Bethlehem Pike

Infobox road
marker_

highway_name=Bethlehem Pike
alternate_name=
maint=PennDOT

---

length_mi=41
length_round=0
length_ref=cite web|url=http://www.mapquest.com/directions/main.adp?mo=ma&un=m&go=1&1a=1+Bethlehem+Pike&1c=Philadelphia&1g=y3yINYHaymBbTrbA8bNiDw%253d%253d&2a=556+Main+St&1l=g1VrmLrtLhK4QH92ZUK2tA%253d%253d&2c=Bethlehem&cl=EN&1n=PHILADELPHIA+COUNTY&2ffi=1&2g=QqrVK6Cvl7SyNK2fbh44vw%253d%253d&qq=UHVXrlaxt4geekl5BtnBI9e%252f%252fJQlIhC8WiOSchkatbtQ2PpDd7xjnIGXuFHTZTAwzNJbrTaLBwqRc15vU%252ba%252fJgclg9ChdbtlCKfe9JUtljf3PwKE6Th00%252fGh31iaYL2ewIJ%252bYDYyF0jdI7OWynHKrRQ%252fIDjrcHvET%252fH5KI8zwWY9fF%252f7os5X14zoxtU3EZNe6vIQM1neiCN%252fbUDISrz%252b62IelYxxx%252f9FvYHz9lXwuyKtiScdjjSP%252fmnrLx%252b0uvrptZB4OJdsZbPSHm8HZRkXkKQgGZAh3yKCGPgRdFUha4KVlNmR%252fHMk%252fvxfEDdioizYz4WUIjxUdrdKVwd7pBUwiBb4y5gwdR%252fXJsp5BRLpdyKjlE5dIokiPi88vUXTM8paCFHI4OhxipAk1cg4OQfM4EsEDGAylKIORqwGpnAJh7zBYDmqXOL28zCzUrCDc338CLNkWumOW9bdGf3iXGonesmLR8irlo6cJYWoHyN5mOp%252bK5LreyDnGIFesGcL%252fp5KVB16838CYZ0cPHxzR0eqCw%252bKKYXPiOgXtXtx6bJyxf44cidR%252fekL0vHnbVeSQBgEmPh%252b8zXobIO6jm1w79PBWgB9aVkHkVbCPZLfXtEYJFo%253d&1s=PA&2pl=610-866-1758&2qc=Museums&2l=bKgzorf%252ftY8Ca3GkcVj9CQ%253d%253d&ct=NA&1v=ADDRESS&2pn=Sun+Inn+Preservation&q=Sun+Inn&1y=US&1z=19118-2820&2s=PA&2v=ADDRESS&did=1179546536&2qn=Sun+Inn&2y=US&2z=18018&rsres=1&do=nw&r=s&aoh=1&aot=1|title=DRIVING DIRECTIONS from 1 Bethlehem Pike, Philadelphia, PA to Sun Inn Preservation, 556 Main Street, Bethlehem, PA|work=MapQuest|accessdate=2007-05-18]
length_notes=
established=1763
direction_a=South
starting_terminus=Germantown Pike in Philadelphia
beltway_city=
junction=
direction_b=North
ending_terminus=Main Street in Bethlehem
counties=Bucks, Lehigh, Montgomery, Philadelphia

Bethlehem Pike is a historic 41 mi (66 km) long road in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania, connecting Philadelphia and Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. It began as a Native American path called the Minsi Trail which evolved into a colonial highway called the King's Road in the 1760s. Most of the route would later become part of U.S. Route 309, now Pennsylvania Route 309.

