Interstate 81 North

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Want to drive from DC to any other North American national capital? You'll be taking Interstate 81! The back road of the East Coast sneakily connects all sorts of major city pairs. It's a beautiful drive! Control City Freak is updated weekly and covers every two digit Interstate Highway in America. I'll be showing control city signs on each 1 and 2 digit (2di) Interstate Highway in the continental United States and will strive to make as complete a record as possible. I'll also be getting into the roadgeek weeds here and there, showing downtown skylines and state border crossings, and making corny jokes. I welcome all to join my geeky tour of every primary Interstate in the country!
All images of roads and signs come from Google Street View unless otherwise specified.
The Interstate 81 Shield comes from Wikipedia, en.wikipedia.o...
Maps used in this video come from Google Maps www.google.com...
Music: Acoustic Sunrise, from the Apple iMovie sounds library
"30,000 Pounds of Bananas by Harry Chapin
Theme from "The Office (USA)" by Jay Ferguson
Control City Freak Episodes mentioned in this video:
Interstate 80 West • Interstate 80 West
Interstate 77 South • Interstate 77 South
Interstate 78 • Interstate 78
Interstate 66 • Interstate 66
Interstate 64 East • Interstate 64 East
Copyright Disclaimer Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for "fair use" for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. Non-profit, educational or personal use tips the balance in favor of fair use.
Twitter: @contrlcityfrk
Instagram: @controlcityfreak
Website: controlcityfreak.com
Contact: controlcityfreak@gmail.com
Interstates, Interstate Highways, Control Cities, Signs, Roadsigns, highway nerdery, Interstate 81, I-81, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia, New York, Pennsylvania, Bristol, Tri-Cities, Roanoke, Washington, DC, Harrisburg, Syracuse, Canada

Опубликовано:

19 сен 2024

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Комментарии : 561

@Prengle Год назад

This is never a subject I'd thought I'd be binging a RU-vid channel about lol. It's a total vibe though, I think I might just like road-tripping and haven't realized yet. Keep on keeping on man!

@ControlCityFreak Год назад

Thanks!

@SpongeTracks37 4 месяца назад

These days there's a YT channel for everything lmao

@newflyer2198 2 года назад

Pennsylvania would NEVER sign the major cities in other states (e.g. New York and Washington) as they don't even sign their own major cities.

@DWNY358 2 года назад

Except I-95 northbound in Philadelphia does sign NYC as a control city. Amazing!

@tysonstransitcam2190 2 года назад

@@DWNY358 what else could they possibly sign? langhorne for Sesame Place? I think if they were doing that they just just sign Sesame Street since apparently nobody knows how to get there

@chuckonwubu1458 2 года назад

@@DWNY358 Signing I-95 north for "New York" has only been for the last few years. It used to be signed "Trenton" until the construction at the PA Turnpike/I-95 interchange to close the infamous I-95 Gap.

@dvferyance 2 года назад

Funny thing is sometimes the sign control cities that aren't even cities like Delaware Water Gap or Mt Pocono.

@dhinton1 Год назад

@@chuckonwubu1458 and that made a LITTLE sense only bcuz of that gap.

@bonecanoe86 2 года назад

On 81 it feels like Virginia never ends

@ControlCityFreak 2 года назад

Truth. Done that

@markwilson4078 2 года назад

Oh for sure! I remember taking 81 a few years back on the way back from Florida. Going through Virginia in the late hours of the night makes it well suited to sing Shenandoah, especially since you go right through the Shenandoah Battlefield on this interstate.

@poisondog88 Год назад

I traveled from Northwestern VA down to Pigeon Forge, TN for a vacation once. It definitely never ends

@L0VTX_H8CA 4 месяца назад

I can’t believe I missed this. I love this channel and Interstate 81!

@ControlCityFreak 4 месяца назад

You didn't, it's still there!

@brianball426 2 года назад

Kingston, Ontario here, VERY Familiar with I81 myself was looking forward to this video. Control cities work great for me because I buy/sell Antique Car Parts for a living and every year for the past 20 years I drive to...... Carlisle! There's a bunch of collector car shows and swap meets there (and Hershey for the really old stuff). I turn off I-81 at I-80 to go to Pocono Raceway for Nascar... (from Pocono take 380 to get back north to 81 north of Scranton,) My Dad once bought a car in Knoxville and drove the whole length there and back, Along the way he stopped in Bristol to see Racing there Notes you could have mentioned: - One of the Scranton/ W.B. Expressways has been recently renamed the President Biden Expressway. -also mention the Moosic St sign which is where the 30,000 pounds of bananas truck actually crashed in 1968... (true story) -The Part through Syracuse that will be torn down has speed limits of 45MPH through most of it -The hills of PA, a daunting task for truckers. all the The Border crossing, both US and Canada, has been completely replaced/expanded with all-new infrastructure, much better. This street view is quite out of date

@drivingbritt9617 8 месяцев назад

7:31 I-81 is indeed part of one of the major routes from LA to NYC, via I-10 to I-15 in Ontario, CA to I-40 in Barstow to I-81 in Dandridge, TN to I-78 in Harrisburg to NYC. People who take this route usually do so to avoid all of the tolls on the other routes, the 15-70-80 and 40-44-70 routes, it is used also as a winter route to avoid blizzards in the northern part of the country, and also to avoid potential rockslides and other geological difficulties on 70 in the Rockies in Colorado.

@yellowcar423 2 года назад

Maybe once you finish the interstates you should do US Highway's, This is great content Todd!

@ControlCityFreak 2 года назад

Thanks!

@oneoftheordinary 2 года назад

@@ControlCityFreak I know its a stretch, but after you finish US highways, you could either do famous state highways or mexican national highways. Also for an April-Fools video, you could do some really obscure county highway in the middle of Kansas.

@mxderate 2 года назад

@@oneoftheordinary He should do Canadian and Australian highways too.

@mxderate 2 года назад

@@ControlCityFreak You should also consider Canadian and Australian highways.

@amanor409 2 года назад

@@mxderate I suggested 401 in Ontario, and it’s the busiest highway in North America.

