U.S. Route 209 in Pennsylvania

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U.S. Route 209
Length: 150.60 mi[1] (242.37 km)
Formed: 1926
South end: PA 147 in Millersburg
Major
junctions:		 I-81 near Tremont, PA
I-476 near Lehighton
PA 33 near Stroudsburg
I-80 in East Stroudsburg
US 206 near Milford
US 6 in Milford
I-84 in Matamoras
North end: US 209/6 in Port Jervis, NY
Counties: Dauphin, Schuylkill, Carbon, Monroe, Pike
Pennsylvania State Routes
< PA 208 PA 210 >
Minor - Legislative
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The section of U.S. Route 209 in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania is the first and longest segment of the 209 mile U.S. Route. The road is 146 mi (235 km) in PA, beginning in the borough of Millersburg at Route 147 and ending at the New York-Pennsylvania border. The border is located in two cities, Matamoras, Pennsylvania and Port Jervis, New York. The several attractions along Route 209 include 3 waterfalls: Dingmans, Bushkill and Raymondskill; a picnic area, a campground, an educational center, 2 boat launches, a beach and a historical building.

Contents

[edit] Route description

[edit] Dauphin County

Route 209 begins at Market Square (PA 147) in Millersburg, a block east of the Susquehanna River. Known as Union Street, US 209 moves eastward until Union Avenue goes straight at a fork as 209 turns onto State Street. Where the highway traverses the eastern portions of the municipality, Pennsylvania Route 25 intersects it. Outside of Millersburg, 209 follows an east-west alignment, although the road is signed north-south. After turning east for a little while, 209 enters the borough of Reservoir Heights. Leaving the borough, 209 begins a more northeasterly course. In Elizabethville, 209 is signed as Main Street and has an intersection with Pennsylvania Route 225.[2] East of the borough, 209 takes a more northernly course while traversing a mountainous region of the state. This section of 209 designates the route between Bear and Peters Mountains. The road also passes south of Spechty Kopf (elv. 1,508 ft.) and Weiser State Forest near the Dauphin-Schuylkill county line.[3] Northeast of Williams, 209 intersects with State Route 4010 before entering Schuykill County.

For much of its course in Dauphin County, 209 parallels the Wiconisco Creek.[4]

[edit] Schuykill County

Communities[5]

Upon entering Schuylkill County, 209 intersects Pennsylvania Route 325 in Tower City. Entering Jolliett, the road is known as 2nd street until the intersection with Quadrant Route 4011, also known as Main Street. North of Lorberry, 209 connects to Interstate 81 southbound via Township Road 634. Briefly east, 209 has access to I-81 northbound.[6] After crossing Interstate 81, US 209 enters Tremont, where it intersects with Pennsylvania Route 125. The two roads merge together for a short distance. SR 125 leaves to the right just as 209 exits Tremont. 209 soon enters Reilly Township, where Pennsylvania Route 25 leaves to the left towards Interstate 81.

209 crosses through some local boroughs and enters the CDP of Marlin. In downtown Marlin, 209 becomes concurrent with Pennsylvania Route 901.[6] 901 soon leaves to the right and 209 continues straight ahead as West Market Street in Pottsville. 209 enters Inner-City Pottsville (West Market Street). It stays on West Market Street for 26 Blocks, crossing through the Yorkville and Quintown Sections of the City and then becomes concurrent with Quadrant Route 3001 (Centre Street)and continues on Centre Street for 7 Blocks. Soon after 3001, 209 turns left (Mauch Chunk Street) while Quadrant Route 3001 continues straight into the Morrisville Section of the City. Route 209 then crosses Claude A Lord Boulevard (PA 61) after following Mauch Chunk Street for 1 Block. It then passes by the Pottsville Hospital/Warne Clinic in the Greenwood Hill section of the City and then enters Mechanicsville.[6] Now known as Coal Street, US 209 enters Port Carbon. US 209 goes through Cumbola a local village and soon enters New Philadelphia, where it forks with Quadrant Route 2003 (Farmdale Road). When 209 enters Tamaqua, it crosses with Pennsylvania Route 309 and becomes East Broad Street. The route progresses on a northeast alignment from Tamaqua. In Lansford, 209 intersects Pennsylvania Route 902.[6]

[edit] Carbon County

US 209 in Jim Thorpe.
US 209 in Jim Thorpe.