History

Colonial Age

The Bethlehem Pike originated from a Native American pathway known as the Minsi Trail. Named after the Minsi Indians, the trail was routed between the Blue Mountains and the lands to the south. [Cite web|url=http://www.bethlehempaonline.com/sbethhistory.html|title=History of South Bethlehem|work=Bethlehem, PA Online|accessdate=2007-05-16] In December of 1740, David Nitschmann and his party went to Bethlehem and Nazareth along this trail. A year later, a second party joined the first, traversing the same pathway. Count Zinzendorf, was included in the second party who visited the pioneers in the cabin along the banks of the Monocacy Creek. On Christmas Eve, Zinzendorf maintained a famous love-feast service, which led to the settlement of Bethlehem.cite web|url=http://www.ushistory.org/philadelphia/street_bethlehem.htm|title=Bethlehem Pike|work=Independence Hall Association of Philadelphia|accessdate=2007-05-16]

After the discovery of Bethlehem, a number of settlements began to rise along the route, causing a constant use of it and the highway to be called King's Road. The first trip made by George Klein was Stage Wagon on September 10, 1763. He later made regular trips between Philadelphia and Bethlehem on a weekly basis. He started on Mondays from the Sun Inn in Bethlehem, and returned from the King of Prussia Inn in Philadelphia, on Thursdays. Bethlehem Pike and Germantown Avenue were the first two segments of the King's Highway, the main road carrying passengers and their goods between Philadelphia and the north. [cite book |last=Jarvis |first=Elizabeth Farmer |title=Chestnut Hill Revised |year=2004 |publisher= Arcadia Publishing|isbn=0738535273 ]

In the northern regions of Philadelphia, the pike intersected the Old York Road. According to a legend, Tammany, the great Indian chief, presented all lands within the young Germans' vision. Following the gift they received from the natives, they concluded the ritual, the sun rose, and the men named the spot Rising Sun. During the Revoluntionary War, British officers gathered near the southern terminus of the modern day pike. They gathered in the days their army faced the Colonials at Whitemarsh. Further north along the route in the Whitemarsh Valley is the site where George Washington held Howe at bay, thus becoming famous in history as Church Hill. Before heading to Valley Forge, Washington and his army encamped here on December 11, 1777.

During the revolution, the pike delt with a busy time period, for Bethlehem was crowded with officers, prisoners, and soldiers from the war. There was great excitement in Bethlehem on September 13, 1777, when the Patriot Army retreated from Philadelphia. Later, a letter had arrived by express courier from David Rittenhouse, announcing that all the military stores, in 700 wagons, were sent north on the Bethlehem Pike. Even the church and state bells were sent over for safekeeping on the pike. In Bethlehem, the wagon carrying the Liberty Bell broke down. The bells had to be unloaded on September 25, 1777. Eventually the wagon was repaired and they were sent to Allentown, where it was hidden from danger on Hamilton Street. The road traverses Rockhill Township, where the New Jersey and Pennsylvania armies listened to Richard Peters in 1799, a member of the Colonial assembly. They camped at Seller's Tavern, today known as Sellersville.

