Pennsylvania Route 63
Route information | ||||
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Maintained by PennDOT and City of Philadelphia | ||||
Length | 37.417 mi[1] (60.217 km) | |||
Existed | by 1927[2]–present | |||
Major junctions | ||||
West end | PA 29 in Green Lane | |||
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East end | I-95 in Bensalem Township | |||
Location | ||||
Country | United States | |||
State | Pennsylvania | |||
Counties | Montgomery, Philadelphia, Bucks | |||
Highway system | ||||
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Pennsylvania Route 63 (PA 63) is a 37.4-mile-long (60.2 km)
What would become PA 63 was originally designated as Legislative Route 198 in 1911, running from Green Lane to Northeast Philadelphia. When first designated, PA 63 ran from PA 29 in Green Lane east to
Route description
Green Lane to Lansdale
PA 63 begins at a "T" intersection with
In the area of this intersection, PA 63 is briefly a
In Towamencin Township, PA 63 widens to four lanes and is called Sumneytown Pike again, passing woods and development before reaching the Lansdale interchange with
At the intersection with Squirrel Lane/Oak Boulevard, PA 63 briefly forms the border between the borough of Lansdale to the northeast and Towamencin Township to the southwest before fully entering Lansdale and becoming Main Street.[4] The road passes a mix of homes and businesses, coming to a junction with the northern terminus of PA 363 (Valley Forge Road). After the PA 363 junction, the road runs through the downtown area of Lansdale, where the route crosses the Liberty Bell Trail and SEPTA's Lansdale/Doylestown Line at-grade south of the Lansdale station before it intersects Broad Street.[3][4] The road leaves the downtown and heads into areas of homes and businesses.[3] At a crossing of Wissahickon Creek, PA 63 forms the border between Lansdale to the northeast and Upper Gwynedd Township to the southwest.[4]
Lansdale to Philadelphia
After intersecting North Wales Road, PA 63 runs along the border of Montgomery Township and Upper Gwynedd Township and again becomes Welsh Road, passing several businesses as a four-lane divided road. The route becomes a two-lane undivided road as it heads between business parks to the northeast and farms and woods to the southwest ahead of a junction with US 202 Bus. (Dekalb Pike). A short distance after intersecting the US 202 parkway and the southern terminus of the US 202 Parkway Trail, PA 63 forms the border between Montgomery Township to the northeast and Lower Gwynedd Township to the southwest.[3][4] The road passes through a mix of residential and commercial development, widening into a three-lane road with two westbound lanes and one eastbound lane.[3] PA 63 intersects Evans Road before it leaves the North Penn Valley region as it becomes the border between Horsham Township and Lower Gwynedd Township and crosses PA 309 (Bethlehem Pike), with jughandles controlling the movements from PA 309 to PA 63.[3][4]
The route narrows back to two lanes as it passes residential subdivisions, crossing Park Creek before becoming the border between Horsham Township to the northeast and Upper Dublin Township to the southwest at the Tennis Avenue intersection. Farther southeast, the road comes to a junction with Butler Pike. Upon reaching the community of Maple Glen, PA 63 passes businesses and crosses PA 152 (Limekiln Pike) and Norristown Road.[3][4] Past Maple Glen, the road continues past more homes along with a few farms.[3][4]
Farther southeast, the route turns into a three-lane road with one eastbound lane and two westbound lanes as it passes near a mix of business parks and residential and commercial development.[3] PA 63 widens to four lanes at Dresher Road, with two lanes in each direction, and soon reaches a junction with Dreshertown Road. The road becomes a five-lane road with a center left-turn lane as it comes to the Blair Mill Road intersection, at which point it forms the border between Upper Moreland Township to the northeast and Upper Dublin Township to the southwest.[3][4]
PA 63 turns into a four-lane divided highway that soon becomes undivided as it crosses over the
At this point, PA 63 heads into wooded residential areas as a two-lane road.[3] At the intersection with Edge Hill Road, the route turns southwest onto that road and fully enters Abington Township. Farther southwest, PA 63 makes a turn southeast onto Old Welsh Road. The road curves to the east and crosses into Lower Moreland Township.[4] The road becomes Welsh Road again and widens to four lanes as it enters a mix of residential and commercial establishments in the community of Huntingdon Valley, crossing the Pennypack Trail at the Terwood Road intersection and the Pennypack Creek. At the junction with Carson Terrace/Walton Road, there is a westbound jughandle for right turns and U-turns. Upon intersecting PA 232 (Huntingdon Pike) in the community of Bethayres, the route becomes Philmont Avenue and narrows back to two lanes. PA 63 turns south onto Red Lion Road and crosses SEPTA's West Trenton Line at-grade as it continues through wooded residential subdivisions, making a turn to the southeast and intersecting Pine Road before heading into the city of Philadelphia in Philadelphia County.[3][4]
Philadelphia to Bensalem
PA 63 turns northeast and forms a
Woodhaven Road, a six-lane freeway lined with
In 2015, PA 63 had an annual average daily traffic count ranging from a high of 65,000 vehicles between Knights Road and I-95 to a low of 10,000 vehicles between PA 309 and PA 152.[7] The entire length of PA 63 is part of the National Highway System.[8]
History
In 1911, what would become PA 63 was designated as Legislative Route 198 between Green Lane and Philadelphia.
