Pennsylvania Route 563
Encyclopedia
Pennsylvania Route 563 (PA 563) is a state highway
in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania
. The route runs 21.1 mi (33.96 km) from PA 63
in Upper Salford Township
northeast to PA 412
in Nockamixon Township
. The road runs through mostly rural areas in the northern parts of Montgomery
and Bucks
counties. Along the way, the route passes through the northern part of Perkasie
and forms a concurrency
with PA 313
in East Rockhill Township
. North of here, PA 563 runs through Nockamixon State Park, running to the north of Lake Nockamixon
.
PA 563 was first created by 1930 to connect Bergey to Harrow, following its current alignment to PA 313 before continuing straight along Ridge Road and continuing to PA 412. By 1940, construction of the road into a state highway was completed. In the early 1970s, PA 563 was moved to its current alignment north of PA 313 as a result of the creation of Lake Nockamixon, which severed the original alignment.
to the northeast and Upper Salford Township to the southwest. PA 563 makes a northeast turn at the Barndt Road–Moyer Road junction, continuing northeast on Ridge Road into Salford Township.
The road runs through wooded areas and passes over the Northeast Extension of the Pennsylvania Turnpike
(I-476
), PA 563 turns east and heads into the community of Tylersport, where it passes homes and businesses as it crosses Allentown Road. After leaving Tylersport, the route heads northeast into more rural areas.
in Bucks County and heads into a mix of farms and woods. After running to the southeast of James Memorial Park, the route intersects Lawn Avenue, which provides access to the PA 309
freeway at an interchange. PA 563 passes over the freeway a short distance after this intersection. The route continues east-northeast past more rural areas prior to crossing Bethlehem Pike
and Old Bethlehem Pike in a commercial area. A short distance past the intersection with the latter, the road crosses into Perkasie and passes near residential neighborhoods, running along the top of a ridge. Farther to the northeast, PA 563 passes to the southeast of Pennridge Airport
. At this point, the road continues into East Rockhill Township and heads through a mix of farmland, woodland, and a few residences.
PA 563 comes to an intersection with PA 313, where it turns northwest to form a concurrency with that route on Dublin Pike, with Ridge Road continuing northeast. The two routes head through more rural areas before PA 563 splits from PA 313 by turning northeast onto Mountain View Drive. Along this road, the route heads into forested areas with occasional homes and enters Nockamixon State Park, a park which contains Lake Nockamixon. Upon crossing the Tohickon Creek
, the road continues into Haycock Township
. In this area, PA 563 skits along the northwest edge of the state park. A short distance following the Deerwood Lane intersection, the road passes the main entrance to the park. PA 563 crosses an arm of the lake into Nockamixon Township In this township, the route leaves the state park and passes farms, woods, and some residences before ending at PA 412.
In the 1960s, construction began to create Lake Nockamixon along the Tohickon Creek near PA 563 in northern Bucks County. The Secretary of the Pennsylvania Department of Forests and Waters, Maurice K. Goddard
, proposed the lake as part of a goal for every Pennsylvania resident to be within 25 miles (40 km) of a state park. Lake Nockamixon was intended to fill a gap in between the Philadelphia and Lehigh Valley
areas. As a result of building the dam and creating the lake, the northernmost portion of PA 563 had to be relocated to a new alignment to the north of the planned lake as it would sever a portion of the route north of Kellers Church. Between 1970 and 1972, construction took place on the new alignment of the route. As a result, PA 563 was routed to follow PA 313 to get from Ridge Road to its new alignment.
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...
in the U.S. state of 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...
. The route runs 21.1 mi (33.96 km) from 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 Upper Salford Township
Upper Salford Township, Pennsylvania
Upper Salford Township is a township in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania. The population was 3,299 at the 2010 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the township has a total area of , of which is land and , or 0.88%, is water. It is drained by Perkiomen Creek into the...
northeast to PA 412
Pennsylvania Route 412
Pennsylvania Route 412 is a long north–south state route located in Northampton and Bucks counties in southeastern Pennsylvania. Its southern terminus is at Pennsylvania Route 611 in the Nockamixon Township community of Harrow...
in Nockamixon Township
Nockamixon Township, Pennsylvania
Nockamixon Township is a township in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 3,441 at the 2010 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the township has a total area of 22.6 square miles , of which, 22.2 square miles of it is land and...
. The road runs through mostly rural areas in the northern parts of 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...
and 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...
counties. Along the way, the route passes through the northern part of 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...
and forms 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 PA 313
Pennsylvania Route 313
Pennsylvania Route 313 is a mostly 2-lane, long state highway entirely within Bucks County, Pennsylvania. It is an east–west road, although it runs almost purely northwest/southeast through most of its course...
in East Rockhill Township
East Rockhill Township, Pennsylvania
East Rockhill Township is a township in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, United States. The original Rockhill Township was established in 1740 and was divided into East and West Rockhill Townships in 1890. The population was 5,706 at the 2010 census. East Rockhill is part of Pennridge School District...
