how is rt 81 through virginia this time of year?

[ARCHIVED THREAD] - how is rt 81 through virginia this time of year?

Posted: 12/20/2005 7:12:40 AM EDT

on my way from pennsylvania to south carolina. am unsure if i want to take 81 south or 95. 81 is more direct, but im concerned abotu the road conditions (mountians) and how remote it might be if i ran into any problems. anything to watch out for? willl likely be leaving in next day or so. weather looks to be good and no storm activity in the last few days.

Posted: 12/20/2005 7:17:09 AM EDT

[#1]

Right now the roads are clear. The temp is in the 20's at night so any wetspots can get slick. But for the most part VDOT is keeping it salted and dry. I live near Roanoke and this area is clear.

The end of the week is calling for temps near 50. So you should be ok.

You can check the road conditions online at VDOT

Posted: 12/20/2005 7:24:43 AM EDT

[#2]

I-81 runs thru large valleys andis a major truck route. It is usually one of the first highways cleared and has FAR less local traffic than I-95.

I'd run it in a heartbeat over 95.

Ops

Posted: 12/20/2005 7:31:04 AM EDT

[#3]

take 81 and stay away from baltimore, dc and richmond. but 81 can get fun real fast if it does snow like a foot

Posted: 12/20/2005 7:37:20 AM EDT

[#4]

Posted: 12/20/2005 7:47:22 AM EDT

[#5]

81 without a doubt.
watch the east coast weather and you should do just fine.

Posted: 12/20/2005 8:02:55 AM EDT

[#6]

I live on 81 in Radford. Given the choice it's 81 all the way. Forget 95--way too much local traffic. When will you be coming through? I'll buy you a cup of coffee.

Posted: 12/20/2005 8:18:56 AM EDT

[#7]

I've driven I-81, starting from the intersection with I-66, southward into TN(and back) many times in all seasons, and never had anything worse than a little rain. Traffic is usually not bad at all, the only exception (in my experience) being the Sunday after Thanksgiving. I haven't driven I-95, but I couldn't imagine it would be any better than I-81. But as others have said, watch the forecast.

Posted: 12/20/2005 8:19:52 AM EDT

[#8]

Quoted:
I-81 runs thru large valleys andis a major truck route. It is usually one of the first highways cleared and has FAR less local traffic than I-95.

I'd run it in a heartbeat over 95.

Ops

BIG +1 !!!

Posted: 12/20/2005 8:21:36 AM EDT

[#9]

81 is a good road, 65mph+ speeding limits - I will be on it Friday morning

Posted: 12/20/2005 8:22:26 AM EDT

[#10]

here's the problem with 81: if there's an accident it usually involves one or more semis.

Posted: 12/22/2005 4:55:57 AM EDT

[#11]

thanks for all the details. im about to head out. hopefully only a 10 hour or so trip for me.

i'll be flying back.

Posted: 12/22/2005 5:00:49 AM EDT

[#12]

81 isn't bad until you hit the area around Lexington. From here to Christiansburg is the worse because the interstate goes up down and zig-zags all over the place. Enter in the mix that 60% of all traffic are semi's and the 40% of passenger traffic is running at 80MPH you end up with a bad stretch of road.

Traffic also varries with the time of the week. There is a noticable flow one direction to the other. You should be fine today as long as you get past Roanoke by 4. Have a save drive

Posted: 12/22/2005 5:02:01 AM EDT

[#13]

Quoted:
here's the problem with 81: if there's an accident it usually involves one or more semis.

And 5 or 6 hours of sitting in traffic.

81 is usually better than 95 but if traffic is really heavy or there is an accident it can be worse.

Posted: 12/22/2005 5:03:35 AM EDT

[#14]

Quoted:
I-81 runs thru large valleys andis a major truck route. It is usually one of the first highways cleared and has FAR less local traffic than I-95.

I'd run it in a heartbeat over 95.

Ops

+1

I used to run it every weekend from NOVA to Radford U to go see my girlfriend. Great stretch of highway.

Posted: 12/22/2005 5:06:17 AM EDT

[#15]

Quoted:
Quoted:
here's the problem with 81: if there's an accident it usually involves one or more semis.

And 5 or 6 hours of sitting in traffic.

81 is usually better than 95 but if traffic is really heavy or there is an accident it can be worse.

Yeah I live right off the interstate. My girlfriend and I both commute on 81, I hate it. You get 2 semi's taking up both lanes, once you start up a hill the race each other at 45MPH and race back down the hill going 85MPH. If you are stuck behind them you aren't going to get anywhere and there is always some punk ridding your ass thinking that he will get around them faster than you.

Posted: 12/22/2005 5:08:08 AM EDT

[#16]

Good route. Trucks use it alot, but there's much less traffic than I-95.

Posted: 12/22/2005 5:12:38 AM EDT

[#17]

Quoted:
Good route. Trucks use it alot, but there's much less traffic than I-95.

I must admit I drive 95 in Virginia maybe once every 2 or 3 years but as far as volume per available stretch of road it can't be that different. Is 95 two or three lanes? If they could add another lane to 81 it would make a huge difference, but it would make traffic worse in the short term. 81 is also a big NE link to the west byway of the I40/I81 interchange near Knoxville.

Posted: 12/22/2005 5:29:35 AM EDT

[#18]

i used to travel down 81 to roanoke to go to drill and i would always try to travel at night because 81 is empty then except for trucks.

Posted: 12/22/2005 5:39:35 AM EDT

[#19]

Quoted:
Quoted:
Good route. Trucks use it alot, but there's much less traffic than I-95.
I must admit I drive 95 in Virginia maybe once every 2 or 3 years but as far as volume per available stretch of road it can't be that different. Is 95 two or three lanes? If they could add another lane to 81 it would make a huge difference, but it would make traffic worse in the short term. 81 is also a big NE link to the west byway of the I40/I81 interchange near Knoxville.

When I was in college at BJU, I used to take I-95 down and back. I hated it. Short of driving all night, the traffic was awful. There are some portions of I-95 that have four lanes (one way, eight total) and it was still hectic.

I-81 has truck traffic, but is much less stressful than the alternative. Truck drivers tend to be more competent drivers to work with, too.

Posted: 12/22/2005 5:46:51 AM EDT

[#20]

Quoted:
Truck drivers tend to be more competent drivers to work with, too.

Bullshit. Fucking road cloggers.

Posted: 12/22/2005 5:48:44 AM EDT

[#21]

Quoted:
Quoted:
Truck drivers tend to be more competent drivers to work with, too.

Bullshit. Fucking road cloggers.

I see a lot of truckers tailgaiting, driving too fast and switching lanes without a signal. There are just as many bad truck drivers as there is bad passenger vehicle drivers.

[ARCHIVED THREAD] - how is rt 81 through virginia this time of year?

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