ, then it's signed for the Lincoln Tunnel.
Spoilers!
@@bonecanoe86 I knew that because I've been on almost every mile of 78 except east of Newark Airport
On I-77 Southbound in VA, approaching Wytheville, there is a mileage sign listing Wytheville, Bristol, and Roanoke. No mention of any NC I-77 (or TN I-81 or I-40) destinations. I was hoping you might see that one and comment on it.
That's being provincial there. All cities in VA.
@@mxderate …yes, and two of the three aren’t even on I-77…
@@jbm71 Yeah lol. I mean I'm all for cool mileage signs like that every once in a while but not those cities for sure.
They removed the east bound access to I 77 from I 90 to encourage people to stay on the Ohio turnpike.
The Baker Mayfield Highway…it never occurred to me before until you mentioned it 🤔😂
I wonder if Cleveland and Charlotte reach the Super Bowl, would they rename 1-77? 🤪🙄
If somehow Cleveland and Charlotte make the Super Bowl, I don’t see how they don’t rename it
@@ControlCityFreak No worries…neither will make it. At least for as long as Baker is in the NFL
3 questions 1. Is this video sponsered by Boangles? 2. What 2 states have you not been to? 3. Are you a NASCAR fan?
Not sponsored, but would be awesome if it were! I haven’t been to Alaska and Hawaii. Not a NASCAR guy at all
@@ControlCityFreak You should add Honolulu to your "Cities you haven't visited" list along with Detroit and Buffalo.
@@mxderate That was major league cities. No major league sports teams in HNL
@@ControlCityFreak Oh my bad.
@@ControlCityFreak I'd 100% consider both states. Plus, you can go on the Hawaii Interstates. I wouldn't recommend doing the Alaska Interstates as they are unsigned and really are more like US Highways.
In Charlotte, the central business district is know as "Uptown" not downtown. Not sure why. There is reference to this on the sign in the background at 9:25.
Oh cool I didn’t realize that, I thought Uptown was just a different neighborhood
Likely for Statesville, because its the crossroad between I-40 and I-77 for the military.
Because M*A*S*H was the 4077 unit?🙂👩⚕️🚑
I don't understand how I-74 just appears out of nowhere either. That and I-73 are a hot mess.
I don't mind I-73 since there seems some sort of plan at least. I-74 in North Carolina is a dumpster fire.
@@derekcabanaw1789 Same can be said about I-87.
@@dvferyance Shortest 2-digit road in the contiguous 48 states.
@@mxderate I thought that was I-97.
@@dvferyance 97 is the 2nd shortest. 22 miles vs. 12 miles on I-87.
Man.. I really want some Bojangles now that I can't get here. Thanks for that lol anyways I don't know why Marietta so much, but they do it both ways. Maybe there's something going on there that we don't know. Southern Ohio is also very pretty, underrated I would say, so maybe they think we are so distracted so we won't notice.
Tamarack is signed "The best of West Virginia". A rest area is the best thing you have? No wonder that state is shrinking in population so quickly.
I don't know why they just don't sign Charlotte most of the way until you get there, with maybe Bristol because you join I-81. I don't have a problem with Bristol with Knoxville being so far off. If you are suggesting Knoxville from here then why not sign Atlanta? Bristol seems like a good choice. Hey why don't we all show up in Statesville on the same day. We could probably double it's population and NC could finally have a good reason to sign it lol
Lol. Knoxville isn’t too far, less than 200 miles I think.
For me, souhbound I-77 would've sign cities as follows.:
-Akron, OH
-Canton, OH
•Charleston, WV
•Beckley, WV
•Wytheville, VA
•Charlotte, NC
•Columbia, SC
>Charleston, SC
this video was posted on my birthday!
Happy birthday!
Will I-78 be next week?
Next up, finally an NYC area interstate I-78. Cant wait to see how he handles the conrtol cities in NYC. And the fact that the road has traffic lights. And that it doesnt connect to ANY of its auxiliary routes
Will be fun!
Just a reminder for singing Bristol, Zoomers probably only know the speedway for being in a MrBeast video.
Bristol is probably signed cause of the motor speedway
That is exactly why Bristol is signed.
Nascar Virginia, Tennessee and North Carolina.
Yeah I’m sure that’s a big reason too
Bristol has a glorified exit ramp (I 381)
Interstate 44 is 20 miles longer than Interstate 77, but it was compressed into a single video, while Interstate 77 gets two videos.
44 have been 2. It’s long, but still rushed and missed some stuff.
