Allegheny County belt system
Encyclopedia
The Allegheny County Belt System color codes miscellaneous county roads to form a unique system of routes in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania
and around the city of Pittsburgh.
Unlike many major American cities that utilize number-coded limited-access road
s to form belt systems, the belts in the Allegheny County Belt System are not intended to be used as a high-speed routes. Rather, the belt system is to be used as a navigational aid for motorists in unfamiliar portions of the county. Roads that make up the Belt System retain their previous names. The five original routes are, from outermost to innermost, the Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, and Blue Belts. The Purple Belt was not part of the original system and was added later.
developed during the Eisenhower
administration.
From late 1951 to Spring 1952, the signs were posted throughout the finalized belt routes, starting with the Orange route, then Blue, Yellow, Red and Green.
The belt routes were not intended as high speed or limited access roads, but instead as a well-defined road system away from the existing major arterials and their congestion.
The construction of the interstate highway system and regional parkways during the late 1950s through the early 1970s initially reduced the use and need of the belt routes. As urbanization of the county spread further out from the City of Pittsburgh, however, the Belt System helped to reduce the effects of suburban congestion. Many of the roads selected over fifty years ago today play key roles in the long-range regional transportation plans of Allegheny County. Many of the roads chosen for the belts have been converted from simple country lanes to urban collector roads and to urban arterials.
In its millennium edition, Pittsburgh Magazine
(published by WQED
television) recognized White as one of the one hundred most influential people of the 20th century in the Pittsburgh region. Rick Sebak
from WQED television also produced a local feature on the Allegheny County Belt System in the 1990s.
The City of Pittsburgh developed a Purple Belt for the downtown area during the mid 1990s using the county system as a guideline.
Prior to its acquisition by the Chevron Corporation
in 1980, the Gulf Oil Corporation, with headquarters in Pittsburgh, published a map of Allegheny County prominently displaying the Belt System. Currently, Allegheny County produces maps featuring the Belt System.
The current Red Belt is 33.5 miles (53.9 km) long and runs through largely rural communities. It begins on PA 65
in Leetsdale
in the west (just south of the Allegheny–Beaver County
line) to PA 366
in Tarentum
in the east. The Red Belt briefly enters Beaver County in two places where it crosses to the north bank of Big Sewickley Creek. Unlike other belts in the system, most of which access many state highways, the Red Belt only intersects numbered highways at its endpoints, along with US 19 in Marshall Township and at PA 8
in Richland Township. The original route of the belt ran from Arnold
to PA 989
in West Economy.
to Elizabeth
was decommissioned (See decommissioned Orange Belt segment below).
The current Orange Belt runs through the northern, eastern,southern, and western sections of the county, connecting four county parks (including South Park
and North Park
) and the Pittsburgh International Airport
. It stretches from its southwestern terminus at PA 88
in Bethel Park northwest to Moon Township
, then northeast to Richland Township
, southeast to Plum
, and finally southwest to its southeastern terminus at PA 51
in Elizabeth. Much of the route was previously rural, though suburban sprawl has placed it in many prominent commercial corridors.
The Orange Belt crosses or joins many Pennsylvania routes, including the entirety of PA 48
, PA 50
, PA 51
, PA 56
, PA 88
, PA 366
, PA 380
, PA 910
, and PA 978
. It also crosses or joins I-376, US 22 and US 30. It crosses the Sewickley Bridge
.
For 1.5 miles (2.4 km), the Orange Belt briefly enters Westmoreland County from the New Kensington Bridge to the county line on Logan's Ferry Road (formerly PA 909).
, but the southernmost stretch from Bethel Park
to Elizabeth, including the entire 8.5 miles (13.7 km) Washington County segment, was removed in the 1970s to keep the Belt system within the Allegheny County border (with the exception of the brief stretch in Westmoreland County).
Starting at the current southwestern terminus at the intersection of Library and Clifton Roads in Bethel Park, the decommissioned Orange Belt begins at PA 88 South through Library and Finleyville (Washington County), then continues left onto Washington Avenue / Finleyville–Elrama Road, left onto PA 837 North (back into Allegheny County), and right onto PA 51 South for 2 miles (3.2 km) to the current southeastern terminus at PA 48 North.
The Yellow Belt stretches from its southernmost point in South Park, north and west to the border of Moon, north and east to Hampton
, and east as far as the border to Penn Hills/Plum
before returning to the start. It crosses or follows PA 50
, PA 51
, PA 60
, PA 65
, PA 88
, PA 121
, PA 130
, PA 148
, PA 380
, PA 791
, and PA 910
. It also crosses or follows US 19
and US 22
and also briefly follows I-79 from Neville Island to Glenfield
, making it the only belt to be signed on an Interstate Highway. It crosses the Neville Island Bridge
and the Mansfield Bridge
.