East of Lansford, approaching Nesquehoning, 209 curves to the north. In downtown Nesquehoning, 209 turns east at the eastern terminus of Pennsylvania Route 54. This portion of 209 is designated parallel to Broad Mountain, located north of the route. Past the downtown area of the borough, 209 intersects the southern terminus of Pennsylvania Route 93.[7]

In Nesquehoning Junction, 209 begins to parallel the Lehigh River, making the route turn southward approaching Jim Thorpe. At Lehigh Gorge State Park, 209 intersects Pennsylvania Route 903 (River Street). In downtown Jim Thorpe, 209 turns southward at the Broadway junction. The route leaves the borough as Susquehanna Street following the banks of the Lehigh River. In the Palmerton Junction area, the route curves eastward and southward.[8]

In Lehighton, 209 splits into a pair of carriageways into the commercial district of the borough. The two carriageways merge south of the downtown area, approaching the eastern terminus of Pennsylvania Route 443. At the PA 443 junction, 209 turns east to cross the Lehigh River.[9]

At the end of the bridge, 209 intersects Pennsylvania Route 248. From there, 209 is signed as Interchange Road aligned eastward. In Harrity, 209 interchanges Interstate 476 (NE Extension of the PA Turnpike).[10]

[edit] Monroe County

Route 209 near the intersection with SR 2005.
Route 209 near the intersection with SR 2005.
See also: Interstate 80 in Pennsylvania

US 209 enters Monroe County from Carbon at a location just north of the borough of Trachsville.[11][12] 209 is now in Polk Township and intersects with Pennsylvania Route 534 in Kresgreville. 209 crosses through Gilbert and soon enters Brodheadsville, where in intersects with Pennsylvania Route 115. PA 115 will take you to Long Pond and the Pocono International Raceway.[6]

As U.S. Route 209 continues through the borough of Brodheadsville, the road is known as Hamilton West Road, first intersecting with Pennsylvania Route 715.[13] After passing some local roads, the Wilkes-Barre Turnpike begins to the right. US 209 then begins to parallel a couple of Scotia township roads, TR 221 to the north and TR 216 to the south. 209 then passes its auxiliary route, U.S. Route 209 Business.[13] In Scotia, TRs 220 and 218 begin to parallel until the intersection with Monroe County State Route 3023. Soon after crossing 3023, the road turns northand becomes concurrent with Pennsylvania Route 33. The roads stay concurrent for several miles, intersecting with only one route, State Route 2010 in Brandnerd Center. 209 then splits off to the east in Snydersville.[13] 209 at this point is now parallel to its auxiliary route. Route 209 intersects State Route 2005 at a traffic signal and passes over SR 2007 before intersecting with its auxiliary route once again. Soon after the interchange with US 209 Business, the main US 209 becomes concurrent with Interstate 80 in Bartonsville, beginning at Exit 304.[13]

The first intersection during the concurrency is with its auxiliary route at Exit 305, due west of Stroudsburg.[13] The next exit going eastward is for Pennsylvania Route 611 in East Stroudsburg. Going westward, this exit is for Pennsylvania Route 191. The next exit, Exit 308 is for a local street in East Stroudsburg. A mile later, 209 leaves at Exit 309 towards Marshalls Creek as Seven Bridges Road. The first intersection is with Pennsylvania Route 447, Independence Road, which leaves to the left.[13] About 3 miles later, after passing local roads, 209 intersects with the eastern terminus of its auxiliary route and now turns northward. 209 enters the hamlet of Marshalls Creek, now known as Milford Road. PA Route 402 leaves to the left soon after and then leaves the hamlet. For several miles, 209 crosses local roads in several hamlets. The next major intersection on 209 is for State Route 2028, also known as River Road. A couple miles after QR 2028, 209 enters Pike County in the town of Bushkill. At this point, you now enter a controlled area of 209 by the National Park Service.[13] The road enters the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area for about 20 miles. In this section of 209, commercial veichles have to pay money to drive on the road.[14] The mile markers are also different in this section, with the first tollbooth being mile marker zero.

