Traffic Talk: Roanoke to Charlotte

It's quite often I go down to Charlotte, and I've explored some varying ways of getting there, expanding out from my typical I-81 to I-77 to I-85 route once I could literally say out loud which sign was coming up next. My dad, who's coming up from Charlotte to visit (and give us a couch) is choosing another route through Greensboro and then hopping on 220 to come into town.

There's also the 221 route, which means going down Brambelton Ave until you meet up with I-77. Here's my experience with these three routes, and I'm interested to hear others' input or other route ideas and observations.

1. I-81. If you're already living in Salem, you might as well go this way. Sure, it's pretty boring, the only real change of scenery or turn in the road to keep you awake is at Wythville where you hop on I-77. This is the route for those who want to get there quickly and with all interstate miles.
However, I-77 bottlenecks almost exactly 17 miles outside of Charlotte each weekday morning and then again during rush hour (in and out of Charlotte, respectively). It doesn't let up until the HOV lane comes up several miles later past the Huntersville exit. On weekends, though, or in the middle of the day, you're fine.

2. 220 to I-85. There are a few turns in here; not just 220 to 85, but it's still only a few. I have to admit, this is my favorite route because the drive on 220 is both scenic and with a lower speed (55mph much of the way). You can still open it up a little once you're on 85. You'll see plenty of places to stop. It's not as winding as you might think, either, though I admit that - due to the turns - I use my GPS.
If there's bound to be traffic on I-77, this is the way to go, since it bypasses it and goes right to 85, which - while sometimes heavy with traffic - rarely slows. I have had this route prove faster than I-81 as often as not, and I can tell a difference in how much gas I burn if I try a few hyper-miling techniques.

3. 221 to I-77. What can I say? If you like really winding roads and lots of flora and fauna, then 221 might be your best bet. The turns are so sharp at some points that it feels almost comic. My experience with this route was at night, so I swerved out of the way of a small herd of deer, a skunk, and an opossum; while the latter two might have proved only a smelly inconvenience, the former would have torn my little car to pieces. So, I don't really see taking this route again unless I'm in absolutely no hurry (though it didn't add many minutes, it added a few). I could see this burning a little more gas, as well.

So let me know if there's a way I'm missing or other points to consider in the trek to Charlotte. I'll ask my dad what he thought of the 220 route, seeing as how it was an attempt to evade some of the inevitable wind that would have been more prevalent on I-77 and I-81.

Traffic Talk: Jefferson St to Memorial Ave

As a new weekly feature to Tramping Roanoke, I've started this regular post about traffic, routes, and getting around town. I hope this will spark some interest with finding shortcuts, debating what routes work best, and - in the end - maybe inspiring some more exploration and wandering.

As my inaugural post: Jefferson St. to Memorial Ave.

This is a popular route for those who work downtown and live in SW. With the westbound road of Salem Ave now open and (relatively) free of holes and the like, I finally have my route from work to home open again.

I've heard some differing opinions on the fastest way west, but - having been forced to use Campbell Rd while Salem Ave west of 2nd was under construction - I have to disagree with fans of Campbell.

For one thing, if you're going to 13th St bridge to take Memorial Ave anywhere, you'll have to take two leftward moseys that for someone lacking in direction propensity like me, is asking for a navigational SNAFU. If heading east on Campbell, of course, these are simply merges, but heading west you'll have to recognize which road at the two forks is still Campbell.

Too, for anyone who's tried turning onto 13th Street from a westbound road, you'll very likely have to wait on a light. When you turn south on 13th St from Salem Ave, however, you not only don't have a stoplight, you have right of way (the eastbound lane has a stop sign).

Granted, the lights from Salem south to Black Dog Salvage are a little aggressive, so you're likely to catch one of them, but even taking Campbell, you still have one to deal with there at Christian Car Care.

I'm always entertaining new routes, so if anyone has other ideas (assuming it's not pulling a turbo boost over a moving train or riding willy-nilly down an alley the width of a shopping cart) please email me or post a comment.