Pennsylvania Route 56
Encyclopedia
Pennsylvania Route 56 is a major 99 miles (159.3 km) 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
.
and heads toward Indiana, PA. In Indiana, U.S. Route 422 and PA 56 become a short freeway. At the U.S. 119 exit, PA 56 merges with U.S. Route 119
, heading south. Route 56 breaks away from U.S. 119 outside of Indiana and continues east on a two-lane road. Approaching Armagh, PA, it crosses U.S. Route 22 at an interchange. The route then enters Westmoreland County again briefly, passing through its extreme northeastern corner. It is at this point, that Route 56 crosses through Seward, PA. A short time after passing through Seward, it crosses into Cambria County, PA. Continuing east, it travels along the southern side of the Conemaugh river through the beautiful Conemaugh Gap. It then emerges into the city of Johnstown, PA. Route 56 travels through the heart of the West End section of Johnstown on two-lane city streets. With the countless trucks traveling through the West End, a Route 56 bypass has been discussed for quite some time. However, very little progress on the topic has been made, and it is yet to be seen if it will ever become a reality. It then merges with PA Route 403 on Broad Street, a four-lane road containing many traffic signals. At the final signal, it breaks away from Route 403 and becomes a freeway entitled Johnstown Expressway. This expressway is actually a bypass constructed in the mid-1960s. The original route continued on city streets and crossed under U.S. Route 219
in Richland Township. Currently, Route 56 enters the four-lane expressway and meets U.S. Route 219
a short distance north from its original connection. It eventually exits U.S. 219 at Scalp Avenue, the original interchange, and continues east toward Windber, PA. The Route enters Somerset County
at Windber. Once past Windber, Route 56 returns to two-lanes. It enters Bedford County
at the top of Laurel Ridge at 2700 feet above sea level. The decent down the eastern slope contains a dangerous hairpin curve that has been the site of many accidents over the years. It then crosses Interstate 99
/ U.S. Route 220
at an interchange near Cessna. After a short distance, Route 56 crosses over Interstate 99
/ U.S. Route 220
, then later passes under the Pennsylvania Turnpike
. The route ends at a "T" intersection with U.S. Route 30
in Wolfsburg, west of Bedford and east of the Little Barn Discount Grocery.
. The route's western terminus also marks the end of its parent, as each formulate a different way of travel for those who have crossed the C.L. Schmitt Bridge
. While Route 56 makes several turns as it passes through the stop light-filled center of the community, the truck route runs as the four-lane Industrial Boulevard along the Allegheny River
, before turning back north as it is multiplexed with Pennsylvania Route 366
.
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 central 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...
. Its western terminus is at the eastern approach to the C.L. Schmitt Bridge
C.L. Schmitt Bridge
The C.L. Schmitt Bridge is a truss bridge that carries vehicular traffic across the Allegheny River between New Kensington and East Deer Township, Pennsylvania in the United States.-History:The bridge was constructed in 1927 to connect Route 56, which has its terminus on the New Kensington side...
in New Kensington
New Kensington, Pennsylvania
New Kensington is a city in Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania situated along the Allegheny River northeast of Pittsburgh. The population was 14,701 at the 2000 Census. The mayor of New Kensington is Tom Guzzo , elected in 2009. He succeeded Mayor Frank E. Link , elected in 2001.-History:New...
. Its eastern terminus is U.S. Route 30 west of Bedford
Bedford, Pennsylvania
Bedford is a borough in Bedford County, Pennsylvania, west of the State Capital, Harrisburg. It is the county seat of Bedford County. Bedford was established in the mid-18th century. Population counts follow: 1890, 2,242; 1900, 2,167; 1910, 2,385. The population was 3,141 at the 2000...
.
Route description
Route 56 starts at an intersection with PA 366 in Arnold, PA. It then heads east into Westmoreland County, PA. While in Westmoreland County, it merges with PA 66. It then travels east and eventually merges with PA 156, crossing into Indiana County. At this point, it merges with U.S. Route 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...
and heads toward Indiana, PA. In Indiana, U.S. Route 422 and PA 56 become a short freeway. At the U.S. 119 exit, PA 56 merges with U.S. Route 119
U.S. Route 119
U.S. Route 119, commonly abbreviated as US 119, is a spur of US 19. It is a north–south route that was an original United States highway of 1926. It is often referred to as Corridor G east of US 23 and KY 80 in Kentucky to Interstate 64 at Charleston, West Virginia.- Kentucky :US 119 is a two...
