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Interstate 79

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Interstate 79 marker
Interstate 79
Route information
Length343.24 mi[1] (552.39 km)
NHSEntire route
Major junctions
South end I-77 in Charleston, WV
Major intersections I-68 near Morgantown, WV
I-70 near Washington, PA
I-76 near Pittsburgh, PA
I-80 near Mercer, PA
I-90 near Erie, PA
North end PA 5/290 in Erie, PA
Location
CountryUnited States
Highway system

Interstate 79 (abbreviated I-79) is an Interstate Highway in the eastern United States, designated from Interstate 77 in Charleston, West Virginia to Pennsylvania Route 5 and Pennsylvania Route 290 in Erie, Pennsylvania. It is a primary thoroughfare through western Pennsylvania and West Virginia, as well as an important corridor to Buffalo, New York, and the Canadian border.

In West Virginia, Interstate 79 is known as the Jennings Randolph Expressway. In the three most northern counties it is signed as part of the High Tech Corridor. Through most of Pennsylvania, it is known as the Raymond P. Shafer Highway.

Route description

Lengths
  mi[1] km
WV 160.52 258.49
PA 182.72 294.24
Total 343.24 552.39

Except at its northern end, I-79 is located on the Allegheny Plateau. Despite the somewhat rugged terrain, the road is relatively flat. Most of the highway is at an elevation of about 1000 to 1200 feet (300 to 360 m) above sea level, with some lower areas near both ends and higher areas near Sutton, West Virginia. In the hillier areas, this flatness is achieved by curving around hills, along ridges, and in or partway up river valleys.[2]

I-79 begins at a three-way directional Y interchange with Interstate 77 along the northwest bank of the Elk River just northeast of Charleston. For its first 67 miles (108 km), to a point just south of Flatwoods, I-79 is located in the watershed of the Elk River, which drains into the Kanawha River. It crosses the Elk River twice — at Frametown and Sutton - and never strays more than about 15 to 20 miles (25 to 30 km) from it.[2][3]

From Sutton north, Interstate 79 generally parallels the path of U.S. Route 19. With the exception of the area between Washington and Cranberry Township, Pennsylvania, I-79 functionally replaces its predecessor route. It is only in this segment, in the vicinity of Pittsburgh, that US 19 serves a significant amount of traffic on its own.

History

West Virginia

The first piece of I-79 in West Virginia, between Exits 125 (Saltwell Road) and 132 (South Fairmont), opened on December 21, 1967.[4] This five-mile (8 km) section bypassed part of WV 73 between Bridgeport and Fairmont. Another five miles (8 km) opened in July 1968, extending the highway on a bypass of downtown Fairmont to Exit 137 (East Park Avenue).[5] It was further extended 9.5 miles (15 km) towards Morgantown on October 15, 1970, bypassing more of WV 73 to Exit 146 (Goshen Road) south of that city.[6][7][8]

Five miles of road were opened on June 29, 1973, extending I-79 from Exit 146 to Exit 148 (I-68), at which traffic was forced onto the newly-opened west end of Corridor E (now I-68) to Exit 1.[9] A further extension of six miles (10 km), including the Uffington Bridge over the Monongahela River southwest of Morgantown, was opened on August 30, 1973, leading north to Exit 155 (Star City).[10][11] This completed I-79 from north of Bridgeport to north of Morgantown.

To the south of Bridgeport, the first two sections were both opened on December 22, 1971. One of these ran ten miles (16 km) from Exit 51 (Frametown) to Exit 62 (Sutton), and the other from Exit 105 (Jane Lew) to Exit 115 (Nutter Fort).[12][13][14][15] On September 19, 1973, another 7.5-mile (12.1 km) stretch was opened, from Exit 105 (Jane Lew) south to Exit 99 (Weston).[16]

In 1973, significant portions of the interstate were completed.[8] Interstate 79 opened from Exit 62 to Exit 99.