Curry Hollow Road composes a part of the Yellow Belt to the south of Pittsburgh. It connects with Lebanon Church Road at Pennsylvania Route 51
in Pleasant Hills, Pennsylvania
, connecting Clairton Boulevard (PA 51) with Broughton Road, which connects with Pennsylvania Route 88
and Bethel Church Road. Curry Hollow was a former town along this road, where it crosses the CSX railroad tracks next to Jefferson Memorial Park. East of PA 51, the Yellow Belt becomes Lebanon Church Road and crosses Pennsylvania Route 885
in West Mifflin, Pennsylvania
, connecting Clairton Boulevard (PA 51) with Pittsburgh-McKeesport Boulevard. The Allegheny County Airport
is on the road. Both Curry Hollow Road and Lebanon Church Road are signed as SR 3048.
The current Green Belt runs from its western terminus at PA 65 in Emsworth
to PA 148 (and the Yellow Belt, the only point where one belt ends at another) in McKeesport
, going north as far as Hampton Township
. In its path around the city, the belt crosses or joins PA 8, PA 28
, PA 65, PA 130, PA 148, and PA 837. It also briefly joins US 19
.
The Green Belt runs through many Pittsburgh neighborhoods. Its most notable destinations include Kennywood
and the Pittsburgh Zoo.
The current Blue Belt runs relatively close to skirting the border of the City of Pittsburgh on all sides, though it does make excursions into border towns such as Dormont
and McKees Rocks
. It generally serves urban communities in the northern, southern, and eastern sectors of the county. In its path around the city, the belt crosses or joins PA 8
, PA 28
, PA 51
, PA 88
, PA 121
, and PA 837
. It also briefly joins US 19
. Only a small portion of the route (on PA 28) is a freeway. The belt crosses the Ohio River
on the McKees Rocks Bridge, the Allegheny River
on the Highland Park Bridge
, and the Monongahela River
on the Homestead Grays Bridge
.
, a color-coded signage system downtown which helps tourists and locals find many of the common destinations in the city. (In the Wayfinder system, downtown destinations are colored purple. None of the other colors in that system correspond to the Belt System colors.) Thus, it uses a different style of signage than the other belts.
Unlike the other belts, the Purple Belt's primary intent is not for navigation around the circumference of the city, but rather to assist in navigation downtown. It is also the only one of the belts to not leave the city at any point. (The Blue Belt is the only other belt to enter the city at all.) Also, while signage for all of the other belts is maintained by the Allegheny County Department of Public Works
, the Purple Belt is maintained by the City of Pittsburgh Department of Engineering and Construction.
The belt does not cross any numbered routes. It travels in a loop on four two-way streets—Stanwix Street
, Fort Duquesne Boulevard/11th Street, Grant Street and Boulevard of the Allies
. (In the counter-clockwise direction, it follows Smithfield Street and 4th Avenue to bypass the left turn from Boulevard of the Allies onto Grant Street, which is prohibited at certain times.) This lies inside the area bounded by the Allegheny River
, Interstate 579, Interstate 376 and Interstate 279.
Allegheny County, Pennsylvania
Allegheny County is a county in the southwestern part of the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. As of the 2010 census, the population was 1,223,348; making it the second most populous county in Pennsylvania, following Philadelphia County. The county seat is Pittsburgh...
and around the city of Pittsburgh.
Unlike many major American cities that utilize number-coded limited-access road
Limited-access road
A limited-access road known by various terms worldwide, including limited-access highway, dual-carriageway and expressway, is a highway or arterial road for high-speed traffic which has many or most characteristics of a controlled-access highway , including limited or no access to adjacent...
s to form belt systems, the belts in the Allegheny County Belt System are not intended to be used as a high-speed routes. Rather, the belt system is to be used as a navigational aid for motorists in unfamiliar portions of the county. Roads that make up the Belt System retain their previous names. The five original routes are, from outermost to innermost, the Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, and Blue Belts. The Purple Belt was not part of the original system and was added later.
History
The Allegheny County Belt System was developed in the late 1940s by Joseph White, an engineer with the Allegheny County Department of Public Works, as a wayfarer system using a network of federal, state, and municipal roads to offer residents alternative traffic patterns which did not lead to downtown Pittsburgh's congested Golden Triangle. As such, it actually predates the Interstate Highway SystemInterstate Highway System
The Dwight D. Eisenhower National System of Interstate and Defense Highways, , is a network of limited-access roads including freeways, highways, and expressways forming part of the National Highway System of the United States of America...
developed during the Eisenhower
Dwight D. Eisenhower
Dwight David "Ike" Eisenhower was the 34th President of the United States, from 1953 until 1961. He was a five-star general in the United States Army...
administration.
From late 1951 to Spring 1952, the signs were posted throughout the finalized belt routes, starting with the Orange route, then Blue, Yellow, Red and Green.
The belt routes were not intended as high speed or limited access roads, but instead as a well-defined road system away from the existing major arterials and their congestion.