Bethlehem Turnpike

In 1804, the route became a toll road known as the Bethlehem Turnpike. [cite book |last=Contosta |first=David R. |title=Suburb in the City: Chestnut Hill, Philadelphia, 1850-1990 |year=1992 |publisher= Ohio State UniversityPress|isbn=0814205801 ] Tolls were voluntary only during morning hours. [cite book |last=Hungerford |first=Edward |title=The Personality of American Cities |year=1913 |publisher= McBride, Nast & CompanyPress|isbn=] On March 11, 1834, the governor of Pennsylvania signed a license authorizing the Bethlehem Turnpike Road Company to erect many of its gates. The turnpike was authorized to collect tolls from travelers on horses, cattle, and carriages. [cite book |last=Pennsylvania Secretary of the commonwealth, Pennsylvania State Library, Pennsylvania General assembly, Pennsylvania Dept. of Public Instruction
title=Pennsylvania Archives |year=1874 |publisher=Printed by J. Severns &co.] In 1904, the Bethlehem Pike became a free road after it was tolled for 100 years. The tolls were removed in 1910. [cite book |last=Keels|first=Thomas H.|coauthors=Elizabeth Farmer Jarvis|title=Chestnut Hill |year=2002 |publisher=Arcadia Publishing |isbn=0738510610 ] When Pennsylvania signed the Sproul Road Bill on May 31, 1911, [cite web|url=http://www.phmc.state.pa.us/bah/DAM/rg/sd/r12sd.htm#constructionbureau|title=Department of Highways|work=Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission|accessdate=2007-05-17] the state began taking over the highways across the commonwealth. The bill defined the Bethlehem Pike as Legislative Route 297 (LR 297) in Northampton County and LR 153 in Lehigh County. [cite map| publisher =PennDOT
title =Northampton County|url=ftp://ftp.dot.state.pa.us/public/pdf/BPR_PDF_FILES/Maps/Type_10_GHS_Historical_Scans/Northampton_1914.pdf| year =1914
accessdate =2007-05-17
format=PDF] [cite map| publisher =PennDOT
title =Lehigh County|url=ftp://ftp.dot.state.pa.us/public/pdf/BPR_PDF_FILES/Maps/Type_10_GHS_Historical_Scans/Lehigh_1915.pdf| year =1915
accessdate =2007-05-18
format=PDF] The pike was defined as LR 153 [cite map|publisher=PennDOT|title=Pennsylvania state|url=ftp://ftp.dot.state.pa.us/public/pdf/BPR_pdf_files/Maps/Statewide/Historic_OTMs/1911.pdf|year=1911|accessdate=2007-05-18|format=PDF] through the counties of Bucks and Montgomery. [cite map| publisher =PennDOT
title =Bucks County|url=ftp://ftp.dot.state.pa.us/public/pdf/BPR_PDF_FILES/Maps/Type_10_GHS_Historical_Scans/Bucks_1912.pdf| year =1912
accessdate =2007-05-17
format=PDF] [cite map| publisher =PennDOT
title =Montgomery County|url=ftp://ftp.dot.state.pa.us/public/pdf/BPR_PDF_FILES/Maps/Type_10_GHS_Historical_Scans/Montgomery_1912.pdf| year =1912
accessdate =2007-05-17
format=PDF]

Age of numbered roads

In 1926, when the U.S. Numbered Highway System was established, [cite web|url=http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/infrastructure/numbers.htm|title=From names to numbers: The origins of the U.S. Numbered Highway System|work=Federal Highway Administration|accessdate=2007-05-17] each designated trail in the United States was given a number and the majority of the Bethlehem Pike was signed as U.S. Route 309 (US 309).cite map|title=Pennsylvania state|publisher=PennDOT|url=ftp://ftp.dot.state.pa.us/public/pdf/BPR_pdf_files/Maps/Statewide/Historic_OTMs/1930fr.pdf|edition=Front|year=1930|accessdate=2007-05-18|format=PDF] During a three-decade period after the system was created, the pike was designated as Pennsylvania Route 12 (PA 12) from Bethlehem to Center Valley. South of Center Valley, the route was known as US 309. [cite map|title=Lehigh County|publisher=PennDOT|url=ftp://ftp.dot.state.pa.us/public/pdf/BPR_PDF_FILES/Maps/Type_10_GHS_Historical_Scans/Lehigh_1941.pdf|edition=|year=1941|accessdate=2007-05-18|format=PDF] By 1960, a portion of the road was designated as Pennsylvania Route 191, when it replaced the entire routing of PA 12. [cite map|title=Northampton County|publisher=PennDOT|url=ftp://ftp.dot.state.pa.us/public/pdf/BPR_PDF_FILES/Maps/Type_10_GHS_Historical_Scans/Northampton_1961.pdf|edition=|year=1961|accessdate=2007-05-18|format=PDF] cite map|title=Pennsylvania State|publisher=PennDOT|url=ftp://ftp.dot.state.pa.us/public/pdf/BPR_pdf_files/Maps/Statewide/Historic_OTMs/1960bk.pdf|edition=Back|year=1960|accessdate=2007-05-18|format=PDF]

