PA Highways - Local Knowledge Needed

[SidDithers]

Hi Pennsylvanians (hope that's correct)

Help a fellow DU'er out. We'll be travelling through PA in a few weeks, and I'm looking for info about PA highways. We're going to North Carolina, from Toronto, and have a decision to make once we get to Buffalo.

The two routes suggested to us are: I90 to Erie and then I79 through Pittsburgh, or 219 directly south from Buffalo through to I80.

I know what to expect on I90/I79, but not on 219. Anyone have comments on the 219 route? It would cut about 100km off of the trip.

Thanks in advance :)

Sid

[Sinistrous]

1. Take the I90 - I79 route.

There are long stretches of 219 that are two lanes and studded with towns and villages. It is also mountainous.

I took that route north once and thought I'd never get to Buffalo.

Of course the I79 to Breezewood stretch of the PA Turnpike is no picnic, but at least it is an interstate.

When I travel from south-central PA to Buffalo, I prefer using US15, but the route is complicated and if you are not familiar with the area you could get messed up. (I am a Buffalonian in exile and western New York is my old stomping ground.)

[spinbaby]

2. I'm not familiar with the northern end of your stretch

But I HAVE driven south to NC many times. When you get off I79 for that stretch of Rt. 19 through Summersville, be aware that it's a speed trap. That nice broad stretch of 4-lane highway might look nice but they'll ticket you for going 5 mph over the speed limit. If the speed limit suddenly drops, PAY ATTENTION.

[Sinistrous]

3. Isn't there a new direct connection between the Turnpike and I79 that

eliminates the need to use that stretch of Rte 19?

[happyslug]

5. Yes, there is now a direct connection, watch for the signs.

Map of the New Exit:

http://www.gribblenation.com/hfotw/exit_50.html

Pictures of I-79 In PA, including picture of the new exit for the Turnpike:
http://www.pahighways.com/interstates/I79pictures.html

For more on PA Highways see:
http://www.pahighways.com/interstates/I79pictures.html

[spinbaby]

8. There's a new connection in CRANBERRY

Not in West Virginia and certainly not in little Washington.

[happyslug]

9. I just posted a cite with pictures of -79, one of which is Cranberry

But I do note the site begins with Washington PA and heads North.

[spinbaby]

7. Rt. 19 is the shortcut

You can take I79 all the way to the WV turnpike in Charleston, but it's much shorter to go get off I79 early (Just past Flatwoods someplace) and take Rt. 19 to Beckley. It cuts a lot of miles off your trip, but it's only worthwhile if you stay under the speed limit.

[China_cat]

11. Second that.

My 5-miles-under-the-limit husband got a ticket there simply because he was the only one on the road at that time. There was no way to argue with the cop. And the tickets there aren't cheap.

Also be aware that the stretch through Pgh and across the bridge has been under construction for the last 3 or 4 years and no end in sight. It's slow going through there any time but rush hours are deadly.

(My sister lives on 19 right of 79 at Harmony. We go visit occasionally. And my other sister lives in Valencia but works in Pgh and keeps up a steady rant about traffic problems)

[happyslug]

4. US 219 is a killer in Pennsylvania, take I-79

I have NOT traveled on US 219 north of I-80 (The two roads intersect at DuBois), but I have traveled the rest of US219. I once had to go from Pittsburgh up I-79 to I-80 then I-80 to DuBois. I attended a hearing and the trip was quick, then I had to take US-219 from DuBois to Johnstown. The distance was 1/2 the distance I had traveled on I-79 and I-80 but took me twice as long (more comments on US-219 north of DuBois see the last paragraph below).

South of DuBois (i.e. South of I-80) US219 is a road with a lot of curves, two lane (one lane in each direction) rural road, few lights, but a lot of radical turns as it goes up, down and around Allegheny Mountain. As you cross into Cambria County Pennsylvania, you travel through several large towns (Or small cities, called Boroughs in PA) with a few red-lights in them on US-219. As you leave Carroltown in Cambria County US-219 becomes a four lane limited access highway, it stays this way as it passes Johnstown and Somerset, then reverts to a road with a lot of curves two lane road through Berlin Pa, (Two Red-lights). US 219 does this for about 15 miles and then goes to a limited access highway to by-pass Myersdale Pa, then back to a one lane in each direction highway.

US-219 has several good points, if you go into Myersdale you can take a trip on the Great Allegheny passage, a bike trail from Pittsburgh to Washington DC. Its highest point is just outside Myersdale as it passes through the Mt Salvage Tunnel. The small towns in Northern Cambria County are remnants of the old days of coal mining, poor, no Walmarts so you can see how pre-WWII American was. Walmart does have two stores off US-219, but the limited access part, one on US22 in Ebensburg Pa and another in the Richland Township suburb of Johnstown.

As a Native of Johnstown, I want you to visit us and spend tourist money here, but if you just want to pass through PA, I-79 is faster and safer.

As to the part of US-219 NORTH of DuBois (North of I-80) I believe the PA part is just like most of US219 around me, one lane in each direction rural highway. Timber trucks hit those roads quite well (North of I-80 is NOT generally Coal Country so few coal trucks North of Us-219) but you will be going through Allegheny National Forest, the only American National Forest that makes money do to all the Cherry's in the Forest.

