Interstate 79

In 1967, the first segment of Interstate 79 to be completed was from Exit 125 to Exit 132 in Harrison County and Marion County counties. Three years later, a 13-mile portion opened to traffic from Exit 132 to Exit 145, bypassing Fairmont.

In 1971, a ten-mile segment of the interstate was completed from Exit 51 to Exit 61 all within Braxton County, and from Exit 105 to Exit 115 south of Clarksburg in Lewis County and Harrison County.

One year later, Braxton County had a brief portion completed from Exit 46 to Exit 51. Lewis County saw work on its segment from milepost 98.6 to Exit 105 be completed. Work continued on portions of Interstate 79 in Braxton, Gilmer, Harrison, Lewis, and Monogalia counties.

In 1973, significant portions of the interstate were completed. Interstate 79 opened from Exit 62 to milepost 98.6 just north of the U.S. Highway 19 interchange in Lewis County. A small two mile portion from Exit 115 to Exit 118 was completed in Harrison County. In Monongalia County, a brief stretch of Interstate 79 was completed between Exit 146 and Exit 152, including the interchange with Interstate 68 at Exit 148.

In 1974, a segment from Exit 25 to Exit 46 was opened to traffic. A brief portion was opened from Exit 118 to Exit 125. One year later, a segment from Exit 19 in Kanawha County to Exit 25 opened. The remaining segments of Interstate 79 to be completed were all within Kanawha County and the southern terminus with Interstate 77.

In 1977, a ten mile segment from Exit 9 to Exit 19 was opened to traffic. Two years later, Interstate 79 was considered complete when it was constructed from its southern terminus to Exit 9. This included a large directional-Y interchange with Interstate 77 adjacent to the Elk River.

Notes and Trivia

This interstate primarily acts as a thoroughfare through western Pennsylvania and West Virginia. It is a major route for Canadians using the Buffalo, New York crossing traveling to and from Florida.

I-579, which consists mostly of the Veterans Bridge in downtown Pittsburgh, is a short Interstate, but not the shortest. (Its length is officially 1.57 miles (2.53 km); I-375 in Michigan is shorter and signed. I-878, at 0.72 miles (1.16 km), is the shortest unsigned interstate, as of 2002.)

The road is signed as the "Jennings Randolph Expressway" in West Virginia. In the three most northern counties it is signed as passing through the "High Tech Corridor", which would strike many as ironic.

External links

[Interstate 79] at Larry's Phat Page

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