The construction of the interstate highway system and regional parkways during the late 1950s through the early 1970s initially reduced the use and need of the belt routes. As urbanization of the county spread further out from the City of Pittsburgh, however, the Belt System helped to reduce the effects of suburban congestion. Many of the roads selected over fifty years ago today play key roles in the long-range regional transportation plans of Allegheny County. Many of the roads chosen for the belts have been converted from simple country lanes to urban collector roads and to urban arterials.
In its millennium edition, Pittsburgh Magazine
Pittsburgh Magazine
Pittsburgh Magazine is a prominent lifestyle magazine covering the Pittsburgh metropolitan area. It has a monthly readership of 341,274. It produces the annual "40 Under 40" list of prominent young Pittsburghers in addition to the annual list of Pittsburgh's 25 Best Restaurants, Best of the...
(published by WQED
WQED (TV)
WQED is a Public Broadcasting Service member Public television station based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Established April 1, 1954, it was the first community-sponsored television station in the United States as well as the fifth public TV station...
television) recognized White as one of the one hundred most influential people of the 20th century in the Pittsburgh region. Rick Sebak
Rick Sebak
Richard "Rick" Sebak is an American film director and producer who lives and works in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania in the United States.Sebak is the creator of the "scrapbook documentary" genre, many of which he has created for WQED and PBS...
from WQED television also produced a local feature on the Allegheny County Belt System in the 1990s.
The City of Pittsburgh developed a Purple Belt for the downtown area during the mid 1990s using the county system as a guideline.
Composition
The Belt System consists of six beltways. The Purple, Blue, Green, Yellow, Orange, and Red Belts travel distances of 2 miles (3.2 km), 38 miles (61.2 km), 39 miles (62.8 km), 78 miles (125.5 km), 92 miles (148.1 km), and 34 miles (54.7 km), respectively. The Purple, Blue, and Yellow belts are complete circular routes, beginning and ending at the same points. The Orange Belt was a complete circle until 12 miles (19.3 km) of the southernmost stretch (including its entire stretch through Washington County) was decommissioned in the 1970s to keep the belt system entirely in Allegheny County. It still briefly traverses Westmoreland County in New Kensington.Prior to its acquisition by the Chevron Corporation
Chevron Corporation
Chevron Corporation is an American multinational energy corporation headquartered in San Ramon, California, United States and active in more than 180 countries. It is engaged in every aspect of the oil, gas, and geothermal energy industries, including exploration and production; refining,...
in 1980, the Gulf Oil Corporation, with headquarters in Pittsburgh, published a map of Allegheny County prominently displaying the Belt System. Currently, Allegheny County produces maps featuring the Belt System.
Red Belt
The Red Belt is the outermost belt in the system. Unlike the other belts in the system, the Red Belt does not make a part of a complete loop—instead, it runs entirely east–west across the northernmost part of Allegheny County.The current Red Belt is 33.5 miles (53.9 km) long and runs through largely rural communities. It begins on PA 65
Pennsylvania Route 65
Pennsylvania Route 65 is a major state highway located in western Pennsylvania, United States. The route, traveling north–south from the Interstate 279/U.S...
in Leetsdale
Leetsdale, Pennsylvania
Leetsdale is a borough in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, along the Ohio River. It is part of the Pittsburgh Metro Area. The population was 1,218 at the 2010 census....
in the west (just south of the Allegheny–Beaver County
Beaver County, Pennsylvania
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 181,412 people, 72,576 households, and 50,512 families residing in the county. The population density was 418 people per square mile . There were 77,765 housing units at an average density of 179 per square mile...
line) to PA 366
Pennsylvania Route 366
Pennsylvania Route 366 is an long state highway located in Allegheny, and Westmoreland counties in Pennsylvania. The western terminus is at PA 28 in Tarentum. The eastern terminus is at PA 66 in Murrysville...
in Tarentum
Tarentum, Pennsylvania
Tarentum is a borough in Allegheny County in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. It is northeast of Downtown Pittsburgh, along the Allegheny River. Tarentum was an industrial center where plate glass and bottles were manufactured; bricks, lumber, steel and iron novelties, steel billets and sheets,...
in the east. The Red Belt briefly enters Beaver County in two places where it crosses to the north bank of Big Sewickley Creek. Unlike other belts in the system, most of which access many state highways, the Red Belt only intersects numbered highways at its endpoints, along with US 19 in Marshall Township and at PA 8
Pennsylvania Route 8
Pennsylvania Route 8 is a major long route in western Pennsylvania. Officially, PA 8 is named the William Flinn Highway. Its southern terminus is at Interstate 376, U.S. Route 22, and U.S. Route 30 in Pittsburgh...
in Richland Township. The original route of the belt ran from Arnold
Arnold, Pennsylvania
Arnold is a city in Westmoreland County in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. It is a suburb of Pittsburgh, part of the Pittsburgh Metro Area. The population was 5,667 at the 2000 census.-History:...
to PA 989
Pennsylvania Route 989
Pennsylvania Route 989 is a long state highway in north-western Beaver County. The southern terminus is at Pennsylvania Route 65 in Ambridge, and the northern terminus is at Pennsylvania Route 68 in Unionville.-Route description:...
in West Economy.
