U.S. Route 422 (US 422) is a long
spur route
A spur route is a short road forming a branch from a longer, more important road such as a freeway, Interstate Highway, or motorway. A bypass or beltway should not be considered a true spur route as it typically reconnects with another or the s ...
of
US 22 split into two segments in the
U.S. state
In the United States, a state is a constituent political entity, of which there are 50. Bound together in a political union, each state holds governmental jurisdiction over a separate and defined geographic territory where it shares its sover ...
s of
Ohio
Ohio () is a state in the Midwestern region of the United States. Of the fifty U.S. states, it is the 34th-largest by area, and with a population of nearly 11.8 million, is the seventh-most populous and tenth-most densely populated. The sta ...
and
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, ...
. The western segment of US 422 runs from downtown
Cleveland
Cleveland ( ), officially the City of Cleveland, is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Cuyahoga County. Located in the northeastern part of the state, it is situated along the southern shore of Lake Erie, across the U.S. ...
, Ohio, east to
Ebensburg
Ebensburg is a borough and the county seat of Cambria County in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. It is located west of Altoona and surrounded by Cambria Township. It is situated in the Allegheny Mountains at about above sea level. Ebensburg is ...
, Pennsylvania. The eastern segment, located entirely within Pennsylvania, runs from
Hershey east to
King of Prussia
The monarchs of Prussia were members of the House of Hohenzollern who were the hereditary rulers of the former German state of Prussia from its founding in 1525 as the Duchy of Prussia. The Duchy had evolved out of the Teutonic Order, a Roman C ...
, near
Philadelphia
Philadelphia, often called Philly, is the largest city in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, the sixth-largest city in the U.S., the second-largest city in both the Northeast megalopolis and Mid-Atlantic regions after New York City. Sinc ...
.
US 422 Business (US 422 Bus.) serves as a
business route
A business route (or business loop, business spur, or city route) in the United States is a short special route connected to a ''parent'' numbered highway at its beginning, then routed through the central business district of a nearby city or ...
into each of four towns along the way.
The segmented nature of US 422 violates
(AASHTO) numbering conventions, as two separate roadways traditionally do not carry the same route number. However, the two sections of US 422 are connected by
US 22 and
US 322, allowing them to carry the same designation.
In
downtown Cleveland
Downtown Cleveland is the central business district of Cleveland, Ohio. The economic and symbolic center of the city and the Cleveland-Akron-Canton, OH Combined Statistical Area, it is Cleveland's oldest district, with its Public Square laid out b ...
, the western terminus of the western segment of US 422 is at
US 6,
US 20,
US 42, and
State Route 3 (SR 3) in Cleveland's
Public Square
A town square (or square, plaza, public square, city square, urban square, or ''piazza'') is an open public space, commonly found in the heart of a traditional town but not necessarily a true square, geometric square, used for community gathe ...
, while the eastern terminus of the western segment is at an interchange with
US 219 near Ebensburg. In Hershey, the eastern segment of US 422 begins at an interchange with US 322 and
Pennsylvania Route 39 (PA 39), while the eastern terminus of the eastern segment is at an interchange with
US 202 near King of Prussia. US 422 is named the Benjamin Franklin Highway in Pennsylvania in honor of
Benjamin Franklin
Benjamin Franklin ( April 17, 1790) was an American polymath who was active as a writer, scientist, inventor, statesman, diplomat, printer, publisher, and political philosopher. Encyclopædia Britannica, Wood, 2021 Among the leading inte ...
.
Originally, US 422 was routed along existing roads, but much of the route now runs along purpose-built alignments.
Route description
Western segment
Ohio
The western section of US 422 begins at
US 6 and
US 20 at the center of
Cleveland
Cleveland ( ), officially the City of Cleveland, is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Cuyahoga County. Located in the northeastern part of the state, it is situated along the southern shore of Lake Erie, across the U.S. ...
's
Public Square
A town square (or square, plaza, public square, city square, urban square, or ''piazza'') is an open public space, commonly found in the heart of a traditional town but not necessarily a true square, geometric square, used for community gathe ...
in the downtown district. US 422 and
SR 14, which shares its western terminus with that of US 422, form a
concurrency
Concurrent means happening at the same time. Concurrency, concurrent, or concurrence may refer to:
Law
* Concurrence, in jurisprudence, the need to prove both ''actus reus'' and ''mens rea''
* Concurring opinion (also called a "concurrence"), a ...
as the roadway heads south from the square. Less than a mile from the Public Square, US 422 and SR 14 intersect the Cleveland
Innerbelt An innerbelt or outerbelt is a ring road or collection of roadways which is or implies that it is inner or outer ring road in relation to another ring road. Use of these terms is most common and near-exclusive to routes in the United States, mostly ...
, the confluence of
Interstate 90
Interstate 90 (I-90) is an east–west transcontinental freeway and the longest Interstate Highway in the United States at . It begins in Seattle, Washington, and travels through the Pacific Northwest, Mountain West, Great Plains, Midwest, and ...
(I-90) and the northern termini of
I-71
Interstate 71 (I-71) is a north–south Interstate Highway in the Great Lakes/Midwestern and Southeastern region of the United States. Its southern terminus is at an interchange with I-64 and I-65 (the Kennedy Interchange) in Louisville, ...
and
I-77
Interstate 77 (I-77) is a north–south Interstate Highway in the eastern United States. It traverses diverse terrain, from the mountainous state of West Virginia to the rolling farmlands of North Carolina and Ohio. It largely supplants the ...
. US 422 and SR 14 split at the interchange as SR 14 turns south to join
SR 43.
SR 8 begins at the eastern terminus of the US 422/SR 14 overlap, forming a concurrency with US 422 along Woodland Avenue.
US 422 runs easterly along Woodland Avenue and Kinsman Road, through the Kinsman neighborhood. As it crosses Cleveland's city limits just west of Lee Road in
Shaker Heights
Shaker or Shakers may refer to:
Religious groups
* Shakers, a historically significant Christian sect
* Indian Shakers, a smaller Christian denomination
Objects and instruments
* Shaker (musical instrument), an indirect struck idiophone
* Cockta ...
, the street name changes to Chagrin Boulevard, named for the
Chagrin River
The Chagrin River is located in Northeast Ohio. The river has two branches, the Aurora Branch and East Branch. Of three hypotheses as to the origin of the name, the most probable is that it is a corruption of the name of a Frenchman, Sieur de Seg ...
and Chagrin Falls (the eastern terminus of the boulevard) in Cleveland's eastern suburbs. Today, US 422 in Shaker Heights and
Beachwood, where it now merges with I-271, is almost a linear
edge city
''Edge city'' is a term that originated in the United States for a concentration of business, shopping, and entertainment outside a traditional downtown or central business district, in what had previously been a suburban residential or rur ...
, with millions of square feet in office space centered on this corridor. It is one of the busiest streets in
Cuyahoga County
Cuyahoga County ( or ) is a large urban County (United States), county located in the Northeast Ohio, northeastern part of the U.S. state of Ohio. It is situated on the southern shore of Lake Erie, across the Canada–United States border, U.S.- ...
and
Greater Cleveland
The Cleveland metropolitan area, or Greater Cleveland as it is more commonly known, is the metropolitan area surrounding the city of Cleveland in Northeast Ohio, United States. According to the 2020 United States Census results, the five-county ...
.
[ It serves as the primary commercial district for the wealthiest pocket of communities in ]Northeast Ohio
The region Northeast Ohio, in the US state of Ohio, in its most expansive usage contains six metropolitan areas ( Cleveland–Elyria, Akron, Canton–Massillon, Youngstown–Warren, Mansfield, and Weirton–Steubenville) along with eight m ...
.
