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Interstate 79

Route map:
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Interstate 79 marker
Interstate 79
Map
I-79 highlighted in red
Route information
Maintained byWVDOHandPennDOT
Length343.46 mi[1](552.75 km)
Existed1958–present
NHSEntire route
Major junctions
South endI-77nearCharleston, WV
Major intersections
North endPA 5/PA 290/Bayfront ParkwayinErie, PA
Location
CountryUnited States
StatesWest Virginia,Pennsylvania
CountiesWV:Kanawha,Roane,Clay,Braxton,Gilmer,Lewis,Harrison,Marion,Monongalia
PA:Greene,Washington,Allegheny,Butler,Lawrence,Mercer,Crawford,Erie
Highway system
WV 78WVWV 80
PA 78PAPA 79
PA 178PAPA 179

Interstate 79(I-79) is anInterstate Highwayin theEastern United States,designated fromI-77inCharleston, West Virginia,north toPennsylvania Route 5(PA 5) andPA 290inErie, Pennsylvania.It is a primary thoroughfare through westernPennsylvaniaandWest Virginiaand makes up part of an important corridor toBuffalo, New York,and theCanada–United States border.Major metropolitan areas connected by I-79 includeCharlestonandMorgantownin West Virginia andGreater Pittsburghand Erie in Pennsylvania.

In West Virginia, I-79 is known as theJennings Randolph Expressway,named forthe West Virginia representative and senator.Inthe three most northern counties,it is signed as part of the High Tech Corridor. For most of its Pennsylvania stretch, it is known as theRaymond P. Shafer Highway,named forthe 39th Pennsylvania governor.

Route description

[edit]
Lengths
mi[1] km
WV 160.52 258.33
PA 182.94 294.41
Total 343.46 552.75

Except at its northern end, I-79 is located on theAllegheny Plateau.Despite the somewhat rugged terrain, the road is relatively flat. Most of the highway is at an elevation of about 1,000 to 1,200 feet (300 to 370 m) abovesea level,with some lower areas near both ends and higher areas nearSutton, West Virginia.In the hillier areas, this flatness is achieved by curving around hills, along ridges, and in or partway up river valleys.[2]From Sutton north, I-79 generally parallels the path ofU.S. Route 19(US 19).

West Virginia

[edit]

I-79 begins at a three-waydirectional Y interchangewithI-77along the northwest bank of theElk Riverjust northeast ofCharleston.For its first 67 miles (108 km) to a point just south ofFlatwoods,I-79 is located in thewatershedof the Elk River, which drains into theKanawha River.It crosses the Elk River atFrametownand again atSuttonand never strays more than about 15 to 20 miles (24 to 32 km) from it.[2][3]

Pennsylvania

[edit]
I-79 northbound past exit 7 inWhiteley Township, Pennsylvania

I-79 entersPennsylvaniafromMorgantown, West Virginia.South ofWashington,it traverses mostly ruralGreene County.

Between milemarkers 34 and 38, I-79overlapsI-70in the Washington area before heading north towardPittsburgh.

I-79 is carried over theOhio Riverby theNeville Island Bridge,approximately eight miles (13 km) northwest of Pittsburgh.

The freeway into Pittsburgh requires drivers to useI-376while I-79 completely bypasses the city. Beyond the Pittsburgh area, I-79 traverses more rural areas inButler,Lawrence,Mercer,Crawford,andEriecounties before arriving at its termination point inErie.In Erie,I-90connects from I-79 toBuffalo, New York,and the Canadian border.

Around milemarker 100 on the northbound side are twoghost rampsthat were specifically built for theBoy Scouts of Americain order to have access toMoraine State Parkwithout having to travel onUS 422for the1973and1977National Scout Jamborees, which were held at Moraine. The ramps were permanently closed after the 1977 event but remain visible under encroaching vegetation.[4][5]

I-79 was completely rebuilt inGreater Pittsburghin the early 1990s.[6]

History

[edit]
I-79 merging withI-70inWashington, Pennsylvania

ThePennsylvania General Assemblyauthorized thePennsylvania Turnpike Commissionto build two extensions in the 1950s. The Northwestern Extension, authorized in 1953, was to stretch from the mainPennsylvania Turnpikenorth toErieand would have included a lateral connection betweenOhioandNew York,what was later built asI-90.[7]The Southwestern Extension, authorized in 1955, was to run south from the main line nearPittsburghtoWest Virginia,where it connects with an extension of theWest Virginia Turnpike.[8]Except for the section between Washington andGreater Pittsburgh,which was included as part ofI-70,[9]the first portion of I-79 to be added to the plans was north from Pittsburgh to Erie, along theUS 19corridor.

