Pennsylvania Route 309
Encyclopedia
Pennsylvania Route 309 is a major highway which runs for 134 miles (216 km) through Pennsylvania
in the United States
. It connects Philadelphia and its northern suburbs to Allentown
, Hazleton
, and Wilkes-Barre
. A limited-access highway portion of PA 309 in the Wilkes-Barre area is known as the North Cross Valley Expressway. A limited-access highway portion of PA 309 in Montgomery County
is known as the Fort Washington Expressway.
The highway runs from northern Philadelphia through the Lehigh Valley
, the Poconos
, and Wilkes-Barre
to Bowman Creek
, a village in Noxen Township, Wyoming County. It parallels the newer Interstates 476
and 81
for much of its length.
section of Philadelphia at Old York Rd (Pennsylvania Route 611
). It follows Cheltenham Avenue and Ogontz Avenue for a short distance north to become the Fort Washington Expressway, a freeway that forms a major commuter route through the northern suburbs of Philadelphia, passing north through the towns of Fort Washington
and Ambler
, interchanging with the mainline of the Pennsylvania Turnpike
near the former. At Montgomeryville
, the route becomes Bethlehem Pike
, a four-lane highway through Montgomeryville
, Telford
, Quakertown
, and Coopersburg
, with alternating arterial road
and freeway segments known for large sections of suburban sprawl
. North of Coopersburg, the freeway briefly merges with Interstate 78
to form a primarily six-lane highway that crosses South Mountain
before cutting through Allentown's South Side and skirting the city's southwest border.
just east of Interstate 476
. The freeway then empties onto a two-lane road northwest of Allentown, which is being widened to four lanes as of July 2008 in the Schnecksville area. It continues north through the Lehigh County suburbs of Orefield
, Schnecksville
, and New Tripoli
then turns northwest, crossing Blue Mountain
and the Appalachian Trail
on the way to Tamaqua
. It then parallels Interstate 81
northward, running through downtown Hazleton
and meeting with Interstate 80
north of the city. North of I-80, the route climbs Nescopeck Mountain to the town of Mountain Top
, then descends Penobscot Mountain into the Wyoming Valley
and merges onto Interstate 81.
and across the Susquehanna River
to Trucksville
. The route then continues northward as an arterial through Shavertown and Dallas, to its end at PA Route 29
at Bowman Creek
, south of Tunkhannock
.
path now referred to as the "Minsi Trail", this route became part of the Bethlehem Pike
. In 1926, the U.S. Route 309 designation was given to a route that consisted of Stenton Avenue in Philadelphia, Bethlehem Pike (Old Route 309) from the Philadelphia line to Spring House
, modern-day PA 309 into Bucks County, Bethlehem Pike (Old Route 309) through Sellersville
, modern-day PA 309 from Quakertown
to Lanark
, and modern-day PA 145
to Allentown; various city streets through Allentown, exiting northward on Walbert Avenue; modern-day PA 309 from Walbert (in South Whitehall Township) to Schnecksville, modern-day PA 873
to Weiders Crossing near Lehigh Gap
, modern-day PA 248
to Weissport
, modern-day US 209 to Nesquehoning
, modern-day PA 93
to Hazleton, and modern-day PA 309 (and PA 309 Business) to Wilkes-Barre.
In 1930 the highway was extended to the New York state line, following River Street to Pittston
, modern-day PA 92
to Tunkhannock
, modern-day US 6
to Towanda
, and modern-day US 220
to South Waverly
. In 1946 the route between Wilkes-Barre and Tunkhannock was changed to the modern-day PA 309 alignment from Wilkes-Barre to Bowman Creek and modern-day PA 29 to Tunkhannock.
In 1954 the routing between Allentown and Hazleton was completely changed. US 309 was routed north on modern-day PA 145 to Fullerton
, then west on the Lehigh Valley Thruway along with the rerouted US 22 to Fogelsville
. US 309 then turned north on modern-day PA 100 up to Pleasant Corners
, and then followed modern-day PA 309 to Hazleton.
The late 1950s saw the beginnings of bypasses on the route. North of Philadelphia, the Fort Washington Expressway from the PA 73 interchange to north of Spring House opened in 1959; the rest of that expressway from PA 73
south to PA 152
opened in 1961. A bypass west of Allentown from Lanark to US 22 north of Cetronia
was completed in 1959, and extended to Walbert in 1962 when US 309 was placed on modern-day PA 309 from US 22 to Pleasant Corners. US 309 had now completely replaced the stretch of the 1920s-era Pennsylvania Route 22 between the former PA 3 in Allentown and the former PA 19
in Wilkes-Barre.
The north end of US 309 had always been shared with other U.S. highways (6 and 220). In 1964 the US 309 designation was removed from those shared sections, leaving the northern terminus at Tunkhannock. In 1967, work began on an expressway to bypass Sellersville from just north of the Montgomery/Bucks County line to just south of Quakertown. This bypass opened in 1969. By that time, US 309 was no more; it was decommissioned in 1968 and was replaced by PA 309 south of Bowman Creek and by PA 29 from Bowman Creek to Tunkhannock.
between Exits 165 and 170. This business route
stretches approximately 4.7 miles (7.6 km) through Wilkes-Barre Township
.
property and rejoins PA 309 at the intersection of PA Route 315
near Exit 170 of Interstate 81.
At the intersection of Business Route 309 and Casey Avenue is a park and ride
facility with 75 total spaces.
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. It connects Philadelphia and its northern suburbs to Allentown
Allentown, Pennsylvania
Allentown is a city located in Lehigh County, Pennsylvania, in the United States. It is Pennsylvania's third most populous city, after Philadelphia and Pittsburgh, and the 215th largest city in the United States. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 118,032 and is currently...