At Northfield Road, SR 8 turns to the south, leaving US 422 to continue east along Chagrin Boulevard. Two miles east of SR 8 in Beachwood, US 422 intersects SR 87 and SR 175, running concurrent with the former for two blocks to I-271
Interstate 271 (I-271) is an auxiliary Interstate Highway in the suburbs of Cleveland and Akron in the US state of Ohio. The highway is officially designated the Outerbelt East Freeway but is rarely referred to by that name by locals, inste ...
exit 29. Here, US 422 departs SR 87 and Chagrin Boulevard at the southbound ramp to I-271 and joins the expressway southward for . At Exit 27, US 422 splits from I-271 and proceeds through the eastern suburbs
A suburb (more broadly suburban area) is an area within a metropolitan area, which may include commercial and mixed-use, that is primarily a residential area. A suburb can exist either as part of a larger city/urban area or as a separate ...
of Cleveland as a limited-access highway
A limited-access road, known by various terms worldwide, including limited-access highway, dual-carriageway, expressway, limited access freeway, and partial controlled access highway, is a highway or arterial road for high-speed traffic which ...
, exiting Cuyahoga County
Cuyahoga County ( or ) is a large urban County (United States), county located in the Northeast Ohio, northeastern part of the U.S. state of Ohio. It is situated on the southern shore of Lake Erie, across the Canada–United States border, U.S.- ...
and entering Geauga County
Geauga County ( ) is a county in the U.S. state of Ohio. As of the 2020 census, the population was 95,397. The county seat is Chardon. The county is named for an Onondaga or Seneca language word meaning 'raccoon', originally the name of the ...
.[
In Auburn Township, US 422 returns to grade-level upon crossing the ]LaDue Reservoir
LaDue Reservoir is a reservoir located near Ohio State Route 44 and U.S. Route 422 in Auburn and Troy Townships in Geauga County, Ohio. Originally called the “Akron City Reservoir”, it was dedicated as the LaDue Reservoir on October 11, 19 ...
. The route continues to the southeast, cutting through northeast Portage County and then entering Trumbull County
Trumbull County is a County (United States), county in the far northeast portion of U.S. state of Ohio. As of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, the population was 201,977. Its county seat is Warren, Ohio, Warren, which developed indust ...
, where US 422 runs through the center of Warren
A warren is a network of wild rodent or lagomorph, typically rabbit burrows. Domestic warrens are artificial, enclosed establishment of animal husbandry dedicated to the raising of rabbits for meat and fur. The term evolved from the medieval Angl ...
and Girard. The section from downtown Warren to SR 46 is known as "The Strip" and is lined with shopping centers, fast-food restaurants and other retail establishments, including the Eastwood Mall
Eastwood Mall is an indoor shopping center in Niles, Ohio, United States, serving the Youngstown–Warren metropolitan area. It is owned by the Cafaro Company. Its anchor stores are Boscov's, Dillard's, JCPenney, Macy's, and Target. The mall con ...
.[ In the 1960s and 1970s, nightclubs along The Strip attracted top-name entertainers.
Farther southeast, US 422 enters ]Youngstown
Youngstown is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio, and the largest city and county seat of Mahoning County. At the 2020 census, Youngstown had a city population of 60,068. It is a principal city of the Youngstown–Warren metropolitan area, which ...
and Mahoning County
Mahoning County is a county in the U.S. state of Ohio. As of the 2020 census, the population was 228,614. Its county seat and largest city is Youngstown. The county is named for a Lenape word meaning "at the licks" or "there is a lick", refer ...
before entering Pennsylvania.[
]
Pennsylvania
US 422 enters Pennsylvania northwest of New Castle. Three miles northwest of New Castle the route spurs off to bypass New Castle running along with I-376
Interstate 376 (I-376) is a major auxiliary route of the Interstate Highway System in the US state of Pennsylvania, located within the Allegheny Plateau. It runs from I-80 near Sharon south and east to a junction with the Pennsylvania Tur ...
. I-376 spurs off and becomes a toll road
A toll road, also known as a turnpike or tollway, is a public or private road (almost always a controlled-access highway in the present day) for which a fee (or ''toll'') is assessed for passage. It is a form of road pricing typically implemented ...
, while US 422 continues onward to where it becomes a two lane road with a center lane three miles southwest of New Castle. The route continues to the east where it meets with US 19
U.S. Route 19 (US 19) is a north–south U.S. Highway in the Eastern United States. Despite encroaching Interstate Highways, the route has remained a long-haul road, connecting the Gulf of Mexico with Lake Erie.
The highway's southern ...
and adjacent I-79
Interstate 79 (I-79) is an Interstate Highway in the eastern United States, designated from I-77 in Charleston, West Virginia, north to Pennsylvania Route 5 (PA 5) and PA 290 in Erie, Pennsylvania. It is a primary thoroughfare ...
. The road becomes an expressway again after its intersection with I-79 through Moraine State Park
Moraine State Park is a Pennsylvania state park on in Brady, Clay, Franklin, Muddy Creek, and Worth townships in Butler County, Pennsylvania, in the United States.
The park's main feature is its man-made lake, Lake Arthur, formed by impoundi ...
. The expressway ends just north of Prospect
Prospect may refer to:
General
* Prospect (marketing), a marketing term describing a potential customer
* Prospect (sports), any player whose rights are owned by a professional team, but who has yet to play a game for the team
* Prospect (mining ...
by the Big Butler Fairgrounds. It proceeds further for four miles to where it becomes an expressway bypassing Butler
A butler is a person who works in a house serving and is a domestic worker in a large household. In great houses, the household is sometimes divided into departments with the butler in charge of the dining room, wine cellar, and pantry. Some a ...
, and ending in East Butler. It continues on for fifteen miles, becoming an expressway again to bypass Kittanning, where it meets with the Allegheny Valley Expressway ( PA 28) at the northern terminus of that expressway. At this point, PA 28 joins US 422 in a concurrency. US 422/PA 28 crosses over the Allegheny River
The Allegheny River ( ) is a long headwater stream of the Ohio River in western Pennsylvania and New York (state), New York. The Allegheny River runs from its headwaters just below the middle of Pennsylvania's northern border northwesterly into ...
and PA 66
Pennsylvania Route 66 (PA 66) is a state highway in Western Pennsylvania. Its southern terminus is at U.S. Route 119 (US 119) just east of Interstate 70 (I-70) near New Stanton. Its northern terminus is at US 6 in Kane.
The southernmost ...
joins US 422 and PA 28 on the expressway. At the east end of the expressway, PA 28/PA 66 splits to the north and US 422 becomes a two-lane highway with a center lane. It continues in this way for eighteen miles to where it bypasses Indiana
Indiana () is a U.S. state in the Midwestern United States. It is the 38th-largest by area and the 17th-most populous of the 50 States. Its capital and largest city is Indianapolis. Indiana was admitted to the United States as the 19th s ...
, where it junctions with US 119
U.S. Route 119 (US 119) is a spur of US 19. It is a north–south route (on a northeast-southwest alignment) that was an original United States highway of 1926. It is Corridor G of the Appalachian Development Highway System (ADHS) east of US ...
. The expressway continues for eight miles to where the expressway ends north of Yellow Creek State Park
Yellow Creek State Park is a Pennsylvania state park on in Brush Valley and Cherryhill Townships, Indiana County, Pennsylvania in the United States. The park encompasses parts of Yellow Creek and Little Yellow Creek. The old Kittanning Path ...
, becoming a two-lane highway. It continues like this for sixteen miles, until just before its terminus at US 219
U.S. Route 219 (US 219) is a spur of US 19. It runs for from West Seneca, New York, at an interchange with Interstate 90 (I-90) to Rich Creek, Virginia, intersecting at US 460. US 219 is found (from north to south) in New York, Pennsylvania, Ma ...
near Ebensburg
Ebensburg is a borough and the county seat of Cambria County in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. It is located west of Altoona and surrounded by Cambria Township. It is situated in the Allegheny Mountains at about above sea level. Ebensburg is ...