[edit] Pike County

US 6 and 209 in Matamoras.
US 6 and 209 in Matamoras.
See also: Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area
See also: U.S. Route 6 in Pennsylvania

About one mile into the section, State Route 2001, Bushkill Falls Road, leaves to the left.[13] About three miles in, the Buskill Access, a U.S. Fee Area, is open to the right of 209 going northbound. About 6 miles in, Township Route 337, Tom's Creek Road, leaves to the left towards a picnic area.[13] TR 337 soon merges back in with 209. After a period of inactivity, Briscoe Mountain Road leaves to the left towards the Pocono Environmental Education Center. Later, Chestnut Ridge Road leaves to the left towards George W. Childs State Park. Close to 13 miles, South Johnny Bee Road and Johnny Bee Road crosses 209.[13]

The Mid-Delaware Bridge, taking Route 209, along with Route 6, from Pennsylvania (right) into New York.
The Mid-Delaware Bridge, taking Route 209, along with Route 6, from Pennsylvania (right) into New York.

The first traffic light since Monroe QR 2028 is at Pennsylvania Route 739 and Pike County QR 2019 in Dingmans Ferry. Turning left onto 739 will take you towards downtown Dingmans Ferry, while turning right onto 2019 will take you to New Jersey via the Dingman's Ferry Bridge.[13] After a five mle section of inactivity, QR 2009, Raymondskill Road, leaves to the left. 209 then reaches the second tollbooth at the north end of the Delaware Water Gap, 20 miles in. Soon after leaving, U.S. Route 206 merges into 209 for less than a mile. 206 suddenly ends and 209 goes on, entering Milford. Now known as East Harford Street, 209 crosses through downtown Milford. U.S. Route 6 then merges in from the north and the two routes turn east towards Matamoras.[13]

The now concurrent Routes 6 and 209 go west, paralleling Interstate 84.[13] About four miles into the concurrency, Exit 53 of Interstate 84 intersects with 6/209.[15] A few more miles, 6 and 209 cross the border into Port Jervis, New York via the Mid-Delaware Bridge, over 50 miles from Brodheadsville.[13] At one time, Pennsylvania Route 963 started on the borderline of Pennsylvania and New York.[16][17] The route that was 963 is now known as State Route 1017.[15]

[edit] History

The National Park Service began the rule of no trucks along the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area on 209 in August 1983. The bill was passed by President Ronald Reagan on the 1st of the month.[18] It was projected to begin in April, but the bill was delayed 180 days.[19] In 1995, commercial vehicles began running in the area again, as long as they pay fee at two toll booths, one in Bushkill and one just south of downtown Milford.[20] Prices began in 1995 and charged from $3.00 for 2-axles to $18.00 for 5 or more axles.[21]

[edit] Future

[edit] Bypass of Marshalls Creek

See also: Pennsylvania Route 402
See also: Smithfield Township, Monroe County, Pennsylvania

The area where 209 intersects Pennsylvania Route 402 has been plagued by traffic issues for over a decade. In 1990, studies began to making a bypass of the intersection, which is located in the hamlet of Marshalls Creek in Middle Smithfield Township. The traffic had gotten so bad, the town had considered a bypass for the area. The proposal for a bypass was passed in October 2004 and was going to cost $70 million.[22] The total distance used by the bypass is 3.5 miles and is going to be made out of asphalt. There will be nine new signalized intersections, seven are on 209, 1 is on 402 and one is on River Road (Monroe 2028). The constructors are expecting that during the six-year project, traffic will remain the same on 209, and no detours of 402 and 209 are planned.[23] The first of three phases of construction was completed in the Summer of 2007 and cost $14.2 million. Phase 2, projected to start in Fall of 2007, is proposed to cost $17 million.[23]

