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US 50 Parkersburg Bypass

DaveNay

Klaatu barada nikto
Hey Doc,

Is the bypass complete yet? I am probably visiting my Dad and Grandma soon, and am debating taking 33->50 from Columbus to Clarksburg, or take 70->77->50
 
Everything is completed except for the Bridge over the Ohio. It was scheduled to be completed last month, but they've recently said it will be April or May before it opens.
It looks so close to being ready that we're hoping it opens sooner. I'll be traveling it daily once it does open.

Let me know when you'll pass through Parkersburg and if you have time for coffee or a beer and a burger. We could hook up for a bit. :beer:
 
Well, I actually work right downtown. I'd be on 50 & 7 S. in Ohio and use the corridor D bypass to cross into WV and bypass Belpre Oh. It will save me a few minutes on my daily drive.

I drive to Columbus regularly, and we always take 33 & 50. There are a few stops, but it is about 10 minutes quicker when traveling to Parkersburg. 70 is pretty busy with truck traffic ...but I'm sure you are used to that up in Chicago land.
 
I haven't even been on the Lancaster bypass yet. 33-50 was terrible about 10 years ago with construction around Athens, and we switched to the interstate for our route. Between getting through Lancaster and Athens, the delays were terrible.

For some reason, we always manage to stop at the McDonalds near 77 & 50 for breakfast or dinner.
 
The Lancaster bypass is completed. You'll have fairly clear sailing all the way to Nelsonville. Hardly any construction between Cols & Parkersburg now. They have removed most of the lights between Cols. and Lancaster which makes that a much better drive.

The closest city to me off of Rt 50 is Coolville Oh. You might have seen the truck stop called the CoolSpot there.

I could meet you at the Mc D's at 7 and 50 real easy. Remind me to tell you a funny story that happened there. Very embarrassing for my brother in law.
 
Hey Doc,

Is the bypass complete yet? I am probably visiting my Dad and Grandma soon, and am debating taking 33->50 from Columbus to Clarksburg, or take 70->77->50

Where exactly is this? I'm 4 minutes off US-50 between Sacramento and Lake Tahoe...

Have followed US from it's start, to the East side of Nevada.

US50, where it splits from I-80 in West Sacramento, has a sign, "Ocean City Maryland - 3251 miles". Can't remember exact miles, but that's close. Apparently, Ocean City Maryland has same sign, pointing to Sacramento.
 
Where exactly is this? I'm 4 minutes off US-50 between Sacramento and Lake Tahoe...

Have followed US from it's start, to the East side of Nevada.

US50, where it splits from I-80 in West Sacramento, has a sign, "Ocean City Maryland - 3251 miles". Can't remember exact miles, but that's close. Apparently, Ocean City Maryland has same sign, pointing to Sacramento.

We must be closer to each other than I thought. I'm only a few miles off of US50 myself. :poke:

I don't remember seeing a sign in Ocean City but if you try driving any farther east you will get wet.

Jim
 
Where exactly is this? I'm 4 minutes off US-50 between Sacramento and Lake Tahoe...

Have followed US from it's start, to the East side of Nevada.

US50, where it splits from I-80 in West Sacramento, has a sign, "Ocean City Maryland - 3251 miles". Can't remember exact miles, but that's close. Apparently, Ocean City Maryland has same sign, pointing to Sacramento.

I'm about 10 minutes from US Rt 50. WOW we are close. :D

If you followed it from it's start you came real close by a few of us. Guessing that you consider it to start in the East at Ocean City and ending on the West coast.

Anyone else close to US Rt 50?
 
I'm about 10 minutes from US Rt 50. WOW we are close. :D

I'm about 5 minutes from US50/CA49 intersection. CA49 runs through the heart of the California "Gold Country". Coloma, the gold discovery site, is about 15 minutes north of here.

The run through Nevada, has been written up as "The loneliest highway". It is pretty desolate out there, but has some small towns dotting the route. Parts of the desert out there are pretty on their own account though.

Our previous house was east of here by 15 miles, in "Apple Hill". There's a really nice foothill apple belt around here. Good soil, good apples. Also, a tone of wineries, with a few actually originally planted during the gold rush.
 
Where exactly is this? I'm 4 minutes off US-50 between Sacramento and Lake Tahoe...

Have followed US from it's start, to the East side of Nevada.

US50, where it splits from I-80 in West Sacramento, has a sign, "Ocean City Maryland - 3251 miles". Can't remember exact miles, but that's close. Apparently, Ocean City Maryland has same sign, pointing to Sacramento.




US 50 is down the street from me about 2 minutes. I'm in Ruth, Nevada. 5 hours East of Reno NV.

Thats pretty funny. 50 goes right across the US!
 
For some reason, we always manage to stop at the McDonalds near 77 & 50 for breakfast or dinner.

If you're looking for a change in routine, you could always stop at a different McDonalds. About 29 miles to the east, the Ritchie County McDonalds should be opening around December 20. This is at the Ellenboro exit at route 16.

Now there's a Dairy Queen AND a McDonalds in the county!
 
About 29 miles to the east, the Ritchie County McDonalds should be opening around December 20.

I remember when you needed to pack a lunch and make sure you had a full tank of gas for the drive from Parkersburg to Clarksville. There was NOTHING along there.
 
I remember that Dave. I traveled that Road to get to Norfolk VA. when I was in the Navy. Started out on 50 to Clarksburg, then took all kinds of back roads to get to Phillipi (at least one covered bride), then on to Elkins and on through the mountains. I preferred US 250 over Rt. 33 but there was no easy way. Getting stuck behind slow coal trucks was always a part of the experience.
 
