Pennsylvania Route 44

Route map:
Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

New York-Pennsylvania border in Ceres Township
Location
CountryUnited States
StatePennsylvania
CountiesColumbia, Montour, Northumberland, Union, Lycoming, Clinton, Potter, McKean
Highway system
←
PA 43
→ PA 45
← PA 341→ PA 343
← PA 453→ PA 456

Pennsylvania Route 44 (PA 44) is a 149.24 mi (240.18 km)-long state highway in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. The route, which is signed north-south, is designated from Interstate 80 (I-80) and PA 42 in Buckhorn northwest to the New York state line near New York State Route 417 (NY 417) in Ceres Township.

Commissioned in 1927 by the

Pennsylvania Department of Highways, PA 44 originally ran from the New York state line to Jersey Shore. Today, the highway is a scenic route from Columbia County to Potter County
.

Route description

Columbia and Montour counties

PA 44 northbound one kilometer from its southern terminus at PA 42 in Buckhorn

PA 44 begins in the

Appalachians. PA 44 winds north and curves northwest to enter Madison Township, passing through more rural areas. The route runs through agricultural land with some woods and residences, turning west before heading back to the northwest, winding across a wooded ridge. PA 44 turns to the north and comes to an intersection with PA 642, at which point the two routes become concurrent along Danville Road. The road passes through farmland with some development and heads into the community of Jerseytown, where it passes homes and a few businesses and curves northwest to come to an intersection with PA 254. At this intersection, PA 642 ends and PA 44 continues northwest along White Hall Road, heading through agricultural areas with some woods and residences.[4][5]

The route enters Anthony Township in Montour County, passing homes in the community of White Hall and running through agricultural and wooded areas in the Muncy Hills, turning to the west. The road continues west-southwest through farmland with some woodland and residences, passing through the community of Exchange. Farther west, PA 44 crosses into Limestone Township and reaches a junction with PA 54 near the community of Schuyler. At this point, PA 44 turns west for a concurrency with PA 54 on Continental Boulevard, passing through more rural areas.[4][6]

Northumberland and Union counties

PA 44 north in Turbotville

PA 44/PA 54 enters

Warrior Run and the Watsontown Secondary tracks. The route curves northwest and crosses the creek and the railroad tracks at-grade in a wooded areas.[4][6]

PA 44 northbound past US 15 in Gregg Township

PA 44 enters the borough of Watsontown and becomes McEwensville Road, passing homes and crossing Norfolk Southern's Buffalo Line at-grade prior to reaching an intersection with PA 405. Here, PA 44 joins PA 405 on Main Street, heading northwest past homes before running through the downtown area. The road passes through more residential areas before it becomes the border between Delaware Township to the west and Watsontown to the east. PA 44/PA 405 fully enters Delaware Township and continues north-northwest through farmland as an unnamed road. In the community of Dewart, the road passes businesses before PA 44 splits from PA 405 by turning to the west and passing farm fields. The road comes to a bridge over the West Branch Susquehanna River via Bridge Avenue; this is the former location of the historic Allenwood River Bridge, which was replaced by the current concrete structure in 1990.[4][6] Upon crossing the river, PA 44 enters Gregg Township in Union County and heads west along Bridge Avenue, crossing the Union County Industrial Railroad at-grade and passing through residential areas in the community of Allenwood. The route intersects US 15 in a business area and turns to the west-northwest, becoming an unnamed road and running through agricultural areas to the north of the White Deer Hole Creek in the White Deer Valley. The road passes residential areas in the community of Spring Garden and continues through rural areas as it passes south of United States Penitentiary, Allenwood.[7]

Lycoming and Clinton counties

PA 44 enters

Antes Creek and curves northwest, reaching an intersection with the northern terminus of PA 880. The route and the creek head north through a gap in the forested Bald Eagle Mountain range, crossing into Nippenose Township. North of the gap, PA 44 runs near homes as it passes to the west of the community of Antes Fort and comes to a bridge over Norfolk Southern's Buffalo Line. The road runs north-northwest through farmland with some development before it turns west and crosses the West Branch Susquehanna River onto Long Island, where it passes farm fields before heading over more of the river.[4][8]

PA 44 in Cummings Township, as seen from Upper Pine Bottom State Park

After crossing the river, PA 44 enters the borough of

freeway officially signed as the "Frank D. Oreilly Highway", heading west into Porter Township. The freeway heads through wooded areas to the north of Jersey Shore, coming to a bridge over the Lycoming Valley Railroad. US 220/PA 44 reach a diamond interchange with Thomas Street that serves Jersey Shore before continuing southwest near residential development, passing under the Pine Creek Rail Trail before coming to a bridge over Pine Creek.[4][8] Upon crossing the creek, the freeway enters Pine Creek Township in Clinton County and PA 44 splits from the US 220 freeway at a diamond interchange by heading north onto a two-lane undivided road, passing a mix of farm fields and development.[4][9]