.
Eastern segment
Dauphin and Lebanon counties
The eastern section of US 422 begins at a partial cloverleaf interchange
A partial cloverleaf interchange or parclo is a modification of a cloverleaf interchange.
The design has been well received, and has since become one of the most popular freeway-to-arterial interchange designs in North America. It has also bee ...
with US 322 and the eastern terminus of PA 39 east of the borough of Hummelstown
Hummelstown is a borough in Dauphin County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 4,535 as of the 2020 census. It is part of the Harrisburg–Carlisle Metropolitan Statistical Area.
Originally named Fredrickstown, the town was establi ...
in Derry Township, Dauphin County
Dauphin County (; Pennsylvania Dutch: Daffin Kaundi) is a county in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. As of the 2020 census, the population was 286,401. The county seat and the largest city is Harrisburg, Pennsylvania's state capital and ninth ...
, heading northeast as a four-lane freeway
A controlled-access highway is a type of highway that has been designed for high-speed vehicular traffic, with all traffic flow—ingress and egress—regulated. Common English terms are freeway, motorway and expressway. Other similar terms ...
that soon ends and becomes an at-grade divided highway
A dual carriageway ( BE) or divided highway ( AE) is a class of highway with carriageways for traffic travelling in opposite directions separated by a central reservation (BrE) or median (AmE). Roads with two or more carriageways which are ...
called West Chocolate Avenue
Chocolate Avenue is a street in Hershey, Pennsylvania, that runs past the site of the original Hershey's Chocolate Factory, and is considered to be the main street of the town. It runs northeasterly from Hersheypark Drive to the intersection of Pe ...
. The road passes commercial development along with some farm fields and residential development as it heads into the community of Hershey. The route heads into a mix of homes and businesses and turns east-northeast, where it narrows to a two-lane undivided road. At this point, West Chocolate Avenue becomes lined with street lamps
A street light, light pole, lamp pole, lamppost, street lamp, light standard, or lamp standard is a raised source of light on the edge of a road or path. Similar lights may be found on a railway platform. When urban electric power distribution ...
that are shaped like Hershey's Kisses
Hershey's Kisses is a brand of chocolate first produced by the Hershey Company in 1907. The bite-sized pieces of chocolate have a distinctive conical shape, sometimes described as flat-bottomed teardrops. Hershey's Kisses chocolates are wrapped i ...
. US 422 continues along West Chocolate Avenue and comes to an intersection with PA 743 at Cocoa Avenue in the center of Hershey. At this point, the route becomes East Chocolate Avenue, a three-lane divided with two eastbound lanes and one westbound lane that passes southeast of the site of the original Hershey Chocolate
The Hershey Company, commonly known as Hershey's, is an American multinational company and one of the largest chocolate manufacturers in the world. It also manufactures baked products, such as cookies and cakes, and sells beverages like milksh ...
factory. The road becomes undivided, still with two eastbound lanes and one westbound lane, and passes near a few residences and businesses as it heads between the Hershey Country Club
Hershey Country Club is a country club located in Hershey, Pennsylvania, which was founded in 1930 by Milton S. Hershey.
The golf course in the club hosted the PGA Championship in 1940, which Byron Nelson defeated Sam Snead on the par 3 12th ho ...
to the north and Spring Creek Golf Course to the south, narrowing to two lanes. US 422 runs past more residential and commercial development, leaving Hershey and heading through the community of Palmdale
Palmdale is a city in northern Los Angeles County in the U.S. state of California. The city lies in the Antelope Valley region of Southern California. The San Gabriel Mountains separate Palmdale from the Los Angeles Basin to the south.
On Aug ...
.
US 422 enters the borough of Palmyra
Palmyra (; Palmyrene: () ''Tadmor''; ar, تَدْمُر ''Tadmur'') is an ancient city in present-day Homs Governorate, Syria. Archaeological finds date back to the Neolithic period, and documents first mention the city in the early second ...
in Lebanon County
Lebanon County ( Pennsylvania Dutch: Lebanon Kaundi) is a county in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. As of the 2010 census, the population was 133,568. Its county seat is the city of Lebanon.
The county was formed from portions of Dauphin ...
and becomes West Main Street, running past homes and a few businesses. The route heads into the downtown area and becomes East Main Street at the Railroad Street intersection. The road runs past residences before it passes through commercial areas and comes to an intersection with the northern terminus of PA 117. US 422 gains a center left-turn lane
A reversible lane (British English: tidal flow) is a lane in which traffic may travel in either direction, depending on certain conditions. Typically, it is meant to improve traffic flow during rush hours, by having overhead traffic lights and li ...
and continues past businesses, leaving Palmyra for North Londonderry Township and becoming Benjamin Franklin Parkway. The route bends east and passes between businesses to the north and residential development to the south before it heads into farmland and crosses Killinger Creek, where it becomes the border between North Annville Township to the north and South Annville Township to the south as West Main Street. The road heads through agricultural areas with some woods, homes, and businesses, crossing the Quittapahilla Creek
Quittapahilla Creek (nicknamed the "Quittie") is a U.S. Geological Survey. National Hydrography Dataset high-resolution flowline dataThe National Map, accessed August 8, 2011 tributary of Swatara Creek in south-central Pennsylvania in the United ...
into Annville Township. At this point, US 422 heads east as a two-lane road that is lined with homes. In the commercial center of Annville, the route crosses PA 934 and becomes East Main Street, heading south of the Lebanon Valley College
Lebanon Valley College (LVC, Lebanon Valley, or The Valley) is a private college in Annville, Pennsylvania.
History
Lebanon Valley was founded on February 23, 1866, with classes beginning May 7 of that year and its first class graduating in 1870 ...
campus. The road continues east past residential areas with a few businesses, gaining a center left-turn lane. US 422 heads into the borough of Cleona and becomes West Penn Avenue, heading past homes and commercial establishments. The route becomes East Penn Avenue at the Center Street intersection and runs through more developed areas, becoming the border between Cleona to the north and North Cornwall Township to the south. The road becomes the boundary between North Lebanon Township to the north and North Cornwall Township to the south and the name changes to Cumberland Street. US 422 heads east past businesses and passes to the south of the Lebanon Valley Mall
Lebanon Valley Mall is a shopping mall located on the north side of U.S. Route 422 just west of Lebanon, Pennsylvania, United States. Opened on September 10, 1975, the mall features Boscov's, Hobby Lobby, Planet Fitness, and PriceRite as its a ...
. The route runs along the border between West Lebanon Township to the north and North Cornwall Township to the south as it continues through commercial areas with a few homes.
US 422 enters the city of Lebanon
Lebanon ( , ar, لُبْنَان, translit=lubnān, ), officially the Republic of Lebanon () or the Lebanese Republic, is a country in Western Asia. It is located between Syria to the north and east and Israel to the south, while Cyprus li ...
at the 16th Street intersection, where it becomes a four-lane undivided road that passes commercial development and encounters an abandoned railroad line at the north end of the Lebanon Valley Rail Trail
The Lebanon Valley Rail Trail (LVRT) is a National Recreation Trail. The rail trail goes from the southwestern border of Lebanon County and goes through Colebrook, Mt. Gretna, Cornwall, and the city of Lebanon. At the southern border of Lebanon ...
. At 12th Street, the route crosses Quittapahilla Creek and splits into a one-way pair
A one-way pair, one-way couple, or couplet refers to that portion of a bi-directional traffic facilitysuch as a road, bus, streetcar, or light rail linewhere its opposing flows exist as two independent and roughly parallel facilities.