Orange Belt
The Orange Belt is longest belt in the system, running 91.7 miles (147.6 km). For most of its route, it is the outermost route in the system, except for the north of the county, where the Red Belt runs. The Orange Belt was originally a complete circle until a 12 miles (19.3 km) stretch in the south from Bethel ParkBethel Park, Pennsylvania
Bethel Park is a home rule municipality in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, United States, and is part of the Pittsburgh Metro Area, approximately 7 miles southwest of Pittsburgh...
to Elizabeth
Elizabeth, Pennsylvania
Elizabeth is a borough in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, on the east bank of the Monongahela River, where Pennsylvania Route 51 crosses, upstream of Pittsburgh and close to the county line. The population was 1,493 at the 2010 census...
was decommissioned (See decommissioned Orange Belt segment below).
The current Orange Belt runs through the northern, eastern,southern, and western sections of the county, connecting four county parks (including South Park
South Park (Pittsburgh)
South Park is a county park in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, United States. It is the second largest in the county's network of nine distinct parks....
and North Park
North Park (Pittsburgh)
North Park is a county park in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, United States. It is the largest in the county's 12,000 acre network of nine distinct parks....
) and the Pittsburgh International Airport
Pittsburgh International Airport
Pittsburgh International Airport , formerly Greater Pittsburgh Airport, Greater Pittsburgh International Airport and commonly referred to as Pittsburgh International, is a joint civil–military international airport located in the Pittsburgh suburb of Findlay Township, approximately west of...
. It stretches from its southwestern terminus at PA 88
Pennsylvania Route 88
Pennsylvania Route 88 is a long north–south state highway located in southwestern Pennsylvania. The southern terminus of the route is at U.S. Route 119 in Point Marion less than from the Pennsylvania-West Virginia border. The northern terminus is at Pennsylvania Route 51 in Pittsburgh...
in Bethel Park northwest to Moon Township
Moon Township, Pennsylvania
Moon Township is a township along the Ohio River in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, United States. Moon is a part of the Pittsburgh Metro Area and is located northwest of Pittsburgh. The origin of its name is unknown for certain, although it has been suggested that it derives from a...
, then northeast to Richland Township
Richland Township, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania
Richland Township is a township in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 11,100 at the 2010 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the township has a total area of 14.6 square miles , all of it land.-Demographics:As of the census of 2000,...
, southeast to Plum
Plum, Pennsylvania
Plum is a borough in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 27,126 at the 2010 census.Plum is often referred to as "Plum Boro" or more correctly "Plum Borough" by locals to distinguish it from its previous status as a township...
, and finally southwest to its southeastern terminus at PA 51
Pennsylvania Route 51
Pennsylvania Route 51 is a major state highway in Western Pennsylvania. It runs for from Uniontown to the Ohio state line near Darlington, where it connects with Ohio State Route 14. Route 51 is the termination point for Pennsylvania Route 43, Pennsylvania Route 48 and Pennsylvania Route 88. ...
in Elizabeth. Much of the route was previously rural, though suburban sprawl has placed it in many prominent commercial corridors.
The Orange Belt crosses or joins many Pennsylvania routes, including the entirety of PA 48
Pennsylvania Route 48
Pennsylvania Route 48 is 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...
, PA 50
Pennsylvania Route 50
Pennsylvania Route 50 is a long state highway located in western Pennsylvania. The western terminus of the route is at Pennsylvania Route 844 in the Independence Township community of Independence less than a mile from the West Virginia state line. The eastern terminus is at Pennsylvania Route 60...
, PA 51
Pennsylvania Route 51
Pennsylvania Route 51 is a major state highway in Western Pennsylvania. It runs for from Uniontown to the Ohio state line near Darlington, where it connects with Ohio State Route 14. Route 51 is the termination point for Pennsylvania Route 43, Pennsylvania Route 48 and Pennsylvania Route 88. ...
, PA 56
Pennsylvania Route 56
Pennsylvania Route 56 is a major long state highway located in central Pennsylvania. Its western terminus is at the eastern approach to the C.L. Schmitt Bridge in New Kensington. Its eastern terminus is U.S. Route 30 west of Bedford.- Route description :...
, PA 88
Pennsylvania Route 88
Pennsylvania Route 88 is a long north–south state highway located in southwestern Pennsylvania. The southern terminus of the route is at U.S. Route 119 in Point Marion less than from the Pennsylvania-West Virginia border. The northern terminus is at Pennsylvania Route 51 in Pittsburgh...
, PA 366
Pennsylvania Route 366
Pennsylvania Route 366 is an long state highway located in Allegheny, and Westmoreland counties in Pennsylvania. The western terminus is at PA 28 in Tarentum. The eastern terminus is at PA 66 in Murrysville...
