Pennsylvania Route 68

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

I-376 in Vanport

PA 51 in Bridgewater
PA 18 / PA 65 in Rochester
US 19 / PA 288 / PA 588 in Zelienople

I-79 near Harmony

PA 8 in Butler
US 422
near Butler

I-80 / PA 66 near Clarion
East end US 322 in Clarion
Location
CountryUnited States
StatePennsylvania
CountiesBeaver, Butler, Armstrong, Clarion
Highway system
←
PA 67
→ PA 69

Pennsylvania Route 68 (PA 68) is a 90.036-mile-long (144.899 km) east–west

U.S. Route 322 (US 322) in Clarion. The route runs southwest-northeast across Beaver, Butler, Armstrong, and Clarion counties. PA 68 follows the Ohio River between the Ohio border and Beaver, where it crosses the Beaver River into Rochester and heads northeast away from the Ohio River. The route runs through rural areas to Butler County, where it intersects Interstate 79 (I-79) in Zelienople before serving Evans City and Butler. PA 68 passes through a section of Armstrong County before crossing the Allegheny River into Clarion County. Here, the route passes through Rimersburg and Sligo before it has an interchange with I-80
and continues to its terminus in Clarion.

PA 68 was originally designated in 1927 to run from the Ohio border northeast to Clarion before continuing to

Kinzua in 1935. The full length of the route was paved by 1940. The northern terminus was again moved to Kane in 1961, with PA 321 replacing most of the route north of there and the former northern terminus inundated by the Allegheny Reservoir. The north end of PA 68 was cut back to its current location in 1970, with the road between Clarion and Kane becoming part of PA 66
.

Route description

PA 68 westbound past US 19 in Zelienople

Beaver County

PA 68 begins at the

Norfolk Southern's Cleveland Line to the south with industrial areas and the Ohio River farther south. The road crosses the Little Beaver Creek into the borough of Glasgow and passes north of residential areas. PA 68 heads back into Ohioville and runs east through forested areas immediately to the north of the railroad tracks and the Ohio River. The road curves east-southeast and enters the borough of Midland, becoming Midland Avenue and passing homes. The route comes to an intersection with PA 168, where that route turns southeast to form a concurrency with PA 68, running through residential areas before heading through the commercial downtown of Midland. The road heads into industrial areas and becomes Midland Beaver Road, with PA 168 splitting to the south at an interchange to cross the Ohio River on the Shippingport Bridge.[2][3]

Past this, PA 68 continues northeast through more forests with the Norfolk Southern line and the river to the southeast. The road heads into residential areas with some industry, heading farther from the railroad line and the Ohio River. The route curves east past more homes, crossing over the Norfolk Southern line as it continues into more wooded areas. PA 68 turns northeast and runs between the railroad tracks to the northwest and the Ohio River to the southeast, crossing into

CSX's Pittsburgh Subdivision railroad line and crossing into the borough of Bridgewater, where it reaches an interchange with PA 51. At this point, PA 68 heads east to form a concurrency with PA 51 on a four-lane divided highway, crossing the Beaver River into the borough of Rochester.[2][3]

Here, the road passes over Norfolk Southern's

I-76 (Pennsylvania Turnpike) and intersecting the northern terminus of PA 989. PA 68 winds northeast through more farmland and woodland with some residences, crossing into Marion Township.[2][3]

Butler County

PA 68 enters the borough of Zelienople in Butler County and becomes West Beaver Street, heading into residential areas. The road curves east and reaches an intersection with US 19, where PA 68 turns north to join that route on South Main Street, passing through the commercial downtown. The road intersects the eastern terminus of PA 288, where it becomes North Main Street, before PA 68 splits from US 19 by heading east on East Grandview Avenue. The route runs past homes, crossing into the borough of Harmony and becoming Evans City Road. PA 68 heads through residential and commercial areas a short distance to the south of Connoquenessing Creek and the P&W Subdivision railroad line, which is owned by CSX and operated by the Buffalo and Pittsburgh Railroad. The roadway crosses into Jackson Township and becoming a four-lane divided highway as it comes to an interchange with access to and from the southbound direction of I-79. The road becomes two lanes and undivided again as it continues southeast into wooded areas with some development, passing through Eidenau and Harmony Junction. The route continues to the southwest of the railroad tracks and Breakneck Creek, reaching an intersection with PA 528.[2][4]

Here, PA 528 turns southeast to form a concurrency with PA 68. The road passes through woods before heading into the borough of

Connoquenessing Township and curves northeast, running through more agricultural and wooded areas with a few homes. The route passes through increasing areas of residential and commercial development, heading north of Butler Farm Show Airport before continuing into Butler Township. Here, PA 68 curves east and heads past more areas of housing, coming to an intersection with PA 356.[2][4]

Here, PA 68 heads southeast along with PA 356 on New Castle Road, a three-lane road with a