@kevinvoyer5053 9 месяцев назад

Yea the N.E. Snowbirds who winter in Florida call that the HoChiMin trail. My wonderful Dad showed me the Rt. North from sunny Florida up to New England back in 1985, that was the year he was forced to fly home to Seekonk, MA from Sarasota, FL. Leaving their 78 Lincoln Town Car in long term parking. Later after his full recovery he asked me to fly down with him and drive his car back. I was a trailer truck driver who frequently drove up and down the East Coast and was used to rt95, with the big city traffic and expensive tolls. But Dad showed me the way up Rt 26n Rt 77n to Rt 81n to Harrisburg, PA. Then Rt 78e, Rt 287n across what was The Tappanzee Bridge, then onto Rt 95n. That is approximately 104 miles longer than straight up 95, but at least 4 hr. Less time and back then NO TOLLS, same as now going north, but now $10 south! Unlike the $45 either way, with horrible traffic in half a dozen or more big cities.!! So to this day that’s the only way I drive to Florida from Massachusetts area! Over a dozen times so far since then.

@rongoesCDN 3 месяца назад

Even from Montreal, It only adds 1 hour on any trip south of DC, Ocean City MD, Virginia Beach, Tampa, Fort Lauderdale. and only one toll over the Thousand Islands Bridges (5).

@CrystalClearWith8BE 2 года назад

I-81 paralles part of US 11 along the Appalachian Mountains for it's entire length from near Morristown, TN to Watertown, NY. You know, many truckers take I-81 in order to skip I-95 and if an accident happens there, US 11 is a backup route for that.

@ControlCityFreak 2 года назад

Good point. Yeah very US 11 focused

@CrystalClearWith8BE 2 года назад

However, I-81 ends at the Canadian border to Ontario while US 11 ends at the Canadian border to Quebec. Other interstates that parallel US 11 are I-59 (entirety) and I-75 from Chattanooga, TN to Knoxville, TN. Also, don't forget I-40 from the Knoxville, TN area to near Morristown, TN and I-10 from New Orleans to Slidell, LA.

@CrystalClearWith8BE Год назад

I-81 ends with ON 137 at the border that links the world's busiest highway aka ON 401 while US 11 ends with QC R-223 at the border.

@EmpireStateExpress01 2 года назад

Fun fact: I-81 is flatter in West Virginia than it is in Virginia.

@tylermarchand2996 2 года назад

I do believe that. Similarly, even though I 80 has a much bigger elevation differential in Nebraska than in Iowa, Iowa feels significantly hillier.

@NS8101PROD Год назад

and more dangerous in Virginia by exit 7 to Bristol

@tns22x Год назад

And further east

@CarlSmith-p2c 3 месяца назад

At one point in the 1990s, I had to drive from the DC area to Syracuse and back on a business trip, covering I-81 between Harrisburg and Syracuse. As this was before satellite radio, I had to do a lot of channel surfing on the radio. Passing through the Scranton area, there was a station that called itself "The Louie." The station played "Louie Louie" - the version by The Kingsmen as well as other versions, plus commercials. The station was simulcast on two FM frequencies. Definitely "The Office" vibes about a decade before "The Office" was broadcast.

@cforcat1005 7 месяцев назад

I've started to like to call I-81 ‘Truck 95’ because of its heavy truck use due to the major cities and costly tolls along the I-95 corridor. Truck 95, yeah!

@ControlCityFreak 7 месяцев назад

True

@roadgeek1961 2 года назад

Pennsylvania brief history. Started out as pre Interstate Toll road from Carlisle to Scranton. From Scranton to New York State a extension of SR Pa 9 current I 476. When the Interstate System started it was transferred from the Turnpike commission to penndot. Extended to Maryland.

@ControlCityFreak 2 года назад

Great info, thanks!

@mxderate 2 года назад

When you start doing SB I-81, start at the 401 in Ontario, Canada. There is 81 signage there.

@Garrettb214 2 года назад

Yep, I was about to comment the same thing. He should definitely mention the I-81 signage along ON-401.

@aaronholcomb237 2 года назад

Quebec also does that for the interstates after crossing into the U.S..

@mxderate 2 года назад

@@aaronholcomb237 Yeah I-89 and I-91. The only Province in Canada that does a bad job is New Brunswick.

@RFE812 Год назад

@@mxderate I’ve noticed that Guatemala’s departments(their states/provinces) do pretty good with their control cities from what I’ve seen. I’m not sure if any of Guatemala’s departments that are on par with Pennsylvania,New Jersey,New Mexico or New Brunswick though.

@c.t.turner2123 2 года назад

I-81 lots of Civil War History along or near it. I-81 North: Bristol, Roanoke, Winchester / Washington DC, Harrisburg Pa, Scranton, Binghamton, Syracuse, Watertown / Ottawa, Ottawa / Toronto to the Border

@ControlCityFreak 2 года назад

Definitely

@derekcabanaw1789 2 года назад

You beat me to this, considering that the 401 is just after the border.

@c.t.turner2123 2 года назад

@@ControlCityFreak Hint: when you do 81 south, start at the 401. There is 81 signage on there.

@c.t.turner2123 2 года назад

@@derekcabanaw1789 When I used to leave Toronto to go to Massachusetts, 81 was a much easier border crossing time wise

@truckercowboyed2638 Год назад

You forgot New Market battlefield is right off of interstate 81 and various monuments at the rest areas giving tribute to soldiers of the war....so much history along i81

@Moondance-10 Год назад

I'm not reading all 400 comments to find out if this has been brought up already, so if it has been, I apologize... As someone who grew up in Carlisle, it's a major destination spot for two specific reasons. One, it has multiple car shows that draw in insane numbers, to the point that those exits are backed up for several miles on car show weekends. Two, it's also a huge trucking hub. The small space between 81 and 76 in Carlisle is called the Miracle Mile and has a ton of truck stops, washes, and things like that. That's likely why it's signed on the highway so much. For as small as the city's population may seem, summer weekends increase that dramatically coming in on I-81 from both directions.

@mxderate Год назад

It still should be Harrisburg. The way MD does it.