Another 23.9 miles (38.5 km), from Exit 67 (Flatwoods) north to Exit 91 (Roanoke), opened on November 28, 1973, along with the section from exit 115 north to exit 117 (Anmoore), completing the route between Frametown and Morgantown except in the Bridgeport area.[17][18]

A 5.5-mile (8.9 km) extension from exit 51 south to exit 46 (Servia) opened on February 1, 1974,[19] and County Route 11 to WV 4 near Duck was widened to handle the increased load.[20] On the same day, two lanes opened from exit 155 (Osage) north to the state line.[citation needed]

On October 16, 1974, two pieces of I-79 were opened: the other two lanes[citation needed] of the 6.6 miles (10.6 km) from exit 155 to the state line, and 7.1 miles (11.4 km) between exits 117 (Anmoore) and 125 (north of Bridgeport). On the same day, the eastern end of Corridor D and the western end of Corridor E, both connecting to I-79 (at exits 119 and 148), were opened. This completed I-79 in West Virginia north of exit 46 (Servia);[21][22][23] it was extended south to exit 25 (Amma) in late November[24] and to U.S. Route 119 north of Clendenin (exit 19) on November 13, 1975.[25] It was opened from exit 19 to exit 9 (Elkview) on November 18, 1977,[26] and finally completed to Interstate 77 in 1979.[8]

Pennsylvania

Interstate 79 merges with Interstate 70 through Washington, Pennsylvania.

The Pennsylvania State Legislature authorized the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission to build two extensions in the 1950s. The Northwestern Extension, authorized in 1953, was to stretch from the main Pennsylvania Turnpike north to Erie, and would have included a lateral connection between Ohio and New York (later built as Interstate 90).[27] The Southwestern Extension, authorized in 1955, was to run south from the main line near Pittsburgh to West Virginia, connecting there with an extension of the West Virginia Turnpike.[28] Except for the section between Washington and the Pittsburgh area, which was included as part of Interstate 70,[29] the first portion of I-79 to be added to the plans was north from Pittsburgh to Erie, along the U.S. Route 19 corridor. This addition in 1957 was made possible by eliminating mileage on other routes by making them more direct.[30] The number 79 was assigned in 1958,[31] and an extension south along I-70 to Washington and beyond to Charleston was approved on October 18, 1961.[32] This extension also paralleled US 19 to near Sutton, where it turned westerly to reach Charleston. (The part of US 19 from Sutton south to Interstate 77 at Beckley has since been four-laned as Corridor L of the Appalachian Development Highway System.)

Even before any of I-79 was approved, two short urban portions were designated in September 1955: a spur from I-90 north to Erie, and a western bypass of Pittsburgh, connecting I-70 with I-80S.[33] These routes were initially numbered 179 and 279, with I-79 passing through Pittsburgh and ending at I-90 south of Erie. I-179 was soon absorbed into I-79,[34] but it was not until June 29, 1970 that the swap of I-79 and I-279 was approved. At the same time, I-76 was extended west from downtown Pittsburgh over former I-79 to the new location of I-79 west of Pittsburgh, so I-279 only ran north from downtown Pittsburgh. Only 1.5 years later, on December 3, 1971, I-76 was rerouted to bypass Pittsburgh, and I-279 was extended to its present length.[35] On July 25, 1975 I-79 was opened between exits 1 and 14.[36] The last piece of I-79 between West Virginia and Erie — the Neville Island Bridge over the Ohio River - opened on September 3, 1976.[37]