Now on an unofficial site regarding Pa Highways, no improvements have been made to US-219 north of Cambria County since 1946 (when some work was done in DuBois), for more see the following sites:

http://www.pahighways.com/exits/US219exits.html
http://www.pahighways.com/us/US219.html

[SidDithers]

6. Thanks for the replies. I knew I could count on DUer's...

Sounds like we're heading through Erie :)

:hi:

Sid

[happyslug]

10. If you plan to cut a corner, think about using 422 then 219

US-422 is an old Stage-Coach route, popular in the days before the Automobile. It still is a short cut between Butler PA and Breezewood (if you include US-219) that has been slowly updated over the last 50 or so years.

US 422 from I-79 to Butler is a four lane highway, but NOT limited access (i.e. a lot of businesses on both sides) but few Red-lights the last time I took it (About five years ago). US-422 becomes a limited Access Highway around Butler PA, then stays a four lane highway till pass New Kensington on the Allegheny River. You travel a high level Bridge across the Allegheny go about 2-3 miles and the road becomes a two lane road (one lane in each direction). This continues for about 20 miles with no red lights till you near Indiana Pa, then it becomes a Four Lane Limited Access around Indiana PA and stays that way for about ten miles (PA56 joins it at this point, more about Pa56 below, but in Indiana ignore the signs for Pa56 unless you want to go through Johnstown Pa for some strange reason). US422 then reverts to a two lane highway till its nears Ebensburg Pa, where it intersects with US 219 where US-219 is limited access four lane highway. You then can take US-219 south, it stays a limited access Highway as it Passes Johnstown and then Somerset PA.

At Somerset Pa you have a Choice, catch the Turnpike to Breezewood or continue south on US-219. A little pass Somerset US-219 becomes a two lane highway. This part of US-219 is short under ten miles but you go through at least one small town (Berlin Pa, which has one Red light) and then along a part of the road with no intersections do to the fact you have a hillside on one side and a cliff on the other (And has a lots of turns but turns you can take at 55-55 mph unlike US-219 NORTH of Ebensburg where that is to fast in some parts of the highway). In Meyersdale US-219 becomes a Limited access highway as it swings around Myersdale, then reverts to a two lane road once pass Myersdale. It stays a two lane highway till it intersects I-68 which will take you to I-70.

Now, if you are adventuresome, there is a way to cut another 10-20 miles off your trip. It is the way people in Johnstown get to Breezewood. As US-219 passes Johnstown you will see a sign "Johnstown Expressway PA 56 West" do NOT take this exit. The next Exit is 756. Once pass 756 you come to another Exit to PA 56 EAST, Scalp Avenue. Take the Exit to WINDBER PA (East PA 56). You will be on a four lane highway, but it is NOT limited access. You go by three red lights in a typical suburban strip mall area, this last less then a mile. You Pass a Drive In Theater (yes, Johnstown Still has one) then the road goes Down hill and is a by-pass for Windber PA. I believe the By-pass has two red-lights, but they are quick so I rarely get caught by them. The road continue for 2-3 more miles and reverts to a Two lane road. You are going through a Pennsylvania State Forest so few intersections and NONE with any Red-lights. You travel on this for 10-15 miles then you start to go down Allegheny Mountain. There is one high-pin turn then a flat section then you continue to go down hill (The hair-pin turn is easy to take but you do turn 180 degrees o you will have to slow down for it). At the bottom of the hill you enter Pleasantville Pa, a small town with one Red-light. You then continue on Pa-56 as you pass Cessna PA. At Cessna watch for a Sign for I-99, Take I-99 to the Bedford Turnpike Entrance.

Now what I do when I come to the Bedford Turnpike exit of I-99, I continue on I-99 (Or US-220, its names varies but the road is the same) to Bedford itself. As you near Bedford you will see a sign for US30 East. Take that exit and head for Everett Pa. US-30 pass Bedford is an old fashioned four lane by-pass, but as it leaves Bedford behind it reverts to a two lane highway. There are at least two lights on US-30 east, The first is for the Walmart built about ten years ago, and then further up is a light for Bedford Memorial Hospital. Now I have NOT traveled this section in about Five years, but Five years ago it was clear sailing from that point East. As to get close to Everett, you have two choices, one is to take the limited access highway which swings around Everett. I recommend using the by-pass if you are hauling a trailer a any time of day and if you are just in a car to take the by-pass EXCEPT late at night. The by-pass does a half-Circle around Everett (Which adds about Five miles to the Trip). If you are in a Car, and arrive in Everett late at night (i.e. after 10:00 PM) you can save time by just going straight into town. The bypass goes to your left AND up-hill, the old road goes to your right. Stay on the main road through Everett, it has 2-3 Red lights then the by-pass joins you as you exit Everett. Only go through Everett late at night, do to traffic, the by-pass is faster the rest of the day and both join up together at the other end of Everett.

Now US-30 is a four lane NON-limited Access Highway around Everett. US-30 remains a four lane highway till it pass Breezewood (Where it reverts to a two lane highway). The Distance via the Turnpike or US-30 is about the same, The main advantage of going via Bedford and Everett is that as you enter Breezewood the first road to your right is the Entrance for I-70. You by-pass ALL of the rest of Breezewood.

Remember the Turnpike Exit on the EAST side of Breezewood and I-70 Entrance is on the West Side. If you take the turnpike you have to go through ALL of Breezewood, East to West to go from the Turnpike Exit to the I-70 entrance. You can avoid that piece of highway if you take US-30 from Bedford.