[edit] Major intersections

[edit] Millersburg to Hamilton Township

County Location Mile[1] Roads intersected Notes
Dauphin Millersburg 0.00 PA 147 (Market Street)
0.45 PA 25 (Johnson Street) Western terminus of PA 25.
Elizabethville 8.06 PA 225 (Market Street)
Schuylkill Tower City 22.87 PA 325 (10th Street) Northern terminus of PA 325.
Tremont Township 29.04 I-81 (American Legion Memorial Highway) Exit 107 (I-81)
Tremont 31.76 PA 125 (Spring Street)
32.05 PA 125 (Swatara Avenue)
Newtown 34.53 PA 25 (West Pine Street) Eastern terminus of PA 25.
Marlin 40.66 PA 901 (Minersville-Pottsville Highway)
Pottsville 41.52 PA 901 (Gordon Nagle Trail)
44.33 PA 61 (Claude A. Lord Boulevard)
Tamaqua 59.90 PA 309 (North Railroad/Center Street)
Carbon Lansford 65.20 PA 902 (Spring Garden Street) Western terminus of PA 902.
Nesquehoning 69.68 PA 54 (Stock Street) Eastern terminus of PA 54.
71.27 PA 93 (Hunter Street) Southern terminus of PA 93.
Jim Thorpe 74.21 PA 903 (River Street) Western terminus of PA 903.
Lehighton 78.47 PA 443 (Blakeslee Blvd) Eastern terminus of PA 443.
Weissport 78.79 PA 248 (Parryville Bypass) Western terminus of PA 248.
Weissport East 80.54 I-476 (Pennsylvania Turnpike) Exit 74 (I-476)
Monroe Polk Township 90.98 PA 534 (Merriwill Lane) Eastern terminus of PA 534.
Brodheadsville 96.42 PA 115 Eastern terminus of PA 115.
96.69 PA 715 Southern terminus of PA 715.
Hamilton Township 100.96
US 209 BUS (Hamilton East Road)		 Southern terminus of US 209 BUS.

[edit] PA 33 concurrency

County Location Mile[1] Destinations Notes
Monroe Hamilton Township 101.88 22.20 US 209 south - Lehighton Southern terminus of concurrency
103.55 23.76 Snydersville (Manor Drive)
104.27 24.50
US 209 north to I-80 east - Stroudsburg		 Northbound only. Northern terminus of concurrency.

[edit] Between PA 33 and I-80

County Location Mile[1] Roads intersected Notes
Monroe Hamilton Township 108.20
US 209 BUS (Hamilton Road East)		 US 209 passes over its business route.

[edit] I-80 concurrency

County Location Mile[1] Exit # Destinations Notes
New Old
Monroe Stroud Township 108.43 304.83 304 46A
US 209 south to PA 33 – Snydersville, Lehighton, Bethlehem		 US 209 joins eastbound, leaves westbound
Stroudsburg 108.80 305.13 305 48
US 209 BUS (Main Street)
109.44 305.77 306 49 Dreher Avenue Eastbound entrance, westbound exit only
109.90 306.20 307 50
PA 611 - PA 191 (Park Avenue)		 Eastbound exit to/from PA 611
110.40 306.73 PA 191 (Broad Street) Westbound exit to/from PA 191
East Stroudsburg 111.11 307.59 308 51 East Stroudsburg
Smithfield Township 112.43 308.66 309 52
US 209 - PA 447 – Marshalls Creek		 US 209 leaves eastbound, joins westbound;
southern terminus of PA 447 is just north of interchange on US 209.