@Moondance-10 Год назад

@@mxderate that makes zero sense to me. “Here are these reasons that this is a destination specific to people traveling this highway, but it should be something else because that’s how another state does it?”

@mxderate Год назад

@@Moondance-10 1. Carlisle is a suburb of Harrisburg 2. Carlisle is significantly smaller than Harrisburg 3. Harrisburg is the state capital and much more important than Carlisle.

@themovietheatre Год назад

When you do I-87, there are signs for I-87 southbound at the new Champlain Bridge in Montreal-Brossard. Consider Autoroute 15 as Autoroute signs can be found as far south as Keesville, NY.

@tmattix65 Год назад

Never realized how substantial of a freeway this was until I saw this video. Only part I drove was driving from Knoxville to Bristol, TN for a NASCAR race. Loved that Bristol was the first control city.

@StevesWanderlust 2 года назад

I grew up along I-35 & I-80 but I-81is my favorite drive these days.

@ControlCityFreak 2 года назад

It’s nice!

@mariodalvarez2048 2 года назад

Do you live in iowa

@tylermarchand2996 Год назад

Mario D Alvarez I 80 and I 35 form a Northwestern beltway around Des Moines, so I’d say 100% yes…

@jmb01550 5 дней назад

Dukes is the mascot of James Madison University.

@alexjones3511 Год назад

James Madison University's NCAA team is called the Dukes in case you were wondering.

@truckercowboyed2638 Год назад

In Harrisonburg I live there....

@seannewberry7941 2 года назад

Good morning Todd. 81 thru Virginia is a pain in the rear for truckers imo. Always clustered up. In PA and NY it’s much better. Can’t wait until you do 94-95.

@ControlCityFreak 2 года назад

I’ve only been on it from 66 to the southern end. Truth.

@CrystalClearWith8BE 2 года назад

We'll just have to wait for the next few weeks. We'll hear about southbound I-81 for next week. Also, Todd, do you jave plans after finishing topics about main interstates? What about other auxillary interstates?

@mxderate Год назад

@@CrystalClearWith8BE He will do Hawaiian Interstates, auxiliary Interstates, US highways, and maybe some Canadian highways.

@poisondog88 2 года назад

Go Dukes! I actually was right at that recreation center that the picture of JMU showed earlier today! Beautiful drive. Lots of these locations that you showed are places I used to see all the time, having lived along 81 all my life

@cparkes92 2 года назад

I would consider dual control cities on parts of I-81 north following Roanoke: Roanoke to I-64 east: Richmond / Washington I-64 east to I-66 east: Winchester / Washington I-66 east to Winchester: Winchester / Harrisburg Winchester to I-70: Hagerstown / Harrisburg I-70 to I-76: Harrisburg (only) I-76 to downtown Harrisburg: Harrisburg / New York City Downtown Harrisburg to I-78: Allentown / New York City (could make an argument for a quadruple control city here with Scranton and Wilkes-Barre) I-78 to Wilkes-Barre: Wilkes-Barre / Scranton North of Wilkes-Barre: Keep as is

@ControlCityFreak 2 года назад

If any Interstate should have dual controls, it’s northbound 81

@truckercowboyed2638 Год назад

You forgot Staunton/ WASHINGTON AND HARRISONBURG/Washington..THEY ARE major cities in the Shenandoah valley and deserve to be control cities....

@geraldnagytenneson 2 месяца назад

Why Winchester?

@conroads2626 Год назад

12:34 I was in the August downpours that happened throughout Syracuse and even to Canada, and once I saw the window peeking out to Lake Oneida, it was all foggy, you could see nothing.

@mxderate 2 года назад

Some notes I had in mind: 1. I think 84 should be signed NYC until the 380 split, then Newburgh, which is a fairly big metro area. 2. I'd argue for Montreal from Watertown because it defaults you onto 401. 3. Signing Hagerstown on 81 is not as bad as signing it on 70, but it is still not the best. 4. When you do I-81 Southbound, start on ON-401. It mentioned I-81.

@DMAN_2314 2 года назад

On the 2nd point I would argue for both Ottawa and Montreal. Because even though yes ON-401 doesn't go to Ottawa but it is the faster way to Ottawa from Watertown and plus traffic would be angling in the general direction of Ottawa just as much as traffic would be angling towards Montreal so I think signing both Ottawa and Montreal makes perfect sense to me.

@mxderate 2 года назад

@@DMAN_2314 That works too.

@petersattler22 10 месяцев назад

The last exit on I-84 in PA is indeed Milford. NYC and Boston aren't connected directly, so it makes sense to me. 😃

@planetbarrett6055 2 года назад

My Favorite Interstate. Not for the Traffic, not for the bad signage. It's just a beautiful Interstate. And it goes to so many Great places. I've never been on 81 through New York, but I bet it's pretty. The Petro in Raphine, Virginia is the eastern version of Iowa 80.

@ControlCityFreak 2 года назад

It is beautiful for sure

@mbdg6810 2 года назад

I’ve been on 81 in NY and PA but no other states

@UserName-ts3sp 2 года назад

i honestly dont like 81… then again ive only been on it from its southern end to wytheville. oh and from syracuse to canada. kinda boring

@JMccovery 2 года назад

I used to run loads up and down 81 a lot, and for a period of time, the parking lot at White's/Petro Raphine would double in size every week. Also, if you're a somewhat out of shape trucker, and you park at the far end of Petro Raphine, waiting on the shuttle is a god-send.

@planetbarrett6055 2 года назад

@@ControlCityFreak You know Todd, I think Pennsylvania did a good job at the intersection with 84 and 6. It didn't include Camp Lohikan on the US 6 sign. Trust me, you don't want to know that place. Edit: No Disrespect to you campers, it's my opinion.

@dhinton1 Год назад

and thank you for the tidbit about 81/481 in Syracuse ....... AWESOME 😎

@turbinexman Год назад

Carlisle is where the big car shows and swap meets are held. A lot of people going to these meets, the control city of Carlisle, is very useful!!

@mxderate Год назад

No it's not. It's a suburb. No suburbs should be signed. Harrisburg is much more important, much bigger, and it's the capital.

