Pennsylvania Route 363
Encyclopedia
Pennsylvania Route 363 (PA 363) is a state highway
located in Montgomery County
, Pennsylvania
that is a spur of PA 63
. The route runs 11.86 mi (19.09 km) from an interchange with U.S. Route 422
(US 422) near Valley Forge
northeast to PA 63 in Lansdale
. The route runs through suburban areas of central Montgomery County, passing some farmland in Worcester Township
. PA 363 is designated along Trooper Road, Ridge Pike, Park Avenue, and Valley Forge Road. In the community of Worcester, the route crosses PA 73
.
PA 363 was first designated by the Pennsylvania Department of Highways around 1930 to run from PA 23
in Port Kennedy
to PA 63 in Lansdale. Between the 1940s and the 1960s, PA 363 extended west on present-day PA 23 to end near Valley Forge. In the 1960s, the route was redirected to follow Gulph Road to US 202
in King of Prussia
. By 1989, the south end of PA 363 was relocated to the US 422 interchange. The Betzwood Bridge, which had carried PA 363 over the Schuylkill River
, was removed in the 1990s but is expected to be rebuilt.
(Pottstown Freeway) near Valley Forge National Historic Park in Montgomery County
. From this point, the route heads northeast on four-lane divided
Trooper Road, forming the border between Lower Providence Township
to the northwest and West Norriton Township
to the southeast. The road passes a business park to the northwest and residential neighborhoods to the southeast as it narrows into an undivided road and enters areas of shopping centers. Here, the route becomes a divided highway again and intersects Egypt Road.
PA 363 continues as a two-lane undivided road past more homes as it continues to the Ridge Pike intersection. At this point, the route turns northwest onto Ridge Pike and fully enters Lower Providence Township, passing businesses as a three-lane road with a center left-turn lane. PA 363 turns northeast onto two-lane Park Avenue and runs through more residential areas. A short distance after crossing into Worcester Township
, the route comes to the community of Fairview Village and crosses Germantown Pike in commercial areas.
Upon crossing Germantown Pike, PA 363 becomes known as Valley Forge Road and continues into agricultural areas with scattered residential neighborhoods. The amount of development increases until the road comes to the junction with PA 73
(Skippack Pike) in the community of Worcester. After the PA 73 intersection, PA 363 continues past areas of housing developments to the west and farmland to the east before it reaches Morris Road. At this point, the route becomes the border between Towamencin Township
to the northwest and Upper Gwynedd Township
to the southeast, crossing under I-476
(Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension) along this stretch.
The road passes through residential neighborhoods before entering commercial areas and crossing Sumneytown Pike. PA 363 runs past a mix of homes and businesses as it gains a center left-turn lane on the approach to the Allentown Road junction. A short distance later, the route enters Lansdale
and passes homes as a two-lane road. PA 363 reaches its northern terminus at an intersection with PA 63
in Lansdale.
in the Port Kennedy
section of Upper Merion Township
and PA 63 in Lansdale, heading north across the Schuylkill River
near the present US 422 bridge, before picking up Trooper Road and following its current alignment north to Lansdale. Along Ridge Pike, PA 363 shared a concurrency
with US 422. At this time, the entire length of the route was paved.
By 1945, PA 363 was extended west to end at PA 23 a short distance to the east of the community of Valley Forge
. This portion of route was cosigned with PA 23 Truck by 1950. PA 363 was rerouted to follow Gulph Road from Port Kennedy to US 202
in King of Prussia
, with PA 23 being rerouted to follow the former PA 363 between Valley Forge and Port Kennedy, by 1967. Also by this time, the US 422 concurrency on Ridge Pike had been removed and a freeway had been built that connected PA 363 a short distance north of the Schuylkill River to the US 202 freeway on the border of Chester
and Montgomery counties.