I remember that Dave. I traveled that Road to get to Norfolk VA. when I was in the Navy. Started out on 50 to Clarksburg, then took all kinds of back roads to get to Phillipi (at least one covered bride), then on to Elkins and on through the mountains. I preferred US 250 over Rt. 33 but there was no easy way. Getting stuck behind slow coal trucks was always a part of the experience.

If you took 50 to 250 then to Phillipi, you went right past my family. They are about 4 miles from the 50/250 intersection. I have made the drive down 250 through Phillipi many many times. We deer hunt near Buckhannon, and have more relatives in Elkins.

Map here...

My Dad was also stationed in Norfolk, but I'm sure that was before your service.
 
Our address isn't Rt. 50, but our we are right on the corner of Rt. 50 near Chillicothe, OH. Doc, we are about 50 miles east of Athens.
 
If you took 50 to 250 then to Phillipi, you went right past my family. They are about 4 miles from the 50/250 intersection. I have made the drive down 250 through Phillipi many many times. We deer hunt near Buckhannon, and have more relatives in Elkins.

Map here...

My Dad was also stationed in Norfolk, but I'm sure that was before your service.

Small world huh Dave. I've been by there many times. However, on my route to Norfolk I would take 119 S. at Clarksburg and pick up 57 which took me to 250. Very close to a covered wooden bridge and Phillipi. We would plan a stop in Elkins at a cheap burger place they had. Not a chain burger place, but it sure was good.
 
Our address isn't Rt. 50, but our we are right on the corner of Rt. 50 near Chillicothe, OH. Doc, we are about 50 miles east of Athens.

I have never driven 50 from Athens to Chillicothe. But when I worked in Columbus I would travel to Chillicothe fairly regularly, right down Rt. 23. But that was in the 80's.
 
I have never driven 50 from Athens to Chillicothe. But when I worked in Columbus I would travel to Chillicothe fairly regularly, right down Rt. 23. But that was in the 80's.

Don't feel bad, I've never been to Athens. Heard there is a pretty good party there on Halloween though.:yum:

I work in Columbus so I go up and down 23 everyday. Been doing it since about 1990. Man the traffic sure has changed on that road in the last 17 years. I can't wait till they bypass South Bloomfield. Of course that is a few years await, my new treat they are going to work on is aligning 317 & 665. It is supposed to happen in about 2 years.
 
Thanks Dave. Good link.
That is the bridge I crossed fairly often in the 70's. Even the reconstructed one looks like the old one. They say the burnt trusses can still be seen but I wonder if it is still made of wood? I would guess not.

from the link:
The bridge was then closed to traffic until a $1.4 million reconstruction was completed and the bridge reopened on 16 September 1991. The reconstruction, under the direction of the bridge historian and West Virginia University professor Emory Kemp, included replacing the damaged yellow poplar supports. Care was taken to restore the exterior to its original appearance: the rounded double arch entrances were restored, red-painted shingles (also of poplar) were affixed to the roof and new external wooden siding was replaced in a horizontal orientation.

Today, the original, burnt wooden trusses and supports can still be seen when driving through the bridge.

edit to add:
here is a picture of the new Phillipi Covered Bridge.
 

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Don't feel bad, I've never been to Athens. Heard there is a pretty good party there on Halloween though.:yum:

I work in Columbus so I go up and down 23 everyday. Been doing it since about 1990. Man the traffic sure has changed on that road in the last 17 years. I can't wait till they bypass South Bloomfield. Of course that is a few years await, my new treat they are going to work on is aligning 317 & 665. It is supposed to happen in about 2 years.

Yeah, I've been caught in that Halloween party traffic. No fun at all. The past few years Police have been thick between Belpre and Athens stopping folks heading to the party with all their goodies.

We were going to do a dinner in Athens a while back but never pinned down the date. Maybe we can do that after the holidays if your house building don't get in the way. Jerry was also interested if the timing was right. Best for me to pick a date in advance and plan on it. Otherwise other little things always come up.
 
Don't feel bad, I've never been to Athens. Heard there is a pretty good party there on Halloween though.:yum:

I work in Columbus so I go up and down 23 everyday. Been doing it since about 1990. Man the traffic sure has changed on that road in the last 17 years. I can't wait till they bypass South Bloomfield. Of course that is a few years await, my new treat they are going to work on is aligning 317 & 665. It is supposed to happen in about 2 years.

Great goolgey woogely, you should see things in Placerville. 4 lane, through town. US-50 has it's little corridor; it doesn't actually merge with Main Street. But, it sits in a canyon/ravine; there is no good way to reroute it. There is construction now to optimize it. Hard when you have a lot of people live in the hills and commute to Sacramento daily. Then, add apple and ski season traffic(main road to Lake Tahoe). Things get really backed up at the four stop lights going through town:smileywac
 
Yup, that is the Phillippi Covered Bridge. (What a creative name). It actually burned down in 1989 as a result of a gasoline spill. My wife jokes that "all roads lead to Phillippi" because it seems like everywhere we go in WV, we have to go through there.

About an hour, hour and a half north of US50, near Grass Valley(on CA49 in the Gold Country), is the longest single span wooden covered bridge on record. It has been restored to 1800's condition. It is only used as a walking bridge now though.

http://www.ncgold.com/Museums_Parks/syrp/Bridgeport/
 
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