@truckercowboyed2638 Год назад

@@mxderate Carlisle actually is more of a growing township of Harrisburg, or borough If you like.....so Carlisle would actually deserve

@dalestone3152 7 месяцев назад

@@mxderateCarlisle is not a suburb LOL it is a major town with 20,000 people in just its city limits…that doesnt include its OWN suburbs

@mxderate 7 месяцев назад

@@dalestone3152 It's still not a good choice considering Harrisburg is right there

@elli6220 2 года назад

One of my favorite things about this interstate is that there are signs with the I-81 shield on ON-401 in Canada! Also Binghamton is definitely the right choice. It's the only city of decent size for a pretty good distance in any direction, has a large college, and has the junction with NY-17/I-86.

@mxderate 2 года назад

I-88 as well.

@spellcast1391 2 года назад

I’ve heard of Binghamton and I-88. So it’s a good choice. I-88 in Illinois though is the one I’ve heard of.

@ControlCityFreak Год назад

I'm the opposite. Been on Illinois 88 from end to end many times, I've never even seen NY 88 in person, much less been on it. In my mind the Illinois one is the "real" one, but they're both pretty meh.

@elli6220 Год назад

@@ControlCityFreak The NY one is much more worthy than the IL one, given that the IL one is almost entirely pointless, while the NY one connects the southern tier to the capital district.

@spellcast1391 Год назад

@@ControlCityFreak would it be titled I-88 Western and Eastern or I-88 IL & NY

@jrzshor 10 месяцев назад

its the jmu dukes. and the school grew to cover both sides of 81!

@Warriorcats64 Год назад

Used to live around Lexington, VA in my undergrad years...used to take this down to Bristol on my way to Asheville, NC through Johnson City...this is such a nice nostalgia trip. I can agree that Lexington is an odd control, when Staunton makes more sense. Oh, and as for Scranton...that was the airport in Home Alone where Kevin's Mom meets John Candy and they rent a Budget Truck to drive.

@alexjones3511 2 года назад

Think you could include the signs with the I-81 shield on ON-401 in Canada for the start of the I-81 South video? The 401 is the main freeway my family takes through Canada whenever we’re going to Toronto or Ottawa to see family.

@autotechxbox163 2 года назад

The whole point of signing cities or towns on Interstates is to show where that specific interstate is going. The only times a city or town from a different interstate should be signed is if there is a concurrency with another interstate such as I-81 with I-64 and I-81 with I-77. The only other time that a city or town from a different interstate should be signed is if that interstate, the one you're currently driving on, concludes it's journey at the interchange of the interstate that actually goes to said city or town. For example, I-81 south ends at I-40 in Jefferson County, Tn. I'm not going to say White Pine or Dandridge as White Pine, while the closest, is just to the east of I-81 off of exit 4 and is also just to the North of I-40 once you're past the I-81 and I-40 interchange. Dandridge, while in the same county as White Pine, is not a good option either as Dandridge is West of White Pine and the main town is just South of I-40 at exit 417. I apologize for that little side tracked tangent but anyway, I'm fine with southbound I-81 being signed for Knoxville as most traffic will be going in that direction but that's only because southbound I-81 ends at I-40 in Jefferson County, Tn. While I would be okay with Richmond being on the sign for the duration that I-81 North and I-64 East are concurrent, before the two meet, it should only be Winchester and then, when I-64 leaves I-81, it should go back to just being Winchester. Like you said, most people, especially the 18 wheelers and other commercial vehicles, take I-81 as a means to avoid all the major cities along I-95 so your idea of Virginia signing I-95 destinations along a route that's meant to bypass those destinations kind of defeats the purpose of this interstate in my opinion. Not trying to bash or be rude. I just sometimes find it hard understanding your reasoning for wanting to sign certain cities over others.

@andrewdiamond2697 2 года назад

I have to agree. No reason to sign Richmond except during the I concurrency and no reason to sign Washington D.C. at all, nor NYC until north of Harrisburg approaching the I-78 split.

@tylermarchand2996 2 года назад

I have a middle ground approach to this debate: list the major interchange as a control, with directions to the metros that highway serves. For example, I 64 E to Charlottesville and Richmond; I 66 to Washington; I 78 to Allentown and New York; I 83 to York and Baltimore, etc.

@ControlCityFreak 2 года назад

I’m more of a system guy. Richmond and Washington are driving a lot more traffic on 81 than Winchester or Lexington are. I wouldn’t sign them southbound because geometry exists, but signing them northbound is the most useful option for the greatest number of motorists

@kangarookongress3888 10 месяцев назад

Lived in Sorryexcuse, NY 20 years and Newport, TN for 5 before that. Drove a tractot trailer up and down 81 for those periods. 66E from 81 good truck rest area if needed in a pinch, maybe 7 miles. Better than getting a ticket on a ramp.

@pharmesq 2 года назад

I lived in Lexington VA for a bit, and I would agree that 81 north is the Washington DC route from that point. The main navigational reason to sign Lexington itself is because of the 64 junction, but coming northbound, it's the 64 westbound junction (in Staunton, to Richmond and Hampton Roads) that matters much more than the 64 eastbound (Beckley and Charleston). But because 64 is kind of an afterthought generally, as seen during the 81/64 concurrency, I would skip Richmond as a control actually, and sign Washington directly from Roanoke. It's the road to get to the road (66) to NoVA.

@ianb9851 2 года назад

I've driven the Syracuse-Canada stretch multiple times, easily one of my favorite drives with how desolate it is. Also I can already see that Pennsylvania is gonna make the D tier when you rank it's DOT's 😆

@ControlCityFreak 2 года назад

Looks nice!

@briancatanzaro6053 2 года назад

I thought that Martinsburg, WV, was a sensible control city, but it feels so much bigger than it actually is. (Lots of businesses near there. Also, I-81 has four exits for it.)

@dvferyance 2 года назад

I thought at first Martinsburg was a bad control city until Chambersburg and even worse Carlisle came up then it didn't look so bad anymore.

@briancatanzaro6053 2 года назад

@@dvferyance They're all about the same size. Harrisonburg, VA, makes more sense as a control city (at 50,000+), yet it's not signed as one at interstate junctions. Go figure.