Descriptio ...
following Cumberland Street westbound and Walnut Street eastbound, with each street carrying two lanes of traffic. US 422 continues east past urban rowhome
In architecture and city planning, a terrace or terraced house ( UK) or townhouse ( US) is a form of medium-density housing that originated in Europe in the 16th century, whereby a row of attached dwellings share side walls. In the United State ...
s along with a few businesses, intersecting the southbound direction of PA 72 at 10th Street and the northbound direction of PA 72 at 9th Street. The westbound direction heads through the downtown area of Lebanon, passing south of the Harrisburg Area Community College
, mottoeng = Knowledge Restores Truth
, established = 1964, accredited in 1967
, type = Public, Community College
, president = John J. "Ski" Sygielski, Ed.D.
, city = Harrisburg
, state = PA
, country = USA
, undergrad = 19,000
, admini ...
Lebanon Campus, while the eastbound direction heads through residential areas to the south of downtown. Farther east, US 422 passes urban areas of homes and businesses in the eastern part of Lebanon, with the eastbound direction passing north of WellSpan Good Samaritan Hospital. On the eastern border of Lebanon, the route comes to an intersection with the northern terminus of PA 897. At this, westbound US 422 becomes the border between Lebanon to the north and South Lebanon Township to the south, briefly becoming a three-lane divided highway with two westbound lanes and one eastbound lane between PA 897 and North 5th Avenue before becoming a one-way road again, while eastbound US 422 fully enters South Lebanon Township, heading past residential areas in the community of Hebron
Hebron ( ar, الخليل or ; he, חֶבְרוֹן ) is a Palestinian. city in the southern West Bank, south of Jerusalem. Nestled in the Judaean Mountains, it lies above sea level. The second-largest city in the West Bank (after East J ...
. Eastbound US 422 turns north and passes businesses, crossing Quittapahilla Creek and rejoining westbound US 422 at East Cumberland Street. At this point, US 422 heads northeast as four-lane undivided East Cumberland Street past businesses, passing through a corner of Lebanon before entering North Lebanon Township and coming to a bridge over Norfolk Southern
The Norfolk Southern Railway is a Railroad classes, Class I freight railroad in the United States formed in 1982 with the merger of Norfolk and Western Railway and Southern Railway (U.S.), Southern Railway. With headquarters in Atlanta, the ...
's Harrisburg Line
The Harrisburg Line is a rail line owned and operated by the Norfolk Southern Railway (NS) in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. The line runs from Philadelphia west to Harrisburg.
The Harrisburg Line was formed the day Conrail began operations, A ...
as it passes north of the community of Avon. The route becomes a three-lane road with a center left-turn lane and runs along the border between North Lebanon Township to the northwest and South Lebanon Township to the southeast, heading through residential areas in the community of Avon Heights. The road heads into a mix of farmland and residential and commercial development. US 422 enters Jackson Township and becomes West Lincoln Avenue, crossing the Tulpehocken Creek and continuing through agricultural areas with some homes and businesses. The route heads into business areas and enters the borough of Myerstown, where it reaches an intersection with the southern terminus of PA 645. The road becomes a four-lane divided highway and crosses PA 501 before becoming East Lincoln Avenue at the Railroad Street intersection. US 422 leaves Myerstown for Jackson Township again and becomes a three-lane road with a center turn lane, heading east through farmland with some commercial development. The road intersects Wintersville Road/Millardsville Road, where it briefly become a divided highway before regaining a center left-turn lane.[
]
Berks County
US 422 crosses into Marion Township in Berks County
Berks County ( Pennsylvania German: ''Barricks Kaundi'') is a county in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. As of the 2020 census, the population was 428,849. The county seat is Reading.
The Schuylkill River, a tributary of the Delaware River ...
and becomes Conrad Weiser Parkway, passing through farm fields with some residences and businesses. The route runs past homes and businesses in the community of Stouchsburg before it runs through more agricultural areas with some development, bending to the east-southeast. The road becomes three lanes with two westbound lanes and one eastbound lane, crossing the Tulpehocken Creek into the borough of Womelsdorf. Here, US 422 turns into a four-lane divided highway and passes businesses as it comes to an intersection with PA 419. The route continues southeast near residential areas before it leaves Womelsdorf for Heidelberg Township and passes to the north of the Conrad Weiser Homestead
The Conrad Weiser Homestead was the home of Johann Conrad Weiser, who enlisted the Iroquois on the British side in the French and Indian War. The home is located near Womelsdorf, Berks County, Pennsylvania in the United States. A designated Na ...
. US 422 heads east-southeast as West Penn Avenue, a three-lane road with a center turn lane that heads through rural areas with residential and commercial development. The road runs a short distance to the north of Norfolk Southern's Harrisburg Line before it enters the borough of Robesonia
Robesonia is a Borough (Pennsylvania), borough in Berks County, Pennsylvania, Berks County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 2,061 at the 2010 United States Census, 2010 census. Once famous for its iron furnaces (c. 1794-1927), the t ...
. Here, the route runs along two-lane West Penn Avenue and is lined with homes and a few businesses. US 422 becomes East Penn Avenue at the Robeson Street intersection and passes more development. The road heads back into Heidelberg Township and gains a center left-turn lane, heading southeast past commercial development and to the south of Conrad Weiser High School
Conrad Weiser High School is a public high school in Robesonia in Berks County, Pennsylvania. It is part of the Conrad Weiser Area School District and serves students in grades 9– 12 in South Heidelberg Township, Heidelberg Township, North ...
. The route passes through a corner of Lower Heidelberg Township and becomes West Penn Avenue, soon forming the boundary between Lower Heidelberg Township to the northeast and South Heidelberg Township to the southwest. US 422 passes through farmland with some homes and businesses before it enters the borough of Wernersville. Here, the route becomes two-lane West Penn Avenue and passes through residential areas with a few businesses. The road becomes East Penn Avenue in the commercial center of town and continues east past more homes. US 422 leaves Wernersville and once again follows the border between Lower Heidelberg Township to the north and South Heidelberg Township to the south along Penn Avenue. The road gains a center turn lane and runs through agricultural areas with some residences and commercial establishments. The route crosses the Cacoosing Creek Cacoosing Creek is a U.S. Geological Survey. National Hydrography Dataset high-resolution flowline dataThe National Map/ref> tributary of the Tulpehocken Creek in Berks County, Pennsylvania in the United States.
It starts in Fritztown and flows ...
into the borough of Sinking Spring and becomes two lanes, following Penn Avenue past a mix of homes and businesses. In the eastern part of Sinking Spring, US 422 widens to four lanes and comes to an intersection with the western terminus of PA 724. Past this intersection, the road becomes three lanes with a center turn lane and continues through residential and commercial areas, leaving Sinking Spring for Spring Township, where it passes through the community of Springmont
Springmont is a private Montessori school located in Sandy Springs, Georgia, United States, in Metro Atlanta, at 5750 Long Island Drive. The school serves around 260 students rangingfrom 18 months to 14 years old. It is the oldest Montessori sc ...
. The route continues east through developed areas and heads through the community of West Lawn. US 422 enters the borough of Wyomissing
Wyomissing is a borough in Berks County, Pennsylvania, United States. The borough was established on July 2, 1906. As of the 2020 census, the population was 11,114, compared to 10,461 at the 2010 census. The growth was significantly larger betwe ...
and widens to a four-lane divided highway. Here, it comes to an interchange with the US 222 freeway and the western terminus of US 422 Bus., which continues east along Penn Avenue.
At this interchange, US 422 becomes concurrent
Concurrent means happening at the same time. Concurrency, concurrent, or concurrence may refer to:
Law
* Concurrence, in jurisprudence, the need to prove both ''actus reus'' and ''mens rea''
* Concurring opinion (also called a "concurrence"), a ...
with US 222, and the two routes continue east-northeast along the six-lane Warren Street Bypass
The Warren Street Bypass is a limited-access bypass in the Reading area in Berks County, in the eastern part of the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. It consists of segments of:
*U.S. Route 222/ U.S. Route 422 from West Lawn to Wyomissing
* Pennsylvani ...