Interstate 179 marker
Interstate 179
LocationErie
ExistedNovember 12, 1958–1968
Interstate 279 marker
Interstate 279
LocationPittsburgh
Length13.32 mi (21.44 km)
ExistedSeptember 16, 1989–present

In September 1955, two short urban portions were designated:[10][11]

  • I-179: A spur from I-90 north to Erie, currently absorbed into I-79.[12]
  • I-279:A western bypass of Pittsburgh, connecting I-70 with I-80S (nowI-76); it and I-79 later swapped designations.

The number 79 was assigned in 1958,[13]and an extension south along I-70 to Washington and beyond toCharlestonwas approved on October 18, 1961.[14]This extension also paralleled US 19 to nearSutton,where it turned westerly to reach Charleston. (The part of US 19 from Sutton south toI-77atBeckley, West Virginia,has since been four-laned asCorridor Lof theAppalachian Development Highway System.)

On December 21, 1967, the first section of I-79 in West Virginia, between exits 125 (Saltwell Road) and 132 (South Fairmont), opened to traffic.[15]This five-mile (8.0 km) section bypassed part ofWest Virginia Route 73(WV 73) betweenBridgeportandFairmont.Another five miles (8.0 km) opened in July 1968, extending the highway on a bypass of downtown Fairmont to exit 137 (East Park Avenue).[16]It was further extended 9.5 miles (15.3 km) towardMorgantownon October 15, 1970, bypassing more of WV 73 to exit 146 (Goshen Road) south of that city.[17][18][19]

On June 29, 1970, the swap of I-79 and I-279 was approved. At the same time, I-76 was extended west fromDowntown Pittsburghover former I-79 to the new location of I-79 west of Pittsburgh, so I-279 only ran north from Downtown Pittsburgh. On December 3, 1971, I-76 was rerouted tobypass Pittsburgh,and I-279 was extended to I-79 utilizing the former section of I-76.[20]The changes took effect on October 2, 1972.[21]

On June 29, 1973, I-79 was extended from West Virginia exit 146 to exit 148 (I-68), where, at one point, traffic was forced onto the newly opened west end of Corridor E (now I-68) to exit 1.[22]A further extension of six miles (9.7 km), including the Uffington Bridge over theMonongahela Riversouthwest of Morgantown, was opened on August 30, 1973, leading north to exit 155 (Star City).[23][24]This completed I-79 from north of Bridgeport to north of Morgantown.

To the south of Bridgeport, the first two sections were both opened on December 22, 1971. One of these ran 10 miles (16 km) from exit 51 (Frametown) to exit 62 (Sutton), and the other from exit 105 (Jane Lew) to exit 115 (Nutter Fort).[25][26][27][28]On September 19, 1973, another 7.5-mile (12.1 km) stretch was opened, from exit 105 (Jane Lew) south to exit 99 (Weston).[29]

In 1973, significant portions of the Interstate were completed.[19]I-79 opened from exit 62 to exit 99. Another 23.9 miles (38.5 km), from exit 67 (Flatwoods) north to exit 91 (Roanoke), opened on November 28, 1973, along with the section from exit 115 north to exit 117 (Anmoore), completing the route between Frametown and Morgantown except in the Bridgeport area.[30][31]

A 5.5-mile (8.9 km) extension from exit 51 south to exit 46 (Servia) opened on February 1, 1974,[32]and County Route 11 toWV 4nearDuckwas widened to handle the increased load.[33]On the same day, two lanes opened from exit 155 (Osage) north to the state line.[citation needed]