, Hazleton
Hazleton, Pennsylvania
Hazleton is a city in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 25,340 at the 2010 census, an increase of 8.6% from the 2000 census count .-Greater Hazleton:...
, and Wilkes-Barre
Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania
Wilkes-Barre is a city in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania, the county seat of Luzerne County. It is at the center of the Wyoming Valley area and is one of the principal cities in the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre metropolitan area, which had a population of 563,631 as of the 2010 Census...
. A limited-access highway portion of PA 309 in the Wilkes-Barre area is known as the North Cross Valley Expressway. A limited-access highway portion of PA 309 in Montgomery County
Montgomery County, Pennsylvania
Montgomery County is a county located in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania, in the United States. As of 2010, the population was 799,874, making it the third most populous county in Pennsylvania . The county seat is Norristown.The county was created on September 10, 1784, out of land originally part...
is known as the Fort Washington Expressway.
The highway runs from northern Philadelphia through the Lehigh Valley
Lehigh Valley
The Lehigh Valley, known officially by the United States Census Bureau as the Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ metropolitan area and referred to locally as The Valley and A-B-E, is a metropolitan region consisting of Lehigh, Northampton, Berks, and Carbon counties in eastern Pennsylvania and...
, the Poconos
The Poconos
The Pocono Mountains is a region located in northeastern Pennsylvania, United States. The Poconos, located chiefly in Monroe and Pike counties , are an upland of the larger Allegheny Plateau...
, and Wilkes-Barre
Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania
Wilkes-Barre is a city in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania, the county seat of Luzerne County. It is at the center of the Wyoming Valley area and is one of the principal cities in the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre metropolitan area, which had a population of 563,631 as of the 2010 Census...
to Bowman Creek
Bowman Creek
Bowman Creek is a tributary of the Susquehanna River in northeast Pennsylvania in the United States.Bowman Creek joins the Susquehanna River just downstream of the borough of Tunkhannock.-References:...
, a village in Noxen Township, Wyoming County. It parallels the newer Interstates 476
Interstate 476
Interstate 476 is a auxiliary Interstate Highway in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania designated between Interstate 95 near Chester and Interstate 81 near Scranton, serving as the primary north–south Interstate corridor through eastern Pennsylvania....
and 81
Interstate 81
Interstate 81 is an Interstate Highway in the eastern part of the United States. Its southern terminus is at Interstate 40 in Dandridge, Tennessee; its northern terminus is on Wellesley Island at the Canadian border, where the Thousand Islands Bridge connects it to Highway 401, the main freeway...
for much of its length.
Philadelphia to Allentown
PA 309 begins in the East Oak LaneEast Oak Lane, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
East Oak Lane is a neighborhood in the upper Northern section of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. Many of the houses in the neighborhood are large single homes or twins built at a later period than much of central North Philadelphia...
section of Philadelphia at Old York Rd (Pennsylvania Route 611
Pennsylvania Route 611
Pennsylvania Route 611 is a major state highway in Pennsylvania, United States, running from Interstate 95 south of downtown Philadelphia north to Interstate 380 in Coolbaugh Township, Pennsylvania in The Poconos....
). It follows Cheltenham Avenue and Ogontz Avenue for a short distance north to become the Fort Washington Expressway, a freeway that forms a major commuter route through the northern suburbs of Philadelphia, passing north through the towns of Fort Washington
Fort Washington, Pennsylvania
Fort Washington is an unincorporated census-designated place and suburb of Philadelphia in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 5,446 at the 2010 census.-Prior to the Revolutionary War:...
and Ambler
Ambler, Pennsylvania
Ambler is a borough in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, in the United States, approximately 16 miles north of Philadelphia.- Village of Wissahickon:...
, interchanging with the mainline of the Pennsylvania Turnpike
Pennsylvania Turnpike
The Pennsylvania Turnpike is a toll highway system operated by the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, United States. The three sections of the turnpike system total . The main section extends from Ohio to New Jersey and is long...
near the former. At Montgomeryville
Montgomeryville, Pennsylvania
Montgomeryville is a census-designated place in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 12,624 at the 2010 census....
, the route becomes Bethlehem Pike
Bethlehem Pike
Bethlehem Pike is a historic 41 mi long road in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania, connecting Philadelphia and Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. It began as a Native American path called the Minsi Trail which evolved into a colonial highway called the King's Road in the 1760s. Most of the route...
, a four-lane highway through Montgomeryville
Montgomeryville, Pennsylvania
Montgomeryville is a census-designated place in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 12,624 at the 2010 census....
, Telford
Telford, Pennsylvania
Telford is a borough in Bucks and Montgomery counties in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. The population was 4,872 at the time of the 2010 census.- History :...
, Quakertown
Quakertown, Pennsylvania
Quakertown is a borough in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, in the United States. As of the 2010 census, it had a population of 8,979. The borough is south of Bethlehem and north of Philadelphia, making Quakertown a border town of both the Delaware Valley and Lehigh Valley metropolitan areas...
, and Coopersburg
Coopersburg, Pennsylvania
Coopersburg is a borough in Lehigh County, Pennsylvania, United States. It is a suburb of Allentown in the Lehigh Valley region of the state.The population of Coopersburg was 2,386 at the 2010 census.-Geography:...