@dallasbittinger8184 Год назад

Martinsburg is an extension of Washington, DC because one of the public transit trains MARC goes from Washinton, DC to Martinsburg. So it is a sensible control city

@dvferyance Год назад

@@dallasbittinger8184 Chambersburg is ok southbound but northbound it should be Harrisburg the whole way from Maryland. I also didn't realize Martinsburg is a suburb of DC.

@KevinT7274 6 месяцев назад

@@dvferyance Harrisburg is long range control on mileage signs on 81 but Chambersburg is big enough to be a primary control at on ramps.

@DEEJAY440 8 дней назад

My Control Cities for I-81: Kingsport / Bristol Bristol Roanoke Winchester Washington D.C. Winchester Hagerstown Harrisburg Allentown / New York City Wilkes-Barre / Scranton Scranton Binghamton Syracuse Watertown Canada

@ronniesouthern7829 Год назад

I’ve been on I 81 mostly from Roanoke to Either Wilkes Barre or Scranton. It’s whichever one you exit to get on I84 as my Aunt and Uncle used to live in Mount Pocono. There was a time the 81 only went as far is Harrisburg and we had to exit off to get to Mechanicsburg. My oldest sister and her family lived in New Hampshire at the time and we would stop at my aunt and uncle’s on the way up and visit and stay overnight.

@matthewschwarz9484 3 месяца назад

7:34 I have no idea why they sign Hershey at the i-83 junction. it is faster to get to Hershey if you stay on i-81. that sign should be "York, Baltimore" or if they don't want to sign Baltimore they could sign Lancaster or the airport for the 283 split

@KevinT7274 3 месяца назад

It wouldn't make sense to sign Baltimore on I-81 north at that exit, you would have exited earlier at PA 581. Best choices would be Airport and Lancaster.

@matthewschwarz9484 3 месяца назад

@@KevinT7274 you’re totally right, completely forgot about 583 being a shortcut to 83 south. Maybee a better idea would be to sign downtown Harrisburg or the capital like they do on southbound 81

@geraldnagytenneson 2 месяца назад

Baltimore traffic would've taken 66

@Jolei33 Год назад

Fun fact: America isn’t the only country with bad control cities. For some reason they keep signing Hope on the Trans-Canada Highway in Vancouver but it passes through places like Surrey and Abbotsford, which are bigger places than Hope.

@mxderate Год назад

It’s not America’s job to sign control cities. It’s the states. Some states do an amazing job. Some states don’t know what humanity is… *coughs* Pennsylvania

@Jolei33 Год назад

@@mxderate More like New Mexico. Glad we’re out of their by now because that was a stressful minute of my life

@noahcappabianco1032 11 месяцев назад

You wouldn’t take 83 to get to Baltimore from 81 NB you would take the 581 beltway exit which is signed for camp hill (a suburb located 1 mile from Harrisburg) instead of Baltimore

@jordanjones5751 2 года назад

I waited months for this one, thanks Todd!!

@ControlCityFreak 2 года назад

Hope you enjoyed. More next week!

@jordanjones5751 2 года назад

@@ControlCityFreak I’m excited about I-85, I-90, I-81 southbound, I-94, I-95, and ranking the State DOTs for the northeast and northwest!! Keep up the awesome content!!🎉

@LukeO-1234 2 года назад

I drive 81 in Syracuse in my 18 wheeler every Thursday. I'm scared for the change

@mbdg6810 2 года назад

Yeah 81 through Syracuse is amazing. I’m glad i have footage of the area before it happens.

@c.t.turner2123 2 года назад

After they tear down the over passes, Is there a tunnel proposed to carry 81 through Syracuse?

@tylermarchand2996 2 года назад

No, they’re just going to route it on the current eastern beltway (I 481).

@johnathin0061892 Год назад

Many of us who drive through the area are too.

@courtemanche437 2 года назад

Fond memories I have of using 81 to head north towards 84 going to New England. One of my favorite parts of any highway ever is when you're driving high up on the mountain and can look down into the valley to see Wilkes-Barre off to your west. Beautiful, beautiful road :) Always fun to see you ranting about our awful control cities here in Pennsylvania as well lol

@courtemanche437 Год назад

I should mention this also, I think the reason Maryland puts Hagerstown on the sign at 5:24 is because technically you haven't quite gotten to town yet and Exit 6 for US 40 serves it. Just my theory though.

@JMccovery 2 года назад

My favorite memory of running I-81 has to be in Martinsburg, when I was looking for the USPS MTE that's located next to Quad Graphics at the WV 9 exit. Couldn't find it to save my life, so I asked for directions at a nearby truck stop: "Take the exit for 9 North, and you'll come up on a strip club, turn right at the traffic light." Sure enough, it was where I needed to turn. Told someone at the MTE about the directions; "That's how you find things around here, how far they are from any strip club".

@ControlCityFreak 2 года назад

Lol

@Tested333 2 года назад

I am sooooo ready for 85!

@theawesomer8587 2 года назад

JMU alumni here. We are the Dukes!!!

@todaresq 10 месяцев назад

I believe another reason that Carlisle is listed so often, and not Harrisburg is because the Carlisle fairgrounds hosts over a dozen car shows/car related events each summer... so with so thousands of car people headed there each weekend over the summer, it is fitting to have highway signage point to it.

@geraldnagytenneson 2 месяца назад

Carlisle would be fine as a secondary, I don't think Carlisle is big enough on its own

@briancatanzaro6053 2 года назад

5:49 - What's also funny is that the "Junction I-81" signing FOLLOWS the directional signage (NB/SB) for I-81.

@johnleuenhagen9068 Год назад

NYSDOT is pretty consistently good with their control cities

@josephmazzarella2983 2 года назад

I drive it all the time from Chambersburg to its end in Dandridge as part of the long trek from Philadelphia to New Orleans. Took US 11, the old road, once. It was awesome.

@ControlCityFreak 2 года назад

Oh nice!

@Suralin0 2 года назад

Yeah, the abysmal control cities of PA. Like I said on the I-80 video, it's like the people who decide these control cities don't want to admit that actual major cities exist in the state.

