Pennsylvania Route 378
Route information | ||||
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Maintained by PennDOT | ||||
Length | 9.555 mi[1] (15.377 km) | |||
Existed | 1971 (1968 as Interstate 378)–present | |||
Major junctions | ||||
South end | PA 309 in Center Valley | |||
PA 412 in Bethlehem | ||||
North end | US 22 in Bethlehem | |||
Location | ||||
Country | United States | |||
State | Pennsylvania | |||
Counties | Lehigh, Northampton | |||
Highway system | ||||
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Pennsylvania Route 378 (PA 378) is a north-to-south road in Lehigh and Northampton counties in the Lehigh Valley region of the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. The southern terminus is at PA 309 in Center Valley. Its northern terminus is at U.S. Route 22 (US 22) in Bethlehem. The route heads north from PA 309 as a two-lane undivided road through Upper Saucon Township and Lower Saucon Township before crossing South Mountain into Bethlehem. Here, PA 378 follows city streets through Bethlehem's South Side, intersecting the northern terminus of PA 412. The route becomes a four-lane freeway and crosses the Lehigh River before continuing north to US 22. PA 378 is the only highway from US 22 to Center City Bethlehem, and a quick route for visitors traveling to the Wind Creek Bethlehem casino resort on the city's South Side.
The portion of PA 378 south of Bethlehem was originally numbered as
When I-78 was rerouted from US 22 to south of Bethlehem, the spur became disjointed from its parent. I-378 was downgraded to state route status in 1971. Three years later, the PA 378 designation replaced PA 191 from Center Valley to Third Street in Bethlehem. The state did not remove the exit tabs for the freeway section, making PA 378 one of only a few state freeways with exit numbers; another such freeway is PA 309 in
Route description
PA 378 begins at two separate intersections with
After that, the highway enters
PA 378 becomes a four-lane freeway known as the Fred B. Rooney Highway and heads northward across the Hill to Hill Bridge, at which point it crosses back into Lehigh County. The route crosses over West Lehigh Street and intersects with the off-ramp to Main Street in Bethlehem. There was formerly a ramp to 2nd Avenue, but that has been closed and is only used by pedestrians. The freeway continues northward through the city, crossing under West Broad Street and reaching a southbound interchange with North Street, which leads to Center City and Third Avenue. The freeway continues northward, crossing over and receiving an on-ramp from Union Boulevard.[3][4]
The road turns to the northwest and interchanges with Eighth Avenue at exit 2E and exit 2W northbound and exit 2 southbound. PA 378 turns westward through Bethlehem, paralleling Union Boulevard and crossing under Fourteenth Avenue. The route then turns northward, crossing under Eaton Avenue and a Norfolk Southern rail line and passing the Hal Fenicle Memorial Park. PA 378 continues northbound, interchanging with and crossing under Catasauqua Road. After running to the southwest of Lehigh Valley Hospital–Muhlenberg, the freeway ends at an interchange with US 22 (Lehigh Valley Thruway).[3][4]
History
Location | Bethlehem |
---|---|
Existed | 1968–1971 |
The at-grade portion of PA 378 south of
The current alignment of PA 378 was first constructed from West Broad Street in Bethlehem to the current interchange with the Lehigh Valley Thruway. As part of the Interstate Highway System, the Lehigh Valley Thruway was cosigned as the alignment of I-78. Upon completion of the freeway in 1968, the new highway was designated I-378, a spur off of I-78.[9] However, in 1970, as I-78 was realigned to a new bypass to the south of Bethlehem, I-378 was decommissioned and replaced with the alignment of PA 378 the following year.[10][11]
Since completion, PA 378 has undergone little major change, but the highway has undergone several rehabilitations. The Hill to Hill Bridge received a minor fire during reconstruction of the bridge, when a piece of equipment had its motor catch fire on April 13, 2009, when the bridge was undergoing re-painting.[12] The bridge repainting was completed on May 15, 2009, after the closing of a bridge and was re-opened later due to rainfall in the area.[13]
