Pennsylvania Route 978

Pennsylvania Route 978, designated by the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) as State Route 978, is a 10.9-mile (17.5 km) long west–east state highway located in the southeast Pennsylvania counties of Allegheny and Washington. The southern terminus of the route is at Pennsylvania Route 50 (Millers Run Road) in the vicinity of the Cecil area of Washington County. The highways heads slightly to the northwest, and reaches the northern terminus at the intersection of US Route 22 and US Route 30 in the Imperial-Enlow area of Gladden where Route 978 intersects with two other U.S. Routes. A few other names for these routes intersected is the William Penn Highway, the Lincoln Highway, and Penn-Lincoln Parkway.

Route description

Washington County

Route 978 begins at a three segment intersection with Pennsylvania Route 50 and Reissing Road in the community of Cecil, Pennsylvania. From there it serves as a small road through a few neighborhood houses that serve a few families.

Allegheny County

After going 0.3 miles, Route 978 passes from Washington County into Allegheny County. The route so far has run next to Millers Run on the right and a railroad on the left. Then, Route 978 weaves to its left and passes under the railroad. After one-half of a mile, it then returns to the other side of the railroad. Millers Run is no longer on the left as it has passed under Pennsylvania Route 50. It then moves into a neighborhood. Right after that, it meets up with Old Pennsylvania Route 50 (Parks Road). When reaching this, Route 978 veers north and meets the railroad once more with an at-grade crossing. Shortly after this, Route 978 meets Action Drive and swerves northeast. On the right is a junkyard that has spare parts for cars of all types. When it meets Battle Ridge Road, it turns north. At the turn, if you look off to the left you will see a baseball field. Also, Milers Run will be viewable, as it has come back over to this side of Route 50. After the turn, there will be a small Creek running under the road. This creek is called Dolphin Run. It continues going northwest and soon meets up with Mohawk Road. This road is for residential owners. After passing Sterling Road, you will pass through farmland. Whenever it hooks up with Robinson Run Road, the road turns due east. Shortly thereafter, it connects to a three-way intersection with Union Avenue (Orange Beltway). To continue on 978 you must make a left turn. You will see Marshall Road on your left and then a cemetery. Continuing north you will see a rapid change in the number of houses as you reach Oakdale. At the heart of Oakdale you will intersect with Noblestown Road. It will be more industrialized if you take Noblestown Road south, but continuing with 978, you will be touching houses on either side of the road. Soon you will meet Oakdale Road and you must turn. Golden Oil Company’s factory was on the left and soon after you must make a short trip off of the road to get to McKee Elementary School. North Branch Road will be on your left. Once again, to stay on PA 978 you must turn. Immediately, you will pass over Willow Creek, which has been going parallel to you since Oakdale. Old North Branch Road will split off and you will soon pass a Jehovah’s Witnesses Church. Turn right to get onto Bateman Road. If you were to continue going straight, then you would be drivind on former Pennsylvania Route 979. Stonebridge Road will be on your left with a large number of residential houses. Continuing northwest you will encounter your last stretch of forested land. Storage supply and trucking company’s property will occupy both sides of the road. Finally, you will reach the western terminus end at routes US 22/US 30 in the Imperial-Enlow area.

History

Old Pennsylvania Route 978 was a road located in Imperial-Enlow. It existed for roughly 40 years and later was not renamed. It was commissioned in the 1930's and decommissioned in the mid 1970's. Enlow Road, now an Allegheny County maintained road, was one of the local roads that once carried PA 978. It also was one of the many roads that have disappeared with the expansion of the Pittsburgh International Airport. In Enlow, there is still is a few signs that keep the 978 designation alive. Old PA 978 begins at the Steubenville Pike south of the Robinson Town Center just outside of Imperial, PA. After originally finding a plethora of houses, you will travel through over a mile of forest. Then you will pass over the Montour Trail and merge with Cliff Mine Road. You will pass Oak Moss Drve, which has numerous large houses. You will continue connecting up with more neighborhoods, and soon go through a tiny stretch of forest. It will soon connect up with six different roads. It continues straight and keeps passing through neighborhoods and splits up into two roads. You turn left and continue for three miles. Interstate 376 will be on your right. You will finish up at US Route 30. As stated above, the growth and additions to Greater Pittsburgh International Airport has altered the former alignments of PA 978. Many parts of the highway's routing from the 30's to the mid 70's have been closed off or torn up. Most of this occurred when the new Midfield Terminal was constructed and opened in the early 90's.

Major intersections

References