. North of here, PA 563 runs through Nockamixon State Park, running to the north of Lake Nockamixon
Lake Nockamixon
Nockamixon State Park is a Pennsylvania state park on in Bedminster and Haycock Townships in northern Bucks County, Pennsylvania, in the United States...
.
PA 563 was first created by 1930 to connect Bergey to Harrow, following its current alignment to PA 313 before continuing straight along Ridge Road and continuing to PA 412. By 1940, construction of the road into a state highway was completed. In the early 1970s, PA 563 was moved to its current alignment north of PA 313 as a result of the creation of Lake Nockamixon, which severed the original alignment.
Montgomery County
PA 563 begins at an intersection with PA 63 in Upper Salford Township, Montgomery County and heads in an easterly direction on two-lane, undivided Ridge Road. The route passes through rural areas of homes, turning southeast at the Township Line Road intersection and forming the border between Salford TownshipSalford Township, Pennsylvania
Salford Township is a township in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 2,504 at the 2010 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the township has a total area of 9.6 square miles , of which, 9.5 square miles of it is land and...
to the northeast and Upper Salford Township to the southwest. PA 563 makes a northeast turn at the Barndt Road–Moyer Road junction, continuing northeast on Ridge Road into Salford Township.
The road runs through wooded areas and passes over the Northeast Extension 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...
(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....
), PA 563 turns east and heads into the community of Tylersport, where it passes homes and businesses as it crosses Allentown Road. After leaving Tylersport, the route heads northeast into more rural areas.
Bucks County
Upon crossing County Line Road, PA 563 enters West Rockhill TownshipWest 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...
in Bucks County and heads into a mix of farms and woods. After running to the southeast of James Memorial Park, the route intersects Lawn Avenue, which provides access to the PA 309
Pennsylvania Route 309
Pennsylvania Route 309 is a major highway which runs for 134 miles 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...
freeway at an interchange. PA 563 passes over the freeway a short distance after this intersection. The route continues east-northeast past more rural areas prior to crossing 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...
and Old Bethlehem Pike in a commercial area. A short distance past the intersection with the latter, the road crosses into Perkasie and passes near residential neighborhoods, running along the top of a ridge. Farther to the northeast, PA 563 passes to the southeast of Pennridge Airport
Pennridge Airport
Pennridge Airport is a public use airport located one nautical mile north of the central business district of Perkasie, a borough in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, United States. It is privately owned by Pennridge Development Ent., Inc. The airport is situated in East Rockhill Township.The airport...
. At this point, the road continues into East Rockhill Township and heads through a mix of farmland, woodland, and a few residences.
PA 563 comes to an intersection with PA 313, where it turns northwest to form a concurrency with that route on Dublin Pike, with Ridge Road continuing northeast. The two routes head through more rural areas before PA 563 splits from PA 313 by turning northeast onto Mountain View Drive. Along this road, the route heads into forested areas with occasional homes and enters Nockamixon State Park, a park which contains Lake Nockamixon. Upon crossing the Tohickon Creek
Tohickon Creek
Tohickon Creek is a tributary of the Delaware River. Located entirely in Bucks County, in southeastern Pennsylvania, it rises in Springfield Township and has its confluence with the Delaware at Point Pleasant. It is dammed to form the popular Lake Nockamixon....
, the road continues into Haycock Township
Haycock Township, Pennsylvania
Haycock Township is a township in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 2,225 at the 2010 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 Tohickon Creek...
. In this area, PA 563 skits along the northwest edge of the state park. A short distance following the Deerwood Lane intersection, the road passes the main entrance to the park. PA 563 crosses an arm of the lake into Nockamixon Township In this township, the route leaves the state park and passes farms, woods, and some residences before ending at PA 412.
History
When Pennsylvania first legislated routes in 1911, present-day PA 563 was not given a number. By 1930, PA 563 was designated to run from PA 63 near Bergey northeast to PA 412 near Harrow, following its current alignment south of PA 313. From this point, it continued northeast on Ridge Road, passing near Weisel and eventually continuing northeast to Harrow. At this time, the sections of the route between Tylersport and southwest of Perkasie and north of PA 313 were under construction as state highways. All of PA 563 was completed by 1940.In the 1960s, construction began to create Lake Nockamixon along the Tohickon Creek near PA 563 in northern Bucks County. The Secretary of the Pennsylvania Department of Forests and Waters, Maurice K. Goddard
Maurice K. Goddard
Maurice K. Goddard was the driving force behind the creation of 45 Pennsylvania state parks during his 24 years as a cabinet officer for six governors of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania in the United States....
, proposed the lake as part of a goal for every Pennsylvania resident to be within 25 miles (40 km) of a state park. Lake Nockamixon was intended to fill a gap in between the Philadelphia and 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...
areas. As a result of building the dam and creating the lake, the northernmost portion of PA 563 had to be relocated to a new alignment to the north of the planned lake as it would sever a portion of the route north of Kellers Church. Between 1970 and 1972, construction took place on the new alignment of the route. As a result, PA 563 was routed to follow PA 313 to get from Ridge Road to its new alignment.