@ControlCityFreak 2 года назад

True

@mxderate Год назад

“Welcome to Pennsylvania: Wait, what’s humanity again?”

@champan250 2 года назад

Went to college in upstate NY and never been back to the area for almost 20 years. Only learnt that they are tearing down I-81 thru Syracuse from this video...

@stitch-xx2oo Год назад

the mascot for JMU is the Dukes. LOL You could've said Go Dukes!!!! Job well done.😃

@ControlCityFreak Год назад

Thanks!

@kamX-rz4uy 2 года назад

As a Pennsylvanian I prefer most of their choices over yours because most of the time I'm on the interstate for travelling within the state but yeah, I can see why it can be annoying to someone passing through. Although I'd say they aren't going to be paying attention to the signs anyway other than to look for the next interstate they know they need to get on. And of course Hershey is going to be on highway signs as that is a big tourist area. Also, I used to live in Nanticoke so nice to see that at 8:23. Back then it was exit 44. Loved the inclusion of the Chapin song. Clark Summit is the end of 476.

@jaqueskeendrick3400 Год назад

6:25 - Honestly, Pennsylvania control cities are a good reason why I and my friends have to turn on Google Maps when driving through it - I'm from Detroit and I can get around Indiana, Ohio, and Michigan perfectly fine - and then I get to Pennsylvania and I'm like, "well, better turn on the Google Maps, because I won't know a single city on these random signs" 🙂

@ControlCityFreak Год назад

Lol

@dhinton1 Год назад

it's pretty bad .... and I've been on 76, 79, and 80 in/through PA.

@vertov76 2 года назад

30,000 pounds of bananas! Love the Chapin reference! :)

@ControlCityFreak 2 года назад

Was gonna do it for Watertown too but thought that might be overkill lol

@billtooke6642 3 месяца назад

The border here is the shortest international bridge over water

@jacobsouther8361 2 года назад

Loved driving this road up to Maine. Very long drive from NC

@VACATETHE48 2 года назад

That 81/84/380/6 intersection in Dunmore is a complete fustercluck. 81, the primary road, hangs a hard left, two lanes. 84/380 hangs a hard right, two lanes. 6 goes straight, one lane, another high speed freeway, and there's another exit to a random ass side road all the way on the right. 6 lanes for 4 roads that go to nowhere.

@VACATETHE48 2 года назад

Also 81 traffic is ridiculous from 476 until that interchange because you get the turnpike, the airport, the baseball stadium, a giant shopping mall, and a concert venue all on that same stretch of road. Absolutely mad.

@copyrightedperson8157 2 года назад

I’m not much of a commenter but I feel like I should give some input on this. We finally made it to Harrisburg proper my home city (even if I only lived in suburbs of the city) I-81 is part of the capital beltway along with I-83 and PA-581 that goes around the city. Carlisle might also be signed because of Dickinson college there along with the U.S. Army war college so that and according to Wikipedia (I know the best source of info) Carlisle is one of the 2 principal cities of the Metropolitan Statistical area around Harrisburg (Harrisburg itself is the other principal city) so that could also be a reason as well as the fact it’s the county seat of Cumberland County which could explain a lot of terrible control cities throughout the country. Also would like to give a shoutout to PA-581 as it’s a road my family takes a bunch. Although technically not an interstate It’s still an important Highway and Is basically a 3DI It’s useful as if you were taking 81 north and wanted to head downtown (Capital building) you would take that to I-83 North It’s signed Camp hill which is strange as if you were heading downtown you would probably take PA-581. I-83 Control cities from I-81 are interesting I do think that Baltimore shouldn’t be on there as if you were heading there from say Carlisle you would either take the Turnpike or PA-581 to I-83 south (Although I guess US-22 and US-322 traffic would take it so that I guess) I think that I-83 from that interchange should be signed for the airport as that’s the direction you’re heading in and Harrisburg International is a kinda substantial airport or If not the airport than Lancaster could also work. Love your videos this was just some rambling from a native to this area

@ControlCityFreak 2 года назад

Great info, thanks!

@copyrightedperson8157 2 года назад

@@ControlCityFreak Another reason not to sign I-83 South for Baltimore is traffic. I-83 in Harrisburg, especially NB during rush hour, is pretty bad and Signing through traffic would just worsen the problem. Penndot is trying to fix this though as they’ve started a massive project to completely rebuild I-83 From I-81 to PA-581 and widen it all (Google maps just updated the completed section north of the Eisenhower Interchange (I-283)

@eaglescout1984 3 месяца назад

I disagree with DC as a control city on 81. It's still over an hour and a half (with good traffic) away once you get to 66, and being a frequent traveler of 81, I'd say it's close to 10% of traffic that exits onto 66. The vast majority are continuing north. I'd actually argue many people will take I-64 to US-29 to get to Washington from 81 south.

@Yeagermeister08 25 дней назад

I think DC is fine. But you should probably also put Winchester on the sign because I-81 doesn't go there. So I'd probably sign Washington up until either the US 211 or I-66 junctions. I-66 is faster, but US 211 will save you a good bit of miles.

@drivingbritt9617 2 года назад

Great vids Todd! Love your channel! :)

@ControlCityFreak 2 года назад

Thanks!

@atworkstation Год назад

@@ControlCityFreak After review, Winchester according to Wikipedia is part of the Washington-Baltimore combined statistical area.

@danangell5482 2 года назад

I'm good with your list as long as you make Richmond, Washington and Harrisburg dual control cities. From Roanoke to the 64 split, I'd do Winchester/Richmond, Winchester/Washington from the 64 split to the 66 split and Hagerstown/Harrisburg from Winchester to I-70.

@ControlCityFreak 2 года назад

Dual would be perfect there

@stephlarson2933 6 месяцев назад

Chapter one Tennessee Chapter two Virginia Chapter three West Virginia Chapter four Maryland Chapter five Pennsylvania Chapter six New York

@roadgeek1961 2 года назад

I 81 Virginia the last section done Wytheville to Ft Chiswell Converting US 11 52 to I 81 and I 77 from a narrow Controlled Access Highway to a 3 lane each way expressway with two service roads.

