Interstate 176

Interstate 176 marker

Interstate 176
Morgantown Expressway
Route information
Auxiliary route of I-76
Maintained by PennDOT
Length: 11.345 mi[1] (18.258 km)
Existed: 1964 – present
Major junctions
South end: I-76 / Penna Turnpike in Morgantown
  PA 10 / PA 23 in Morgantown
PA 10 in Green Hills
PA 724 in Cumru Township
North end: US 422 near Reading
Location
Counties: Berks
Highway system
← PA 174PA 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 to Cumru Township in Berks County, a suburban township just outside Reading; 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 1964 when it became I-76.[2]

Route description

I-176 southbound near mile marker 8 in Cumru Township

I-176 begins at the Morgantown interchange with I-76 (Pennsylvania Turnpike) near the community of Morgantown in Caernarvon Township, Berks County. The highway heads north from the trumpet interchange through the toll plaza and continues north as a four-lane freeway called the Morgantown Expressway, coming to an interchange with PA 10 that provides access to Morgantown to the south. At this interchange, the freeway turns to the west, with a southbound runaway truck ramp just past the southbound exit ramp for PA 10. I-176 heads into the borough of New Morgan and runs through forested areas. The road comes to a southbound exit and northbound entrance with SR 2089, a four-lane freeway that heads south to an intersection with PA 10/PA 23 in Morgantown. At this point, the freeway curves to the northwest and forms the border between Caernarvon Township to the west and New Morgan to the east, passing through wooded surroundings as it heads to the west of a landfill. The route turns north and becomes the border between Robeson Township to the west and New Morgan to the east before fully entering Robeson Township as it continues through forests. I-176 runs through wooded areas with some farm fields, passing over PA 568 before it comes to a northbound exit and entrance with the parallel PA 10 to the east in Green Hills. From here, the freeway continues through woodland with nearby development and passes over PA 10 prior to entering Cumru Township and coming to a southbound exit and entrance connecting to PA 10 to the west. The road heads north-northeast through forested hills, curving to the north. The route reaches a diamond interchange with PA 724 and passes over a Norfolk Southern railroad line and the Schuylkill River Trail as it heads west of industrial areas. I-176 reaches its northern terminus at a trumpet interchange with the US 422 freeway southeast of the city of Reading.[3][4]

History

I-176 northbound at the PA 10 exit in Morgantown

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,[4] 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.

Exit list

The entire route is in Berks County.

Locationmi[1]kmOld exit
[5]		New exit
[5]		DestinationsNotes
Caernarvon Township0.0000.000–– I-76 / Penna Turnpike – Harrisburg, PhiladelphiaSouthbound only; Morgantown Interchange on I-76 / Penna Turnpike (Exit 298)
0.2010.3231A1 PA 10 to PA 23 – Morgantown, BeckersvilleSplit into exits 1A and 1B northbound, Last free exit southbound
1.2752.0521B2 PA 10 / PA 23 – Honey BrookSouthbound exit and northbound entrance; exit ramps occupy the former routing of I-176
Robeson–Cumru
township line		7.88412.68827 PA 10 to PA 568 – Green Hills
Cumru Township10.75117.302310 PA 724 – Shillington, Birdsboro
11.34518.258411 US 422 – Pottstown, Reading
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi

See also

References

  1. 1 2 Bureau of Maintenance and Operations (January 2015). Roadway Management System Straight Line Diagrams (Report) (2015 ed.). Pennsylvania Department of Transportation. Retrieved June 30, 2015.
  2. ↑ Ask the Rambler - Was I-76 Numbered to Honor Philadelphia for Independence Day, 1776?
  3. ↑ Google (April 10, 2017). "overview of Interstate 176" (Map). Google Maps. Google. Retrieved April 10, 2017.
  4. 1 2 Berks County, Pennsylvania Highway Map (PDF) (Map). PennDOT. 2016. Retrieved February 14, 2017.
  5. 1 2 "Pennsylvania Exit Numbering" (PDF). Pennsylvania Department of Transportation. Retrieved October 2, 2007.

Route map: Google

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