, PA 380
Pennsylvania Route 380
Pennsylvania Route 380 , also known as J.F. Bonetto Memorial Highway, is a long state highway in western portions of the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. The western terminus of the route is at Interstate 579 in downtown Pittsburgh near Mellon Arena...
, PA 910
Pennsylvania Route 910
Pennsylvania Route 910 is an east–west state highway in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, in the Pittsburgh Metropolitan Area...
, and PA 978
Pennsylvania Route 978
Pennsylvania Route 978, designated by the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation as State Route 978, is a long west–east state highway located in the southeast Pennsylvania counties of Allegheny and Washington. The southern terminus of the route is at Pennsylvania Route 50 in the...
. It also crosses or joins I-376, US 22 and US 30. It crosses the Sewickley Bridge
Sewickley Bridge
The Sewickley Bridge is a steel continuous truss bridge spanning the Ohio River at Sewickley, Pennsylvania and Moon Township, Pennsylvania carrying State Route 4025 and the Orange Belt. It was built by American Bridge Company and opened October 21, 1981. Its center span is long and the side spans...
.
For 1.5 miles (2.4 km), the Orange Belt briefly enters Westmoreland County from the New Kensington Bridge to the county line on Logan's Ferry Road (formerly PA 909).
Decommissioned Orange Belt segment
Originally, the Orange Belt completed a 121 miles (194.7 km) circle by crossing into Washington CountyWashington County, Pennsylvania
-Government and politics:As of November 2008, there are 152,534 registered voters in Washington County .* Democratic: 89,027 * Republican: 49,025 * Other Parties: 14,482...
, but the southernmost stretch from Bethel Park
Bethel Park, Pennsylvania
Bethel Park is a home rule municipality in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, United States, and is part of the Pittsburgh Metro Area, approximately 7 miles southwest of Pittsburgh...
to Elizabeth, including the entire 8.5 miles (13.7 km) Washington County segment, was removed in the 1970s to keep the Belt system within the Allegheny County border (with the exception of the brief stretch in Westmoreland County).
Starting at the current southwestern terminus at the intersection of Library and Clifton Roads in Bethel Park, the decommissioned Orange Belt begins at PA 88 South through Library and Finleyville (Washington County), then continues left onto Washington Avenue / Finleyville–Elrama Road, left onto PA 837 North (back into Allegheny County), and right onto PA 51 South for 2 miles (3.2 km) to the current southeastern terminus at PA 48 North.
Yellow Belt
The Yellow Belt is one of two belts, along with the Blue Belt, to make a complete loop around the city, over a distance of 77.6 miles (124.9 km) through the northern, eastern, southern, and western sectors of the county. For several miles in the southern part of the county, it is the outermost of the belts.The Yellow Belt stretches from its southernmost point in South Park, north and west to the border of Moon, north and east to Hampton
Hampton Township, Pennsylvania
Hampton Township is a township in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 18,363 at the 2010 census.-Geography:Hampton Township is located at ....
, and east as far as the border to Penn Hills/Plum
Plum, Pennsylvania
Plum is a borough in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 27,126 at the 2010 census.Plum is often referred to as "Plum Boro" or more correctly "Plum Borough" by locals to distinguish it from its previous status as a township...
before returning to the start. It crosses or follows PA 50
Pennsylvania Route 50
Pennsylvania Route 50 is a long state highway located in western Pennsylvania. The western terminus of the route is at Pennsylvania Route 844 in the Independence Township community of Independence less than a mile from the West Virginia state line. The eastern terminus is at Pennsylvania Route 60...
, PA 51
Pennsylvania Route 51
Pennsylvania Route 51 is a major state highway in Western Pennsylvania. It runs for from Uniontown to the Ohio state line near Darlington, where it connects with Ohio State Route 14. Route 51 is the termination point for Pennsylvania Route 43, Pennsylvania Route 48 and Pennsylvania Route 88. ...
, PA 60
Pennsylvania Route 60
Pennsylvania Route 60 is a state highway located in the western suburbs of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, in the United States. Although the route follows a mostly east–west alignment, it is signed as a north–south highway. The southern terminus of the route is at a pseudo-interchange with U.S...
, PA 65
Pennsylvania Route 65
Pennsylvania Route 65 is a major state highway located in western Pennsylvania, United States. The route, traveling north–south from the Interstate 279/U.S...
, PA 88
Pennsylvania Route 88
Pennsylvania Route 88 is a long north–south state highway located in southwestern Pennsylvania. The southern terminus of the route is at U.S. Route 119 in Point Marion less than from the Pennsylvania-West Virginia border. The northern terminus is at Pennsylvania Route 51 in Pittsburgh...
, PA 121
Pennsylvania Route 121
Pennsylvania Route 121 is an 4 mile long state highway located in Allegheny county in Pennsylvania. The southern terminus is at US 19 in Mt. Lebanon. The northern terminus is at PA 50 in Green Tree-Route description:...