, with alternating arterial road
Arterial road
An arterial road, or arterial thoroughfare, is a high-capacity urban road. The primary function of an arterial road is to deliver traffic from collector roads to freeways, and between urban centres at the highest level of service possible. As such, many arteries are limited-access roads, or feature...
and freeway segments known for large sections of suburban sprawl
Urban sprawl
Urban sprawl, also known as suburban sprawl, is a multifaceted concept, which includes the spreading outwards of a city and its suburbs to its outskirts to low-density and auto-dependent development on rural land, high segregation of uses Urban sprawl, also known as suburban sprawl, is a...
. North of Coopersburg, the freeway briefly merges with Interstate 78
Interstate 78
Interstate 78 is an Interstate Highway in the Northeast United States, running 144 miles from Interstate 81 northeast of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, through Allentown, Pennsylvania, and western and northern New Jersey to the Holland Tunnel and Lower Manhattan in New York City.I-78 is a major road...
to form a primarily six-lane highway that crosses South Mountain
South Mountain (eastern Pennsylvania)
South Mountain is a colloquial name applied to features in the mountain range extending south and south west from the Lehigh Valley to the Lebanon Valley regions of Pennsylvania. At times, it also been known as Durham Hills, Reading Hills, and the Lehigh Mountains...
before cutting through Allentown's South Side and skirting the city's southwest border.
Allentown to the Wyoming Valley
After I-78 and PA 309 split near Allentown's southwestern corner, the PA 309 freeway continues north, interchanging with U.S. Route 22U.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...
just east of Interstate 476
Interstate 476
Interstate 476 is a auxiliary Interstate Highway in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania designated between Interstate 95 near Chester and Interstate 81 near Scranton, serving as the primary north–south Interstate corridor through eastern Pennsylvania....
. The freeway then empties onto a two-lane road northwest of Allentown, which is being widened to four lanes as of July 2008 in the Schnecksville area. It continues north through the Lehigh County suburbs of Orefield
Orefield, Pennsylvania
Orefield is a small unincorporated community in Lehigh County, Pennsylvania, United States, split between North Whitehall and South Whitehall township. Located along Pennsylvania Route 309, Orefield has the zip code of 18069. Its name is derived from the extensive deposits of limonite once mined...
, Schnecksville
Schnecksville, Pennsylvania
Schnecksville is a census-designated place in North Whitehall Township, Lehigh County, Pennsylvania, in the United States. Schnecksville is a suburb of Allentown, Pennsylvania, in the Lehigh Valley region of the state....
, and New Tripoli
New Tripoli, Pennsylvania
New Tripoli is a small rural village in Lynn Township, in Lehigh County, Pennsylvania, in the United States.The village is located at the intersection of Madison Street and Pennsylvania Route 143 near Pennsylvania Route 309 in the Lehigh Valley region of Pennsylvania...
then turns northwest, crossing Blue Mountain
Blue Mountain (Pennsylvania)
Blue Mountain is a ridge that forms the eastern edge of the Appalachian mountain range in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. It cuts across the eastern half of the state from New Jersey to Maryland, providing a distinct boundary between a number of Pennsylvania's geographical and cultural regions...
and the Appalachian Trail
Appalachian Trail
The Appalachian National Scenic Trail, generally known as the Appalachian Trail or simply the AT, is a marked hiking trail in the eastern United States extending between Springer Mountain in Georgia and Mount Katahdin in Maine. It is approximately long...
on the way to Tamaqua
Tamaqua, Pennsylvania
Tamaqua is a borough in eastern Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania, in the United States. The borough, located in Northeastern Pennsylvania's Coal Region, had a population of 7,107 as of the 2010 U.S...
. It then parallels Interstate 81
Interstate 81
Interstate 81 is an Interstate Highway in the eastern part of the United States. Its southern terminus is at Interstate 40 in Dandridge, Tennessee; its northern terminus is on Wellesley Island at the Canadian border, where the Thousand Islands Bridge connects it to Highway 401, the main freeway...
northward, running through downtown Hazleton
Hazleton, Pennsylvania
Hazleton is a city in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 25,340 at the 2010 census, an increase of 8.6% from the 2000 census count .-Greater Hazleton:...
and meeting with Interstate 80
Interstate 80
Interstate 80 is the second-longest Interstate Highway in the United States, following Interstate 90. It is a transcontinental artery running from downtown San Francisco, California to Teaneck, New Jersey in the New York City Metropolitan Area...
north of the city. North of I-80, the route climbs Nescopeck Mountain to the town of Mountain Top
Mountain Top, Pennsylvania
Mountain Top is a census-designated place in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, in the United States. As of the 2000 census, the CDP population was 15,269....
, then descends Penobscot Mountain into the Wyoming Valley
Wyoming Valley
Wyoming Valley is a region of northeastern Pennsylvania. As a metropolitan area, it is also known as the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre area, after its principal cities, Scranton and Wilkes-Barre....
and merges onto Interstate 81.
The Wyoming Valley to Bowman Creek
After running concurrently with Interstate 81 for several miles, PA 309 exits onto the North Cross Valley Expressway, a freeway through Wilkes-BarreWilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania
Wilkes-Barre is a city in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania, the county seat of Luzerne County. It is at the center of the Wyoming Valley area and is one of the principal cities in the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre metropolitan area, which had a population of 563,631 as of the 2010 Census...
and across the Susquehanna River
Susquehanna River
The Susquehanna River is a river located in the northeastern United States. At long, it is the longest river on the American east coast that drains into the Atlantic Ocean, and with its watershed it is the 16th largest river in the United States, and the longest river in the continental United...
to Trucksville
Trucksville, Pennsylvania
Trucksville is an unincorporated community in Kingston Township, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, United States. It is the "neighbor town" of Shavertown, located literally adjacent to Trucksville. The village is the site of the Lands at Hillside Farms, a popular small dairy store planned to expand...
