Pennsylvania Route 48

PA Route 48
Route information
Maintained by PennDOT
Length:	18.9 mi[1] (30.4 km)
Existed:	1928 – present
Major junctions
South end:	PA 51 / Orange Belt near Elizabeth
North end:	US 22 Bus. / Orange Belt in Monroeville
Location
Counties:	Allegheny
Highway system
Roads in Pennsylvania Interstate • US • State • Legislative ← PA 47 PA 49 →

Pennsylvania Route 48 (PA 48) is 18.9-mile (30.4 km) long state highway located in the Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania area. The route is predominantly a two-lane highway as it runs through McKeesport and other suburbs. The entire routing of PA 48 is part of the Orange Belt, both reaching their southern terminus at Pennsylvania Route 51, southeast of Elizabeth. Until 1998, the northern terminus of PA 48 was at the intersection of Old Haymaker and Center Roads, about 1/2 mile from its current terminus at U.S. Route 22 Business in Monroeville.

Route description

PA 48 begins at an intersection with PA 51 in Forward Township, heading northeast on two-lane undivided Scenery Drive. PA 48 is concurrent with the Orange Belt of the Allegheny County belt system at this point, with which it remains concurrent with for the entire length. The route immediately turns to the north-northwest and forms the border between Forward Township to the west and Elizabeth Township to the east, passing through a mix of fields and woods with some homes. The road fully enters Elizabeth Township and curves north-northeast. At an intersection with Weigles Hill Road, PA 48 makes a turn to the east, passing residences and turning to the northwest. The road passes through more areas of housing and woods, curving northeast as it passes more residential areas. The route makes a bend northeast prior to turning north at the Simpson Howell Road intersection and running past a mix of homes and businesses. PA 48 winds north through more areas of woodland and development, with the name becoming Boston Hollow Road at the Lovedale Road junction. Farther north, the road becomes the border between Lincoln to the west and Elizabeth Township to the east as it heads through more forested areas with a few homes. The route fully enters Elizabeth Township again and heads into commercial areas as it comes to the community of Boston, crossing the Youghiogheny River on the Boston Bridge.^[1][2]

At this point, PA 48 heads northwest into Versailles, passing over a CSX railroad line and becoming Walnut Street as it passes a mix of homes and businesses. The route crosses into McKeesport and widens into a divided highway as it comes to an intersection with PA 148. Here, PA 148 continues along Walnut Street and PA 48 turns east onto four-lane undivided Long Run Road, passing through more residential and commercial areas. The road curves south by more businesses prior to curving east past a mix of woods and commercial development, briefly entering Versailles again before crossing back into McKeesport. The route curves north before heading northeast and entering White Oak. Upon crossing Lincoln Way, PA 48 becomes Jacks Run Road and narrows to two lanes, entering more forested areas with occasional homes and businesses. The road continues north and heads into North Versailles Township and passes through more wooded areas of development, turning northeast and coming to an intersection with US 30.^[1][2]

Past this junction, the route becomes Mosside Boulevard and runs past businesses prior to heading into forested areas. The road briefly passes through Wall prior to crossing back into North Versailles Township and heading into commercial areas, turning northeast. The route widens into a four-lane divided highway and passes over a Norfolk Southern railroad line and Turtle Creek, entering Monroeville. Here, PA 48 becomes an undivided road as it comes to an intersection with PA 130. Following this, the road narrows to two lanes and passes through woods, curving more to the north. Farther north, the route enters commercial areas, widening into a four-lane road at the Haymarker Road intersection. PA 48 turns northwest, passing more businesses and reaching its northern terminus at an intersection with US 22 Business near an interchange that has access to I-376/US 22 and I-76 (Pennsylvania Turnpike).^[1][2]

Cancelled PA 48 North-South Parkway

In 1963, a new PA 48 expressway was proposed to run parallel to the current PA 48 alignment from PA 51 in Elizabeth to the PA Turnpike/Parkway East Interchange in Monroeville. Although several houses and an amusement complex of swimming pool, amusement park and drive-in theater (called Rainbow Gardens) were demolished in the process, the project was scrapped by the 1970's.

Major intersections

The entire route is in Allegheny County.

Location	Mile	Destinations	Notes
Elizabeth	0.0	PA 51 (Hayden Boulevard) / Orange Belt	Southern terminus
McKeesport		PA 148 (Walnut Street)	Southern terminus of PA 148
North Versailles		US 30 (Lincoln Highway)
Monroeville		PA 130 (Broadway Boulevard)
		US 22 Bus. (William Penn Highway) / Orange Belt	Northern terminus
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi

References

1. ^ ^{a b c d} Google, Inc. Google Maps – overview of Pennsylvania Route 48 (Map). Cartography by Google, Inc. http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=PA+48+and+PA+51&daddr=40.3242661,-79.836594+to:US+22+Business+and+PA+48&geocode=FSTqZQIdzno9-ykbN15rtOM0iDFuh3Xj7Gajdg%3BFapMZwIdTso9-ykBzQwP3OU0iDHlYZP92UHOIA%3BFVYMaQId_PI--ynDjM_bFeo0iDG49S9NEzkqWQ&hl=en&mra=ls&via=1&sll=40.321453,-79.831681&sspn=0.007346,0.021136&ie=UTF8&ll=40.337124,-79.806061&spn=0.235003,0.676346&t=h&z=11. Retrieved May 25, 2011. 
2. ^ ^{a b c} PennDOT (2011). Allegheny County, Pennsylvania Highway Map (Map). ftp://ftp.dot.state.pa.us/public/pdf/BPR_pdf_files/Maps/GHS/Roadnames/allegheny_GHSN.PDF. Retrieved May 25, 2011.