Pennsylvania Route 272

Pennsylvania Route 272 is a 55-mile (89 km) long highway in eastern Pennsylvania, in the Lancaster area. The southern terminus of the route is at the Mason-Dixon Line southeast of Nottingham, where it continues into Maryland as Maryland Route 272. The northern terminus is at U.S. Route 222 and Pennsylvania Route 568 in Adamstown, where PA 568 continues eastward on the PA 272 right-of-way.

Route description

PA 272 is mostly in Lancaster County, except for about a mile at the northern terminus where it enters Berks County and the southernmost part of the route, which is in Chester County. In downtown Lancaster, it is hidden but merged with US 222.

Maryland State Line to Lancaster

The southern terminus of PA 272 is at the Maryland state line in East Nottingham Township in Chester County where it continues as Maryland Route 272. 4 miles (6.4 km) north of the Mayland State Line, it meets US 1 at an interchange. Upon crossing the Octoraro Creek, PA 272 enters Lancaster County. In Wakefield, it merges with US 222 for about a mile. In East Drumore Township, it meets with PA 372. In Willow Street, it splits before meeting with PA 741 and merging with US 222 into Lancaster. In the southern tip of Lancaster, 272 and US 222 meet with the northern terminus of PA 324.

Lancaster to Adamstown

In Lancaster, PA 272 is hidden but is routed with US 222. South of the downtown area of Lancaster, it meets the southern terminus of PA 72. In Lancaster, it meets with the PA 23 and PA 462 concurrency. Outside of Lancaster, PA 272 splits from US 222 (which forms a concurrency with US 30). About 3 miles (4.8 km) north of Neffsville, it meets the eastern terminus of PA 722. Near Brownstown, it meets with PA 772. In Ephrata, it shares an interchange with US 322. Near Denver, PA 272 meets the connector to the Pa Turnpike/ I-76 and US 222. Just south of Adamstown, it intersects PA 897 in East Cocalico Township. A mile east of Adamstown and in Berks County, the route ends at an interchange with US 222 and continues as PA 568.

History

PA 272 was signed in 1928. In 1965, the northern terminus was moved from the Fulton Township community of Wakefield to Willow Street, south of Lancaster. In 1975, the northern terminus was moved from Willow Street to the Pennsylvania Turnpike connector in Denver. For a portion of this period, the roadway followed State Street through Ephrata, Reamstown, and Denver. In 1978, the northern terminus was moved to its current location.

Former designations

• Pennsylvania Route 41 (1926-1928)
• Pennsylvania Route 72 (1936-1965)
• U.S. Route 222 (1936-1978)

Major intersections

References