. The route then continues northward as an arterial through Shavertown and Dallas, to its end at PA Route 29
Pennsylvania Route 29
Pennsylvania Route 29 is a 118 mile long north–south state highway that runs through most of eastern Pennsylvania. The route currently exists in two segments, a southern segment and a northern segment. The southernmost terminus of the designation is at U.S. Route 30 in Malvern...
at Bowman Creek
Bowman Creek
Bowman Creek is a tributary of the Susquehanna River in northeast Pennsylvania in the United States.Bowman Creek joins the Susquehanna River just downstream of the borough of Tunkhannock.-References:...
, south of Tunkhannock
Tunkhannock, Pennsylvania
Tunkhannock is a borough in Wyoming County, Pennsylvania, 31 miles northwest of Wilkes-Barre. In the past, lumbering was carried on extensively. The chief industry was tanning and there were spool and tub factories, furnaces and machine shops, stave and planing mills, and witch hazel distilleries....
.
History
Starting out as a Native AmericanNative Americans in the United States
Native Americans in the United States are the indigenous peoples in North America within the boundaries of the present-day continental United States, parts of Alaska, and the island state of Hawaii. They are composed of numerous, distinct tribes, states, and ethnic groups, many of which survive as...
path now referred to as the "Minsi Trail", this route became part of the Bethlehem Pike
Bethlehem Pike
Bethlehem Pike is a historic 41 mi long road in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania, connecting Philadelphia and Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. It began as a Native American path called the Minsi Trail which evolved into a colonial highway called the King's Road in the 1760s. Most of the route...
. In 1926, the U.S. Route 309 designation was given to a route that consisted of Stenton Avenue in Philadelphia, Bethlehem Pike (Old Route 309) from the Philadelphia line to Spring House
Spring House, Pennsylvania
Spring House is a census-designated place in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 3,804 at the 2010 census.-Geography:Spring House is located at ....
, modern-day PA 309 into Bucks County, Bethlehem Pike (Old Route 309) through Sellersville
Sellersville, Pennsylvania
Sellersville is a borough in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 4,249 at the 2010 census. Sellersville is part of Pennridge School District.-Geography:Sellersville is located at ....
, modern-day PA 309 from Quakertown
Quakertown, Pennsylvania
Quakertown is a borough in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, in the United States. As of the 2010 census, it had a population of 8,979. The borough is south of Bethlehem and north of Philadelphia, making Quakertown a border town of both the Delaware Valley and Lehigh Valley metropolitan areas...
to Lanark
Lanark, Pennsylvania
Lanark is a small unincorporated village located in Upper Saucon Township, Lehigh County, Pennsylvania. Residents of Lanark are served by the Center Valley and Coopersburg Post Offices with zip code of 18034 and 18036, respectively. Lanark is located within Southern Lehigh School District...
, and modern-day PA 145
Pennsylvania Route 145
Pennsylvania Route 145 , unofficially known as "the gateway to Allentown", is a long north–south state highway in the Lehigh Valley area of eastern Pennsylvania...
to Allentown; various city streets through Allentown, exiting northward on Walbert Avenue; modern-day PA 309 from Walbert (in South Whitehall Township) to Schnecksville, modern-day PA 873
Pennsylvania Route 873
Pennsylvania Route 873 is a north-south, two-lane road mainly located in northern Lehigh County, Pennsylvania. Its northern terminus is at PA 248 in the Lehigh Township hamlet of Weiders Crossing. It passes through Slatington as Main Street. Its southern terminus is at PA 309 in Schnecksville....
to Weiders Crossing near Lehigh Gap
Lehigh Gap, Pennsylvania
The Lehigh Gap, located in Lower Towamensing Township, Carbon County, Pennsylvania, is a water gap formed by the Lehigh River where it cuts through Blue Mountain in the state of Pennsylvania in the United States. The gap allows easy travel between Carbon County to the north and Lehigh and...
, modern-day PA 248
Pennsylvania Route 248
Pennsylvania Route 248 is a long state highway in eastern portions of the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. The western terminus of the route is at U.S. Route 209 in Weissport. The eastern terminus is at Pennsylvania Route 611 in Easton....
to Weissport
Weissport, Pennsylvania
Weissport is a borough in Carbon County, Pennsylvania, United States. The town was founded in 1792 by Col. Jacob Weiss. This particular area was located between Lehighton, Parryville and Longrun. Soon after the town itself was established, and the first wooden bridge over the river to the town...
, modern-day US 209 to Nesquehoning
Nesquehoning, Pennsylvania
Nesquehoning is a borough in Carbon County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 3,288 at the 2000 census. The name is of Native American origin, commonly believed to signify "narrow valley;" however native language scholars translate the name as "at the black lick" or "at the dirty...
, modern-day PA 93
Pennsylvania Route 93
Pennsylvania Route 93 is a long state route located in northern Pennsylvania. The northern terminus of the route is at Pennsylvania Route 487 in Orangeville. The southern terminus is at U.S. Route 209 east of Nesquehoning...
to Hazleton, and modern-day PA 309 (and PA 309 Business) to Wilkes-Barre.
In 1930 the highway was extended to the New York state line, following River Street to Pittston
Pittston, Pennsylvania
Pittston is a city in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, United States, between Scranton and Wilkes-Barre. It gained prominence in the late 19th and early 20th centuries as an active anthracite coal mining city, drawing a large portion of its labor force from European immigrants. The population was...