@nicholaiivanitsky9661 7 месяцев назад

Though I live in Virginia, I should admit that the best part of I-81 is in Pennsylvania.

@dansimon1100 2 года назад

Good old 81 I live here in Winchester Virginia and I travel this road pretty much every day sometimes from Winchester to Hagerstown or Winchester to Martinsburg or even further up 81 sometimes into Pennsylvania I know this road very well

@ControlCityFreak 2 года назад

Nice!

@noahbrody9852 2 года назад

I-81: The way it should be in my opinion. Bristol Roanoke Harrisonburg Hagerstown Harrisburg Wilkes-Barre / Scranton together Binghamton Syracuse Montreal because I-81 from I-90 is the fastest way to get to Montreal from the Midwest.

@ControlCityFreak 2 года назад

Harrisonburg?

@mxderate 2 года назад

Harrisonburg?

@noahbrody9852 2 года назад

@@ControlCityFreak Yes, a general rule of thumb I follow is, that I feel control cities should be signed based on if they have an inset map on my Road Atlas. This is why I do not approve of Limon on I-70 East of Denver but do approve of Waco on I-35 North of Austin.

@ControlCityFreak 2 года назад

Solid. Maybe I’m anti-Waco because my 90s atlases didn’t have an inset map of it

@joshuakline1435 Год назад

If you live or drive through Syracuse. A 3-5 year 3 Billion Dollar nightmare of epic proportions will make your life a living hell very soon. 81N and S is becoming a community grid in the Syracuse Region and downtown. 81's auxiliary route I 481 both ways is turning into I 81.

@Boss-KingInc. 2 года назад

A few things about I-81 in New York: The reason I-81 through Syracuse will be torn down and rerouted is mainly because the highway is deteriorating and it would cost a fortune to fix New York is the only state that I-81 passed through where the exits are sequential instead of mile based I-781 is specifically signed for Fort Drum because it was built to allow direct access to Fort Drum from I-81. There is also only one exit on the route. It is Exit 4 a which is not a sequential exit and is not up to NYSDOT standards

@dvferyance 2 года назад

Isn't NY like the last state at all that uses sequential exit numbering? Maybe Vermont still does not sure.

@tylermarchand2996 Год назад

I did a road trip across the northern states this past summer. Vermont and New Hampshire both use sequential exits; Massachusetts converted to mileage exits, but I don’t think Connecticut or Rhode Island did; I didn’t go through Maine, so I can’t say for that state; while I 80 in New Jersey follows mileage based signs, the NJTP doesn’t. And the New York State Thruway not only does them sequentially, but DECREASING from west to east(!).

@miked31784 Год назад

Carlisle is also home to some classic car shows.

@darknessnight1115 Год назад

There's been a lot of hippie/NIMBY mumbo jumbo about decomissioning I-30 from I-40 to I-630 in Little Rock, too and replacing it with an "urban freeway." Imagine that nightmare. It got shut down pretty quick, I believe, since ARDOT is doing new work on I-30.

@kenq1363 2 года назад

Awesome stuff!

@ControlCityFreak 2 года назад

Thanks!

@kaymillerfromTX 2 года назад

I was waiting for this one. So many memories from my college years in New York. The Syracuse portion needs to be torn down it’s 2 scary narrow crumbling lanes

@johnathin0061892 Год назад

It needs to be replaced with something better but not removed.

@tylermarchand2996 Год назад

Johnathan Geek They’re just rerouting it onto the 481 beltway…

@drivingbritt9617 Год назад

I-81 is the fastest route if you want to drive to/from the South Central US (Texas, Louisiana, Arkansas, Mississippi, Tennessee, and most of Alabama) to/from the Northeast US (DC, Baltimore, Philly, Jersey, New York, and New England), and by the looks of it, I-81 looks A LOT more scenic than I-95.

@kosjeyr 2 года назад

The most what interstate ever when going into W. Virginia? At 5:52, I kind of love seeing Chambersburg on the sign as my mom is from there.

@jimcoddington4100 2 года назад

My opinion Bristol ( But not southbound!) Roanoke Richmond Washington Harrisburg Allentown and nyc Wilkes Barre Scranton Binghamton Syracuse Watertown Canada Can’t wait for southbound! Your amazing Todd!

@ControlCityFreak 2 года назад

Thanks!

@mrath 2 года назад

8:45 The purpose of the design of this interchange is that at one time this was an interchange on the ticketed section of the PA Turnpike Northeast Extension, where all traffic came together to collect a ticket/pay their toll. The end of the ticket system was moved further south in the late 80's/early 90's and two "bucket" tolls were added to the north. If you look at the street view of this interchange, you can still see where the old office building for the toll plaza is located. Of course, the ticket system has been eliminated, so in the future this could be redeveloped as a typical cloverleaf, however, historically there hasn't been a tendency to do so. (e.g the I-80/I-90/I-94 split in western Indiana)

@ControlCityFreak 2 года назад

It’s more the indirectness of it that seems weird. I know PA had a law against direct interchanges to tollways for a long time, but still weird

@DTD110865 Год назад

@@ControlCityFreak A lot of toll roads have these kinds of interchanges. Go look at the New Jersey Turnpike and the New York State Thruway north of Rockland County.

@reavisjeff Год назад

I would like to see the 3 digit interstates that are around the country after the 2 digit. I294, I290, I355, and I190 in Chicagoland please?

@ControlCityFreak Год назад

294 for sure, 290 probably (depending on 88 vid), 355 and 190 highly doubtful

@spellcast1391 Год назад

I-355 Control Cities NORTH: Rockford(doesn’t go there), switches to Northwest Suburbs once beyond the I-355 North/I-80 junction. SOUTH: Joliet, then once at I-55 junction, switches to Southwest Suburbs(they say it’s faster to take I-55 and IL-7 to Joliet).

