Pennsylvania Route 252

PA Route 252
Route information
Maintained by PennDOT
Length:	20 mi[1] (32 km)
Existed:	1928 – present
Major junctions
South end:	PA 320 near Chester
	US 1 in Upper Providence Township US 30 in Paoli US 202 near Berwyn
North end:	PA 23 in Valley Forge
Location
Counties:	Delaware, Chester, Montgomery
Highway system
Roads in Pennsylvania Interstate • US • State • Legislative ← PA 251 PA 253 →

Pennsylvania Route 252 is a north–south route that connects at its northern terminus Pennsylvania Route 23 in Valley Forge, Pennsylvania to Pennsylvania Route 320 in Nether Providence Township, Pennsylvania at its southern terminus.

History

In 1683 the Court of Chester County approved the construction of "Providence Great Road" on what is now PA 252.

PA 252 in its current form was originally established in 1928 to run from Media to Newtown Square. In 1970, the route was changed to its current course.

Route description

Delaware County

Providence Road (center of map) from Thomas Holme's 1687 map of Pennsylvania, running from north of Chester to north of present day Media

Less than 5 blocks outside of Chester, PA 252 spurs off PA 320, signed as Providence Road and proceeds northward from that point. Soon, the route passes through the eastern part of the borough of Media, the county seat of Delaware County. After interchanging with the Media Bypass (U.S. 1), Providence Road passes Rose Tree Park in Upper Providence Township, where there is a fork in the road: Providence Road continues northward from the left-hand branch of the fork, but Route 252 continues northeastward from the right-hand branch, which is signed as Palmer's Mill Road. Route 252 continues across the top of the dam where the Springton Reservoir empties into Crum Creek and into Marple Township, at which point Palmer's Mill Road diverges from Route 252 and Route 252 continues northward, now signed as Newtown Street Road and passes alongside Delaware County Community College's campus. Through Newtown Township, Pennsylvania, 252 crosses West Chester Pike (PA 3). Right before the Chester-Delaware County Line, 252 splits from Newtown Street Road, signed as Darby Paoli Road.

Chester County

PA 252 in Paoli as seen from westbound US 30.

Darby Paoli Road becomes a four-lane highway, but soon after entering Chester County it decreases in lanes to two. At Lancaster Avenue (U.S. Route 30) in Paoli, 252 crosses under a railroad bridge and intersects with and changes names to Swedesford Road, taking a more east–west alignment. It then intersects Chesterbrook Blvd., and shortly after becomes parallel with US 202 with a limited access interchange. It continues along US 202 until intersecting with Valley Forge Road. At this intersection, drivers are forced to take a left onto Valley Forge Road to continue being on 252. Immediately north of this intersection, PA 252 has a full access interchange with US 202. Valley Forge Road continues north (as 252 had been going east–west before), heading toward the historical Valley Forge. Within the park lines and shortly before the county line, 252 drops the Valley Forge Road moniker in favor of Valley Creek Road.

Montgomery County

252 briefly enters this county as Valley Creek Road before terminating at PA 23 in the unincorporated community of Valley Forge.

Major intersections

County	Location	Mile	Destinations	Notes
Delaware	Nether Providence Township	0.0	PA 320 (Chester Road)
	Upper Providence Township		US 1 (Media Bypass)	Interchange
	Newtown Township		PA 3 (West Chester Pike)
Chester	Tredyffrin Township		US 30 (Lancaster Avenue)
			US 202	Interchange, limited access
			US 202	Interchange, full access
Montgomery	Upper Merion Township		PA 23 (Valley Forge Road)
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi

References

1. ^ Pennsylvania Highways - Pennsylvania Route 252

External links

• Pictures of each terminus of Route 252