, modern-day PA 92
Pennsylvania Route 92
Pennsylvania Route 92 is a long north–south state highway located in northeast Pennsylvania. The southern terminus of the route is at U.S. Route 11 in West Pittston. The northern terminus is at the New York-Pennsylvania border in Oakland Township, where PA 92 continues northward as New York...
to Tunkhannock
Tunkhannock, Pennsylvania
Tunkhannock is a borough in Wyoming County, Pennsylvania, 31 miles northwest of Wilkes-Barre. In the past, lumbering was carried on extensively. The chief industry was tanning and there were spool and tub factories, furnaces and machine shops, stave and planing mills, and witch hazel distilleries....
, modern-day US 6
U.S. Route 6 in Pennsylvania
U.S. Route 6 travels east–west near the north edge of the U.S. state of Pennsylvania from the Ohio state line near Pymatuning Reservoir east to the Mid-Delaware Bridge over the Delaware River into Port Jervis, New York. It is the longest highway segment in the Commonwealth. Most of it is a...
to Towanda
Towanda, Pennsylvania
Towanda is a borough in and the county seat of Bradford County, Pennsylvania, United States, northwest of Wilkes Barre, on the Susquehanna River. The name means "burial ground" in the Algonquian language...
, and modern-day US 220
U.S. Route 220
U.S. Route 220 is a long U.S. Route in the eastern United States.US 220 is a spur route of U.S. Route 20 but at present, the two routes do not intersect nor do they connect via other spurs of US 20. The former U. S. Route 120, which was signed in Pennsylvania between 1926 and 1967, intersected...
to South Waverly
South Waverly, Pennsylvania
South Waverly is a borough in Bradford County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 987 at the 2000 census. It runs into Sayre, Pennsylvania in the south and to the north Waverly in Tioga County in New York...
. In 1946 the route between Wilkes-Barre and Tunkhannock was changed to the modern-day PA 309 alignment from Wilkes-Barre to Bowman Creek and modern-day PA 29 to Tunkhannock.
In 1954 the routing between Allentown and Hazleton was completely changed. US 309 was routed north on modern-day PA 145 to Fullerton
Fullerton, Pennsylvania
Fullerton is a census-designated place in Whitehall Township, Lehigh County, Pennsylvania, in the United States. Fullerton is a suburb of Allentown, in the Lehigh Valley region of the state.The population of Fullerton was 14,268 at the 2000 census....
, then west on the Lehigh Valley Thruway along with the rerouted US 22 to Fogelsville
Fogelsville, Pennsylvania
Fogelsville is a village in Lehigh County, Pennsylvania, in the United States. It is a suburb of Allentown, in Upper Macungie Township, in the Lehigh Valley region of the state....
. US 309 then turned north on modern-day PA 100 up to Pleasant Corners
Pleasant Corners, Pennsylvania
Pleasant Corners is an unincorporated community located in Lehigh County, Pennsylvania at the intersections of Pennsylvania Route 100 and Pennsylvania Route 309, in the United States. It is part of the Lehigh Valley region of the state....
, and then followed modern-day PA 309 to Hazleton.
The late 1950s saw the beginnings of bypasses on the route. North of Philadelphia, the Fort Washington Expressway from the PA 73 interchange to north of Spring House opened in 1959; the rest of that expressway from PA 73
Pennsylvania Route 73
Pennsylvania Route 73 is a 62.51 miles long east–west state highway in southeastern Pennsylvania. It runs from Pennsylvania Route 61 in Leesport to the New Jersey state line on the Tacony-Palmyra Bridge in Philadelphia, where it continues as New Jersey Route 73.Predating the Interstate...
south to PA 152
Pennsylvania Route 152
Pennsylvania Route 152 is a 25 mile long state highway located in the US state of Pennsylvania. The route, travels north–south from PA Route 309 located in Cedarbrook north to PA Route 309 located east of Telford.PA 152 is unique to other Pennsylvania Highways because it ends at two...
opened in 1961. A bypass west of Allentown from Lanark to US 22 north of Cetronia
Cetronia, Pennsylvania
Cetronia is an unincorporated community in South Whitehall Township, Lehigh County, Pennsylvania, United States, near the city of Allentown. State Route 1002 , Pennsylvania Route 309, and Cedar Crest Boulevard run through Cetronia....
was completed in 1959, and extended to Walbert in 1962 when US 309 was placed on modern-day PA 309 from US 22 to Pleasant Corners. US 309 had now completely replaced the stretch of the 1920s-era Pennsylvania Route 22 between the former PA 3 in Allentown and the former PA 19
Pennsylvania Route 19 (1920s)
Pennsylvania Route 19 was a state highway in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. It ran from Lewistown northeast to the Delaware River across from Narrowsburg, New York, and became parts of U.S. Route 522, U.S. Route 11, and U.S...
in Wilkes-Barre.
The north end of US 309 had always been shared with other U.S. highways (6 and 220). In 1964 the US 309 designation was removed from those shared sections, leaving the northern terminus at Tunkhannock. In 1967, work began on an expressway to bypass Sellersville from just north of the Montgomery/Bucks County line to just south of Quakertown. This bypass opened in 1969. By that time, US 309 was no more; it was decommissioned in 1968 and was replaced by PA 309 south of Bowman Creek and by PA 29 from Bowman Creek to Tunkhannock.
