50th Anniversary: Interstate 77
Highway launched an era of change in the ValleyBy Sam Shawver, sshawver@mariettatimes.com
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Fact Box
Interstate 77 facts
Interstate 77 spans more than 600 miles across five states.
In Ohio, I-77 connects Marietta, Cambridge, Dover, Canton, Akron and Cleveland.
Ohio Department of Transportation District 10 maintains I-77 in Washington and Noble counties.
In 2005, the average daily traffic count on I-77 in both counties was 14,000 to 20,000 vehicles.
Federal approval for the I-77 project was given in October 1957.
Ohio Department of Highways approved the Marietta route in July 1959.
The first local section of I-77, between Ohio 7 and Ohio 821, was completed in 1965.
The I-77 bridge between Marietta and Williamstown was completed in 1967.
Source: Ohio Department of Transportation and Times archives.
Interstate 77,
mileage by state
Ohio - 160.13
West Virginia - 187.21
Virginia - 69.4
North Carolina - 102.31
South Carolina - 91.05
Source: Federal Highway Administration.
Interstate 77 was only completed part of the way to Marietta when current Washington County Commissioner Sam Cook arrived from Cleveland to work for Broughton's in 1965.
"One of the first times I came to Marietta was along U.S. Route 21 all the way from Cleveland," he recalled. "It was about a five-hour trip and the road was crooked. I don't think there was a half-mile of straight roadway until we got to Whipple."
In July 1959, the project, which in the initial stages bypassed Marietta in favor of Athens, was officially approved by Ohio's Department of Highways. It would change the face of the Pioneer City geographically, economically and even socially.
Cook said the interstate highway was an economic shot in the arm for companies like Broughton's.
"It probably cut 45 minutes off our tractor-trailer trips to Charleston, and it certainly cut the travel time to Beckley (W.Va.)," he said.
On May 13, 1960, project consultant J.E. Greiner Co. of Baltimore reported the construction of 44.8 miles of I-77, from Cambridge to Marietta, would cost an estimated $83 million. The highway was designed to support average speeds of 70 mph.
The report stated the route was chosen because it had the lowest project cost, would provide the greatest traffic service, traversed the least rugged terrain and provided better access to potential industrial sites that had been set aside along the Ohio River east of Marietta.
Mike Jacoby, executive director of the Southeastern Ohio Port Authority, said access to interstate highways is a prime concern for many companies looking for a suitable business location.
"When Ohio's Department of Development does a corporate search, one question asked is within how many miles of an interstate highway will a company be willing to locate, and most say they would like to be within 10 miles," Jacoby said.
There's no doubt that I-77's proximity to Marietta resulted in more business near the Ohio 7 interchange where the Kardex Systems complex, Holiday Inn, Starlight business park, and eventually businesses such as Wal-Mart, Lowe's, Econolodge, Comfort Inn, Kmart, Kroger, Bob Evans, Hampton Inn, Super 8 Motel, and the Lafayette Center sprang up.
The changes I-77 brought to Marietta were most evident in the Norwood area.
Longtime Miller Avenue resident Howard Boyd, 91, noted that the highway pretty much eradicated the Luther Miller farm.
"It took out the house, barn and most of the farm - that's where Miller Avenue got its name, this area used to be part of the farm," Boyd said.
"We moved here in 1951, and this was the only house on the street at the time. But it's all built up around here now," he said.
Boyd added that Duck Creek used to run close to that area of Norwood, but the stream was relocated in order to build the interstate.
He recalled that prior to the I-77 construction there was a stockyard on one side of Acme Street near the Pike Street intersection, and a bar called the Wagon Wheel stood in the middle of a field on the opposite side of Acme, where the Kroger complex is now located.
"I was raised on a farm in Noble County, and my father brought livestock here to sell. He had to travel old U.S. 21," Boyd said. "I used the same route when I started working for Union Carbide just before we moved to Marietta. You didn't go too fast on that road."
Construction of the local section of I-77, completed from Ohio 7 to Ohio 821 in 1965, was a dirty, dusty business, according to Boyd.
"You got used to it, and they didn't work nights. But we were glad when it was finally finished," he said.
In December 1967 the I-77 bridge was finally completed between Marietta and Williamstown, linking the Ohio and West Virginia sections of the interstate.
Washington County Sheriff Larry Mincks said he began his career in law enforcement in 1966 with the Ohio Highway Patrol. At that time only a few sections of Interstate 77 had been completed, he said.
"I think mileposts 1 to 6 were open then," Mincks said. "When the entire stretch opened, it really opened up the whole area, and country, really."
Mincks said prior to the interstate, he would frequently travel U.S. 21 toward Cleveland.
"What a long drive that was," Mincks said. "Now it's just a straight shot up the interstate and you can be there in a few hours."
While the interstate system opened up the country to travel and business, it also exposed once sheltered communities to new people and sometimes crime.
"There are plenty of good folks who travel and make stops along the way, but the interstate has increased the mobility of criminals," Mincks said. "A criminal can commit a crime in Cambridge and be down and across into West Virginia very quickly now. As law enforcement, we have to be ready to react."
Mincks said his officers frequently operate drug interdiction stings on the interstate to help slow the drug trade.
"Right now, Columbus seems to be our source city for drugs," Mincks said. "It's only an hour and 45 minutes away and it's nothing for a dealer to drive up there, buy drugs and come back here to sell it."
Still, Mincks said the interstate has been a bigger asset than liability.
"I think overall our interstate system was a good decision to go forward with," he said.
Brad Bauer contributed.