[edit] I-80 to PA/NY state line

County Location Mile[1] Roads intersected Notes
Monroe Smithfield Township 112.70 PA 447 Southern terminus of PA 447.
PA 190
116.25
US 209 BUS		 Northern terminus of US 209 BUS.
116.37 PA 402 Southern terminus of PA 402.
PA 945 Now Monroe County Quadrant Route 2023.
Pike Bushkill Township State Route 2001
Dingmans Ferry 135.67 PA 739 Southern terminus of PA 739.
Dingman Township 143.07 US 206 Northern terminus of US 206.
Milford 143.91 US 6 Southern terminus of concurrency.
Westfall Township 149.28 I-84 Exit 53 (I-84).
PA 963 Now Pike County Quadrant Route 1017.
PA-NY border 150.60 US 209/US 6 continue into New York via Mid-Delaware Bridge.

[edit] Bannered routes

[edit] Stroudsburg business loop



U.S. Route 209 Business
Location Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania
Commissioned 1962-present

U.S. Route 209 Business is a business route of U.S. Route 209 in eastern Pennsylvania. The southern terminus of the route is at US 209 in the Hamilton Township hamlet of Sciota. The northern terminus is at US 209 in the Smithfield Township hamlet of Marshalls Creek. US 209 Business is the lone auxiliary route of US 209 in Pennsylvania.

US 209 Business was US 209 until 1962 when US 209 was moved onto Interstate 80 between Marshalls Creek and present-day I-80 exit 305 in Stroudsburg, allowing US 209 Business to occupy the former alignment of US 209. US 209 Business was extended southward to its current southern terminus in 1964 when US 209 was relocated onto a bypass paralleling its former alignment between Stroudsburg and Sciota.

[edit] See also

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b c d e f Calculated using DeLorme Street Atlas USA software
  2. ^ Google. Borough of Elizabethville [map]. Retrieved on 2007-07-03.
  3. ^ Rand McNally. Motor Carriers' Road Atlas [map], Deluxe edition. (2007) Page 89, section EM5. Retrieved on 2007-07-03.
  4. ^ Google. Millersburg and surrounding areas [map]. Retrieved on 2007-07-03.
  5. ^ Randmcnally Motor Carriers Atlas 2007 Deluxe Edition: Page 89
  6. ^ a b c d e Google. Exit 107 of Interstate 81 [map]. Retrieved on 2007-07-03.
  7. ^ Google. Western Carbon County [map]. Retrieved on 2007-07-05.
  8. ^ Google. Jim Thorpe, Pennsylvania [map]. Retrieved on 2007-07-05.
  9. ^ Google. Lehighton, Pennsylvania [map]. Retrieved on 2007-07-05.
  10. ^ Google. Harrity, Pennsylvania [map]. Retrieved on 2007-07-05.
  11. ^ PennDOT - Historical Map of Carbon County - 2004
  12. ^ PennDOT - Historical Map of Monroe County - 2004
  13. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n GoogleMaps - US 209, PA
  14. ^ Commercial Vehicle Fees on Rt. 209 PA
  15. ^ a b PennDOT - Pike Historical Map - 2004
  16. ^ PennDOT - Pike Historical Map - 1941
  17. ^ PennDOT - Pike Historical Map - 1954
  18. ^ TRUCK BAN BEGINS ON U.S. ROUTE 209 - The Philadelphia Inquirer
  19. ^ TRUCK BAN ON ROUTE 209 IS DELAYED FOR 180 DAYS - The Philadelphia Inquirer
  20. ^ Bill would allow trucks on Route 209 in the Gap
  21. ^ Commercial Vehicle Fees on Rt. 209 PA
  22. ^ [http://www.accessmylibrary.com/premium/0286/0286-7132396.html Monroe County, Pa., bypass gets approval] - The Morning Call (Allentown)
  23. ^ a b Project Fact Sheet Marshallscreekbypass.com

[edit] External links

U.S. Route 209
Previous state:
Terminus		 Pennsylvania Next state:
New York
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Car transportation of Pike County, Pennsylvania
Interstate Highways
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U.S. 6- U.S. 206- U.S. 209
State Routes
Quadrant Routes

QR 1017 (PA 963) QR 2001 (PA 962) QR 2009 (PA 962)
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