@spellcast1391 Год назад

I-190 EAST- Chicago(Downtown) WEST- O’Hare(Airport)

@alexjones3511 2 года назад

I think you should make another meme for Pennsylvania like you did with North Carolina. “Welcome to Pennsylvania: We Love Provincial Control Cities”

@ControlCityFreak 2 года назад

For sure

@DMAN_2314 2 года назад

Actually it should be "Welcome to Pennsylvania: We Hate Signing The Big Cities"

@mxderate Год назад

@@DMAN_2314 lol

@mxderate Год назад

“Welcome to Pennsylvania: Wait, what’s humanity again?”

@GolfClash2718 Год назад

“Welcome To Pennsylvania: We Love Random Control Cities” there’s nothing provincial- it’s literal randomness

@highway2heaven91 Год назад

My way it should be: Bristol Ronoake Lexington (Secondary) Staunton Strasburg (Secondary) Martinburg (Secondary, so that WV can have an in-state city) Hagerstown Harrisburg Scranton Binghamton Syracuse Watertown Kingston I know there are a lot of major cities that are “close” to this route could be used but I don’t think they should be signed because there will be traffic that would be staying on the route as the route goes too past the exits that would be needed to reach the major cities. They should definitely be used on mileage signs and as secondaries but primaries should be reserved for cities that are on or “close” to the route.

@mxderate Год назад

I wholeheartedly disagree. It doesn’t matter if it doesn’t go to DC, NYC, and Richmond. All of which are way bigger traffic drivers, way bigger cities, and way more important cities. And it’s not like you have to fly to space to get there. It’s ONE turn. Actually, not even a turn for 78 traffic. Systems matter more than numbers. I’ve always hated the excuse “It doesn’t go there.” So what? As long as it is important and well known, it’s okay.

@paulbrower4265 2 года назад

I'd sign the northernmost part of I-81 for Ottawa and Montreal.

@mxderate Год назад

Agreed.

@VASparky 2 года назад

Hey Todd, I love that you included the three state sign here in Winchester. It's one of my favorites here in the area. Btw, GO DUKES!!!

@ControlCityFreak 2 года назад

It’s an awesome sign!

@frankwoodward5006 Год назад

When you get to I-90, New York never uses Syracuse as a control city…Erie/Buffalo/Albany/Boston. When the Thruway was built there were no interstates so I-81 wasn’t a thing at the time. So Syracuse only gets a mileage sign until you’re nearby…but rarely if ever on the bottom line. Eastbound 90 will list New York on mileage signs until Albany as the signs are from the Thruway Authority, not NYS DOT.

@EricaMalarkey Год назад

I love these videos. I've been watching the main interstates that go thru WV. I just subscribed, so I'll see more of this.

@ControlCityFreak Год назад

Awesome, thanks!

@TheSharkKing45 Год назад

I just noticed that some of the overhead signs have state highways blurred out. (I've noticed this on the videos for I80, I70 on the channel)

@MetroHam 2 года назад

The turnpike interchanges in pa were built prior to the interstate system when if there signed an interstates there's a law put in that they can't use any state or tax dollars money to fund or construct the road way or maintain it. The pa turnpike is completely privatized, the interchanges that are there have been out into town or existing highways but it's much more trouble on the turnpike side to remove a junction and move it especially with ticket prices and having to pay for all of it themselves so there's no incentive to do so Plus it's cheaper to just dump people on the existing interchange at times that connects up to it

@georgefox1055 Год назад

The Pennsylvania turnpike interchange with Interstate 83 is a normal interchange, and I -83 was built in the late 1950's. The poor design of the other interstates is inexcusable and was probably locally controlled by their local congressman to bring turnpike traffic to local business , like the disaster known as Breezewood.

@MetroHam Год назад

@@georgefox1055 breeze wood has some interestiung history. with the portion of abandoned turnpike being used by that new north to south interstate but also the whole bypass of the original. all I can assume is mainly what was built first or ran out of money in the budget like pennseylvana do

@truckercowboyed2638 Год назад

@@MetroHam interesting fact the portion of i70 that brings you into Breezewood is the only interstate with a traffic light on it, far as I know...

@MetroHam Год назад

@@truckercowboyed2638 I 180 in wyoming has traffic lights, same with I 78 into NYC through jersey city

@Vincent-ke5zn 2 года назад

I-66 is a very tough interstate for trucks with all the hills

@brucetelfeyan 2 года назад

I-476 is the Pennsylvania Turnpike, Northeastern Extension. If you go south on it, you go direct to Philadelphia.

@boriszakharin3189 Год назад

Not quite. The Northeast extension ends at the PA Turnpike mainline in Plymouth Meeting and 476 continues south bypassing Philadelphia to the west before ending at I-95 in Woodlyn. To go to Philadelphia you'd exit 476 at I-76 and follow it east.

@derekcabanaw1789 Год назад

Probably off topic, but...... This week's guest selector for College Gameday in Lawrence, Kansas (home of the 19th ranked Jayhawks) is Todd of Control City Freak fame.

@ControlCityFreak Год назад

Sign me up!

@CSXEK 2 года назад

With a double yellow line no barrier!

@SeanA099 2 года назад

JMU. Roll Dukes!

@ControlCityFreak 2 года назад

Ah, the Dukes!

@geraldnagytenneson 2 месяца назад

The way I think it should be Bristol Roanoke Winchester / Hagerstown Hagerstown Harrisburg Scranton Binghamton Syracuse Watertown Canada

@williamnicks2148 2 года назад

The historian in me is going to defend Lexington as a control city. First, the junction with 64 west, which links the Hampton Roads and Southern Appalachia regions with the Ohio Valley and eventually Chicago/St. Louis. Second, two fairly well-known universities, including a major military officer pipeline school. And lastly, it is the symbol of the history of The Valley.

@ControlCityFreak 2 года назад

Fair enough

@mxderate 2 года назад

Yes, but, has anyone heard of the city outside of roadgeeks? And, is anyone going there for any purpose other than the universities?

@mariodalvarez2048 2 года назад

My favorite interstate are I 80 and I-74 I mostly drive thru I-80 and I-65

@mrath 2 года назад

6:48 The use of "Middlesex" as a control city might have been chosen as a throwback, for the original eastern terminus of the Pennsylvania Turnpike was in Middlesex

@mxderate 2 года назад

Should be Philly and Pittsburgh.