Pennsylvania Route 863 (PA 863) is a state highway in
Lehigh County,
Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania (; ( Pennsylvania Dutch: )), officially the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, is a state spanning the Mid-Atlantic, Northeastern, Appalachian, and Great Lakes regions of the United States. It borders Delaware to its southeast, ...
, in the
Lehigh Valley region of the state. The route runs from
U.S. Route 222
U.S. Route 222 (US 222) is a U.S. Highway that is a spur of US 22 in the states of Maryland and Pennsylvania. It runs for from US 1 in Conowingo, Maryland, north to Interstate 78 (I-78)/Pennsylvania Route 309 (PA 309) in Dorneyville, Pennsylvan ...
(US 222) in
Upper Macungie Township north to
PA 143 in the community of
Lynnport in
Lynn Township. The route is a two-lane undivided road that runs southeast–northwest through rural areas in western Lehigh County. Along the way, PA 863 has an interchange with
Interstate 78
Interstate 78 (I-78) is an east–west Interstate Highway in the Northeastern United States, running from I-81 northeast of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, through Allentown to western and northern New Jersey and terminating at the Holland Tunn ...
(I-78)/
US 22
U.S. Route 22 (US 22) is a west–east route and is one of the original United States highways of 1926, running from Cincinnati, Ohio, at U.S. Route 27, US 27, U.S. Route 42, US 42, U.S. Route 127, US 127, and U.S. Route 52, US 52 to Newark, New ...
in
Weisenberg Township. The road was originally unpaved, being improved to a bituminous road by the 1940s and a paved road by 1950. PA 863 was designated on March 8, 1962.
Route description
PA 863 begins at a
roundabout
A roundabout is a type of circular intersection or junction in which road traffic is permitted to flow in one direction around a central island, and priority is typically given to traffic already in the junction.''The New Shorter Oxford En ...
intersection with
US 222 in
Upper Macungie Township,
Lehigh County, which is in the
Lehigh Valley. It uses two-lane undivided Independent Road after turning left off Schantz Road immediately north of the roundabout and heads northwest through agricultural areas with some trees and homes, entering
Weisenberg Township. The route winds through wooded areas and curves to the west, turning north as it passes more farms. PA 863 crosses Old Route 22 and becomes Golden Key Road, passing businesses as it intersects
I-78
Interstate 78 (I-78) is an east–west Interstate Highway in the Northeastern United States, running from I-81 northeast of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, through Allentown to western and northern New Jersey and terminating at the Holland T ...
/
US 22
U.S. Route 22 (US 22) is a west–east route and is one of the original United States highways of 1926, running from Cincinnati, Ohio, at U.S. Route 27, US 27, U.S. Route 42, US 42, U.S. Route 127, US 127, and U.S. Route 52, US 52 to Newark, New ...
at a
diamond interchange
A diamond interchange is a common type of road junction, used where a controlled-access highway crosses a minor road.
Design
The freeway itself is grade-separated from the minor road, one crossing the other over a bridge. Approaching the ...
. The road continues through commercial areas and passes to the east of a few warehouses, heading through an
S-curve. The route passes through the community of Hynemansville and runs northwest through a mix of farms, woods, and residences. PA 863 heads through Seiberlingville and continues northwest through agricultural areas with some woods and homes. The route heads west into
Lynn Township and passes through the community of Stines Corner before it winds north through wooded areas. The road heads west by farms before it turns north and crosses
Kistler Creek Kistler Creek is a U.S. Geological Survey. National Hydrography Dataset high-resolution flowline dataThe National Map , accessed April 1, 2011 tributary of Maiden Creek in Berks County, Pennsylvania in the United States.Gertler, Edward. ''Keystone C ...
, winding through forested areas with some fields. The route turns east onto Allemaengel Road and curves north into farmland. Allemaengel Road splits to the east and PA 863 continues north along Behler Road, crossing
Ontelaunee Creek Ontelaunee Creek is a U.S. Geological Survey. National Hydrography Dataset high-resolution flowline dataThe National Map accessed April 1, 2011 tributary of Maiden Creek in Berks County, Pennsylvania in the United States.Gertler, Edward. ''Keystone ...
before coming to the residential community of
Lynnport, where it ends at
PA 143.
History
When Pennsylvania first legislated routes in 1911, present-day PA 863 was not legislated as part of a route.
The present route of PA 863 existed as an unpaved road by 1915.
By 1941, the road was a low-type bituminous road between US 222 and Kistler Valley Road and a high-type bituminous road between Kistler Valley Road and PA 143.
By 1950, this roadway was paved.
PA 863 was designated on March 8, 1962, to follow its current alignment between US 222 and PA 143. The route was created in order to provide a route number at the interchange with I-78/US 22 near
New Smithville.
The route has remained on the same alignment since.
[
]
Major intersections
See also
*
*
* Pennsylvania Route 737
Pennsylvania Route 737 (PA 737) is a state highway in Berks County, Pennsylvania. The route runs from U.S. Route 222 (US 222) in the borough of Kutztown north to PA 143 in Albany Township. PA 737 heads north from ...
, a route that parallels PA 863 to the west
References
External links
{{commons category
Pennsylvania Highways: PA 863
863
__NOTOC__
Year 863 ( DCCCLXIII) was a common year starting on Friday (link will display the full calendar) of the Julian calendar.
Events
By place Byzantine Empire
* September 3 – Battle of Lalakaon: A Byzantine army confronts ...
Transportation in Lehigh County, Pennsylvania