, a freeway
A controlled-access highway is a type of highway that has been designed for high-speed vehicular traffic, with all traffic flow—ingress and egress—regulated. Common English terms are freeway, motorway and expressway. Other similar terms ...
that runs between residential areas to the northwest and Norfolk Southern's Harrisburg Line to the southeast. The freeway curves north into business areas and comes to a partial cloverleaf interchange with State Hill Road. Following this, US 222/US 422 passes between the Berkshire Mall to the west and commercial areas to the east before it reaches an interchange with Paper Mill Road and Crossing Drive, where it curves to the northeast and runs near more businesses. The freeway comes to an interchange where US 222 splits to the northwest, US 422 immediately afterward splits southeast along the West Shore Bypass, and, straight ahead, PA 12 begins northeast along the Warren Street Bypass. Following this interchange, US 422 heads southeast along the West Shore Bypass, a four-lane freeway that runs between residential areas to the southwest and the Tulpehocken Creek to the northeast. The road passes under Norfolk Southern's Reading Line
The Reading Line is a main freight line in Pennsylvania owned and operated by Norfolk Southern Railway. It stretches from the Harrisburg Line at Wyomissing Junction in Wyomissing, Pennsylvania to a junction with the Lehigh Line in Bethlehem, Penn ...
and comes to 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 ...
with North Wyomissing Boulevard. The route follows the west bank of the Schuylkill River
The Schuylkill River ( , ) is a river running northwest to southeast in eastern Pennsylvania. The river was improved by navigations into the Schuylkill Canal, and several of its tributaries drain major parts of Pennsylvania's Coal Region. It fl ...
as it continues southeast and passes under Norfolk Southern's Harrisburg Line #2, crossing into the borough of West Reading. US 422 runs between the river to the northeast and Norfolk Southern's Harrisburg Line #1 to the southwest before reaching a cloverleaf interchange
A cloverleaf interchange is a two-level interchange in which all turns are handled by slip roads. To go left (in right-hand traffic; reverse directions in left-driving regions), vehicles first continue as one road passes over or under the ...
with US 422 Bus. Following this, the freeway heads south between the Schuylkill River to the east and industrial areas to the west, passing through a small exclave
An enclave is a territory (or a small territory apart of a larger one) that is entirely surrounded by the territory of one other state or entity. Enclaves may also exist within territorial waters. ''Enclave'' is sometimes used improperly to deno ...
of Cumru Township and crossing over the Schuylkill River Trail
The Schuylkill River Trail ( , ) is a multi-use trail along the banks of the Schuylkill River in southeastern Pennsylvania. Partially complete as of 2018, the trail is ultimately planned to run about from the river's headwaters in Schuylkill Co ...
. The road curves southeast and crosses Wyomissing Creek Wyomissing Creek is a U.S. Geological Survey. National Hydrography Dataset high-resolution flowline dataThe National Map, accessed April 1, 2011 tributary of the Schuylkill River in Berks County, Pennsylvania in the United States. Wyomissing Creek j ...
into the city of Reading
Reading is the process of taking in the sense or meaning of Letter (alphabet), letters, symbols, etc., especially by Visual perception, sight or Somatosensory system, touch.
For educators and researchers, reading is a multifaceted process invo ...
, where it runs along the riverbank and comes to an interchange with US 222 Bus. that has left exits and entrances. From here, the route heads southeast between wooded areas near the Schuylkill River to the northeast and the Schuylkill River Trail and urbanized areas to the southwest. The freeway turns east and crosses the river into Cumru Township, where it passes through woodland and comes to a bridge over Norfolk Southern's Harrisburg Line. US 422 crosses the Schuylkill River again and reaches a trumpet interchange
In the field of road transport, an interchange (American English) or a grade-separated junction (British English) is a road junction that uses grade separations to allow for the movement of traffic between two or more roadways or highways, using ...
with the northern terminus of I-176. The road crosses the river a third time and enters Exeter Township, passing over Norfolk Southern's Harrisburg Line #2 and running between residential areas to the north and industrial areas to the south before reaching an eastbound exit and westbound entrance with Neversink Road that provides access to the borough of Mount Penn. From here, US 422 passes near more development before it comes to a westbound exit and eastbound entrance with the eastern terminus of US 422 Bus., at which point the freeway ends.[
]
From here, US 422 heads southeast as Perkiomen Avenue, a four-lane divided highway with occasional jughandle
A jughandle is a type of ramp or slip road that changes the way traffic turns left at an at-grade intersection (in a country where traffic drives on the right). Instead of a standard left turn being made from the left lane, left-turning traffic ...
s that is lined with businesses. The route passes north of the community of Lorane as it continues through suburban residential and commercial development, crossing Antietam Creek
Antietam Creek () is a U.S. Geological Survey. National Hydrography Dataset high-resolution flowline dataThe National Map, accessed August 15, 2011 tributary of the Potomac River located in south central Pennsylvania and western Maryland in the ...
. The road runs southeast through a mix of woodland and development before the eastbound and westbound lanes split as it reaches an intersection with the northern terminus of PA 345 in the community of Baumstown. Following this intersection, US 422 continues east as a one-way pair through wooded areas with some residences and businesses, crossing into Amity Township. Both directions of the route rejoin and the route heads southeast as four-lane divided Benjamin Franklin Highway, crossing Monocacy Creek and passing farm fields before running through wooded areas with some commercial development. The road passes south of a residential development before the eastbound and westbound lanes split again, running a short distance to the north of Norfolk Southern's Harrisburg Line. US 422 curves southeast and heads into businesses areas, coming to an intersection with the southern terminus of PA 662 in the community of Douglassville. Following this, the route curves to the east before both directions rejoin. US 422 splits from Benjamin Franklin Highway by heading southeast onto a four-lane freeway called the Pottstown Bypass at an eastbound exit and westbound entrance. Benjamin Franklin Highway continues east and the road runs through the borough of Pottstown as High Street before becoming Ridge Pike
Ridge Pike is a major historic road in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania that opened in 1706 that originally connected Wissahickon Creek to Perkiomen Creek. Inside Philadelphia, it is called Ridge Avenue. Going westward, it traverses many eastern ...
east of Pottstown. Past the split with Benjamin Franklin Highway, the freeway passes over Norfolk Southern's Harrisburg Line and the Schuylkill River Trail before it enters Douglass Township and heads east-southeast through wooded areas to the north of the Schuylkill River.[
]
Montgomery and Chester counties
US 422 enters West Pottsgrove Township
West or Occident is one of the four cardinal directions or points of the compass. It is the opposite direction from east and is the direction in which the Sun sets on the Earth.
Etymology
The word "west" is a Germanic word passed into some R ...
in Montgomery County and comes to an interchange with Grosstown Road that provides access to the community of Stowe
Stowe may refer to:
Places United Kingdom
*Stowe, Buckinghamshire, a civil parish and former village
**Stowe House
**Stowe School
* Stowe, Cornwall, in Kilkhampton parish
* Stowe, Herefordshire, in the List of places in Herefordshire
* Stowe, Linc ...
. The freeway curves northeast and continues to follow the Schuylkill River before it turns east and passes through a corner of the borough of Pottstown prior to crossing the river. At this point, the route enters North Coventry Township
North Coventry Township is a township in Chester County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 7,866 at the 2010 census.
History
The township derives its name from Coventry, England, the native home of an early settler.
