Community Forums

michguy · 07-31-2012, 01:12 PM

How is the condition of I-81 down through the Appalachians ?

lv2bgoing · 08-01-2012, 08:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by michguy

How is the condition of I-81 down through the Appalachians ?

I was hoping to find out myself, we are going on it tomorrow and I will let you know. we are in Summers-ville, WV. on us 19 which is an excellent 4 lane hwy. we will leave that and go on I81 and then on I26 thru the Appalachians. I just hope it is not one of them twisty turnney roads. We will go right in to Ashville and on to our son's house in Sylva, NC. I will let you know how the roads are if no others post.

ehc · 08-01-2012, 09:04 PM

Just drove it recently. I-81 south of Roanoke there is some road construction, back-ups were minimal. I-26 no problem crossing the mountains.

michguy · 08-02-2012, 09:01 AM

Thanks to you both . We'll be driving through there in late Oct. or early Nov. Also, I'm wondering about the potential for snow and or ice at that time of year ??

ralphie · 08-02-2012, 09:33 AM

I81 is in general a good road but does carry a lot of semi traffic. However, it is always my choice if I can use it as slowdowns do not occur like on I95. Can't speak to current or future construction. I doubt you'll run into any severe winter weather in the Oct/Nov timeframe.

lv2bgoing · 08-03-2012, 08:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lv2bgoing

I was hoping to find out myself, we are going on it tomorrow and I will let you know. we are in Summers-ville, WV. on us 19 which is an excellent 4 lane hwy. we will leave that and go on I81 and then on I26 thru the Appalachians. I just hope it is not one of them twisty turnney roads. We will go right in to Ashville and on to our son's house in Sylva, NC. I will let you know how the roads are if no others post.

Just finish driving with our Truck & 5th wheel over I77 to us-19 to I81 to I26 to I40 all in one day 328miles . The hwys are in excellent condition and mostly 2-3 lanes in both directions . The bridge approaches are very bumpy. Some of the down grades are 7% on I26 south and us 19 south was 9% upgrade and some sharp curves but all in all very good roads. us-19 goes thru a lot of small towns with lights which slowed us down but very good road. some construction on the bridges also. Going in to Asheville has a lot to be desired on the inter change to I40. it is a mess.
We made it to Sylva, NC.

John S. · 08-12-2012, 09:14 PM

I 81 is a fine road. I live off it in fact. You will have a lot of truck traffic but the construction is not too bad. You will run the risk of snow anytime after the end of Oct. In fact, we had 8 inches last Halloween. Not very common but it can happen. IF it does just find a pull off and wait it out. It melts in a day in Virginia unless it is a huge storm and very very cold...
that has happened only one time in the time I have been there. Snow on the ground from mid Dec to end of March.