Interstate 78 in Pennsylvania

Infobox road
state=PA
route=78
type=I


maint=PennDOT & DRJTBC
length_mi=75.23
length_round=2
length_ref= [ [http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/reports/routefinder/table1.htm Route Log - Main Routes of the Eisenhower National System Of Interstate and Defense Highways - Table 1] ]
year_established=
direction_a=West
terminus_a=
junction=
direction_b=East
terminus_b=
previous_type=PA
previous_route=77
next_type=PA
next_route=78In the U.S. state of Pennsylvania, Interstate 78 is an east-west route stretching from Union Township, Pennsylvania to New York City. I-78 runs for about 77 miles (124 km) in Pennsylvania, from the western terminus at Interstate 81 to New Jersey state line; I-78 continues into New Jersey.

Route description

I-78 starts in Pennsylvania at an interchange with Interstate 81. It merges with U.S. Route 22 in Lebanon County; the two run together for 43 miles from Bethel Township to Kuhnsville. Near Kuhnsville, U.S. Route 22 splits off from I-78 and becomes the Lehigh Valley Thruway. Near Hamburg at mile marker 29, it meets a major Pennsylvania route; Pennsylvania Route 61. At mile marker 53 after the departure of US 22, Pennsylvania Route 309 merges with I-78 for 7 miles. Dorney Park and Wildwater Kingdom is visible from the freeway approaching exit 54 for U.S. Route 222, which leads to the park. In Summit Lawn, State Route 309 leaves the freeway towards Quakertown at exit 60. Past Allentown and Bethlehem, Pennsylvania Route 33 meets I-78 at exit 71. The last exit in Pennsylvania is Exit 75/Morgan Hill Road which takes you to Pennsylvania Route 611. The Interstate crosses the Delaware River on the Interstate 78 Toll Bridge, leaving Pennsylvania for New Jersey.

History

Although built to modern-day Interstate Highway standards east of Pennsylvania Route 100, I-78 between PA Rt. 100 and the Berks/Lebanon county line was built mainly to 1960s standards, and have characteristic soft shoulders in most locations, and despite its rural location, a 55 m.p.h. speed limit which is heavily enforced by the Pennsylvania State Police. Prior to the late 1960s, I-78 was to be routed on the Lehigh Valley Thruway across to Phillipsburg, New Jersey, continuing the concurrency with US Route 22; however, due to heavy opposition by residents of Phillipsburg, PennDOT and NJDOT opted to build the new southerly alignment that I-78 is routed on today.

February 2007

On February 14, 2007, I-78 was closed from Pennsylvania Route 100 in Fogelsville to the U.S. Route 22 split in Union Township due to a winter storm that caused two tractor trailers to make the highway impassable. Other roads like I-80 and I-81 were closed as well. Some passengers were stuck on I-78 for more than 20 hours. Governor Ed Rendell apologized to the hundreds of drivers that were stuck on I-78. The governor said that the I-78 mess was "unacceptable" and that those responsible for clearing the road had communicated poorly. I-78 reopened on February 17. [cite news
title = Interstates Reopen; Speed Limit Reduced to 45 MPH
url = http://wfmz.com/view/?t=english_breaking_news&id=61562
format = HMTL
work =WFMZ-TV
pages =
page =
date =
accessdate = 2007-04-17
language =
quote = ]

Exit list

ee also

*Interstate 78
*Interstate 78 in New Jersey
*Interstate 81 in Pennsylvania
*U.S. Route 22 in Pennsylvania
*Interstate 78 Toll Bridge

References

External links

* [http://www.pahighways.com/exits/I78exits.html Interstate 78 exits in Pennsylvania]