Pennsylvania Route 97 (north)

Infobox road
state=PA
type=PA
route=97
length_mi=15
length_round=2
length_ref=DeLorme Street Atlas USA 2007 software, Toogle Measure Tool]
established=
direction_a=South
starting_terminus=
junction=
direction_b=North
ending_terminus=
counties=Erie
previous_type=PA
previous_route=96
next_type=PA
next_route=98

Pennsylvania Route 97 is one of two Pennsylvania state highways that carries the PA 97 designation; the other Pennsylvania Route 97 is in Adams County. The northern PA 97, 15 miles in length, is a north-south highway that terminates at Pennsylvania Route 8 at both ends. The southern terminus is in Union City and the northern terminus is in Erie.

Route description

PA 97 starts in Union City at the junction of PA 8 and PA 97. It travels west for about 7.5 miles until it reaches Waterford. South of the borough, PA 97 merges with U.S. Route 19, joining the Perry Highway and following the U.S. route northward for 1.5 miles through Waterford. North of Waterford, PA 97 splits from US 19 but remains on the Perry Highway. Although both roads head north to Erie, PA 97 takes a more easterly alignment as it travels northward.

After 8.7 miles, PA 97 meets Interstate 90 at exit 27 immediately south of Erie. 0.9 miles from the exit, PA 8 meets the southern terminus of Pennsylvania Route 505. At PA 505, PA 97 separates from the Perry Highway and follows Old French Road north through downtown Erie to its terminus at an intersection with PA 8 two blocks south of U.S. Route 20.

History

The first designation of PA 97 existed in the 1930s, from U.S. Route 6 in Waterford to US 19 in Kearsarge on what is now U.S. Route 19. U.S. Route 6 ran along the current PA 97 designation from Waterford to Erie as the Lakes-to-Sea Highway.

By 1940, PA 97 was moved to its current alignment. [cite map|url=ftp://ftp.dot.state.pa.us/public/pdf/BPR_pdf_files/Maps/Statewide/Historic_OTMs/1930fr.pdf|title=Highway Map of Pennsylvania (front side)|year=1930|publisher=Pennsylvania Department of Highways|accessdate=2007-09-12] [cite map|url=ftp://ftp.dot.state.pa.us/public/pdf/BPR_pdf_files/Maps/Statewide/Historic_OTMs/1940fr.pdf|title=Highway Map of Pennsylvania (front side)|year=1940|publisher=Pennsylvania Department of Highways|accessdate=2007-09-12]

Major intersections

PAint
county=Erie
cspan=6
location=Union City
mile=0.00
road=PAint
location=Waterford Township
type=mplex
mile=7.57
road=
notes=Southern terminus of overlap.PAint
location=Waterford
type=mplex
mile=9.07
road=
notes=Northern terminus of overlap.PAint
location=Summit Township
mile=17.73
road=
notes=Exit 27 (I-90).PAint
location=Millcreek Township
mile=18.63
road=
notes=Southern terminus of PA 505.PAint
location=Erie
mile=21.04
road=
street=Parade Street

ee also

*Pennsylvania Route 97 (south)

References