By 1989, the southern terminus of PA 363 was cut back to its current location at the US 422 interchange. In 1991, the Betzwood Bridge, which had carried PA 363 over the Schuylkill River, was closed because of structural issues. The bridge was removed in 1995 and limited bicycle and pedestrian access to Valley Forge Park from the north, with a temporary bike path being erected on the parallel US 422 bridge. Construction on a new bridge at this site is planned to begin in 2012. This new bridge is planned to be for bicycles and pedestrians only and will provide better access to Valley Forge Park. In addition, improvements to the interchange between PA 363 and US 422, which will add a ramp from PA 363 to westbound US 422, is expected to start in 2012.
State highway
State highway, state road or state route can refer to one of three related concepts, two of them related to a state or provincial government in a country that is divided into states or provinces :#A...
located 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...
, Pennsylvania
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...
that is a spur of PA 63
Pennsylvania Route 63
Pennsylvania Route 63 is a long state highway located in the Philadelphia, Pennsylvania area. The western terminus of the route is at PA 29 in Green Lane, Montgomery County. The eastern terminus is at Interstate 95 in Bensalem Township, Bucks County...
. The route runs 11.86 mi (19.09 km) from an interchange with U.S. Route 422
U.S. Route 422
U.S. Route 422 is a long spur route of US 22 split into two segments in the U.S. states of Ohio and Pennsylvania. The western spur begins in downtown Cleveland, Ohio, and ends at Ebensburg, Pennsylvania...
(US 422) near Valley Forge
Valley Forge, Pennsylvania
The Village of Valley Forge is an unincorporated settlement located on the west side of Valley Forge National Historical Park at the confluence of Valley Creek and the Schuylkill River in Pennsylvania, United States. The remaining village is in Schuylkill Township of Chester County, but once...
northeast to PA 63 in Lansdale
Lansdale, Pennsylvania
Lansdale is a borough in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, 28 miles northwest of Philadelphia. Early in the 20th century, its industries included agricultural implement works, a canning factory, foundries, brickyards, a silk mill, and manufacturers of cigars, stoves, shirts, rope, iron drain pipe,...
. The route runs through suburban areas of central Montgomery County, passing some farmland in Worcester Township
Worcester Township, Pennsylvania
Worcester Township is a township in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, United States. It is pronounced "WOR-ses-ter." The population was 9,750 at the 2010 census.-Geography:...
. PA 363 is designated along Trooper Road, Ridge Pike, Park Avenue, and Valley Forge Road. In the community of Worcester, the route crosses 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...
.
PA 363 was first designated by the Pennsylvania Department of Highways around 1930 to run from PA 23
Pennsylvania Route 23
Pennsylvania Route 23 is a state highway in southeastern Pennsylvania. The route begins at Pennsylvania Route 441 in Marietta and heads east to U.S. Route 1 in Philadelphia.-Marietta to Valley Forge:...
in Port Kennedy
Port Kennedy, Pennsylvania
Port Kennedy was an industrial village located where U.S. Route 422 now crosses the Schuylkill River in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, United States of America...
to PA 63 in Lansdale. Between the 1940s and the 1960s, PA 363 extended west on present-day PA 23 to end near Valley Forge. In the 1960s, the route was redirected to follow Gulph Road to US 202
U.S. Route 202 in Pennsylvania
U.S. Route 202 runs through the southeastern part of the U.S. state of Pennsylvania, passing through the northern and western suburbs of Philadelphia. It follows in a general southwest to northeast direction through the state, passing through West Chester, King of Prussia, Norristown,...
in King of Prussia
King of Prussia, Pennsylvania
King of Prussia is a census-designated place in Upper Merion Township, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, United States. As of the 2010 census, its population was 19,936. The community took its name in the 18th century from a local tavern named the King of Prussia Inn, which was named after...
. By 1989, the south end of PA 363 was relocated to the US 422 interchange. The Betzwood Bridge, which had carried PA 363 over the Schuylkill River
Schuylkill River
The Schuylkill River is a river in Pennsylvania. It is a designated Pennsylvania Scenic River.The river is about long. Its watershed of about lies entirely within the state of Pennsylvania. The source of its eastern branch is in the Appalachian Mountains at Tuscarora Springs, near Tamaqua in...
