I-77 North / I-81 South - Fort Chiswell to Wytheville

Exit 80 connects I-77/81 with U.S. 52 south / SR 121 north 0.75 miles ahead. This overhead sign was replaced by 2019, correcting the error U.S. 121 shield. The original U.S. 121 corridor ran between Fort Chiswell and Lexington, North Carolina until 1934.¹

09/23/14

U.S. 52 (Fort Chiswell Road) overlaps with I-77/81 and U.S. 11 for 8.8 miles, departing at Wytheville. SR 121 continues northward 1.83 miles to Max Meadows.

09/23/14

Frontage roads (Lee Highway / Chapman Road) line I-77/81 and U.S. 11-52 as the freeway advances westward from Fort Chiswell to Wytheville.

09/23/14

The city of Bluefield is located 37 miles ahead across the West Virginia state line along U.S. 52. Bristol precedes the Tennessee state line along I-81/U.S. 11 in 76 miles.

09/23/14

One mile east of the diamond interchange (Exit 77) with Ready Mix Road. Ready Mix Road connects to former U.S. 11-52 (Lee Highway) and Chapman Road. Chapman Road continues as the south side service road (SR F042).

09/23/14

A number of traveler services are located on the adjacent frontage roads at Exit 77. U.S. 11 previously traveled along Lee Highway (SR F043) along the north side of the freeway. This sign was removed by June 2019.

09/23/14

Reassurance shield assembly posted for Interstates 77-81 and U.S. 11-52 north after Exit 77. The freeway travels a wide valley between Lick Mountain and Brushy Ridge.

09/23/14

Passing over Reed Creek, I-77/81 and U.S. 11-52 enters the town limits of Wytheville.

09/23/14

Southbound U.S. 11 leaves I-77/U.S. 52 north and I-81 south at the upcoming trumpet interchange (Exit 73) in one mile.

09/23/14

Interstate 77 parts ways with I-81/U.S. 52 for Charleston, West Virginia following the split with U.S. 11 south at Main Street in Wytheville.

09/23/14

Nye Road lines the north side of Interstates 77-81 one half mile out from Exit 73. U.S. 11 rejoins its former alignment along Main Street through downtown Wytheville.

09/23/14

Main Street comprises a commercial arterial to the Wytheville street grid outside downtown. West of downtown, U.S. 11 shares a four block overlap with U.S. 21 before exiting via Lee Highway along Pine Ridge.

09/23/14

Lovers Lane connects Nye Road with Chapman Road one mile ahead of the trumpet interchange (Exit 72) with I-77/81. Interstate 77 winds northward across Cove Mountain and through Walker Mountain Tunnel on a 27 mile course to the West Virginia border.

09/23/14

Curving northwest through Exit 73 (U.S. 11 south), lanes partition for I-77 north to Beckley and I-81 south to Bristol.

09/23/14

I-77 resumes its 610 mile route north from Wytheville to Parkersburg, Canton, Akron and Cleveland, while I-81 advances southwest along the Appalachian Mountains to Bristol and the Tri-Cities of Tennessee along its 855 mile course.

09/23/14

The final shield assembly for the 8.80 mile overlap of I-77 north/I-81 south is posted beyond Lithia Road.

09/23/14

The freeway arcs northwest ahead of the exchange between I-77 and I-81/U.S. 52. U.S. 52 departs west at the succeeding interchange (Exit 70) north of downtown Wytheville.

09/23/14

Leaving I-81/U.S. 52 for parts north, I-77 meets Peppers Ferry Road ahead at a folded diamond interchange (Exit 41) next. 68 miles separate I-81 from Beckley, West Virginia.

09/23/14