Exit list

West Virginia

County Location Mile[38] Exit Destinations Notes
Kanawha Charleston 0.000
I-77 to I-64 - Parkersburg, Charleston 		Southbound exit and northbound entrance
1.845 1 US 119 - Mink Shoals
5.047 5 WV 114 - Big Chimney
Pinch 9.469 9 CR 43 (Frame Road) - Elkview
Clendenin 19.091 19 US 119 - Clendenin (CR 53)
Roane Amma 25 CR 29 - Amma
34 WV 36 - Wallback, Clay
Clay 39.899 40 WV 16 - Big Otter
Braxton 46 CR 11 (Servia Road)
Frametown 51.569 51 WV 4 - Frametown
57.607 57
US 19 south - Beckley (Corridor L) 		South end of US 19 overlap; access to New River Gorge
Sutton 61.465 62 WV 4 - Sutton, Gassaway
Flatwoods 67
US 19 north, WV 15 - Flatwoods (WV 4) 		WV 15 ends at WV 4 south of the interchange; access to Sutton Lake
Burnsville 78.909 79 WV 5 - Burnsville, Glenville Access to Glenville State College and Burnsville Dam.
Gilmer No exits in Gilmer County
Lewis 90.988 91 US 19 - Roanoke Access to Stonewall Jackson Lake State Park
Weston 96 CR 30 - South Weston Access to Stonewall Jackson Lake and Jackson's Mill
98.608 99 US 33 / US 119 – Weston, Buckhannon Access to West Virginia Wesleyan College and Davis and Elkins College. Future western terminus of US 48.
Jane Lew 105 CR 7 - Jane Lew Access to Jackson's Mill
Harrison Lost Creek 110 WV 270 - Lost Creek
Stonewood 115.75 115 WV 20 - Stonewood, Nutter Fort Access to Alderson-Broaddus College
Clarksburg 117 WV 58 - Anmoore
119 US 50 - Clarksburg, Bridgeport (Corridor D) Access to Salem International University
121 CR 24 (Meadowbrook Road)
124

WV 279 (Jerry Dove Drive) to US 50 east 		Access to Harrison/Marion Regional Airport and Tygart Lake State Park
125 WV 131 (Saltwell Road) - Shinnston
Marion Whitehall 132.086 132 US 250 - South Fairmont, Whitehall
Fairmont 133 CR 641 (Kingmont Road)
135 CR 64 (Pleasant Valley Road)
136 CR 312 (Stoney Road) As of 1 August 2009, only northbound exit ramp is open. Will be WV 273 when Fairmont Connector is complete.
136.660 137 WV 310 (East Park Avenue) - Downtown Fairmont Access to Fairmont State University and Valley Falls State Park
139 CR 33 (Prickett's Creek Road) - East Fairmont Access to Prickett's Fort State Park
Monongalia 146 CR 77 (Goshen Road)
Morgantown 148.766 148
I-68 east - Cumberland, MD 		Access to Mountaineer Field and Tygart Lake State Park
Westover 152.502 152 US 19 - Westover, Morgantown Access to Granville.
154.836 155 WV 7 - West Virginia University Access to Star City, Osage, and Mountaineer Field.

Pennsylvania

County Location Mile
[citation needed] 		Exit Destinations Notes
Old[39] New
Greene Perry Township 1 1 Mount Morris
Whiteley Township 2 7 Kirby, Garards Fort
Franklin Township 13.971[38] 3 14 PA 21 - Masontown, Waynesburg Access to Waynesburg University
Washington Township 19.4 4 19 US 19, PA 221 - Ruff Creek, Jefferson
Washington West Bethlehem Township 23.4 5 23 Marianna, Prosperity
Amwell Township 30.6 6 30 US 19 - Amity, Lone Pine
32.9 7 33 US 40 - Laboratory
South Strabane Township 34.4 34
I-70 east - New Stanton
South end of I-70 overlap
35.4 8 20 PA 136 (Beau Street) Access to Washington & Jefferson College
36.4 7 19 US 19 (Murtland Avenue) Signed as exits 19A (south) and 19B (north)
North end of I-70 overlap
37.9 38
I-70 west - Wheeling, WV
40.3 8A 40 Meadow Lands Northbound exit and southbound entrance; plans for a full interchange[citation needed]
41.1 8 41 Race Track Road - Meadow Lands
Canonsburg 43.4 9 43 PA 519 - Eighty Four, Houston
45.5 10 45
To PA 980 - Canonsburg
North Strabane Township 48.2 10A 48 Southpointe, Hendersonville Access to California University of Pennsylvania's Southpointe Campus; Access to the National Cemetery of the Alleghenies
50.2 PA 576 (Southern Beltway) Proposed
Allegheny Bridgeville 54.6 11 54 PA 50 - Bridgeville
South Fayette Township 55.2 12 55 Heidelberg, Kirwan Heights
Scott Township 57.4 13 57 Carnegie
Pennsbury Village 59.3 14 59A
I-376 east - Pittsburgh (US 22 east, US 30 east)
59.4 15 59B
I-376 west - Pittsburgh International Airport (US 22 west, US 30 west)
Robinson Township 60.4 16 60 PA 60 - Crafton, Moon Run, Airport Signed as exit 60A northbound and exits 60A (south) and 60B (north) southbound
Coraopolis 64.1 17 64 PA 51 - Coraopolis, McKees Rocks No southbound exit
Neville Township 64.8 18 65
To PA 51 - Neville Island
Glenfield 66.5 19 66 PA 65 - Emsworth, Sewickley
Sewickley Hills 68.0 20 68 Mount Nebo Road
Franklin Park 72.1 21 72
I-279 south - Pittsburgh 		Southbound exit and northbound entrance
73.3 22 73
PA 910 east - Wexford
Marshall Township 75.7 23 75