Major intersections
| County | Location | Mile | Exit Exit number An exit number is a number assigned to a road junction, usually an exit from a freeway. It is usually marked on the same sign as the destinations of the exit, as well as a sign in the gore.... |
Destinations | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Philadelphia Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania -History:Tribes of Lenape were the first known occupants in the area which became Philadelphia County. The first European settlers were Swedes and Finns who arrived in 1638. The Netherlands seized the area in 1655, but permanently lost control to England in 1674... |
East Oak Lane East Oak Lane, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania East Oak Lane is a neighborhood in the upper Northern section of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. Many of the houses in the neighborhood are large single homes or twins built at a later period than much of central North Philadelphia... |
0.0 | Interchange | ||
| Montgomery Montgomery County, Pennsylvania Montgomery County is a county located in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania, in the United States. As of 2010, the population was 799,874, making it the third most populous county in Pennsylvania . The county seat is Norristown.The county was created on September 10, 1784, out of land originally part... |
Cheltenham | 2.4 | South end of expressway section | ||
| , Mount Airy Mount Airy, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Mount Airy is a neighborhood of Northwest Philadelphia in the state of Pennsylvania.-Boundaries:Mount Airy is bounded on the northwest by the Cresheim Valley, which is part of Fairmount Park. Beyond this lies Chestnut Hill. On the west side is the Wissahickon Gorge, which is also part of Fairmount... , Germantown Germantown, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Germantown is a neighborhood in the northwest section of the city of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States, about 7–8 miles northwest from the center of the city... |
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| Springfield Township Springfield Township, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania Springfield Township is a township in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 19,418 at the 2010 census. It includes the villages of Wyndmoor, Erdenheim, Flourtown, and Oreland... |
Paper Mill Road – Springfield Springfield Township, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania Springfield Township is a township in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 19,418 at the 2010 census. It includes the villages of Wyndmoor, Erdenheim, Flourtown, and Oreland... |
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| 5.2 | |||||
| Fort Washington Fort Washington, Pennsylvania Fort Washington is an unincorporated census-designated place and suburb of Philadelphia in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 5,446 at the 2010 census.-Prior to the Revolutionary War:... |
6.6 | , New Jersey New Jersey New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware... |
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| Highland Avenue | Northbound exit, southbound entrance | ||||
| Upper Dublin Township Upper Dublin Township, Pennsylvania Upper Dublin Township is a township in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 25,569 at the 2010 census.Upper Dublin is made up of several community areas, many of which are unincorporated areas in Montgomery County with no legal status, and are used primarily by the US... |
Susquehanna Road | Northbound exit, southbound entrance | |||
| Butler Pike – Ambler Ambler, Pennsylvania Ambler is a borough in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, in the United States, approximately 16 miles north of Philadelphia.- Village of Wissahickon:... |
Southbound exit, northbound entrance | ||||
| Lower Gwynedd Township Lower Gwynedd Township, Pennsylvania Lower Gwynedd Township is a township in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 11,405 at the 2010 census. The township comprises four villages: Gwynedd, Gwynedd Valley, Penllyn, and Spring House.... |
Norristown Road | ||||
| Bethlehem Pike Bethlehem Pike Bethlehem Pike is a historic 41 mi long road in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania, connecting Philadelphia and Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. It began as a Native American path called the Minsi Trail which evolved into a colonial highway called the King's Road in the 1760s. Most of the route... |
Southbound exit, northbound entrance | ||||
| North end of expressway section | |||||
| 12.2 | |||||
| Montgomeryville Montgomeryville, Pennsylvania Montgomeryville is a census-designated place in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 12,624 at the 2010 census.... |
14.4 | South end of US 202 overlap | |||
| 15.3 | North end of US 202 overlap | ||||
| Hatfield Hatfield, Pennsylvania Hatfield is a borough in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 3,290 at the time of the 2010 census.-Geography:Hatfield is located at .... |
South end of expressway section | ||||
| Bethlehem Pike Bethlehem Pike Bethlehem Pike is a historic 41 mi long road in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania, connecting Philadelphia and Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. It began as a Native American path called the Minsi Trail which evolved into a colonial highway called the King's Road in the 1760s. Most of the route... – Sellersville Sellersville, Pennsylvania Sellersville is a borough in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 4,249 at the 2010 census. Sellersville is part of Pennridge School District.-Geography:Sellersville is located at .... |
Northbound exit, southbound entrance | ||||
| Bucks Bucks County, Pennsylvania - Industry and commerce :The boroughs of Bristol and Morrisville were prominent industrial centers along the Northeast Corridor during World War II. Suburban development accelerated in Lower Bucks in the 1950s with the opening of Levittown, Pennsylvania, the second such "Levittown" designed by... |
Souderton Souderton, Pennsylvania Souderton is a borough in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania. The population was 6,618 at the 2010 census.Souderton hosts the end of the annual Univest Grand Prix, a professional bicycle race.- Geography :Souderton is located at .... |
21.5 | |||
| West Rockhill Township West Rockhill Township, Pennsylvania West Rockhill Township is a township in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, United States. The original Rockhill Township was established in 1740 and was divided into East Rockhill and West Rockhill Townships in 1890. The population was 5,256 at the 2010 census... |
23.3 | ||||
| Sellersville Sellersville, Pennsylvania Sellersville is a borough in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 4,249 at the 2010 census. Sellersville is part of Pennridge School District.-Geography:Sellersville is located at .... |
