WYTHE TO GET NEW I-81 EXIT NUMBERS

                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: SATURDAY, January 18, 1992                   TAG: 9201180229
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: A4   EDITION: STATE 
SOURCE: PAUL DELLINGER SOUTHWEST BUREAU
DATELINE: BRISTOL                                LENGTH: Medium
WYTHE TO GET NEW I-81 EXIT NUMBERS
Work on renumbering exits on Interstate 81 to correspond with the nearest milepost markers is scheduled to begin next week in Wythe County.
Contractors for the Virginia Department of Transportation began changing interstate exit numbers last fall in the northern and eastern parts of the state, and are now coming into Western Virginia.
Once the I-81 exits are renumbered west to the Virginia-Tennessee line, work will start on renumbering those on Interstate 77 at the Virginia-West Virginia line and then moving south toward North Carolina.
The exit numbers have been consecutive, starting with No. 1 at the exit nearest the Virginia-Tennessee and Virginia-North Carolina lines and adding one number for each exit moving northeast on Interstate 81 and north on Interstate 77.
The new system, corresponding with milepost markers, is recommended by the Federal Highway Administration and used by most states, including those bordering Virginia.
The marker changes start on both interstates at the end where the numbers are highest. Once in place, the new markers will allow travelers to calculate distances to their exits by figuring the difference between the exit number and mileposts at each mile along interstates. They also let new interchanges be added without confusing the numbering system.
The department announced plans to change the numbering system two years ago, but waited until now to do it to give travel-related businesses time to change promotional materials and avoid making the changes during peak tourist seasons.
Changes will be made at about 300 interchanges on Interstates 81, 77, 64, 66, 85, 95 and 295 in Virginia at a cost of $1.1 million. Ninety-seven percent of the cost is federally funded.

by Archana Subramaniam by CNB