Interstate 176

Interstate 176 (I-176) is a spur route of eastern Interstate 76 in Pennsylvania. I-176, known locally as the "Morgantown Expressway", travels from Morgantown, Pennsylvania to Reading, Pennsylvania; the entire length of the highway is just over 11 miles (18 km). The highway was originally known as I-180 or the "Reading Spur" when the Pennsylvania Turnpike was designated as I-80S, but was redesignated to its present-day number in 1974 when it became I-76.^[2]

Route description

Prior to 1996, motorists wanting to get to I-176 from the Pennsylvania Turnpike (I-76) had to travel through Morgantown on Pennsylvania Route 10 and then enter I-176 northbound to Reading at a traffic light, similar to that found on Interstate 70 in Breezewood. Since 1996, a replacement Pennsylvania Turnpike interchange and a new stretch of I-176 have eliminated the need to travel through Morgantown, with the old section, now a spur numbered SR 2089,^[3] still maintained as ramps leading to and from Exit 2. The entire highway, except for the new direct connection, has a 65 mph (105 km/h) speed limit.

A runaway truck ramp is located just past Exit 1 eastbound.^[3]

Exit list

The entire route is in Berks County.

References

1. ^ Route Log - Auxiliary Routes of the Eisenhower National System Of Interstate and Defense Highways - Table 2
2. ^ Ask the Rambler - Was I-76 Numbered to Honor Philadelphia for Independence Day, 1776?
3. ^ ^{a b} Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (2010). Berks County General Highway Map [Type 10] (Map). 1 : 65,000. ftp://ftp.dot.state.pa.us/public/pdf/BPR_pdf_files/Maps/GHS/Roadnames/berks_GHSN.PDF. 

External links

• Interstate-Guide.com - Interstate 176