North of Philadelphia, US 309 was designated on the newly built Fort Washington Expressway, east of the original alignment on the Bethlehem Pike. By 1970, US 309 was deleted and replaced by Pennsylvania Route 309. [cite map|title=Pennsylvania State|publisher=PennDOT|url=ftp://ftp.dot.state.pa.us/public/pdf/BPR_pdf_files/Maps/Statewide/Historic_OTMs/1970fr.pdf|edition=Front|year=1970|accessdate=2007-05-18|format=PDF] Following the commission of the route, PA 309 was moved to a newly constructed freeway, bypassing Sellersville, and west of the Bethlehem Pike. [cite map|title=Bucks County|publisher=PennDOT|url=ftp://ftp.dot.state.pa.us/public/pdf/BPR_PDF_FILES/Maps/Type_10_GHS_Historical_Scans/Bucks_1971_Sheet_1.pdf|edition=Sheet1|year=1971|accessdate=2007-05-18|format=PDF] Six years later, Interstate 378 was deleted and PA 191 was truncated, thus designating their former alignments as Pennsylvania Route 378. [cite map|publisher=PennDOT|title=Northampton County|url=ftp://ftp.dot.state.pa.us/public/pdf/BPR_PDF_FILES/Maps/Type_10_GHS_Historical_Scans/Northampton_1976.pdf|year=1976|accessdate=2007-05-18|format=PDF]

Today

The modern Bethlehem Pike is mostly designated as Pennsylvania Route 309 in the Lehigh and Delaware Valleys. In Philadelphia, the road is signed as SR 4017cite web|url=http://www.dot7.state.pa.us/ividlog/video_locate.asp|title=VIDEO LOG|work=PennDOT|accessdate=2007-05-21] , with a daily traffic of 15,000 vehicles. The pike is routed as SR 2018 in Montgomery County, while parallel to PA 309. North of Fort Washington, the road is known as PA 309, with an average of 17,000 to 21,000 vehicles a day.cite web|url=http://www.dot7.state.pa.us/itms/default.asp|title=Traffic Count|work=PennDOT|accessdate=2007-05-21] In Sellersville, the pike is signed as SR 4013, south of PA 152, and SR 4085 north of PA 152. From Quakertown to Center Valley, the pike has an old alignment west of the current designation on PA 309 [cite map|publisher=TopoQuest|title=Quakertown Area|url=http://www.topoquest.com/map.asp?lat=40.44135&lon=-75.36437&symshow=n&datum=nad27&layer=DRG|accessdate=2008-07-05] . In the Quakertown area, the PA 309 segment of the pike averages a daily traffic of 18,000 vehicles. North of Center Valley, the road is aligned as PA 378, with an average traffic of 17,000 vehicles a day. The northern most segment of the pike is known as Main Street in Bethlehem.

Lower Gwynedd formed a project to improve the Bethlehem Pike within the township and estimated to cost $500,000. [cite web|url=http://www.lowergwynedd.org/bethlehem/faq.asp|title=Lower Gwynedd Township, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania|work=Lower Gwynedd Township|accessdate=2007-05-24]