By 1930, PA 63 had seven auxiliary routes: PA 163,
In 1954, the Philadelphia City Planning Commission planned a freeway named Woodhaven Road to run from I-95 in Bensalem Township northwest to Lower Moreland Township, passing through Northeast Philadelphia.[14] Construction on Woodhaven Road began in 1962 with completion between I-95 and US 13 in 1963 and northwest past US 1 to Evans Street in 1966.[15] Following the completion of the freeway, PA 63 was extended east onto it.[16] By 1983, PA 63 was rerouted to use Red Lion Road and US 1 between Philmont Avenue and Woodhaven Road instead of Byberry Road.[17]
The PA 63 freeway was at one time proposed to continue northwest from Northeast Philadelphia to the Pennsylvania Turnpike (I-276) in
In 1988, the Woodhaven Road extension resurfaced as a means to relieve traffic along Byberry Road. This proposed extension was to continue west only to PA 532 (Bustleton Avenue).[19] However, Lower Moreland Township officials again voiced their opposition that the extension would increase traffic on area roads. In addition, residents in the Westwood development blocked the proposed road.[20] PennDOT removed the Woodhaven Road extension from its long-range plans in 1996.[21]
Despite this, plans for extending Woodhaven Road resurfaced in 2001 when local officials began discussing the extension with PennDOT.[22] Various options for the extension were created, including extending the freeway as far as Philmont Avenue and possibly PA 232 (Huntingdon Pike) as well as widening and improving adjacent roads including PA 532 (Bustleton Avenue) and Byberry Road.[23] In addition, the project also calls for replacing the weight-restricted Byberry Road bridge over a CSX rail line.[24]
After putting the Woodhaven Road project on hold due to budget issues, PennDOT brought it back again as a
In June 2011, the portion of PA 63 in Mainland between Freed Road and Old Forty Foot Road was shifted to a new alignment to the northeast, with the old alignment becoming Mainland Road.[25] The Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission constructed two new E-ZPass-only ramps at the Lansdale interchange between I-476 (Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension) and PA 63 in order to relieve congestion at the toll plaza. This new northbound exit ramp opened December 4, 2016, and the companion southbound on-ramp opened a week later.[26] There are plans to construct an interchange between the Pennsylvania Turnpike (I-276) and PA 63 near Willow Grove.[27]
Major intersections
County | Location | mi[1] | km | Destinations | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Montgomery | Green Lane | 0.000 | 0.000 | PA 29 (Gravel Pike) – Schwenksville, Red Hill | Western terminus |
Upper Salford Township | 2.000 | 3.219 | PA 563 north (Ridge Road) | Southern terminus of PA 563 | |
Lower Salford Township | 5.809 | 9.349 | PA 113 (Harleysville Pike) – Souderton, Skippack | ||
toll-by-plate | |||||
Hatfield township line | 11.510 | 18.524 | PA 463 east (Forty Foot Road) – Hatfield | Western terminus of PA 463 | |
Lansdale | 13.142 | 21.150 | PA 363 south (Valley Forge Road) – North Wales, Norristown, Valley Forge | Northern terminus of PA 363 | |
Upper Gwynedd–Montgomery township line | 16.311 | 26.250 | US 202 Bus. (Dekalb Pike) to US 202 south – Montgomeryville, Norristown | ||
16.477 | 26.517 | US 202 – Doylestown, Norristown | |||
Philadelphia | |||||
Philadelphia | |||||
Upper Moreland township line | 25.420 | 40.910 | PA 611 (Old York Road) | ||
Lower Moreland Township | 29.296 | 47.147 | PA 232 (Huntingdon Pike) – Bryn Athyn, Meadowbrook | ||
Philadelphia | 31.854 | 51.264 | PA 532 (Bustleton Avenue) | ||
32.744 | 52.696 | Philadelphia | West end of US 1 overlap | ||
34.084 | 54.853 | US 1 north (Roosevelt Boulevard) / Woodhaven Road west – Morrisville | East end of US 1 overlap | ||
Western end of freeway section | |||||
34.909 | 56.181 | Thornton Road | |||
35.429 | 57.017 | Academy Road | Westbound exit only | ||
36.073 | 58.054 | Knights Road | No eastbound entrance | ||
36.500 | 58.741 | Franklin Mills Boulevard / Millbrook Road | No westbound entrance | ||
Bucks | Bensalem Township | 37.174 | 59.826 | US 13 (Bristol Pike) | |
37.417 | 60.217 | I-95 exit 35; eastern terminus | |||
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi |
PA 63 Alternate Truck
Location | Montgomery County, Pennsylvania |
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Length | 12.0 mi[28] (19.3 km) |
Existed | 2013–2019 |
Pennsylvania Route 63 Alternate Truck was a
Related routes
- PA 263 is a route that connects PA 611 in Willow Grove to PA 32 in Centre Bridge.[4][6]
- PA 363 is a route that connects US 422 in Audubon to PA 63 in Lansdale.[4]
- PA 463 is a route that connects PA 63 in Hatfield Township to PA 611 in Horsham.[4]
- PA 563 is a route that connects PA 63 in Upper Salford Township to PA 412 in Nockamixon Township.[4][6]
- PA 663 is a route that connects PA 100 in Pottstown to PA 309/PA 313 in Quakertown.[4][6]
See also
- U.S. Roads portal
- Pennsylvania portal
- Philadelphia 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.