On September 23, 2009, the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation announced plans and designs for an upgrade and redesign of PA 378 through Bethlehem at its interchange with West Third Street, although this met public criticism. Part of the project, construction of a new ramp from Wyandotte Street to West Third Street, was completed in September 2011. Completion of the widening of West Third Street and PA 412 was completed later in 2011. The $5.1 million project will also include a widening of PA 412 between Exit 67 on I-78 and Daly Avenue in Bethlehem to two lanes in each direction.[14] On November 21, 2009, the project was given funding from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 signed by President Barack Obama in 2009. The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation received $1 billion worth of funding from the act.[15]
Major intersections
County | Location | mi[1] | km | Exit | Destinations | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Philadelphia, Allentown | Southern terminus | |||||
Northampton | Bethlehem | 5.641 | 9.078 | PA 412 south (Broadway) – Hellertown | Northern terminus of PA 412 | |
5.875 | 9.455 | Third Street to I-78 / PA 412 south | ||||
Southern end of freeway section | ||||||
Lehigh | 6.315 | 10.163 | Main Street | Northbound exit only | ||
6.774 | 10.902 | 3 | Center City | Southbound exit only; access via Third Avenue; to Historic Bethlehem | ||
6.795 | 10.935 | Union Boulevard | Northbound entrance only | |||
7.368 | 11.858 | 2 | Eighth Avenue | Signed as exits 2E (east) and 2W (west) northbound | ||
8.858 | 14.256 | 1 | Catasauqua Road | Southbound exit only; access to Schoenersville Road | ||
9.555 | 15.377 | US 22 / Schoenersville Road – Allentown, Easton | Northern terminus; access to Schoenersville Road via C/D road of US 22 east | |||
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi |
See also
- U.S. Roads portal
- Pennsylvania portal
References
- ^ a b Bureau of Maintenance and Operations (January 2015). Roadway Management System Straight Line Diagrams (Report) (2015 ed.). Pennsylvania Department of Transportation. Retrieved June 30, 2015.
- Lehigh County (PDF)
- Northampton County (PDF)
- ^ "Bill Information, House Bill 1468". Pennsylvania General Assembly. October 9, 2009. Retrieved November 12, 2018.
- ^ a b c d Google (January 25, 2015). "overview of Pennsylvania Route 378" (Map). Google Maps. Google. Retrieved January 25, 2015.
- ^ a b c Lehigh County, Pennsylvania Highway Map (PDF) (Map). PennDOT. 2014. Retrieved January 25, 2015.
- ^ Northampton County, Pennsylvania Highway Map (PDF) (Map). PennDOT. 2014. Retrieved January 22, 2015.
- ^ Pennsylvania (Map) (1961 ed.). Cartography by Pennsylvania Department of Highways. Pennsylvania Department of Highways. 1961. Allentown inset.
- ^ Pennsylvania (Map) (1974 ed.). Cartography by Pennsylvania Department of Highways. Pennsylvania Department of Highways. 1974. Allentown inset.
- ^ Pennsylvania (Map) (1968 ed.). Cartography by Pennsylvania Department of Highways. Pennsylvania Department of Highways. 1968. Allentown, Pennsylvania inset.
- ^ U.S. Route Numbering Subcommittee (June 20, 1970). "U.S. Route Numbering Subcommittee Agenda Showing Action Taken by the Executive Committee" (PDF) (Report). Washington, DC: American Association of State Highway Officials. p. 248. Retrieved January 16, 2015 – via Wikimedia Commons.
- ^ Pennsylvania (Map) (1971 ed.). Cartography by Pennsylvania Department of Highways. Pennsylvania Department of Highways. 1971. Allentown inset.
- ^ Young, Alyssa (April 13, 2009). "Route 378 re-opens after fire on Hill-to-Hill bridge". The Express-Times. Bethlehem, Pennsylvania: PennLive LLC. Retrieved 11 March 2010.
- ^ Young, Alyssa (May 15, 2009). "Reopening of Hill-to-Hill Bridge in Bethlehem delayed due to rain". The Express-Times. Bethlehem, Pennsylvania: PennLive LLC. Retrieved 11 March 2010.
- ^ Olanoff, Lynn (September 23, 2009). "Pennsylvania Department of Transportation unveils plans for Route 378 and Route 412 in Bethlehem". The Express Times. Bethlehem, Pennsylvania: PennLive LLC. Retrieved 11 March 2010.
- ^ Petty, Precious (November 21, 2009). "Route 378 upgrade in Bethlehem gets $5.1 million stimulus". The Express-Times. Bethlehem, Pennsylvania: PennLive LLC. Retrieved 11 March 2010.