The route crosses Pine Creek back into Porter Township in Lycoming County, heading northwest between farmland and the Pine Creek to the southwest and the Pine Creek Rail Trail and forested mountains to the northeast. The road crosses into

Grugan Township, Clinton County, to the west and McHenry Township, Lycoming County, to the east as it runs between the Sproul State Forest to the west and the Tiadaghton State Forest to the east. Farther north, PA 44 forms the border between Chapman Township, Clinton County, to the west and McHenry Township, Lycoming County, to the east.[4][8][9] The route fully enters Brown Township in Lycoming County and continues north through the Tiadaghton State Forest as an unnamed road, passing through the community of Pump Station. The road runs through more of the state forest and makes a turn to the west.[4][8]

Potter and McKean counties

The intersection of PA 44 and PA 144 in Abbott Township

PA 44 enters

International Dark Sky Park that is popular among astronomers and stargazers.[11]

PA 44 northbound leaving Coudersport

At this point, PA 44 turns west for a concurrency with US 6 on the Grand Army of the Republic Highway. The two routes head northwest through wooded areas with some fields and residential and commercial development to the north of Mill Creek, crossing into Eulalia Township. The road continues northwest and enters the borough of Coudersport as it passes to the south of UPMC Cole hospital. US 6/PA 44 becomes East 2nd Street and reaches an intersection with the northern terminus of PA 872, continuing west through forests and development. Farther west, the road heads into residential areas with some businesses and passes to the north of Coudersport Area Junior/Senior High School. US 6/PA 44 crosses the Allegheny River and heads into the downtown area of Coudersport, passing to the south of the Potter County Courthouse. Upon reaching North Main Street, the two routes split, with US 6 turning to the south and PA 44 turning to the north. PA 44 follows North Main Street past downtown businesses before it heads past homes, curving to the north-northeast. The route continues between forests to the west and residential areas and the Allegheny River to the east before it leaves Coudersport for Eulalia Township, becoming an unnamed road. The road runs through a mix of farm fields and woods with some homes, curving to the northeast. PA 44 comes to a junction with the western terminus of PA 49, where PA 44 turns north and the road continues east as PA 49.[4][10]

PA 44 northbound approaching its end at the New York border in Ceres

PA 44 runs through hilly areas with a mix of fields and woods, crossing into

T-intersection with NY 417.[4][12]

History

The former eastern segment of PA 44 that once was routed to Mahanoy City

When PA 44 was commissioned in 1927, the route was designated from

New York-Pennsylvania border. Northwest of Coudersport from PA 49 to PA 244, and from US 6 to US 220, the road was not paved. From Jersey Shore to Turbotville, PA 44 was assigned the PA 54 designation. From Turbotville to Jerseytown, the road was designated as PA 454. From Jerseytown to Buckhorn, PA 44 was numbered as PA 342.[13][14] These designations were eliminated with an extension of PA 44 in 1941.[15]

By 1940, PA 44 was extended east to Turbotville, replacing the previous PA 54 alignment. Also in the 1940s, PA 44 was completely paved from Coudersport to the New York state line.[16] In the 1950s, PA 44 was largely extended to Mahanoy City in Schuylkill County.[17]

PA 44 southbound past US 6 in Sweden Valley

By 1970, the road was truncated to its current southern terminus in Buckhorn.[18]

On June 28, 2018, Governor Tom Wolf approved legislation that named the section of PA 44 in Potter County between the Lycoming County line and US 6 as Highway to the Stars, as it passes through Cherry Springs State Park. The idea for the name came from photographer Curt Weinhold, a Potter County resident. State Representative Martin Causer sponsored the legislation for naming the section of PA 44 as Highway to the Stars.[11]

Major intersections

CountyLocation[19]mi[1]kmDestinationsNotes
I-80 – Millville, Catawissa
Exit 232 (I-80)
Madison Township6.7510.86
 PA 642 west (Danville Road) – Danville		Southern terminus of concurrency.
7.8312.60 PA 254 (Washingtonville Road/Jerseytown Road) – Washingtonville, Millville

