Interstate 81 (West Virginia)
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| Route information | ||||
| Maintained by WVDOH | ||||
| Length: | 26 mi (42 km) | |||
| Existed: | 1963 – present | |||
| Major junctions | ||||
| South end: |
 I‑81 at Virginia state line |
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 WV 9 in Martinsburg US 11 near Falling Waters
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| North end: |
I-81 at Maryland state line |
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| Location | ||||
| Counties: | Berkeley | |||
| Highway system | ||||
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In the U.S. state of West Virginia, Interstate 81 (I-81) crosses the Eastern Panhandle region, linking Virginia to Maryland. The Interstate Highway, completed in 1966, spans 26.00 miles (41.84 km) through Berkeley County, paralleling U.S. Route 11 (US 11) for its entire length. I-81 enters the state near Ridgeway and travels northeast, bypassing the city of Martinsburg, and leaves the state at the Potomac River, which serves as the state line. The first solicitations for the construction of I-81 were published in 1959, with the first 6 miles (9.7 km) of freeway being opened in 1963, and the full length was completed by 1966. On average between 45 and 60 thousand vehicles use the freeway though the panhandle per day.
I-81 enters the Eastern Panhandle of West Virginia just west of Ridgeway, paralleling US 11 (also known as the Valley Pike). The highway passes through some light farmland before entering a wooded area, north of Ridgeway. A welcome center for northbound travelers is passed before the woodlands give way to a light urban setting. As the highway approaches the community of Inwood, a diamond interchange with West Virginia Route 51 (WV 51) provides access to the community, as well as Gerrardstown to the west of the freeway, and Charles Town to the east. A small business park is passed by before I-81 intersects County Route 32, providing access to Arden, the Eastern WV Regional Airport and Tablers Station. The freeway turns more towards the north as it approaches Martinsburg, intersecting WV 45, County Route 15 and Dry Run Road while in the city limits. I-81 bypasses downtown, running along the western border of town while US 11 continues through the town.
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