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troyinohio
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07-14-09 7:41 AM
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Freddy1, your constant rambling ruins these post.
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realist
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07-13-09 8:34 AM
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i liked the signs that said EATS they were so simple got right to the point
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FlnowwasOh
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07-12-09 11:17 AM
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Speaking of Warrens... they had the best ham and cheese salad... loved the fresh meets too. It was fun reading about Norwood, Warrens, Duck Creek, floods, but Freddy 1, you need to get a grip or some rest!
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flabuckeye
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07-12-09 10:54 AM
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The Warren's Meat Market was run by Mark Warren and some of his brothers had a their store on the other side of town and now moved to Warren's IGA. Mark had a man come in and kill chickens so they would be kosher. Mark was a great man to work for. No mention of S. Durward H. and his effort to get I-77 to Marietta.
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wildflower
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07-12-09 9:06 AM
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freddy you ramble on there bud. This story is about the Interstate. Do I think China will bypass us nope because they already have, they own us. Things change and yes we went downhill, the Interstate didn't do it we let it happen to ourselves. Finallap your right about Woodys but Warrens was up on Greene and Collegate. Loved going to the old bakery there on aceme. mmm the goodies. lol oh my the floods that is why we moved up on phillips. They would not know how to do it today floods every year some not so high others took there toll. But we can't live in the past like old freddy, life goes on.
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Finallap
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07-11-09 10:02 PM
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I remember Ludwigs quite well,but don't remember warrens.. I remember woody's grocery on the pike. It was between Lafyette St and Jefferson st.
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wildflower
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07-11-09 9:42 PM
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finallap kinda lived on pike out toward court until about 6 then we moved up on Phillips street. moved away when about 12. 62 years of age now so long time a go. I rember the old pop stores freddy talks about. one was ther eat pike and wayne called Ludwigs i think then there was Warrens
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Finallap
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07-11-09 8:49 PM
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Sorry Freddy things werent so great in the Johnson and nixon years. Remember we lost 57,000 of our military during those years. Maybe you have forgotten,but I havent.. Things were not great then at all
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bwc511
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07-11-09 8:15 PM
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oh I get it... the stupid young people elected Obama, and the stupid old people elected Bushes three times.
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bwc511
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07-11-09 7:53 PM
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I am sorry, but your geration was no less or no more than any other. Again, get over it! And, if you want to reduce to automobiles... you gave us GMC, Ford and Middle East juice...
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bwc511
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07-11-09 7:19 PM
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Oh please, freddy1... go talk a walk... let's talk about your generation... Enron, Madhof, prime rate mortgages, current Iraq war... get over yourself. I, for one, think the world will be a much safer place after your generation and the baby boomers have exited the scene. Your generation has proven to be the biggest thieves and tale tellers since the crusaders.
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boots65
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07-11-09 7:18 PM
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Gosh, Freddy, do you like to listen to yourself ramble? I have one question: how would a bridge @ 821/60 change the culture of Lowell? The traffic on 60 already goes through there. From what you write, it's clear that you aren't in favor of any change or progress, be it good or bad.
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rocker
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07-11-09 6:25 PM
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Oh yeah I-77 rocks. Now if they would just raise the speed limit to 70 like on the West Va side. Come on Ohio, get in the game!
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Finallap
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07-11-09 5:53 PM
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Simon You cant hide it bud.. You are Freddy and quite a few others know it too
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Finallap
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07-11-09 5:00 PM
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Yep Freddy you dont have to have an interstate to have crime.Just a few moths ago in wv there was a drug that went bad. 2 people shot and killed. Heck that county doesn't even have a 4 lane anywhere. Wildfolwer did you grow up in that area of town? The buger King woods was where I skipped school. Really wish I had photos of the Pike street area back in the early - mid 60s I also remember a gas station at 6th and Greene across from the stadium. It was called stadium oil. I remember the old driving range on the pike,probably about where the interstate is now. Those where the good ole days..
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wildflower
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07-11-09 12:29 PM
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freddy crimes are up everywhere. Don't think Interstate is to blame. Every small town even if not near a Interstate has crime up. Freddy I lived in that area 60 years a go. How can you forget all the gas stations some are still there one has a coffee shop at pike and Wayne, there was one at Pike and Hart. two at seventh and Pike and Green used to be one across from where Wiiliamstown bridge is now. one at fourth and Green Third and Green, then you had all the beer joints. Where Burger King is was weed Field, train tracks went up Wayne to sixth. progrees is what any town needs, why live in the past
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wildflower
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07-11-09 10:24 AM
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hey freddie/ behind kmart the houses are still there. where the intersate went was a cornfield close to Kmart. The old wagon wheel was across the street in a swamp/ like most of the area there. Went from a gas station on every corner to a food places on every corner. Yes more development. whats wrong with that which created more jobs. The criminals are going to be here with or without Interstate / heck they were here 50 years a go
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billybob45acp
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07-11-09 10:16 AM
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If there was to ever be any any MAJOR business and industry built in Marietta, it would have been at the completion of I-77. A new bridge at 821 & 60 will just burn tax dollars....
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Beetlejuice
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07-11-09 9:05 AM
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Bulldog58, you and Sam may never see a bridge @ 821 if the voters have anything to say about it.
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bulldog58
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07-11-09 8:31 AM
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Sam cook thinks i-77 changed things just wait till he gets his bridge at 821 then we will see some true economic development especially along gilman street
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bulldog58
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07-11-09 8:19 AM
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WOW this Howard Boyd he is 91 and worked for union carbide now which is eramet and still can recall back that far I think he should be part of the study being done on the effects of manganese
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