, heading south. Route 56 breaks away from U.S. 119 outside of Indiana and continues east on a two-lane road. Approaching Armagh, PA, it crosses U.S. Route 22 at an interchange. The route then enters Westmoreland County again briefly, passing through its extreme northeastern corner. It is at this point, that Route 56 crosses through Seward, PA. A short time after passing through Seward, it crosses into Cambria County, PA. Continuing east, it travels along the southern side of the Conemaugh river through the beautiful Conemaugh Gap. It then emerges into the city of Johnstown, PA. Route 56 travels through the heart of the West End section of Johnstown on two-lane city streets. With the countless trucks traveling through the West End, a Route 56 bypass has been discussed for quite some time. However, very little progress on the topic has been made, and it is yet to be seen if it will ever become a reality. It then merges with PA Route 403 on Broad Street, a four-lane road containing many traffic signals. At the final signal, it breaks away from Route 403 and becomes a freeway entitled Johnstown Expressway. This expressway is actually a bypass constructed in the mid-1960s. The original route continued on city streets and crossed under U.S. Route 219
U.S. Route 219
U.S. Route 219 is a spur of U.S. Route 19. It runs for from West Seneca, New York at an interchange with Interstate 90, to Rich Creek, Virginia, intersecting at U.S. Route 460. U.S. 219 is found in New York, Pennsylvania, Maryland, West Virginia, and Virginia...
in Richland Township. Currently, Route 56 enters the four-lane expressway and meets U.S. Route 219
U.S. Route 219
U.S. Route 219 is a spur of U.S. Route 19. It runs for from West Seneca, New York at an interchange with Interstate 90, to Rich Creek, Virginia, intersecting at U.S. Route 460. U.S. 219 is found in New York, Pennsylvania, Maryland, West Virginia, and Virginia...
a short distance north from its original connection. It eventually exits U.S. 219 at Scalp Avenue, the original interchange, and continues east toward Windber, PA. The Route enters Somerset County
Somerset County, Pennsylvania
Somerset County is a county located in the state of Pennsylvania. As of 2010, the population was 77,742. Somerset County was created on April 17, 1795, from part of Bedford County and named for Somerset, United Kingdom. Its county seat is Somerset. It is part of the Johnstown, Pennsylvania,...
at Windber. Once past Windber, Route 56 returns to two-lanes. It enters Bedford County
Bedford County, Pennsylvania
Bedford County is a county located in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. As of the 2010 census, the population was 49,762. The county seat is Bedford. It is part of the Altoona, Pennsylvania, Metropolitan Statistical Area.- History :...
at the top of Laurel Ridge at 2700 feet above sea level. The decent down the eastern slope contains a dangerous hairpin curve that has been the site of many accidents over the years. It then crosses Interstate 99
Interstate 99
Interstate 99 is an intrastate Interstate Highway located in central Pennsylvania in the United States. The southern terminus of the route is at exit 146 of the Pennsylvania Turnpike north of Bedford, where the road continues south as U.S. Route 220 . The northern terminus is at...
/ U.S. Route 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...
at an interchange near Cessna. After a short distance, Route 56 crosses over Interstate 99
Interstate 99
Interstate 99 is an intrastate Interstate Highway located in central Pennsylvania in the United States. The southern terminus of the route is at exit 146 of the Pennsylvania Turnpike north of Bedford, where the road continues south as U.S. Route 220 . The northern terminus is at...
/ U.S. Route 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...
, then later passes under 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...
. The route ends at a "T" intersection with U.S. Route 30
U.S. Route 30
U.S. Route 30 is an east–west main route of the system of United States Numbered Highways, with the highway traveling across the northern tier of the country. It is the third longest U.S. route, after U.S. Route 20 and U.S. Route 6. The western end of the highway is at Astoria, Oregon; the...
in Wolfsburg, west of Bedford and east of the Little Barn Discount Grocery.
Major intersections
PA 56 Truck
Pennsylvania Route 56 Truck is a 2 miles (3.2 km) long truck route in the Pittsburgh industrial suburb of New Kensington, PennsylvaniaNew Kensington, Pennsylvania
New Kensington is a city in Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania situated along the Allegheny River northeast of Pittsburgh. The population was 14,701 at the 2000 Census. The mayor of New Kensington is Tom Guzzo , elected in 2009. He succeeded Mayor Frank E. Link , elected in 2001.-History:New...
. The route's western terminus also marks the end of its parent, as each formulate a different way of travel for those who have crossed the C.L. Schmitt Bridge
C.L. Schmitt Bridge
The C.L. Schmitt Bridge is a truss bridge that carries vehicular traffic across the Allegheny River between New Kensington and East Deer Township, Pennsylvania in the United States.-History:The bridge was constructed in 1927 to connect Route 56, which has its terminus on the New Kensington side...
. While Route 56 makes several turns as it passes through the stop light-filled center of the community, the truck route runs as the four-lane Industrial Boulevard along 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...
, before turning back north as it is multiplexed with Pennsylvania Route 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...
.