, was removed in the 1990s but is expected to be rebuilt.
Route description
PA 363 begins at an interchange with US 422U.S. Route 422
U.S. Route 422 is a long spur route of US 22 split into two segments in the U.S. states of Ohio and Pennsylvania. The western spur begins in downtown Cleveland, Ohio, and ends at Ebensburg, Pennsylvania...
(Pottstown Freeway) near Valley Forge National Historic Park 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...
. From this point, the route heads northeast on four-lane divided
Divided Highway
Divided Highway is a compilation album by American rock band The Doobie Brothers, released in 2003. . All tracks are taken from the albums Cycles and Brotherhood .-Track listing:...
Trooper Road, forming the border between Lower Providence Township
Lower Providence Township, Pennsylvania
Lower Providence Township is a township in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, United States, about 17 miles west of Philadelphia. The population was 25,436 at the 2010 census.- History :...
to the northwest and West Norriton Township
West Norriton Township, Pennsylvania
West Norriton Township is a township in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, United States. It is part of the Norristown Area School District. The population of the township was 15,663 at the 2010 census.-Geography:...
to the southeast. The road passes a business park to the northwest and residential neighborhoods to the southeast as it narrows into an undivided road and enters areas of shopping centers. Here, the route becomes a divided highway again and intersects Egypt Road.
PA 363 continues as a two-lane undivided road past more homes as it continues to the Ridge Pike intersection. At this point, the route turns northwest onto Ridge Pike and fully enters Lower Providence Township, passing businesses as a three-lane road with a center left-turn lane. PA 363 turns northeast onto two-lane Park Avenue and runs through more residential areas. A short distance after crossing into Worcester Township
Worcester Township, Pennsylvania
Worcester Township is a township in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, United States. It is pronounced "WOR-ses-ter." The population was 9,750 at the 2010 census.-Geography:...
, the route comes to the community of Fairview Village and crosses Germantown Pike in commercial areas.
Upon crossing Germantown Pike, PA 363 becomes known as Valley Forge Road and continues into agricultural areas with scattered residential neighborhoods. The amount of development increases until the road comes to the junction with 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...
(Skippack Pike) in the community of Worcester. After the PA 73 intersection, PA 363 continues past areas of housing developments to the west and farmland to the east before it reaches Morris Road. At this point, the route becomes the border between Towamencin Township
Towamencin Township, Pennsylvania
Towamencin Township is a township in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 17,578 at the 2010 census. It is part of the North Penn School District. Towamencin has residential neighborhoods, historic farmhouses, recreational facilities, many schools, and open spaces. ...
to the northwest and Upper Gwynedd Township
Upper Gwynedd Township, Pennsylvania
Upper Gwynedd Township is a township in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 15,552 at the 2010 census. North Wales Borough is surrounded by Upper Gwynedd Township on all sides, and many homes and businesses with North Wales addresses are actually in Upper Gwynedd...
to the southeast, crossing under I-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....
(Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension) along this stretch.
The road passes through residential neighborhoods before entering commercial areas and crossing Sumneytown Pike. PA 363 runs past a mix of homes and businesses as it gains a center left-turn lane on the approach to the Allentown Road junction. A short distance later, the route enters Lansdale
Lansdale, Pennsylvania
Lansdale is a borough in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, 28 miles northwest of Philadelphia. Early in the 20th century, its industries included agricultural implement works, a canning factory, foundries, brickyards, a silk mill, and manufacturers of cigars, stoves, shirts, rope, iron drain pipe,...
and passes homes as a two-lane road. PA 363 reaches its northern terminus at an intersection with PA 63
Pennsylvania Route 63
Pennsylvania Route 63 is a long state highway located in the Philadelphia, Pennsylvania area. The western terminus of the route is at PA 29 in Green Lane, Montgomery County. The eastern terminus is at Interstate 95 in Bensalem Township, Bucks County...
in Lansdale.