The Pottstown ...
in Chester County Chester County may refer to:
* Chester County, Pennsylvania, United States
* Chester County, South Carolina, United States
* Chester County, Tennessee, United States
* Cheshire or the County Palatine of Chester, a ceremonial county in the North Wes ...
and runs between woods to the north and farm fields to the south before passing near development and coming to a cloverleaf interchange with PA 100. Past this interchange, the road heads through the community of South Pottstown, which is across the river from the borough of Pottstown, and comes to a westbound exit and eastbound entrance with South Hanover Street. US 422 passes through woodland and reaches an eastbound exit and westbound entrance at Keim Street. A short distance later, the route comes to a trumpet interchange connecting to PA 724 to the south in the community of Kenilworth
Kenilworth ( ) is a market town and Civil parishes in England, civil parish in the Warwick (district), Warwick District in Warwickshire, England, south-west of Coventry, north of Warwick and north-west of London. It lies on Finham Brook, a ...
. From here, the road turns northeast and crosses the Schuylkill River into Lower Pottsgrove Township in Montgomery County, reaching a diamond interchange with Armand Hammer Boulevard in an industrial area. The freeway passes over Norfolk Southern's Pottstown Industrial Track and Harrisburg Line before running near residential and commercial development and turning to the east. US 422 heads between the community of Sanatoga to the north and woodland to the south before it reaches a partial cloverleaf interchange with Evergreen Road that provides access to Sanatoga. This interchange marks the end of the Pottstown Bypass designation of the US 422 freeway.[
]
From here, the four-lane US 422 freeway continues southeast as the Pottstown Expressway into Limerick Township and passes between the Philadelphia Premium Outlets
The Philadelphia Premium Outlets is a open-air outlet mall located in Limerick Township, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, 35 miles northwest of Philadelphia. It is located off an interchange of U.S. Route 422 near the Limerick Nuclear Power Plan ...
to the southwest and Heritage Field Airport
Heritage Field is a public use airport in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, United States. It is
located three nautical miles (6 km) east of Pottstown, in Limerick Township. The airport is privately owned by Limerick Aviation LP.
...
to the northeast, with the Limerick Generating Station, a nuclear power plant, located further to the southwest. The road runs near a mix of farmland and residential and commercial development, coming to a diamond interchange with Lewis Road that provides access to the communities of Limerick
Limerick ( ; ga, Luimneach ) is a western city in Ireland situated within County Limerick. It is in the province of Munster and is located in the Mid-West which comprises part of the Southern Region. With a population of 94,192 at the 2016 ...
and Linfield. A park and ride
A park and ride, also known as incentive parking or a commuter lot, is a parking lot with public transport connections that allows commuting, commuters and other people heading to city centres to leave their vehicles and transfer to a bus, Rail t ...
lot is located within the southwest quadrant of this interchange. The route continues near more suburban development and reaches a diamond interchange with Township Line Road in a commercial area that serves the borough of Trappe to the northeast and the borough of Royersford
Royersford is a Borough (Pennsylvania), borough in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, United States, northwest of Philadelphia, on the Schuylkill River.
History
The town drew its name from the location of a Ford ( ...
to the southwest. Past this interchange, the freeway enters Upper Providence Township and continues southeast past suburban housing developments. US 422 passes over PA 113 without an interchange before coming to a partial cloverleaf interchange with PA 29 that serves the borough of Collegeville to the northeast and the borough of Phoenixville
Phoenixville is a borough in Chester County, Pennsylvania, United States. It is located northwest of Philadelphia at the junction of French Creek and the Schuylkill River. It is in the Philadelphia metropolitan area. The population is 18,616 a ...
the southwest. The Providence Town Center
Providence Town Center is a lifestyle center located near Collegeville in Upper Providence Township, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania. It is located at the interchange between U.S. Route 422 and Pennsylvania Route 29. The Providence Town Center ha ...
shopping center is located along PA 29 north of this interchange. Following this interchange, the road runs near office parks before heading through wooded areas with some farm fields, with the median widening. The route passes near housing developments and office complexes before the median narrows and it curves to the south. The freeway comes to a partial cloverleaf interchange with Egypt Road in the community of Oaks. From here, US 422 passes between a commercial area that includes the 422 Business Center office park (where the American Treasure Tour
The American Treasure Tour is a tourist attraction established in 2010 and opened to the public for guided tours. Visitors travel through a large private collection that encompasses an eclectic variety of smaller collections. Included is one of ...
is located) and the Greater Philadelphia Expo Center
The Greater Philadelphia Expo Center at Oaks is an exhibition center located in Oaks, Pennsylvania, which is approximately northwest of King of Prussia via the Pottstown Expressway ( U.S. Route 422). It has five adjoining exhibit halls, 15 meetin ...
to the west and the Lower Perkiomen Valley Park to the east.[
]
The road crosses the Perkiomen Trail
The Perkiomen Trail is a multi-use rail trail along the Perkiomen Creek in Pennsylvania.
It begins at the junction with the Schuylkill River Trail near the mouth of the Perkiomen and Valley Forge National Historical Park and ends in Green Lan ...
and the Perkiomen Creek
Perkiomen Creek is a U.S. Geological Survey. National Hydrography Dataset high-resolution flowline dataThe National Map accessed April 1, 2011 tributary of the Schuylkill River in Berks, Lehigh and Montgomery counties, Pennsylvania.Gertler, Edw ...
into Lower Providence Township and becomes parallel to the Schuylkill River Trail to the west, making a sharp turn to the east and passing through woods and fields within Valley Forge National Historical Park
Valley Forge National Historical Park is the site of the third winter encampment of the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War, taking place from December 19, 1777, to June 19, 1778. The National Park Service preserves the site a ...
. The route comes to a partial cloverleaf interchange with the southern terminus of PA 363 that provides access to the communities of Audubon
The National Audubon Society (Audubon; ) is an American non-profit environmental organization dedicated to conservation of birds and their habitats. Located in the United States and incorporated in 1905, Audubon is one of the oldest of such organ ...
and Trooper, where it enters West Norriton Township
West Norriton Township is a township in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, United States. It is part of the Norristown Area School District. The population of the township was 15,663 at the 2010 census.
History
On March 9, 1909, Norriton Towns ...
and makes a turn to the south, gaining a third auxiliary lane in each direction. US 422 heads over the Schuylkill River Trail before it crosses the Schuylkill River on the Schuylkill River Crossing Complex east of the parallel Sullivan's Bridge
Sullivan's Bridge is a trail bridge that connects the Schuylkill River Trail to Valley Forge National Park in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, United States.
History and notable features
The bridge was completed as part of the U.S. Route ...
into Upper Merion Township
Upper Merion Township is a township in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania. The population was 28,395 at the 2010 U.S. Census. Located from Philadelphia, it consists of the villages of Gulph Mills, King of Prussia, Swedeland, Swedesburg, and port ...
, where it becomes the County Line Expressway. The freeway passes over Norfolk Southern's Harrisburg Line before reaching a partial cloverleaf interchange with PA 23 to the east of the Visitor Center at Valley Forge National Historical Park. From here, the route heads into the community of King of Prussia
The monarchs of Prussia were members of the House of Hohenzollern who were the hereditary rulers of the former German state of Prussia from its founding in 1525 as the Duchy of Prussia. The Duchy had evolved out of the Teutonic Order, a Roman C ...
as a four-lane freeway and passes to the west of business parks and the Valley Forge Casino Resort
Valley Forge Casino Resort is a casino in Upper Merion Township, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, just outside of Philadelphia. Located in the King of Prussia census-designated place (CDP), it was constructed on the existing site of the Valley Forg ...
, coming to an eastbound exit and entrance with First Avenue that serves the business parks and the casino.[ At this point, the road enters Tredyffrin Township in Chester County and runs a short distance west of the border with Upper Merion Township in Montgomery County. The freeway passes under the ]Pennsylvania Turnpike
The Pennsylvania Turnpike (Penna Turnpike or PA Turnpike) is a toll highway operated by the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission (PTC) in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. A controlled-access highway, it runs for across the state. The turnpike's we ...