On October 16, 1974, two pieces of I-79 were opened: the other two lanes[citation needed]of the 6.6 miles (10.6 km) from exit 155 to the state line and 7.1 miles (11.4 km) between exits 117 (Anmoore) and 125 (north of Bridgeport). On the same day, the eastern end ofCorridor Dand the western end of Corridor E, both connecting to I-79 (at exits 119 and 148), were opened. This completed I-79 in West Virginia north of exit 46 (Servia);[34][35][36]it was extended south to exit 25 (Amma) in late November[37]and toUS 119north ofClendenin(exit 19) on November 13, 1975.[38]It was opened from exit 19 to exit 9 (Elkview) on November 18, 1977,[39]and finally completed to I-77 in 1979.[19]

On July 25, 1975, I-79 was opened between exits 1 and 14 in Pennsylvania.[40]The last piece of I-79 between West Virginia and Erie—theNeville Island Bridgeover theOhio River—opened on September 3, 1976.[41]In 1984, the route was extended about one mile (1.6 km) further to the north, with the opening of a new segment betweenUS 20andPA 5in Erie.[42]

In late 2008, the missing ramps of the I-79/I-376 interchange (PA 60 was designated as the route for southbound traffic seeking to go toPittsburgh International Airportand for airport traffic seeking to go northbound on I-79) were completed.[43]

In June 2009, I-376 was extended west and north of Downtown Pittsburgh, and I-279 was truncated back to the section only running from Downtown Pittsburgh north to I-79.

Exit list

[edit]
StateCountyLocationmi[44]kmOld exit
[45]
New exit
[45]
DestinationsNotes
West VirginiaKanawhaCharleston0.0000.000
I-77toI-64Parkersburg,Charleston
Southern terminus; I-77 exit 104
1.8452.9691US 119Mink ShoalsAccess to Coonskin Park
5.0478.1225US 119(WV 114) –Big ChimneyNorthern terminus of WV 114
Pinch9.46915.2399CR 43 (Frame Road) –Elkview
Clendenin19.09130.72419US 119(CR 53) –Clendenin
RoaneAmma25.28140.68625CR 29 –Amma
33.74154.30134WV 36Wallback,Clay
Clay39.89964.21140WV 16Big Otter
Braxton46.09974.18946CR 11 (Servia Road)
Frametown51.56982.99251WV 4Frametown
57.60792.70957
US 19south –Beckley,Summersville
Southern end of US 19 concurrency; access toNew River Gorge
Sutton61.46598.91862WV 4Sutton,Gassaway
Flatwoods66.965107.77067
US 19north (WV 4) /WV 15Flatwoods
Northern end of US 19 concurrency; access toSutton Lake
Burnsville78.909126.99279WV 5Burnsville,GlenvilleAccess toGlenville State CollegeandBurnsville Dam
Gilmer
No major junctions
Lewis90.988146.43191US 19Stonewall Resort,RoanokeAccess toStonewall Jackson Lake State Park
Weston95.928154.38196CR 30 –South WestonAccess toStonewall Jackson LakeandJackson's Mill
98.608158.69499US 33/US 48/US 119Weston,BuckhannonAccess toWest Virginia Wesleyan CollegeandDavis and Elkins College
Jane Lew105.038169.042105CR 7 –Jane LewAccess toJackson's Mill
HarrisonLost Creek109.688–
110.595
176.526–
177.985
110WV 270Lost CreekEastern terminus of WV 270
Stonewood115.75186.28115WV 20Stonewood,Nutter FortAccess toAlderson Broaddus University
Clarksburg118.13190.11117WV 58Anmoore
119.63192.53119US 50(Corridor D) –Clarksburg,BridgeportAccess toSalem International University
Bridgeport121.7195.9121CR 24 (Meadowbrook Road)
124.34200.11124