History
When Pennsylvania first legislated routes in 1911, present-day PA 363 was not given a number with the exception of the Ridge Pike portion, which was designated as part of Legislative Route 146. By 1930, PA 363 was designated to run between PA 23Pennsylvania Route 23
Pennsylvania Route 23 is a state highway in southeastern Pennsylvania. The route begins at Pennsylvania Route 441 in Marietta and heads east to U.S. Route 1 in Philadelphia.-Marietta to Valley Forge:...
in the Port Kennedy
Port Kennedy, Pennsylvania
Port Kennedy was an industrial village located where U.S. Route 422 now crosses the Schuylkill River in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, United States of America...
section of Upper Merion Township
Upper Merion Township, Pennsylvania
Upper Merion Township is a township in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 28,395 at the 2010 census.Located from Philadelphia, it consists of the villages of King of Prussia, Swedeland, Swedesburg, Gulph Mills, and Wayne....
and PA 63 in Lansdale, heading north across the Schuylkill River
Schuylkill River
The Schuylkill River is a river in Pennsylvania. It is a designated Pennsylvania Scenic River.The river is about long. Its watershed of about lies entirely within the state of Pennsylvania. The source of its eastern branch is in the Appalachian Mountains at Tuscarora Springs, near Tamaqua in...
near the present US 422 bridge, before picking up Trooper Road and following its current alignment north to Lansdale. Along Ridge Pike, PA 363 shared a concurrency
Concurrency (road)
A concurrency, overlap, or coincidence in a road network is an instance of one physical road bearing two or more different highway, motorway, or other route numbers...
with US 422. At this time, the entire length of the route was paved.
By 1945, PA 363 was extended west to end at PA 23 a short distance to the east of the community of Valley Forge
Valley Forge, Pennsylvania
The Village of Valley Forge is an unincorporated settlement located on the west side of Valley Forge National Historical Park at the confluence of Valley Creek and the Schuylkill River in Pennsylvania, United States. The remaining village is in Schuylkill Township of Chester County, but once...
. This portion of route was cosigned with PA 23 Truck by 1950. PA 363 was rerouted to follow Gulph Road from Port Kennedy to US 202
U.S. Route 202 in Pennsylvania
U.S. Route 202 runs through the southeastern part of the U.S. state of Pennsylvania, passing through the northern and western suburbs of Philadelphia. It follows in a general southwest to northeast direction through the state, passing through West Chester, King of Prussia, Norristown,...
in King of Prussia
King of Prussia, Pennsylvania
King of Prussia is a census-designated place in Upper Merion Township, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, United States. As of the 2010 census, its population was 19,936. The community took its name in the 18th century from a local tavern named the King of Prussia Inn, which was named after...
, with PA 23 being rerouted to follow the former PA 363 between Valley Forge and Port Kennedy, by 1967. Also by this time, the US 422 concurrency on Ridge Pike had been removed and a freeway had been built that connected PA 363 a short distance north of the Schuylkill River to the US 202 freeway on the border of Chester
Chester County, Pennsylvania
-State parks:*French Creek State Park*Marsh Creek State Park*White Clay Creek Preserve-Demographics:As of the 2010 census, the county was 85.5% White, 6.1% Black or African American, 0.2% Native American or Alaskan Native, 3.9% Asian, 0.0% Native Hawaiian, 1.8% were two or more races, and 2.4% were...
and Montgomery counties.
By 1989, the southern terminus of PA 363 was cut back to its current location at the US 422 interchange. In 1991, the Betzwood Bridge, which had carried PA 363 over the Schuylkill River, was closed because of structural issues. The bridge was removed in 1995 and limited bicycle and pedestrian access to Valley Forge Park from the north, with a temporary bike path being erected on the parallel US 422 bridge. Construction on a new bridge at this site is planned to begin in 2012. This new bridge is planned to be for bicycles and pedestrians only and will provide better access to Valley Forge Park. In addition, improvements to the interchange between PA 363 and US 422, which will add a ramp from PA 363 to westbound US 422, is expected to start in 2012.