(I-76
Interstate 76 may refer to:
Interstate Highways in the United States
* Interstate 76 (Colorado–Nebraska)
* Interstate 76 (Ohio–New Jersey), running through Pennsylvania
Video gaming
* ''Interstate '76
''Interstate '76'' is a vehicular c ...
) and heads near commercial areas west of the Village at Valley Forge, a residential and retail development which contains the King of Prussia Town Center
King of Prussia Town Center is a lifestyle center in the census-designated place of King of Prussia, Pennsylvania, in Upper Merion Township, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania. The center is just west of the King of Prussia mall.
It is part of the Vi ...
lifestyle center. US 422 comes to its eastern terminus at a trumpet interchange with the US 202 freeway that also has ramps connecting to Swedesford Road and I-76 eastbound (Schuylkill Expressway
The Schuylkill Expressway , locally known as "the Schuylkill", is a Controlled-access highway, freeway through southern Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, Montgomery County and the city of Philadelphia in Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania, Philade ...
) to the city of Philadelphia
Philadelphia, often called Philly, is the largest city in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, the sixth-largest city in the U.S., the second-largest city in both the Northeast megalopolis and Mid-Atlantic regions after New York City. Sinc ...
. US 202 northbound provides access from US 422 to I-76 westbound and the Pennsylvania Turnpike at the western terminus of I-276 at the Valley Forge
Valley Forge functioned as the third of eight winter encampments for the Continental Army's main body, commanded by General George Washington, during the American Revolutionary War. In September 1777, Congress fled Philadelphia to escape the B ...
interchange along with the King of Prussia
The monarchs of Prussia were members of the House of Hohenzollern who were the hereditary rulers of the former German state of Prussia from its founding in 1525 as the Duchy of Prussia. The Duchy had evolved out of the Teutonic Order, a Roman C ...
shopping mall.[
]
History
Western segment
The western segment was first signed in 1926.
Ohio
Most of the highway in Ohio still runs along its original alignment. The section in Parkman Township, Geauga County was twinned during World War II
World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...
. The four-lane divided highway was extended to Warren by 1950. In 1971, an expressway bypass around downtown Youngstown opened.
The divided highway portion of US 422 connecting downtown Solon
Solon ( grc-gre, Σόλων; BC) was an Athenian statesman, constitutional lawmaker and poet. He is remembered particularly for his efforts to legislate against political, economic and moral decline in Archaic Athens.Aristotle ''Politics'' ...
to I-271
Interstate 271 (I-271) is an auxiliary Interstate Highway in the suburbs of Cleveland and Akron in the US state of Ohio. The highway is officially designated the Outerbelt East Freeway but is rarely referred to by that name by locals, inste ...
and I-480 Interstate 480 may refer to:
* Interstate 480 (Nebraska–Iowa), a loop through Omaha, Nebraska into Council Bluffs, Iowa
*Interstate 480 (Ohio), a loop through Cleveland, Ohio
* Interstate 480 (California), the former Embarcadero Freeway in San Fra ...
was originally signed as US 422 Alternate. In December 1992, the freeway was extended eastward through Bainbridge Township across the LaDue Reservoir
LaDue Reservoir is a reservoir located near Ohio State Route 44 and U.S. Route 422 in Auburn and Troy Townships in Geauga County, Ohio. Originally called the “Akron City Reservoir”, it was dedicated as the LaDue Reservoir on October 11, 19 ...
to SR 44 in Auburn Center, and US 422 was rerouted along I-271 and the former US 422 Alternate. The new freeway made US 422 a popular route for truckers and commuters and made the remaining two-lane portion in Geauga County particularly dangerous. The state has added traffic light
Traffic lights, traffic signals, or stoplights – known also as robots in South Africa are signalling devices positioned at intersection (road), road intersections, pedestrian crossings, and other locations in order to control flows of traf ...
s, rumble strip
Rumble strips (also known as sleeper lines or alert strips) are a road safety feature to alert inattentive drivers of potential danger, by causing a tactile vibration and audible rumbling transmitted through the wheels into the vehicle interior. ...
s and extra width to the road to try to alleviate some of the danger.
Prior to the realignment, US 422 originally ran along Chagrin Boulevard (formerly Kinsman Road) and Washington Street through Woodmere, Pepper Pike
Pepper Pike is a city in eastern Cuyahoga County, Ohio, United States. The population was 6,796 as of the 2020 census. It is an affluent suburb of the Cleveland metropolitan area.
History
In 1763, sixteen pioneers settled the area along the eas ...
, Moreland Hills, Chagrin Falls
Chagrin Falls is a village in Cuyahoga County, Ohio, United States and is a suburb of Cleveland in Northeast Ohio's Cleveland-Akron-Canton metropolitan area, the 19th-largest Combined Statistical Area nationwide. The village was established and h ...
and Bainbridge Township.
Pennsylvania
The expressway
Expressway may refer to:
* Controlled-access highway, the highest-grade type of highway with access ramps, lane markings, etc., for high-speed traffic.
* Limited-access road, a lower grade of highway or arterial road.
*Expressway, the fictional s ...
bypass of Butler
A butler is a person who works in a house serving and is a domestic worker in a large household. In great houses, the household is sometimes divided into departments with the butler in charge of the dining room, wine cellar, and pantry. Some a ...
was built in the early 1960s. Previously, the road ran through downtown Butler. The section that runs through Moraine State Park
Moraine State Park is a Pennsylvania state park on in Brady, Clay, Franklin, Muddy Creek, and Worth townships in Butler County, Pennsylvania, in the United States.
The park's main feature is its man-made lake, Lake Arthur, formed by impoundi ...
near Butler was upgraded to expressway standards in 1969. In the 1970s, bypasses were built around the cities of New Castle, Kittanning and Indiana. Sections of the Indiana bypass remained incomplete until 1995 and the Kittanning bypasses were completed in 2000. Part of the bypass in New Castle is now part of the Interstate Highway System
The Dwight D. Eisenhower National System of Interstate and Defense Highways, commonly known as the Interstate Highway System, is a network of controlled-access highways that forms part of the National Highway System in the United States. Th ...
, as an extension of I-376
Interstate 376 (I-376) is a major auxiliary route of the Interstate Highway System in the US state of Pennsylvania, located within the Allegheny Plateau. It runs from I-80 near Sharon south and east to a junction with the Pennsylvania Tur ...
runs concurrent with US 422 for .
Eastern segment
Reading
In the 1960s, US 422 in the Reading area was rerouted from surface streets through downtown Reading onto bypasses built south of the city. The former routing of US 422 through the city became US 422 Bus.
On June 22, 2000, the section of US 422 between US 422 Bus. and Shelbourne Road, along with US 422 Bus. between PA 562 and the eastern terminus at US 422, in Exeter Township was designated by an act of the Pennsylvania General Assembly
The Pennsylvania General Assembly is the legislature of the U.S. commonwealth of Pennsylvania. The legislature convenes in the State Capitol building in Harrisburg. In colonial times (1682–1776), the legislature was known as the Pennsylvania ...
as the Albert Boscov Commemorative Highway in honor of Albert Boscov
Albert Boscov (September 22, 1929 – February 10, 2017) was an American businessman and philanthropist. He was the long-time head of Boscov's Department Stores and served as the company's chairman and CEO until retiring in 2015. In 2009, Boscov ...
, the longtime CEO of the department store chain Boscov's
Boscov's Inc. is a family-owned department store with forty-nine locations in Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, Ohio, Connecticut, and Rhode Island. Twenty-six of these stores are located in Pennsylvania.
Corporate headqu ...
.
Pottstown to King of Prussia
Before it became highways, US 422 ran on surface roads through Pottstown and Sanatoga (High Street), Limerick and Collegeville (Ridge Pike
Ridge Pike is a major historic road in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania that opened in 1706 that originally connected Wissahickon Creek to Perkiomen Creek. Inside Philadelphia, it is called Ridge Avenue. Going westward, it traverses many eastern ...