Bessemer Subdivision railroad line, a Buffalo and Pittsburgh Railroad line, and Connoquenessing Creek, crossing into Summit Township. PA 68 comes to an interchange with the US 422 freeway, where it also intersects the southern terminus of PA 38; here, the road is a four-lane divided highway.[2][4]

St. Joseph's Church on PA 68 in North Oakland

Past this, the road becomes two lanes and undivided, with the name becoming Chicora Road as it enters wooded areas with some homes. The route heads into a mix of farms and woods with some residences as it crosses into Oakland Township. PA 68 winds northeast through more wooded areas with some homes, passing through Woodbine. The road runs through more farmland and woodland with scattered residences, heading through North Oakland. The route crosses into Donegal Township and turns north, at which point it begins to run to the west of the Buffalo and Pittsburgh Railroad's Northern Subdivision line. PA 68 curves northeast and east, heading into the borough of Chicora and crossing under the railroad tracks. The road curves northeast and becomes South Main Street, passing homes before becoming North Main Street in the center of town, where it passes a few businesses. After running past more residences, the route curves northeast and crosses into Fairview Township, becoming Chicora Road again and winding through agricultural and wooded areas with some homes. The road turns east and crosses PA 268 in Kepples Corners.[2][4]

Armstrong and Clarion counties

PA 68 westbound in Rimersburg

PA 68 heads into Bradys Bend Township in Armstrong County and becomes an unnamed road, heading through forested areas with some homes, passing through Kaylor. The road turns east before a curve to the north, coming to the residential community of Brady's Bend. Past this, the route turns southeast through more forests.[2][5]

PA 68 crosses the Allegheny River into the borough of East Brady in Clarion County, becoming Bridge Street. The route turns southwest onto Kellys Way and passes homes with some businesses. PA 68 turns southeast onto 3rd Street and runs through residential areas before curving east as Simpson Road and heading through wooded areas. The road enters Brady Township and runs northeast through more woodland with some fields and homes. The route continues into Madison Township and runs through more rural areas, passing through New Athens and Maple Grove. PA 68 heads into the borough of Rimersburg and becomes Main Street, passing homes. The road intersects the western terminus of PA 861, where it becomes the border between Rimersburg to the west and Toby Township to the east before fully entering Toby Township and passing through Rimersburg Station.[2][6]

The route becomes unnamed as it passes through wooded areas with some farm fields and homes, heading to the north. PA 68 briefly heads through

Clarion Township as South 5th Avenue. PA 68 enters the borough of Clarion and runs north-northeast past more residences before ending at US 322 in the commercial downtown.[2][6]

History

When Pennsylvania first legislated routes in 1911, what would become PA 68 was designated as Legislative Route 243 between the Ohio border and Rochester, Legislative Route 78 between Rochester and Butler, Legislative Route 214 between Butler and Clarion, and Legislative Route 98 in a portion of

PA 7 in Kane, running along its current routing to Clarion before continuing to Kane. At this time, the entire route was paved between the Ohio border and Clarion except for a portion between Rimersburg and Sligo. Between Clarion and Kane, the entire route was unpaved except for a portion near Marienville and to the southwest of Kane.[8] A year later, the route between Rimersburg and Sligo was paved.[9] By 1930, PA 68 paved between US 322 northwest of Clarion and Paint Mills, Arthurs and Snydersburg, and around Leeper while the state highway was under construction between Paint Mills and Arthurs, Snydersburg and southwest of Leeper, and the Clarion/Forest county line and Roses.[10]

In the 1930s, the entire length of the route between Clarion and Kane was paved.

Kinzua in 1935.[11][12] In 1961, the Pennsylvania Department of Highways approved moving the northern terminus of PA 68 to US 6 in Kane, with PA 321 replacing much of the route north of Kane. The former northern terminus at PA 59 in Kinzua was inundated with the creation of the Allegheny Reservoir.[13][14][15] In 1970, the north end of PA 68 was cut back to its current location at US 322 in Clarion, with the route between US 322 northwest of Clarion and US 6 in Kane replaced by a rerouted PA 66.[15] This change was made to keep truck traffic away from the Toby Bridge, which had a 15-ton weight limit and collapsed from an incident with a truck in 1969. Northbound trucks were instead directed to follow I-80 and PA 66 to avoid the bridge along the former PA 68 alignment.[16]

Major intersections

CountyLocationmi[1]kmDestinationsNotes
BeaverOhioville0.0000.000
 SR 39 west (Harvey Avenue) – East Liverpool		Western terminus of PA 68 at Ohio state line
Midland2.9754.788
 PA 168 north (Beaver Road)		Western end of PA 168 concurrency
Industry4.8407.789
 PA 168 south (Shippingport Bridge) – Shippingport, Hookstown		Interchange; eastern end of PA 168 concurrency
Pittsburgh, New Castle
Exit 38 (I-376)
Chippewa
Interchange; western end of PA 51 concurrency
Pittsburgh, New Brighton, Beaver Falls
Interchange; eastern end of PA 51 concurrency
14.38123.144
Traffic circle
New Sewickley Township21.87435.203
 PA 989 south (Glen Eden Road)		Northern terminus of PA 989
Pittsburgh
Western end of US 19 concurrency
27.00043.452