, PA 130
Pennsylvania Route 130
Pennsylvania Route 130 is a long state highway located in Allegheny and Westmoreland counties in Pennsylvania. The western terminus is at PA 8 in Pittsburgh. The eastern terminus is at PA 381 near Kregar....
, PA 148
Pennsylvania Route 148
Pennsylvania Route 148 is an long, north–south state highway located in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania. The southern terminus is at PA 48 in Versailles...
, PA 380
Pennsylvania Route 380
Pennsylvania Route 380 , also known as J.F. Bonetto Memorial Highway, is a long state highway in western portions of the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. The western terminus of the route is at Interstate 579 in downtown Pittsburgh near Mellon Arena...
, PA 791
Pennsylvania Route 791
Pennsylvania Route 791 is a state highway located in Penn Hills, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania. It runs from US Route 22 Business in Churchill, Pennsylvania to PA 380 in Penn Hills, Pennsylvania. The entire route is part of the Pittsburgh Yellow Belt system of roads...
, and PA 910
Pennsylvania Route 910
Pennsylvania Route 910 is an east–west state highway in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, in the Pittsburgh Metropolitan Area...
. It also crosses or follows US 19
U.S. Route 19 in Pennsylvania
U.S. Route 19 in Pennsylvania closely parallels Interstate 79 for its entire length. US 19 enters Pennsylvania in Greene County near Mount Morris. Its northern terminus is in the city of Erie. Part is named for Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry, hero of the Battle of Lake Erie.-Route description:In...
and US 22
U.S. Route 22
U.S. Route 22 is a west–east route and is one of the original United States highways of 1926, running from Cincinnati, Ohio, at US 27, US 42, US 127, and US 52 to Newark, New Jersey, at U.S. Route 1/9 near the Newark Liberty International Airport.US 22 also carries the names of the William...
and also briefly follows I-79 from Neville Island to Glenfield
Glenfield, Pennsylvania
Glenfield is a borough in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, along the Ohio River. The population was 205 at the 2010 census.-Geography:Glenfield is located at ....
, making it the only belt to be signed on an Interstate Highway. It crosses the Neville Island Bridge
Neville Island Bridge
The Neville Island Bridge is a tied arch bridge which carries Interstate 79 and the Yellow Belt across the Ohio River and over Neville Island, west of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.-See also:*List of crossings of the Ohio River...
and the Mansfield Bridge
W.D. Mansfield Memorial Bridge
The W.D. Mansfield Memorial Bridge, commonly known as the Dravosburg Bridge, is a cantilever bridge that carries vehicular traffic across the Monongahela River between McKeesport, Pennsylvania and Dravosburg, Pennsylvania...
.
Curry Hollow Road composes a part of the Yellow Belt to the south of Pittsburgh. It connects with Lebanon Church Road at Pennsylvania Route 51
Pennsylvania Route 51
Pennsylvania Route 51 is a major state highway in Western Pennsylvania. It runs for from Uniontown to the Ohio state line near Darlington, where it connects with Ohio State Route 14. Route 51 is the termination point for Pennsylvania Route 43, Pennsylvania Route 48 and Pennsylvania Route 88. ...
in Pleasant Hills, Pennsylvania
Pleasant Hills, Pennsylvania
Pleasant Hills is a borough in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, United States. As of the 2010 census, the population was 8,268.-Geography:Pleasant Hills is located at ....
, connecting Clairton Boulevard (PA 51) with Broughton Road, which connects with Pennsylvania Route 88
Pennsylvania Route 88
Pennsylvania Route 88 is a long north–south state highway located in southwestern Pennsylvania. The southern terminus of the route is at U.S. Route 119 in Point Marion less than from the Pennsylvania-West Virginia border. The northern terminus is at Pennsylvania Route 51 in Pittsburgh...
and Bethel Church Road. Curry Hollow was a former town along this road, where it crosses the CSX railroad tracks next to Jefferson Memorial Park. East of PA 51, the Yellow Belt becomes Lebanon Church Road and crosses Pennsylvania Route 885
Pennsylvania Route 885
Pennsylvania Route 885 is a long north–south state highway in the U.S. State of Pennsylvania. It runs from Pennsylvania Route 837 in Clairton to Interstate 579 in Pittsburgh...
in West Mifflin, Pennsylvania
West Mifflin, Pennsylvania
West Mifflin is a borough in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, United States, located southeast of downtown Pittsburgh. The population was 20,313 at the 2010 census....
, connecting Clairton Boulevard (PA 51) with Pittsburgh-McKeesport Boulevard. The Allegheny County Airport
Allegheny County Airport
Allegheny County Airport is located in West Mifflin, Pennsylvania, four miles southeast of the city of Pittsburgh. It is the fifth busiest airport in Pennsylvania following Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Allentown, and Harrisburg...
is on the road. Both Curry Hollow Road and Lebanon Church Road are signed as SR 3048.
