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Pennsylvania Route 56 is a major 99 mile long state highway located in central Pennsylvania. Its western terminus is at the eastern approach to the C.L. Schmitt Bridge in New Kensington. Its eastern terminus is U.S. Route 30 west of Bedford.
[edit] Route description
Route 56 starts at an intersection with PA 366 in Arnold, PA. It then heads east into Westmoreland County, PA. While in Westmoreland County, it merges with PA 66. It then travels east and eventually merges with PA 156, crossing into Indiana County. At this point, it merges with U.S. Route 422 and heads toward Indiana, PA. In Indiana, U.S. Route 422 and PA 56 become a short freeway. At the U.S. 119 exit, PA 56 merges with U.S. Route 119, heading south. Route 56 breaks away from U.S. 119 outside of Indiana and continues east on a two-lane road. Approaching Armaugh, PA, it crosses U.S. Route 22 at an interchange. The route then enters Westmoreland County again briefly. It is at this point, that Route 56 crosses through Seward, PA. A short time after passing through Seward, it crosses into Cambria County, PA. Continuing east, it heads into the city of Johnstown, PA. Route 56 travels through the heart of the West End section of Johnstown on two-lane city streets. With the countless trucks traveling through the West End, a Route 56 bypass has been discussed for quite some time. However, very little progress on the topic has been made, and it is yet to be seen if it will ever become a reality. It then merges with PA Route 403 on Broad Street, a four-lane road containing many traffic signals. At the final signal, it breaks away from Route 403 and becomes a freeway entitled Johnstown Expressway. This expressway is actually a bypass constructed in the mid-1900s. The original route continued on city streets and crossed under U.S. Route 219 in Richland,PA. Currently, Route 56 enters the four-lane expressway and meets U.S. Route 219 a short distance north from its original connection. It eventually exits U.S. 219 at Scalp Avenue, the original interchange, and continues east toward Windber, PA. The Route enters Somerset County at Windber. Once past Windber, Route 56 returns to a two-lane format. It enters Bedford County and crosses Interstate 99 and U.S. Route 220 at an interchange near Cessna. A short time after, Route 56 crosses the Pennsylvania Turnpike. The route ends at an intersection with U.S. Route 30 in Wolfsburg.
[edit] References
- ^ Pennsylvania Highways - Pennsylvania Route 56
US 30 near Bedford