To US 19 south - Warrendale 		Northbound exit and southbound entrance
75.9 25 76
US 19 north - Cranberry 		Northbound left exit and southbound entrance
Butler Cranberry Township 77.2 77 I-76 (Pennsylvania Turnpike) - Harrisburg, Youngstown, OH
78.7 25 78
PA 228 to US 19 - Cranberry, Seven Fields, Mars
Jackson Township 83.1 26 83 PA 528 - Evans City Northbound exit and southbound entrance
85.5 26 85
To PA 528 - Evans City (US 19) 		Southbound exit and northbound entrance
87.3 27 87 PA 68 - Zelienople Northbound exit and southbound entrance
88.7 27 88
To US 19, PA 68 - Zelienople 		Southbound exit and northbound entrance
Muddy Creek Township 95.8 28 96 PA 488 - Portersville, Prospect
Worth Township 99.6 29 99 US 422 - New Castle, Butler
105.4 30 105 PA 108 - Slippery Rock Access to Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania
Lawrence No exits in Lawrence County
Mercer Springfield Township 113.7 31 113 PA 208, PA 258 - Grove City Access to Grove City College and Westminster College
Findley Township 116.5 116 I-80 - Clarion, Sharon Signed as exits 116A (east) and 116B (west)
Jackson Township 121.1 33 121 US 62 - Mercer, Franklin
New Vernon Township 130.6 34 130 PA 358 - Greenville, Sandy Lake Access to Thiel College
Crawford Greenwood Township 141.5 35 141 PA 285 - Geneva, Cochranton
Meadville 147.4 36 147 US 6, US 322 - Meadville, Conneaut Lake (US 19) Signed as exits 147A (east) and 147B (west); access to Conneaut Lake Park and Allegheny College
Hayfield Township 153.9 37 154 PA 198 - Conneautville, Saegertown
Erie Washington Township 166.5 38 166 US 6N - Albion, Edinboro Access to Edinboro University of Pennsylvania
McKean Township 174.7 39 174 McKean
178.6 178 I-90 - Buffalo, NY, Cleveland, OH Signed as exits 178A (east) and 178B (west)
Mill Creek Township 180.5 41 180
To US 19 - Kearsarge 		Access to Millcreek Mall
Erie 182.7 43 182 US 20 (26th Street) Access to Erie International Airport
183.6 44 183
PA 5 (12th Street) (PA 290 east) 		Northbound exit and southbound entrance; signed as exits 183A (east) and 183B (west); access to Presque Isle State Park, Waldameer Park, and Gannon University