25.3 | access provided via Lawn Avenue | |||
| West Rockhill Township West Rockhill Township, Pennsylvania West Rockhill Township is a township in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, United States. The original Rockhill Township was established in 1740 and was divided into East Rockhill and West Rockhill Townships in 1890. The population was 5,256 at the 2010 census... |
Sellersville Sellersville, Pennsylvania Sellersville is a borough in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 4,249 at the 2010 census. Sellersville is part of Pennridge School District.-Geography:Sellersville is located at .... , Perkasie Perkasie, Pennsylvania Perkasie is a borough in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, north of Philadelphia. Establishments in the borough early in the twentieth century included silk mills, baseballs, brickyards, lumber mills, tile works, a stone crusher, and manufacturies of cigars, tags and labels, wire novelties, etc. The... |
Southbound exit, northbound entrance | |||
| North end of expressway section | |||||
| Quakertown Quakertown, Pennsylvania Quakertown is a borough in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, in the United States. As of the 2010 census, it had a population of 8,979. The borough is south of Bethlehem and north of Philadelphia, making Quakertown a border town of both the Delaware Valley and Lehigh Valley metropolitan areas... |
31.2 | ||||
| Lehigh Lehigh County, Pennsylvania -Climate:Most of the county's climate is considered to fall in the humid continental climate zone. Summers are typically hot and muggy, fall and spring are generally mild, and winter is cold. Precipitation is almost uniformly distributed throughout the year.... |
Center Valley Center Valley, Pennsylvania Center Valley is an unincorporated village one mile north of Coopersburg, Pennsylvania, at the intersection of Pennsylvania Route 309 and Pennsylvania Route 378 in Upper Saucon Township, Lehigh County, Pennsylvania, in the United States.... |
37.5 | |||
| Summit Lawn Summit Lawn, Pennsylvania Summit Lawn is a small unincorporated village in Lehigh County, Pennsylvania, in the Lehigh Valley region of the state. Parts of Summit Lawn are in Upper Saucon Township while others are in Salisbury Township. The Salisbury Township government offices are located in Summit Lawn.Pennsylvania Route... |
40.7 | South end of expressway section | |||
| 60 | Access to PA 145 from northbound. South end of I-78 overlap |
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| 59 | Southbound exit, northbound entrance | ||||
| Allentown Allentown, Pennsylvania Allentown is a city located in Lehigh County, Pennsylvania, in the United States. It is Pennsylvania's third most populous city, after Philadelphia and Pittsburgh, and the 215th largest city in the United States. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 118,032 and is currently... |
58 | Emaus Avenue south | Northbound exit | ||
| 57 | Lehigh Street Lehigh Street Lehigh Street is a major road that connects Emmaus, Pennsylvania in the west to Allentown, Pennsylvania in the east, in the Lehigh Valley region of Pennsylvania, in the United States... |
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| 44.9 | 55 | ||||
| 46.1 | 54 | Signed as exits 54A (south) and 54B (north) northbound, Access to Dorney Park & Wildwater Kingdom Dorney Park & Wildwater Kingdom Dorney Park & Wildwater Kingdom is an American amusement and water park located in Allentown, Pennsylvania. The park features nine roller coasters, other adult and children's rides, and a waterpark, Wildwater Kingdom.... |
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| 46.6 | 53 | Northbound exit, southbound entrance. North end of I-78 overlap |
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| 47.4 | Former US 22 | ||||
| 48.3 | |||||
| North end of expressway section | |||||
| Schnecksville Schnecksville, Pennsylvania Schnecksville is a census-designated place in North Whitehall Township, Lehigh County, Pennsylvania, in the United States. Schnecksville is a suburb of Allentown, Pennsylvania, in the Lehigh Valley region of the state.... |
54.3 | ||||
| Heidelberg Township Heidelberg Township, Lehigh County, Pennsylvania Heidelberg Township is a township in Lehigh County, Pennsylvania, in the United States. It is a suburb of Allentown, Pennsylvania, in the Lehigh Valley region of the state.The population of Heidelberg Township was 3,279 at the 2000 census.-Geography:... |
59.1 | ||||
| New Tripoli New Tripoli, Pennsylvania New Tripoli is a small rural village in Lynn Township, in Lehigh County, Pennsylvania, in the United States.The village is located at the intersection of Madison Street and Pennsylvania Route 143 near Pennsylvania Route 309 in the Lehigh Valley region of Pennsylvania... |
61.7 | ||||
| Schuylkill Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania -Notable people:*Boxing heavyweight great Muhammad Ali had his training camp in Deer Lake.*Charles Justin Bailey, commanding general of the 81st Division in World War I, was born in Tamaqua on June 21, 1859.... |
West Penn Township West Penn Township, Pennsylvania West Penn Township is a township in Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 3,852 at the 2000 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the township has a total area of 58.2 square miles , of which, 58.0 square miles of it is land and... |
69.4 | |||
| 73.9 | South end of PA 443 overlap | ||||
| 75.0 | North end of PA 443 overlap | ||||
| Tamaqua Tamaqua, Pennsylvania Tamaqua is a borough in eastern Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania, in the United States. The borough, located in Northeastern Pennsylvania's Coal Region, had a population of 7,107 as of the 2010 U.S... |
78.1 | ||||
| Hometown | 80.2 | ||||
| McAdoo McAdoo, Pennsylvania McAdoo is a borough in Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania, United States, south of Hazleton and 7 miles north of Tamaqua. McAdoo contains the picturesque Silver Brook Meadow. In the past, anthracite coal mining and a shirt factory, The McAdoo Manufacturing Company, provided gainful employment to the... |
84.7 | Interchange | |||
| No major junctions in Carbon County Carbon County, Pennsylvania As of the census of 2000, there were 58,802 people, 23,701 households, and 16,424 families residing in the county. The population density was 154 people per square mile . There were 30,492 housing units at an average density of 80 per square mile... |
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| Luzerne Luzerne County, Pennsylvania - Demographics :As of the 2010 census, the county was 90.7% White, 3.4% Black or African American, 0.2% Native American, 1.0% Asian, 3.3% were of some other race, and 1.5% were two or more races. 6.7% of the population was of Hispanic or Latino ancestry... |