Major intersections

PAint
county=Philadelphia
location=Philadelphia
type=deleted
mile=0.00
road=cite map|title=Tourism and Transportation|publisher=PennDOT|url=ftp://ftp.dot.state.pa.us/public/pdf/BPR_PDF_FILES/MAPS/Statewide/otm/2007/otmse_2007.PDF|year=2007|edition=Southeast|accessdate=2007-05-22|format=PDF]
street=Germantown Pike
notes=Former segment of US 422.PAint
county=Montgomery
cspan=8
location=Whitemarsh Township
lspan=3
type=mplex
mile=3.07
road=cite map| publisher=Rand McNally| title =Motor Carrier's Road Atlas| edition =Deluxe| year =2007| page =90| section =A3| accessdate =2007-05-23]
street=Church Road
notes=Southern terminus of overlap. PAint
type=mplex
mile=3.27
road=
street=East Skippack Pike
notes=Northern terminus of overlap. PAint
type=noaccess
mile=3.66
road=
notes=Bethlehem Pike passes under I-276/PA Turnpike.PAint
location=Fort Washington
type=deleted
mile=4.85
road=
street=Pennsylvania Avenue
notes=Former segment of PA 731.PAint
location=Lower Gwynedd Township
lspan=2
mile=8.98
road= [cite map|publisher=MapQuest|title=Bethlehem Pike/PA 309 Interchange|url=http://www.mapquest.com/maps/map.adp?formtype=address&addtohistory=&address=%5b401%2d418%5d%20S%20Bethlehem%20Pike&city=Fort%20Washington&state=PA&zipcode=19034&country=US&location=%2baXJVDP6x7wFekbu5nnNhwrcQZX1zYkucnKacLWne8tNfAcFXdeTCWo0cEtxKkWExqn1QfiWzrClZOGPni4zG7JPfDfI54TRwj8U8k%2fdwCcoA24LeDuWYgqMTBo4ouVqxQcW4VDgHBG23WHbIP2S%2fU%2bErMZZPydu3zIYZj3vPfY%3d&ambiguity=1#east|accessdate=2007-05-22]
street=Fort Washington Expressway
notes=Interchange. Bethlehem Pike becomes PA 309 north of this junction.PAint
mile=9.38
road= [cite map| publisher=Rand McNally| title =Motor Carrier's Road Atlas| edition =Deluxe| year =2007| page =89| section =EP12| accessdate =2007-05-23]
street=Welsh RoadPAint
location=Montgomeryville
lspan=2
type=mplex
mile=11.58
road=
street=DeKalb Pike
notes=Southern terminus of overlap. Former segment of US 122.PAint
type=mplex
mile=12.47
road=
street=Doylestown Road, Cowpath Road, Horsham Road
notes=Northern terminus of overlap. Former segment of US 122.PAint
county=Bucks
cspan=8
location=Hilltown Township
lspan=2
mile=11.56
road= [cite map|publisher=MapQuest|title=Bethlehem Pike/PA 309 Interchange south of Sellersville|url=http://www.mapquest.com/maps/map.adp?formtype=address&addtohistory=&address=%5b401%2d418%5d%20S%20Bethlehem%20Pike&city=Fort%20Washington&state=PA&zipcode=19034&country=US&location=%2baXJVDP6x7wFekbu5nnNhwrcQZX1zYkucnKacLWne8tNfAcFXdeTCWo0cEtxKkWExqn1QfiWzrClZOGPni4zG7JPfDfI54TRwj8U8k%2fdwCcoA24LeDuWYgqMTBo4ouVqxQcW4VDgHBG23WHbIP2S%2fU%2bErMZZPydu3zIYZj3vPfY%3d&ambiguity=1#west|accessdate=2007-05-22]
notes=Interchange. Bethlehem Pike becomes SR 4013 north of this junction.PAint
mile=18.89
road= [cite map|publisher=MapQuest|title=Bethlehem Pike/PA 313 junction|url=http://www.mapquest.com/maps/map.adp?formtype=address&addtohistory=&address=%5b401%2d418%5d%20S%20Bethlehem%20Pike&city=Fort%20Washington&state=PA&zipcode=19034&country=US&location=%2baXJVDP6x7wFekbu5nnNhwrcQZX1zYkucnKacLWne8tNfAcFXdeTCWo0cEtxKkWExqn1QfiWzrClZOGPni4zG7JPfDfI54TRwj8U8k%2fdwCcoA24LeDuWYgqMTBo4ouVqxQcW4VDgHBG23WHbIP2S%2fU%2bErMZZPydu3zIYZj3vPfY%3d&ambiguity=1#east|accessdate=2007-05-22]