Bristol is also home to a NASCAR track. NASCAR is serious business in the South
If you have grass allergies, avoid US 35/I-64/I-77 when Ohio and WV are cutting grass. I was heading down towards Charlotte, and by the time I arrived at the Love's in Bland, VA, it felt as though I had glasses of water on my eyes.
Called my dispatcher, told her that I couldn't see anything, and was going to shower and drug myself up on Benadryl.
I slept for 4 hours and felt *wonderful*.
Traversing the Appalachians with horrible allergies is NOT fun. Violently sneezing and hitting my head on the steering wheel while trying to slow down for a toll booth was a new experience.
I've ran that road millions of times
Lake Norman my girl grew up there
At the US 460 exit near Bluefield I’d like to see an exit sign for to 81 North - Roanoke, with the pull through sign for 77 also saying to 81 South - Knoxville (or Bristol).
Not a fan of signing interstate junction towns as control cities. I don’t think that registers with most long distance travelers, unless of course you’re from Baltimore and traveling I-15 or I-70 in Utah.
Good points!
The US 460 exit (exit 9) is the Princeton exit. It is currently signed for 460 East only to Pearisburg, VA. I like your idea of adding “To I-81 North: Roanoke” and pull-through “To I-81 South”.
That is actually the route which I-73, if it is ever built as planned along the current US 460 corridor (Appalachian Corridor Q), will go to join I-81 to Roanoke.
I know the next interstate is I-78 because it goes through New York City
Only for a mile or so
Yeah it's like both I-76s where we enter a new state only for a little bit that starts with N.
The interstate with stop lights in Jersey
Clarksburg and Fairmont on Interstate 79 have several federal government offices.
Every place has something
Still shouldn't be a control city.
South: Charleston
North: Morgantown
@@mxderate I would just skip Morgantown on 79 and go straight to Pittsburgh
@@ianp1745 Morgantown is fairly big, has an Interstate junction, and has a fairly important university.
I disagree about Beckley and Wytheville. I don't think splits are a good reason to sign it. Plus, if you sign Wytheville, then it would only make sense to sign Fort Chiswell as well.
Origin’s the way it should be:
Akron
Canton
Charleston, WV
Wytheville
Charlotte/Roanoke
Charlotte (at I-81 split)
Charlotte/Winston-Salem (from NC border to I-74 split)
Charlotte
Columbia
Charleston, SC
Solid
Agreed.
Yep
What would everyone (Todd and everyone else) think if, in VA on I-81 Southbound past Wytheville, VA signed “Tri-Cities” instead of Bristol (or Knoxville)? The Bristol/Kingsport/Johnson City area is known as the “Tri-Cities”. (May be better left as a topic for the I-81 Southbound video.)
I think it’s ok, but I really think Knoxville is the easy answer. It’s like 180 miles, this isn’t a Limon 600 mile conversation here
@@ControlCityFreak Signing I-81 South with Knoxville over Bristol or Tri-Cities is what I figured you’d say. I don’t necessarily disagree; I just thought Tri-Cities was another alternative that was worth bringing up. (And you’re the expert and it’s your channel!)
I hope you know how much I appreciate your taking all the time to put these interesting videos together each week and then read and answer the comments. We get lots of interesting discussion out of this, and it’s informative, too! Thanks!!!
Honestly I think Knoxville or Kingsport is the way to go.
What's the story with SR 277? Was someone hoping to get a federally funded I-277 loop through the city?
It's sort of a business loop through Columbia. A Freeway ending up on surface streets. The surface streets connect with I 126. I 126 was unsigned but I'm not certain if it still is.
Supposedly when I-77 was being built, it was supposed to end in downtown Columbia but the plans changed to make it go around the city.
@@roadgeek1961 The exit from eastbound I-26 to I-126 does actually say I-126, although I don’t recall if there are any I-126 shields after that...
I would sign Pittsburgh for I-79.
Northbound, yes. Should be Morgantown/Pittsburgh. Southbound, probably not. Morgantown doesn’t make much sense either southbound with US 50 in Parkersburg, but at least you’re keeping it in state, and probably only short-distance traffic headed that way.
I’d probably prefer that, but there’s no way WV would ever do it
@@ControlCityFreak I'd still keep Morgantown. It's home to an important university, Interstate junction, fairly well known, and fairly big for WV.
I actually agree with Marietta being signed because it is actually more populous then Charleston
It absolutely isn't. 13k < 48k. If you want to go MSA, Charleston is 210k and Marietta/Parkersburg is 89k.
The way I think it should be
Akron
Canton / Charleston WV
Charleston
Beckley
Wytheville
Charlotte
Columbia
Show the carrowinds exit
Nah I think Charleston before charlotte. We can’t shade a whole state capitol now. Poor West Virginia lol