 PA 642 ends		Northern terminus of concurrency. Eastern terminus of PA 642.
MontourLimestone Township16.1125.93
 PA 54 east (Continental Boulevard) – Danville		Southern terminus of concurrency.
NorthumberlandTurbotville18.6129.95
 PA 54 west – Montgomery		Northern terminus of concurrency.
Watsontown24.6439.65
 PA 405 south (Dickson Avenue) – Milton		Southern terminus of concurrency.
Delaware Township26.9243.32
 PA 405 north – Montgomery		Northern terminus of concurrency
UnionGregg Township27.9044.90 US 15 – Lewisburg, Williamsport
LycomingWashington Township35.4457.04
 PA 554 north – Williamsport		Southern terminus of PA 554
Limestone Township43.1269.39
 PA 654 east – Williamsport		Western terminus of PA 654
47.0375.69
I-80
Northern terminus of PA 880
Piatt–Porter

township line		51.4982.87South end of freeway
Future I-99 north / US 220 north – Williamsport
Southern terminus of concurrency
Porter Township–Jersey Shore lineThomas Street
Future I-99 south / US 220 south – Lock Haven
Northern terminus of concurrency, Exit 120 (US 220)
North end of freeway
LycomingWatson Township59.2295.31
 PA 973 east – Salladasburg		Western terminus of PA 973
Cummings Township
66.72107.38
 PA 414 east		Waterville, Western terminus of PA 414
Gallagher
township line
72.04115.94
 PA 664 south (Coudersport Pike) – Lock Haven		Northern terminus of PA 664
Stewardson Township
96.26154.92
 PA 144 south – Renovo		Southern terminus of concurrency
Abbott Township
101.59163.49
 PA 144 north – Galeton		Northern terminus of concurrency
Sweden Township
120.31193.62
 US 6 east (Grand Army of the Republic Highway) – Galeton, Wellsboro		Southern terminus of concurrency
Coudersport122.44197.05
 PA 872 south (Buffalo Street) – Austin		Northern terminus of PA 872
124.40200.20
 US 6 west (Main Street) – Port Allegany, Smethport		Northern terminus of concurrency
Eulalia Township127.45205.11
 PA 49 east – Lawrenceville		Western terminus of PA 49
Genesee
Western terminus of PA 244
Ceres Township
149.24240.18 NY 417 – Olean, BolivarNew York state line
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi

See also

References

  1. ^ a b DeLorme Street Atlas USA 2007 software, Toggle Measure Tool
  2. ^ Pennsylvania Highway Map (west side) (Map). Gulf Oil. 1926. Retrieved 2007-12-28.
  3. Pennsylvania Department of Highways
    . 1927. Retrieved 2007-12-28.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n Google (July 11, 2017). "overview map of Pennsylvania Route 44" (Map). Google Maps. Google. Retrieved July 11, 2017.
  5. ^ Columbia County, Pennsylvania Highway Map (PDF) (Map). PennDOT. 2017. Retrieved July 11, 2017.
  6. ^ a b c Montour County and Northumberland County, Pennsylvania Highway Map (PDF) (Map). PennDOT. 2017. Retrieved July 11, 2017.
  7. ^ Snyder County and Union County, Pennsylvania Highway Map (PDF) (Map). PennDOT. 2017. Retrieved July 11, 2017.
  8. ^ a b c d e Lycoming County, Pennsylvania Highway Map (PDF) (Map). PennDOT. 2017. Retrieved July 11, 2017.
  9. ^ a b Clinton County, Pennsylvania Highway Map (PDF) (Map). PennDOT. 2017. Retrieved July 11, 2017.
  10. ^ a b c Potter County, Pennsylvania Highway Map (PDF) (Map). PennDOT. 2017. Retrieved July 11, 2017.
  11. ^ a b Davis, Alex (June 30, 2018). "Route 44, and Cherry Springs, designated as 'Highway to the Stars'". The Bradford Era. Retrieved October 20, 2018.
  12. ^ McKean County, Pennsylvania Highway Map (PDF) (Map). PennDOT. 2017. Retrieved July 11, 2017.
  13. ^ Pennsylvania Road Map (middle section) (Map). Pennsylvania Department of Highways. 1929. Archived from the original on 2011-05-26. Retrieved 2007-10-22.
  14. ^ Pennsylvania Road Map (front section) (PDF) (Map). Pennsylvania Department of Highways. 1930. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2011-07-05. Retrieved 2007-10-22.
  15. ^ "New 1941 Official Highway Map Ready for Distribution". Elizabethville Echo. June 26, 1941. p. 3. Retrieved November 13, 2017 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  16. ^ Pennsylvania Road Map (front section) (PDF) (Map). Pennsylvania Department of Highways. 1940. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2011-07-05. Retrieved 2007-10-22.
  17. ^ Pennsylvania Road Map (front section) (PDF) (Map). Pennsylvania Department of Highways. 1950. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2011-07-05. Retrieved 2007-10-22.
  18. ^ Pennsylvania Road Map (front section) (PDF) (Map). Pennsylvania Department of Highways. 1970. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2011-07-05. Retrieved 2007-10-22.
  19. ^ "Video Log". Pennsylvania Department of Transportation. Retrieved June 8, 2016.

External links

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