Green Belt
The Green Belt forms a half-circle around the city, with a length of 38.6 miles (62.1 km), through suburban communities in the northern and eastern sectors of the county. (The gap is due to geographic concerns rather than intersecting with other counties, as is the case with the Red Belt and the Orange Belt.)The current Green Belt runs from its western terminus at PA 65 in Emsworth
Emsworth, Pennsylvania
Emsworth is a borough in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, along the Ohio River. The population was 2,449 at the 2010 census.-Geography:Emsworth is located at ....
to PA 148 (and the Yellow Belt, the only point where one belt ends at another) in McKeesport
McKeesport, Pennsylvania
McKeesport is a city in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, in the United States; it is located at the confluence of the Monongahela and Youghiogheny rivers and is part of the Pittsburgh Metro Area. The population was 19,731 at the 2010 census...
, going north as far as Hampton Township
Hampton Township, Pennsylvania
Hampton Township is a township in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 18,363 at the 2010 census.-Geography:Hampton Township is located at ....
. In its path around the city, the belt crosses or joins PA 8, PA 28
Pennsylvania Route 28
Pennsylvania Route 28 is a major state highway which runs for 97 miles from Interstate 279 and Interstate 579 at the Interstate 279 Interchange in Pittsburgh to U.S. Route 219 in Brockway in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. The expressway from Kittanning to Pittsburgh is called the Alexander H...
, PA 65, PA 130, PA 148, and PA 837. It also briefly joins US 19
U.S. Route 19 in Pennsylvania
U.S. Route 19 in Pennsylvania closely parallels Interstate 79 for its entire length. US 19 enters Pennsylvania in Greene County near Mount Morris. Its northern terminus is in the city of Erie. Part is named for Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry, hero of the Battle of Lake Erie.-Route description:In...
.
The Green Belt runs through many Pittsburgh neighborhoods. Its most notable destinations include Kennywood
Kennywood
Kennywood is an amusement park located in West Mifflin, Pennsylvania, a suburb of Pittsburgh. The park first opened in 1898 as a "trolley park" at the end of the Monongahela Street Railway. The park was purchased in 1906 by F. W. Henninger and Andrew McSwigan and thus began the Kennywood...
and the Pittsburgh Zoo.
Blue Belt
The Blue Belt is the innermost original belt in the system, making a complete 38.1 miles (61.3 km) circle around the city.The current Blue Belt runs relatively close to skirting the border of the City of Pittsburgh on all sides, though it does make excursions into border towns such as Dormont
Dormont, Pennsylvania
Dormont is a borough in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, United States and is part of the Pittsburgh Metro Area. The population was 8,593 at the 2010 census and is the most densely populated municipality in Allegheny County. Dormont is a home to a diverse population including young professionals,...
and McKees Rocks
McKees Rocks, Pennsylvania
McKees Rocks, also known as "The Rocks", is a borough in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, along the south bank of the Ohio River. The borough population was 6,104 at the 2010 census.In the past, it was known for its extensive iron and steel interests...
. It generally serves urban communities in the northern, southern, and eastern sectors of the county. In its path around the city, the belt crosses or joins PA 8
Pennsylvania Route 8
Pennsylvania Route 8 is a major long route in western Pennsylvania. Officially, PA 8 is named the William Flinn Highway. Its southern terminus is at Interstate 376, U.S. Route 22, and U.S. Route 30 in Pittsburgh...
, PA 28
Pennsylvania Route 28
Pennsylvania Route 28 is a major state highway which runs for 97 miles from Interstate 279 and Interstate 579 at the Interstate 279 Interchange in Pittsburgh to U.S. Route 219 in Brockway in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. The expressway from Kittanning to Pittsburgh is called the Alexander H...
, PA 51
Pennsylvania Route 51
Pennsylvania Route 51 is a major state highway in Western Pennsylvania. It runs for from Uniontown to the Ohio state line near Darlington, where it connects with Ohio State Route 14. Route 51 is the termination point for Pennsylvania Route 43, Pennsylvania Route 48 and Pennsylvania Route 88. ...
, PA 88
Pennsylvania Route 88
Pennsylvania Route 88 is a long north–south state highway located in southwestern Pennsylvania. The southern terminus of the route is at U.S. Route 119 in Point Marion less than from the Pennsylvania-West Virginia border. The northern terminus is at Pennsylvania Route 51 in Pittsburgh...
, PA 121
Pennsylvania Route 121
Pennsylvania Route 121 is an 4 mile long state highway located in Allegheny county in Pennsylvania. The southern terminus is at US 19 in Mt. Lebanon. The northern terminus is at PA 50 in Green Tree-Route description:...