- Montgomery County (PDF)
- Philadelphia County (PDF)
- Bucks County (PDF)
- ^ a b Map of New Jersey (Map). Tydol Trails. 1927. Archived from the original on May 14, 2011. Retrieved February 9, 2011.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y Google (2012-03-06). "overview of Pennsylvania Route 63" (Map). Google Maps. Google. Retrieved 2012-03-06.
- ^ ISBN 0-87530-775-2.
- ^ ISBN 978-0-87530-777-0.
- ^ ISBN 0-87530-774-4.
- ^ Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (2015). Pennsylvania Traffic Volume Map (PDF) (Map). Pennsylvania Department of Transportation. Retrieved January 3, 2018.
- ^ National Highway System: Pennsylvania (PDF) (Map). Federal Highway Administration. 2010. Retrieved February 10, 2012.
- Pennsylvania Department of Highways. 1911. Retrieved 2010-06-24.
- ^ Map of Pennsylvania (Map). Pennsylvania Department of Highways. 1928. Retrieved May 7, 2015.
- ^ a b c Tourist Map of Pennsylvania (PDF) (Map). Pennsylvania Department of Highways. 1930. Retrieved 2010-06-24.
- ^ a b c Official Road Map of Pennsylvania (PDF) (Map). Pennsylvania Department of Highways. 1940. Retrieved 2010-06-24.
- ^ Official Road Map of Pennsylvania (PDF) (Map). Pennsylvania Department of Highways. 1950. Retrieved 2010-06-24.
- ^ McFadden, James P. (December 22, 1957). "Loop Highways To Cut Tie-Ups Urged for Area". The Philadelphia Inquirer.
- ^ a b 1985 Regional Transportation Plan. Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission. 1969.
- ^ Official Map of Pennsylvania (PDF) (Map). Pennsylvania Department of Highways. 1970. Retrieved 2010-06-24.
- State Farm Insurance. 1983.
- ^ Nussbaum, Paul (August 19, 1984). "Schuylkill Carries the Load of Many Roads Left Unbuilt". The Philadelphia Inquirer.
- ^ "Woodhaven Road Announcement Chagrins Group". The Philadelphia Inquirer. September 11, 1988.
- ^ Van Atta, Burr (November 19, 1989). "Plans for Woodhaven Road Draw Debate". The Philadelphia Inquirer.
- ^ Lowgauie, Pam, Drew Weaver, and Robert Moran (February 14, 1996). "PennDOT Cutbacks Will Hit Area Hard". The Philadelphia Inquirer.
{{cite news}}
: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ Kenny, William (May 30, 2001). "Is Woodhaven Road extension just around the corner?". Northeast Times.
- ^ Kenny, William (July 4, 2001). "Woodhaven extension is still in tow". Northeast Times.
- ^ a b Kenny, William (April 17, 2008). "Somerton group votes against Woodhaven plan". Northeast Times. Retrieved 2010-06-24.
- ^ "New Route 63 (Sumneytown Pike) Alignment to Open Monday in Montgomery County". Pennsylvania Department of Transportation. June 2, 2011. Retrieved 2015-05-26.
- ^ "E-ZPass Only Ramps to Open at Lansdale Interchange on Northeastern Extension". Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission. December 2, 2016. Retrieved January 1, 2017.
- ^ "Potential Welsh Road (PA 63) Interchange". Montgomery County, Pennsylvania. Retrieved December 26, 2020.
- ^ a b Google (May 19, 2014). "overview of Pennsylvania Route 63 Alternate Truck" (Map). Google Maps. Google. Retrieved May 19, 2014.
- ^ "Risk-Based Bridge Postings - State and Local Bridges" (PDF). Pennsylvania Department of Transportation. October 8, 2013. Retrieved December 18, 2014.
- ^ "Bridge Condition Summary Report". gis.penndot.gov. Retrieved 2021-03-08.
External links
- Pennsylvania Highways: PA 63
- PA 63 at AARoads.com
- Pennsylvania Roads - PA 63
- Stop Woodhaven Road
- The Roads of Metro Philadelphia: Woodhaven Road (PA 63)