Auxiliary routes

References

  1. ^ a b "Route Log and Finder List - Interstate System - table 1". Federal Highway Administration. 2002-10-31. Retrieved 2007-07-09.
  2. ^ a b United States Geological Survey topographic maps and aerial photos, accessed via Terraserver-USA
  3. ^ National Atlas of the United States, Hydrologic Units (Watersheds) GIS data
  4. ^ Charleston Daily Mail, 5-Mile I-79 Link Will Open December 21, December 7, 1967
  5. ^ Charleston Daily Mail, 5 Miles of I-79 Opens in Marion, July 20, 1968
  6. ^ Charleston Gazette, Gov. Moore Will Open I-79 Segment, October 10, 1970
  7. ^ Charleston Gazette, Moore Opens I-79 Portion, Restates Vow, October 16, 1970
  8. ^ a b c Release Date Report. West Virginia Department of Transportation. August 2003.
  9. ^ Charleston Daily Mail, 5 More Miles of I-79 Being Opened Today, June 29, 1973
  10. ^ Charleston Gazette, 6-Mile Stretch of I-79 Open, August 31, 1973
  11. ^ Charleston Gazette, September 5, 1973
  12. ^ Dominion News, Two I-79 Sections Opened, December 23, 1971
  13. ^ Charleston Daily Mail, 40 Miles More of I-79 Open, December 23, 1971
  14. ^ Charleston Gazette, I-79 Mileage Increased to 40, December 23, 1971
  15. ^ Dominion News, January 23, 1972
  16. ^ Charleston Daily Mail, I-79 Segment Opened by Governor Moore, September 20, 1973
  17. ^ Charleston Daily Mail, More of I-79 to Be Opened Tomorrow, November 27, 1973
  18. ^ Charleston Gazette, Open I-79 Increasing by 25.17 Miles, November 28, 1973
  19. ^ Charleston Gazette, Additional Interstates to Open, January 30, 1974
  20. ^ Charleston Gazette, Highway Project Bids to Be Opened, March 8, 1972
  21. ^ Charleston Gazette, Moore Will Open 22 New Miles, October 8, 1974
  22. ^ Charleston Gazette, 22 Miles of Roads Opened, October 17, 1974
  23. ^ Daily Courier, W. Va. to Open Over 22 Miles of Highways, October 10, 1974
  24. ^ Charleston Gazette, Holiday Travelers to Find I-79 Nonstop From Amma, November 28, 1974
  25. ^ Charleston Gazette, New I-79 Stretch Will Open Today, November 13, 1975
  26. ^ Charleston Daily Mail, November 18, 1977
  27. ^ Pennsylvania Turnpike Northwestern Extension Act, P.L. 706, No. 229, passed July 28, 1953
  28. ^ Pennsylvania Turnpike Southwestern Extension Act, P.L. 174, No. 52, passed June 14, 1955
  29. ^ Official Route Numbering for the National System of Interstate and Defense Highways, as adopted by the American Association of State Highway Officials, August 14, 1957
  30. ^ U.S. Congress, Highway Trust Fund and Federal Aid Highway Financing Program, 1959, p. 342 (also published elsewhere, and copied at http://ajfroggie.com/roads/yellowbook/additional-mileage.htm)
  31. ^ Official Route Numbering for the National System of Interstate and Defense Highways, as adopted by the American Association of State Highway Officials, June 27, 1958
  32. ^ Charleston Daily Mail, Third Route Alters Interstate Picture, SRC Tells Mayors, October 20, 1961
  33. ^ Bureau of Public Roads, General Location of National System of Interstate Highways, 1955: maps of Erie and Pittsburgh
  34. ^ 3-digit Interstates from I-79
  35. ^ Federal Highway Administration, Ask the Rambler: Was I-76 Numbered to Honor Philadelphia for Independence Day, 1776?
  36. ^ Daily Courier, I-79 Opening Today in Greene County, July 25, 1975
  37. ^ Valley Independent, Interstate 79 opened to Erie, September 4, 1976
  38. ^ a b Federal Highway Administration, National Highway Planning Network GIS data version 2005.08
  39. ^ Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, Mileage-Based Exit Numbering System, December 2000
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