Hazleton Hazleton, Pennsylvania Hazleton is a city in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 25,340 at the 2010 census, an increase of 8.6% from the 2000 census count .-Greater Hazleton:... |
88.3 | |||
| 90.2 | |||||
| 91.1 | |||||
| 91.5 | |||||
| Butler Township Butler Township, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania Butler Township is a township in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 7,166 at the 2000 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the township has a total area of , of which, of it is land and of it is water. It is drained by the Nescopeck Creek... |
98.1 | Interchange | |||
| Mountain Top Mountain Top, Pennsylvania Mountain Top is a census-designated place in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, in the United States. As of the 2000 census, the CDP population was 15,269.... |
108.0 | ||||
| Wilkes-Barre Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania Wilkes-Barre is a city in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania, the county seat of Luzerne County. It is at the center of the Wyoming Valley area and is one of the principal cities in the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre metropolitan area, which had a population of 563,631 as of the 2010 Census... |
110.8 | South end of expressway section | |||
| 165 | Northbound exit | ||||
| Southbound exit South end of I-81 overlap |
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| 168 | Highland Park Boulevard - Wilkes-Barre Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania Wilkes-Barre is a city in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania, the county seat of Luzerne County. It is at the center of the Wyoming Valley area and is one of the principal cities in the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre metropolitan area, which had a population of 563,631 as of the 2010 Census... |
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| 115.9 | 170 | Signed as exits 170A (PA 115) and 170B (I-81); north end of I-81 overlap; east end of North Cross Valley Expressway | |||
| 117.1 | 1 | ||||
| 2 | North Wilkes-Barre Boulevard - Wilkes-Barre Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania Wilkes-Barre is a city in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania, the county seat of Luzerne County. It is at the center of the Wyoming Valley area and is one of the principal cities in the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre metropolitan area, which had a population of 563,631 as of the 2010 Census... Center City |
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| 3 | |||||
| Kingston Kingston, Pennsylvania Kingston is a municipality located in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, United States, on the Susquehanna River opposite Wilkes Barre. Kingston was incorporated as a borough in 1857. Kingston has adopted a home rule charter which became effective in January 1976. It is part of the greater metropolitan... |
4 | Northbound exit and southbound entrance | |||
| 120.2 | 5 | Southbound exit and northbound entrance | |||
| Pringle Pringle, Pennsylvania Pringle is a borough in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, in the United States. As of the 2000 census, the borough population was 991.-Geography:Pringle is located at .... |
6 | Northbound exit and southbound entrance | |||
| Luzerne Luzerne, Pennsylvania Luzerne is a borough located five miles north of Wilkes Barre in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania near the Susquehanna River. In the early years of the twentieth century, it had coal mines, a foundry, drill factories, flour and feed mills, canning factory, silk mill, etc. In 1900, 3,817 people lived... |
Southbound exit and northbound entrance | ||||
| North end of expressway section (west end of North Cross Valley Expressway) | |||||
| Dallas Dallas, Pennsylvania Dallas is a borough in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 2,557 at the 2000 census. It was created by a charter granted April 21, 1879 from land entirely within Dallas Township. The township had been formed in 1817 and was named for Alexander J. Dallas, who was the 6th... |
126.1 | ||||
| Wyoming Wyoming County, Pennsylvania Wyoming County is a county located in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. It was created in 1842 from part of Luzerne County. Its county seat is Tunkhannock.-Geography:According to the U.S... |
Noxen Township | 134.4 | |||
Business route
Pennsylvania Route 309 Business, often referred to as Business Route 309 or PA 309 BR, is the original alignment of PA Route 309 before the road was realigned to run concurrent with Interstate 81Interstate 81
Interstate 81 is an Interstate Highway in the eastern part of the United States. Its southern terminus is at Interstate 40 in Dandridge, Tennessee; its northern terminus is on Wellesley Island at the Canadian border, where the Thousand Islands Bridge connects it to Highway 401, the main freeway...
between Exits 165 and 170. This business route
Business route
A business route in the United States and Canada is a short special route connected to a parent numbered highway at its beginning, then routed through the central business district of a nearby city or town, and finally reconnecting with the same parent numbered highway again at its...
stretches approximately 4.7 miles (7.6 km) through Wilkes-Barre Township
Wilkes-Barre Township, Pennsylvania
Wilkes-Barre Township is a township in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 3,235 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Wilkes-Barre Township is located at ....
.
Route description
Where PA 309 merges onto Interstate 81 at Exit 165, Business Route 309 heads north on Wilkes-Barre Township Boulevard. The route intersects with main streets such as Blackman Street, East Northampton Street, Highland Park Boulevard, Coal Street, Mundy Street, and Scott Street. It then follows along Kidder Street where it forms the northern boundary of the Wyoming Valley MallWyoming Valley Mall
Wyoming Valley Mall is a shopping mall located in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania. It is owned and operated by the Pennsylvania Real Estate Investment Trust. It opened in 1971, shortly before the Hurricane Agnes disaster....
property and rejoins PA 309 at the intersection of PA Route 315
Pennsylvania Route 315
Pennsylvania Route 315 is an long state highway located in Luzerne County in Pennsylvania. The southern terminus is at PA 309 in Wilkes-Barre...
near Exit 170 of Interstate 81.
At the intersection of Business Route 309 and Casey Avenue is a park and ride
Park and ride
Park and ride facilities are car parks with connections to public transport that allow commuters and other people wishing to travel into city centres to leave their vehicles and transfer to a bus, rail system , or carpool for the rest of their trip...
facility with 75 total spaces.
External links
- PennDOT's 309Online Official Web Site, with construction updates.
- History of U.S. Route 309
- 24/7 Live Cam of Route 309 in Mountain Top, PA