, occasionally referred to locally as "Old 422"), Plymouth Meeting
Plymouth Meeting is a census-designated place (CDP) that straddles Plymouth Township, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, Plymouth and Whitemarsh Township, Pennsylvania, Whitemarsh Townships in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, Montgomery County, Penns ...
, and the Germantown Germantown or German Town may refer to:
Places
Australia
* Germantown, Queensland, a locality in the Cassowary Coast Region
United States
* Germantown, California, the former name of Artois, a census-designated place in Glenn County
* Ger ...
section of Philadelphia
Philadelphia, often called Philly, is the largest city in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, the sixth-largest city in the U.S., the second-largest city in both the Northeast megalopolis and Mid-Atlantic regions after New York City. Sinc ...
(via Germantown Pike
Germantown Pike (also known as Germantown Avenue for a portion of its length) is a historic road in Pennsylvania that opened in 1687, running from Philadelphia northwest to Collegeville. The road is particularly notable for the "imposing mansi ...
and Germantown Avenue), terminating in different places in Philadelphia over time. (The later running of US 422 on expressway from Pottstown to King of Prussia removed US 422 from Philadelphia.) As of 2021, the overpass of Ridge Pike over the Pennsylvania Turnpike (I-276) is still painted with a designation of "U.S. 422". In 1965, the highway route of US 422 was extended east with the "Pottstown Bypass", following the Schuylkill River and terminating at Township Line Road in Sanatoga. At the same time, a segment of highway was built from King of Prussia to Trooper, terminating at the Betzwood Bridge. It took roughly another twenty years for the remaining segments between Sanatoga and Trooper to be completed, finally connecting the highway route to King of Prussia. Eastbound on US 422, the median strip widens just after the Sanatoga exit, as the road leaves the old Pottstown bypass completed in the late 1970s.
In the first decade of the 2000s, this segment of US 422 saw traffic volume increase by 50%. Volume reached 45,000 vehicles per day at Pottstown, and 110,000 vehicles per day at the bridge crossing the Schuylkill.
At the federal level, the Schuylkill Valley Metro Schuylkill River Passenger Rail is a proposed passenger train service along the Schuylkill River between Philadelphia and Reading, Pennsylvania, with intermediate stops in Norristown, King of Prussia, Phoenixville, and Pottstown.
Passenger trains ...
was proposed to connect Philadelphia to Reading. This rail service would have paralleled US 422 from King of Prussia into Berks County. It failed when the bloated price tag of $1.3 billion did not receive federal funding in 2006.
Construction of a third westbound lane between PA 23 and PA 363 began in February 2008 and was completed roughly a year later. The project restructured the PA 23 interchange and squeezed three westbound lanes onto the existing Schuylkill River
The Schuylkill River ( , ) is a river running northwest to southeast in eastern Pennsylvania. The river was improved by navigations into the Schuylkill Canal, and several of its tributaries drain major parts of Pennsylvania's Coal Region. It fl ...
crossing, using lanes and a narrower median guard.
Local planning commissions then created a "US 422 Corridor Master Plan". This plan addressed the future trends of traffic on US 422 through a set of sustainability programs, a proposed extension to SEPTA
The Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) is a regional public transportation authority that operates bus, rapid transit, commuter rail, light rail, and electric trolleybus services for nearly 4 million people in five coun ...
's Manayunk/Norristown Line
The Manayunk/Norristown Line is a commuter rail service in Southeastern Pennsylvania, and one of the 13 lines in SEPTA's Regional Rail network. It has the fourth highest ridership and the highest operating ratio (58%) on the SEPTA Regional Rail ...
regional rail service to Wyomissing (a restoration of rail service between Norristown/Reading/Pottsville that SEPTA abruptly terminated in July 1981), and additional road construction. The plan's rail and construction projects would be funded by tolling the highway. Tolls would be charged on a per-mile basis; driving the entire segment between Pottstown and King of Prussia would cost $2. All tolls would be electronically collected via the E-ZPass
E-ZPass is an electronic toll collection system used on toll roads, toll bridges, and toll tunnels in the Eastern United States, Midwestern United States, and Southern United States. The E-ZPass Interagency Group (IAG) consists of member agencie ...
system. The plan was debated in local municipalities during 2010, with many adopting the sustainability portions of the plan while objecting to the charging of tolls. On October 5, 2011, under increasing pressure and opposition, the Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission
The Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission (DVRPC) is the metropolitan planning organization for the Delaware Valley. Created in 1965 by an interstate compact, DVRPC is responsible for transportation and regional planning in the greater Phil ...
cancelled the tolling proposal and stated that the highway would be expanded under regular PennDOT programming instead.
In 2013, work began to make the partial interchange with PA 363, which was originally a westbound exit and eastbound entrance, a full interchange by adding a ramp from PA 363 to westbound US 422 and from eastbound US 422 to PA 363. The new ramps opened to traffic on December 1, 2015.
In 2012, PennDOT began a $74 million project to improve the portion of US 422 between PA 724 in North Coventry Township and the bridge over Porter Road in Lower Pottsgrove Township, the first part of a larger project to reconstruct the Pottstown Bypass. The improvement project between PA 724 and Porter Road was completed in November 2018.[
The Schuylkill River Crossing Complex bridge that carries US 422 across the Schuylkill River also serves to connect PA 23 and PA 363, which had been the source of much congestion the area. The $97 million project started construction in the middle of 2016 and was completed in October 2020. The new bridge replaced a 1960s era bridge that connects Betzwood with Valley Forge.]
King of Prussia termination
In the early 2000s, the US 422, US 202, and I-76 interchange in King of Prussia underwent a massive five-year reconstruction project that involved the construction of new ramps and the widening of all intersecting roadways. Several small businesses in the King of Prussia area were demolished as part of this project; the nearby King of Prussia shopping mall complex was also affected.
Major intersections
Related routes
*U.S. Route 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 US 27, US 42, US 127, and US 52 to Newark, New Jersey, at U.S. Route 1/9 in the Newark Airport Interchange ...
*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 ...
*U.S. Route 322
U.S. Route 322 (US 322) is a long, east–west United States Highway, traversing Ohio, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey. The road is a spur of U.S. Route 22 and one of the original highways from 1926. A portion of it at one time was concurrent with ...
* U.S. Route 522
* Special routes of U.S. Route 422
See also
*Chocolate Avenue
Chocolate Avenue is a street in Hershey, Pennsylvania, that runs past the site of the original Hershey's Chocolate Factory, and is considered to be the main street of the town. It runs northeasterly from Hersheypark Drive to the intersection of Pe ...
References
External links
Route 422 - John Simpson's Unofficial Ohio State Highways Web Site
US 422 in Pennsylvania at AARoads.com
Ohio Roads - US 422
Pennsylvania Roads - Western US 422
Pennsylvania Roads - Eastern US 422
The Roads of Metro Philadelphia: Pottstown Expressway (US 422)
{{US 22
4
22-4
22-4
22-4
U.S. Route 422
Transportation in Cuyahoga County, Ohio
Transportation in Geauga County, Ohio
Transportation in Portage County, Ohio
Transportation in Trumbull County, Ohio
Transportation in Mahoning County, Ohio
Transportation in Lawrence County, Pennsylvania
Transportation in Butler County, Pennsylvania
Transportation in Armstrong County, Pennsylvania
Transportation in Indiana County, Pennsylvania
Transportation in Cambria County, Pennsylvania
Transportation in Dauphin County, Pennsylvania
Transportation in Lebanon County, Pennsylvania
Transportation in Berks County, Pennsylvania
Transportation in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania
Transportation in Chester County, Pennsylvania