, and PA 837
Pennsylvania Route 837
Pennsylvania Route 837 is a state route located in western Pennsylvania. The southern terminus of the route is at Pennsylvania Route 88 in the Carroll Township hamlet of Wickerham Manor. The northern terminus is at U.S. Route 19 and Pennsylvania Route 51 in downtown Pittsburgh at the junction of...
. It also briefly joins US 19
U.S. Route 19 in Pennsylvania
U.S. Route 19 in Pennsylvania closely parallels Interstate 79 for its entire length. US 19 enters Pennsylvania in Greene County near Mount Morris. Its northern terminus is in the city of Erie. Part is named for Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry, hero of the Battle of Lake Erie.-Route description:In...
. Only a small portion of the route (on PA 28) is a freeway. The belt crosses the Ohio River
Ohio River
The Ohio River is the largest tributary, by volume, of the Mississippi River. At the confluence, the Ohio is even bigger than the Mississippi and, thus, is hydrologically the main stream of the whole river system, including the Allegheny River further upstream...
on the McKees Rocks Bridge, the Allegheny River
Allegheny River
The Allegheny River is a principal tributary of the Ohio River; it is located in the Eastern United States. The Allegheny River joins with the Monongahela River to form the Ohio River at the "Point" of Point State Park in Downtown Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania...
on the Highland Park Bridge
Highland Park Bridge
The Highland Park Bridge is a truss bridge that carries vehicular traffic across the Allegheny River between the Pittsburgh neighborhood of Highland Park and the suburb of Aspinwall...
, and the Monongahela River
Monongahela River
The Monongahela River is a river on the Allegheny Plateau in north-central West Virginia and southwestern Pennsylvania in the United States...
on the Homestead Grays Bridge
Homestead Grays Bridge
The Homestead Grays Bridge, also known as the High Level Bridge, was built in 1936 and spans the Monongahela River between Homestead Borough and the southernmost tip of Pittsburgh's Squirrel Hill neighborhood. It is notable as the first bridge to utilize the Wichert Truss, which uses a...
.
Dual Blue/Green Belt segment
For one mile in northeastern Pittsburgh, the Blue and Green Belts form the only dual-belt stretch in the system. The two belts meet at PA 28 (Blue northbound, Green southbound) at Exit 6–Highland Park Bridge. The Blue/Green Belt route runs across the bridge, around the loop, and at the intersection of Butler Street / Allegheny River Boulevard and Washington Boulevard. At this point, the belts split up; the Blue Belt continues with a right-hand turn onto Washington Boulevard (PA 8 South) and the Green Belt continues straight on Allegheny River Boulevard (beginning of PA 130 East).Purple Belt
The Purple Belt is the innermost colored belt in the system, running through downtown Pittsburgh. Unlike the other belts, it was established in 1995 in conjunction with the Pittsburgh Wayfinder SystemPittsburgh Wayfinder System
The Pittsburgh Wayfinder System is a series of directional and destination signs installed throughout the City of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania meant to guide travelers to popular destinations and services...
, a color-coded signage system downtown which helps tourists and locals find many of the common destinations in the city. (In the Wayfinder system, downtown destinations are colored purple. None of the other colors in that system correspond to the Belt System colors.) Thus, it uses a different style of signage than the other belts.
Unlike the other belts, the Purple Belt's primary intent is not for navigation around the circumference of the city, but rather to assist in navigation downtown. It is also the only one of the belts to not leave the city at any point. (The Blue Belt is the only other belt to enter the city at all.) Also, while signage for all of the other belts is maintained by the Allegheny County Department of Public Works
Allegheny County Department of Public Works
The Allegheny County Department of Public Works is a public works department that oversees infrastructure, maintenance and engineering services in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania....
, the Purple Belt is maintained by the City of Pittsburgh Department of Engineering and Construction.
The belt does not cross any numbered routes. It travels in a loop on four two-way streets—Stanwix Street
Stanwix Street (Pittsburgh)
Stanwix Street is a street nearly half a mile long near The Point in Downtown Pittsburgh. Running south from the Allegheny River to the Monongahela River, it is the western terminus of Forbes Avenue, and intersects 8 other streets. On it sits PPG Place and Fifth Avenue Place, the 3rd and 4th...
, Fort Duquesne Boulevard/11th Street, Grant Street and Boulevard of the Allies
Boulevard of the Allies
The Boulevard of the Allies is a mostly four-lane road in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania, connecting Downtown Pittsburgh with the Oakland neighborhood of the city. Because of its lengthy name, locals often refer to it as simply "The Boulevard"....
. (In the counter-clockwise direction, it follows Smithfield Street and 4th Avenue to bypass the left turn from Boulevard of the Allies onto Grant Street, which is prohibited at certain times.) This lies inside the area bounded by the Allegheny River
Allegheny River
The Allegheny River is a principal tributary of the Ohio River; it is located in the Eastern United States. The Allegheny River joins with the Monongahela River to form the Ohio River at the "Point" of Point State Park in Downtown Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania...
, Interstate 579, Interstate 376 and Interstate 279.