street=Souderton RoadPAint
location=Sellersville
lspan=3
type=mplex
mile=20.51
road=cite map|publisher=MapQuest|title=Sellersville, Pennsylvania|url=http://www.mapquest.com/maps/map.adp?formtype=address&addtohistory=&address=%5b401%2d418%5d%20S%20Bethlehem%20Pike&city=Fort%20Washington&state=PA&zipcode=19034&country=US&location=%2baXJVDP6x7wFekbu5nnNhwrcQZX1zYkucnKacLWne8tNfAcFXdeTCWo0cEtxKkWExqn1QfiWzrClZOGPni4zG7JPfDfI54TRwj8U8k%2fdwCcoA24LeDuWYgqMTBo4ouVqxQcW4VDgHBG23WHbIP2S%2fU%2bErMZZPydu3zIYZj3vPfY%3d&ambiguity=1#south|accessdate=2007-05-22]
street=State Road
notes=Southern terminus of overlap.PAint
type=mplex
mile=21.36
road=
street=East Park Avenue
notes=Northern terminus of overlap. Former segment of PA 413.PAint
type=deleted
mile=21.63
road=
notes=Former segment of PA 813.PAint
location=West Rockhill Township
lspan=2
mile=22.71
road= [cite map|publisher=MapQuest|title=Bethlehem Pike/PA 563 junction|url=http://www.mapquest.com/maps/map.adp?formtype=address&addtohistory=&address=%5b401%2d418%5d%20S%20Bethlehem%20Pike&city=Fort%20Washington&state=PA&zipcode=19034&country=US&location=%2baXJVDP6x7wFekbu5nnNhwrcQZX1zYkucnKacLWne8tNfAcFXdeTCWo0cEtxKkWExqn1QfiWzrClZOGPni4zG7JPfDfI54TRwj8U8k%2fdwCcoA24LeDuWYgqMTBo4ouVqxQcW4VDgHBG23WHbIP2S%2fU%2bErMZZPydu3zIYZj3vPfY%3d&ambiguity=1#north|accessdate=2007-05-22]
street=Ridge RoadPAint
mile=25.08
road= [cite map|publisher=MapQuest|title=Bethlehem Pike/PA 309 interchange south of Quakertown|url=http://www.mapquest.com/maps/map.adp?formtype=address&addtohistory=&address=%5b401%2d418%5d%20S%20Bethlehem%20Pike&city=Fort%20Washington&state=PA&zipcode=19034&country=US&location=%2baXJVDP6x7wFekbu5nnNhwrcQZX1zYkucnKacLWne8tNfAcFXdeTCWo0cEtxKkWExqn1QfiWzrClZOGPni4zG7JPfDfI54TRwj8U8k%2fdwCcoA24LeDuWYgqMTBo4ouVqxQcW4VDgHBG23WHbIP2S%2fU%2bErMZZPydu3zIYZj3vPfY%3d&ambiguity=1#south|accessdate=2007-05-22]
notes=Interchange. Bethlehem Pike becomes PA 309 north of this junction.PAint
location=Quakertown
mile=28.07
road= [cite map| publisher=Rand McNally| title =Motor Carrier's Road Atlas| edition =Deluxe| year =2007| page =89| section =EN12| accessdate =2007-05-23]
street=John Fries Highway, Broad Street
notes=Western terminus of PA 313. Northern terminus of PA 663.PAint
county=Lehigh
location=Center Valley
mile=34.41
road=
notes=Bethlehem Pike becomes PA 378 north of this junction. Southern terminus of PA 378. Former segment of PA 312.PAint
county=Northampton
cspan=4
location=Lower Saucon Township
type=noaccess
mile=37.60
road=
notes=PA 378 passes under I-78.PAint
location=Bethlehem
lspan=3
mile=40.07
road= [cite map| publisher=Rand McNally| title =Motor Carrier's Road Atlas| edition =Deluxe| year =2007| page =89| section =EB4| accessdate =2007-05-23]
street=Broadway
notes=Northern terminus of PA 412. Former segment of PA 43.PAint
mile=40.43
road=/Main Street
notes=Bethlehem Pike becomes Main Street north of this junction. PAint
mile=41.12
road=Sun Inn Preservation on Main Street

References

External links

*cite web|url=http://www.ushistory.org/bethpike/index.htm|title=Our friends of historic Bethlehem Pike|work=USHistory.com|accessdate=2007-05-16