WV 279toUS 50east
Access toNorth Central West Virginia Airport,Tygart Lake State Park,and United Hospital Center
125.36201.75125WV 131(Saltwell Road) –Shinnston
MarionWhitehall132.086212.572132US 250Fairmont,Whitehall
Fairmont133.356214.616133CR641(Kingmont Road)
134.926217.142135CR 64 (Pleasant Valley Road)
136.006218.880136WV 273Downtown FairmontSouthern terminus of WV 273; exit fully opened on December 22, 2010.[46]
136.660219.933137WV 310(East Park Avenue)Access toValley Falls State Park
138.79223.36139CR 33 (Pricketts Creek Road) –East FairmontAccess toPrickett's Fort State Park
Monongalia145.62234.35146CR 77 (Goshen Road)
Morgantown148.766239.416148
I-68east –Cumberland
Western terminus of I-68; access toMountaineer FieldandTygart Lake State Park
152.502245.428152US 19Westover,MorgantownAccess toGranville
153.4246.9153CR467(University Town Centre Drive)
154.836249.184155WV 7West Virginia UniversityAccess toStar City,Osage,andMountaineer Field
Mason–Dixon Line160.52
0.0
258.33
0.0
West Virginia–Pennsylvania state line
PennsylvaniaGreenePerry Township0.81.311
ToUS 19Mount Morris
Whiteley Township6.810.927Kirby,Garards Fort
Franklin Township14.022.5314PA 21Masontown,WaynesburgAccess toWaynesburg University
Washington Township19.431.2419US 19/PA 221– Ruff Creek,Jefferson
WashingtonWest Bethlehem Township23.437.7523Marianna,Prosperity
Amwell Township30.649.2630US 19Amity,Lone Pine
32.952.9733US 40Laboratory
South Strabane Township34.455.434 (NB)
21 (SB)

I-70east –New Stanton
Southern end of I-70 concurrency
35.457.0820PA 136(Beau Street)Access toWashington & Jefferson College
36.458.6719US 19(Murtland Avenue)Diverging diamond interchange
37.961.018 (NB)
38 (SB)

I-70west –Wheeling
Northern end of I-70 concurrency
40.364.98A40Meadow LandsWas Northbound exit and Southbound entrance until 2013
41.166.1841Race Track RoadAccess toHollywood Casino at The Meadows
North Strabane Township43.469.8943PA 519Eighty Four,Houston
45.573.21045
ToPA 980Canonsburg
Cecil Township48.277.610A48Southpointe,HendersonvilleAccess toPennsylvania Western University, California's Southpointe Campus and to theNational Cemetery of the Alleghenies
50.280.849
PA Turnpike 576west / Morganza Road –Pittsburgh International Airport
Eastern terminus of PA 576;E-ZPassortoll-by-plate;Morganza Road signed southbound
AlleghenyBridgeville54.687.91154PA 50Bridgeville
South Fayette Township55.288.81255PA 50Heidelberg,Collier TownshipFormerly designated as "Heidelberg / Kirwan Heights"
Scott Township57.492.41357Carnegie
Pennsbury Village59.395.41459I-376(US 22/US 30) –Pittsburgh,Pittsburgh International AirportI-376 exit 59; signed as exits 59A (east) and 59B (west)
Robinson Township60.497.21660PA 60Crafton,Moon RunSigned as exits 60A (south) and 60B (north) southbound
Coraopolis64.1103.21764PA 51Coraopolis,McKees RocksNo southbound exit
Ohio RiverNeville Island Bridge
Neville Township64.8104.31865
Yellow BelttoPA 51Neville Island
Southern terminus of Yellow Belt concurrency
Ohio RiverNeville Island Bridge
Glenfield66.5107.01966PA 65Emsworth,Sewickley
Ohio Township68.0109.42068Yellow Belt(Mount Nebo Road)Northern terminus of Yellow Belt concurrency
Franklin Park72.1116.02172
I-279south –Pittsburgh
Southbound exit and northbound entrance; northern terminus of I-279
73.3118.02273
PA 910east /Orange BeltWexford
Western terminus of PA 910
Marshall Township75.7121.82375

Red BelttoUS 19south –Warrendale
Northbound exit and southbound entrance
75.9122.12576
US 19north –Cranberry
Northbound left exit and southbound entrance
ButlerCranberry Township77.2124.277I-76/Penna TurnpikeHarrisburg,Youngstown OHI-76 / Penna Turnpike exit 28 (Cranberry)
78.7126.72578PA 228Seven Fields,Mars,Cranberry
Jackson Township83.1133.72683PA 528Evans CityNorthbound exit and southbound entrance
85.5137.62685
ToPA 528(US 19)
Southbound exit and northbound entrance
87.3140.52787PA 68ZelienopleNorthbound exit and southbound entrance
88.7142.72788