 PA 288 west / PA 588 west (New Castle Street) – Ellwood City, Beaver Falls		Eastern terminus of PA 288 / PA 588
27.09543.605
I-79 north / Grandview Street – Portersville, Erie
Eastern end of US 19 concurrency
Pittsburgh
Exit 87 (I-79); I-79 southbound entrance / northbound exit only
31.30850.385
 PA 528 south (Lindsay Road)		Western end of PA 528 concurrency
Evans City32.18851.802
 PA 528 north (Franklin Street)		Western end of PA 528 concurrency
Butler Township42.99369.191
 PA 356 north (New Castle Road)		Western end of PA 356 concurrency
Butler44.69571.930
 PA 8 / PA 356 south (Main Street)		Eastern end of PA 356 concurrency
US 422 (Benjamin Franklin Highway) / PA 38 north (Oneida Valley Road) – Kittanning, New Castle, Eau Claire
Interchange; southern terminus of PA 38
Fairview Township58.89094.774 PA 268 (Keeples Corner Road) – Parker, Kittanning
Armstrong
 No major junctions
ClarionRimersburg74.423119.772
 PA 861 east – New Bethlehem		Western terminus of PA 861
Sligo79.094127.289
 PA 58 west (Bald Eagle Street) / Colerain Street – Parker		Eastern terminus of PA 58
I-80 / PA 66 – DuBois, Sharon
Exit 62 (I-80)
Clarion90.036144.899 US 322 (Main Street) – Franklin, BrookvilleEastern terminus of PA 68
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi

PA 68 Truck

Truck plate.svg

Pennsylvania Route 68 Truck marker

Pennsylvania Route 68 Truck

LocationBeaver County, Pennsylvania
Length3.3 mi[17] (5.3 km)

Pennsylvania Route 68 Truck is a connector

truck route that directs motorists to PA 68 while avoiding PA 989. Trucks are advised to follow Big Knob Road to avoid a 10 ton weight limit on PA 989 north of this intersection.[17]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b Bureau of Maintenance and Operations (January 2015). Roadway Management System Straight Line Diagrams (Report) (2015 ed.). Pennsylvania Department of Transportation. Archived from the original on February 17, 2011. Retrieved June 30, 2015.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Google (June 27, 2013). "Pennsylvania Route 68" (Map). Google Maps. Google. Retrieved June 27, 2013.
  3. ^ a b c Beaver County, Pennsylvania Highway Map (PDF) (Map). PennDOT. 2011. Archived from the original (PDF) on August 5, 2011. Retrieved May 14, 2011.
  4. ^ a b c d Butler County, Pennsylvania Highway Map (PDF) (Map). PennDOT. 2011. Archived from the original (PDF) on August 7, 2011. Retrieved March 3, 2011.
  5. ^ Armstrong County, Pennsylvania Highway Map (PDF) (Map). PennDOT. 2011. Retrieved April 30, 2011.[permanent dead link]
  6. ^ a b Clarion County, Pennsylvania Highway Map (PDF) (Map). PennDOT. 2011. Archived from the original (PDF) on September 6, 2011. Retrieved June 1, 2011.
  7. Pennsylvania Department of Highways. 1911. Archived from the original
    (PDF) on July 5, 2011. Retrieved January 1, 2014.
  8. ^ Pennsylvania Highway Map (Map). Pennsylvania Department of Highways. 1927. Retrieved December 26, 2007.
  9. ^ Map of Pennsylvania (Map). Pennsylvania Department of Highways. 1928. Retrieved May 7, 2015.
  10. ^ Tourist Map of Pennsylvania (PDF) (Map). Pennsylvania Department of Highways. 1930. Archived from the original (PDF) on July 5, 2011. Retrieved June 24, 2010.
  11. ^ a b Official Road Map of Pennsylvania (PDF) (Map). Pennsylvania Department of Highways. 1940. Archived from the original (PDF) on July 5, 2011. Retrieved June 24, 2010.
  12. Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  13. Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  14. ^ General Highway Map McKean County, Pennsylvania (PDF) (Map). Pennsylvania Department of Highways. 1967. Retrieved August 9, 2015.
  15. ^ a b Official Map of Pennsylvania (PDF) (Map). Pennsylvania Department of Highways. 1970. Archived from the original (PDF) on July 5, 2011. Retrieved June 30, 2010.
  16. Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  17. ^ a b Google (March 27, 2024). "overview of Pennsylvania Route 68 Truck" (Map). Google Maps. Google. Retrieved March 27, 2024.

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