ToUS 19/PA 68Zelienople
Signed as Little Creek Road northbound; promoted as access toSeneca Valley School District
Muddy Creek Township95.8154.22896PA 488Portersville,Prospect
Muddy Creek Township99.6160.32999US 422New Castle,ButlerAccess toMoraine State ParkandMcConnells Mill State Park
Worth Township105.4169.630105PA 108Slippery RockAccess toSlippery Rock University of Pennsylvania;interchange partially located inLawrence County
Lawrence
No major junctions
MercerSpringfield Township113.7183.031113PA 208/PA 258Grove CityAccess toGrove City CollegeandWestminster College
Findley Township116.5187.5116I-80Clarion,SharonSigned as exits 116A (east) and 116B (west); I-80 exit 19
Jackson Township121.1194.933121US 62Mercer,Franklin
New Vernon Township130.6210.234130PA 358Greenville,Sandy LakeAccess toThiel College
CrawfordGreenwood Township141.5227.735141PA 285Geneva,Cochranton
Vernon Township147.4237.236147US 6/US 19/US 322Meadville,Conneaut LakeSigned as exits 147A (north/east) and 147B (south/west); access toConneaut Lake ParkandAllegheny College,toPA 102
Hayfield Township153.9247.737154PA 198Conneautville,Saegertown
ErieWashington Township166.5268.038166US 6NAlbion,EdinboroAccess toPennsylvania Western University, Edinboro
McKean Township174.7281.239174McKean
178.6287.4178I-90Buffalo,ClevelandSigned as exits 178A (east) and 178B (west); I-90 exits 22; former southern terminus of I-179
Millcreek Township180.5290.541180
ToUS 19– Kearsarge
Access toMillcreek MallandPA 99
Erie182.7294.043182US 20(26th Street)Access toErie International Airport
183.6295.544183
PA 5/PA 290east (12th Street)
Northbound exit and southbound entrance; signed as exits 183A (east) and 183B (west); access toPresque Isle State Park,Waldameer Park,andGannon University;western terminus of PA 290
183.8295.8Bayfront Parkway/ Lincoln AvenueNorthern terminus;at-grade intersection;former northern terminus of I-179
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi

Auxiliary routes

[edit]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^abStarks, Edward (January 27, 2022)."Table 1: Main Routes of the Dwight D. Eisenhower National System of Interstate and Defense Highways".FHWA Route Log and Finder List.Federal Highway Administration.RetrievedMarch 31,2023.
  2. ^abUnited States Geological Surveytopographic mapsand aerial photos, accessed viaTerraserver-USA
  3. ^National Atlas of the United States,Hydrologic Units (Watersheds) GIS dataArchivedMay 4, 2013, at theWayback Machine
  4. ^"Ghost Ramps".Gribblenation.June 5, 2005.RetrievedAugust 8,2017.[self-published source]
  5. ^"Ghost ramps around the 100 mile marker"(Map).Google Maps.RetrievedAugust 8,2017.
  6. ^Grata, Joe (March 31, 1991)."PennDOT to Restrict I-79 Lanes This Year".Road Report.The Pittsburgh Press.p. A14 – via Google News Archive Search.
  7. ^Pennsylvania Turnpike Northwestern Extension Act, P.L. 706, No. 229, passed July 28, 1953
  8. ^Pennsylvania Turnpike Southwestern Extension Act, P.L. 174, No. 52, passed June 14, 1955
  9. ^Public Roads Administration (August 14, 1957).Official Route Numbering for the National System of Interstate and Defense Highways, as adopted by the American Association of State Highway Officials(Map). Scale not given. Washington, DC: Public Roads Administration – viaWikimedia Commons.
  10. ^Bureau of Public Roads (September 1955)."Erie"(Map).General Location of National System of Interstate Highways Including All Additional Routes at Urban Areas Designated in September 1955.Scale not given. Washington, DC: Government Printing Office. p. 74.OCLC4165975– via Wikimedia Commons.
  11. ^Bureau of Public Roads (September 1955)."Pittsburgh and environs"(Map).General Location of National System of Interstate Highways Including All Additional Routes at Urban Areas Designated in September 1955.Scale not given. Washington, DC: Government Printing Office. p. 77.OCLC4165975– via Wikimedia Commons.
  12. ^"3-digit Interstates from I-79".kurumi.[self-published source]
  13. ^Bureau of Public Roads (June 27, 1958).Official Route Numbering for the National System of Interstate and Defense Highways, as adopted by the American Association of State Highway Officials(Map). Scale not given. Washington, DC: Bureau of Public Roads – via Wikimedia Commons.
  14. ^"Third Route Alters Interstate Picture, SRC Tells Mayors".Charleston Daily Mail.October 20, 1961.[page needed]
  15. ^"5-Mile I-79 Link Will Open December 21".Charleston Daily Mail.December 7, 1967.[page needed]
  16. ^"5 Miles of I-79 Opens in Marion".Charleston Daily Mail.July 20, 1968.[page needed]
  17. ^"Gov. Moore Will Open I-79 Segment".Charleston Gazette.October 10, 1970.[page needed]
  18. ^"Moore Opens I-79 Portion, Restates Vow".Charleston Gazette.October 16, 1970.[page needed]
  19. ^abcRelease Date Report.West Virginia Department of Transportation.August 2003.
  20. ^Weingroff, Richard (June 27, 2017)."Was I-76 Numbered to Honor Philadelphia for Independence Day, 1776?".Ask the Rambler.Federal Highway Administration.
  21. ^"Interstates Renumbered".The Pittsburgh Press.February 24, 1972. p. 8.RetrievedNovember 30,2017– viaNewspapers.
  22. ^"5 More Miles of I-79 Being Opened Today".Charleston Daily Mail.June 29, 1973.[page needed]
  23. ^"6-Mile Stretch of I-79 Open".Charleston Gazette.August 31, 1973.[page needed]
  24. ^Charleston Gazette.September 5, 1973.{{cite news}}:Missing or empty|title=(help)[page needed]
  25. ^"Two I-79 Sections Opened".Dominion News.December 23, 1971.[page needed]
  26. ^"40 Miles More of I-79 Open".Charleston Daily Mail.December 23, 1971.[page needed]
  27. ^"I-79 Mileage Increased to 40".Charleston Gazette.December 23, 1971.[page needed]
  28. ^Dominion News.January 23, 1972.{{cite news}}:Missing or empty|title=(help)[page needed]
  29. ^"I-79 Segment Opened by Governor Moore".Charleston Daily Mail.September 20, 1973.[page needed]
  30. ^"More of I-79 to Be Opened Tomorrow".Charleston Daily Mail.November 27, 1973.
  31. ^"Open I-79 Increasing by 25.17 Miles".Charleston Gazette.November 28, 1973.[page needed]
  32. ^"Additional Interstates to Open".Charleston Gazette.January 30, 1974.[page needed]
  33. ^"Highway Project Bids to Be Opened".Charleston Gazette.March 8, 1972.[page needed]
  34. ^"Moore Will Open 22 New Miles".Charleston Gazette.October 8, 1974.[page needed]
  35. ^"22 Miles of Roads Opened".Charleston Gazette.October 17, 1974.[page needed]
  36. ^"W. Va. to Open Over 22 Miles of Highways".Daily Courier.Prescott, Arizona. October 10, 1974.[page needed]
  37. ^"Holiday Travelers to Find I-79 Nonstop from Amma".Charleston Gazette.November 28, 1974.[page needed]
  38. ^"New I-79 Stretch Will Open Today".Charleston Gazette.November 13, 1975.[page needed]
  39. ^Charleston Daily Mail.November 18, 1977.{{cite news}}:Missing or empty|title=(help)[page needed]
  40. ^"I-79 Opening Today in Greene County".Daily Courier.Prescott, Arizona. July 25, 1975.[page needed]
  41. ^"Interstate 79 opened in Erie".Valley Independent.September 4, 1976.[page needed]
  42. ^"Pennsylvania Highways: Interstate 79".Pennsylvania Highways.RetrievedMarch 22,2022.[self-published source]
  43. ^"'Missing links' take shape at I-79/Parkway West ".Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
  44. ^Federal Highway Administration,National Highway Planning Network GIS dataversion 2005.08
  45. ^ab"Pennsylvania Exit Numbering"(PDF).Pennsylvania Department of Transportation.RetrievedOctober 2,2007.
  46. ^Panuska, Mallory (December 22, 2010)."Gateway Connector opens today".Times West Virginian.Fairmont, West Virginia.RetrievedDecember 22,2010.
[edit]
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