Pennsylvania Route 743
Encyclopedia
Pennsylvania Route 743, PA 743, is a north–south state route located in central Pennsylvania
. The northern terminus is at Pennsylvania Route 443
one mile (1.6 km) west of the East Hanover Township
hamlet of Grantville. The southern terminus is at Pennsylvania Route 441
in Marietta
. Until 1961, the southern terminus was located in Hershey
.
In Hershey, the section north of Chocolate Avenue
is known as Park Avenue, and south of Chocolate Avenue, it is known as Cocoa Avenue. This is split by a left on Chocolate Avenue, and then a right one block later near the Hersheypark Arena
. Park Avenue in the vicinity of Hershey Park has some street light
s shaped like Hershey's Kisses. These can also be found on Chocolate Avenue.
near Marietta
in East Donegal Township, Lancaster County
, heading northwest on two-lane undivided Maytown Road. The road passes a mix of farms and residential subdivisions as it comes to the community of Maytown
. After passing through Maytown, the route continues north through open farmland with a few homes, crossing into West Donegal Township. PA 743 makes a turn northeast prior to curving northwest. The road heads northeast and enters Elizabethtown
, coming to a bridge over Amtrak
's Philadelphia to Harrisburg Main Line
. A short distance later, PA 743 comes to an intersection with PA 230
and forms a concurrency
with that route by turning northwest onto South Market Street. The road, which contains a center left-turn lane, passes several homes prior to entering the downtown area of Elizabethtown and intersecting PA 241
, at which point that route joins PA 230 and PA 743 on North Market Street. The road leaves the downtown and enters residential areas, with PA 241 and PA 743 splitting from PA 230 by briefly heading northeast on Linden Avenue. PA 241 and PA 743 turn north onto North Hanover Street a short distance later, passing a mix of homes and businesses as it crosses into Mount Joy Township
and becomes Hershey Road. PA 241 splits from PA 743 by heading northeast onto Mt. Gretna Road, and PA 743 heads north-northeast to an interchange with PA 283
. Within the area of the interchange, the road is briefly a divided highway
. At this point, the route becomes concurrent with PA 341 Truck and heads into areas of farms and woods as an undivided road.
Upon crossing the Conewago Creek
, PA 743 enters Conewago Township
in Dauphin County
, continuing north-northwest past farmland, woodland, and a few homes. The road passes under the Pennsylvania Turnpike
(I-76
) without an interchange before reaching the PA 341
intersection, at which point the PA 341 Truck overlap ends. Past this intersection, PA 743 passes through more rural areas with some homes and businesses, continuing into Derry Township
and becoming Fishburn Road. The route turns northwest and passes residential neighborhoods as it enters the community of Hershey
. PA 743 turns north onto Cocoa Avenue and passes between businesses to the west and farms to the east as it reaches the US 322
intersection. From this point, Cocoa Avenue continues through residential areas prior to intersecting US 422
(Chocolate Avenue
) in the downtown area of Hershey. Here, PA 743 turns west on the four-lane US 422 for a block before heading north onto two-lane Park Avenue. The road comes to a bridge over Norfolk Southern's Harrisburg Line
before running between Hersheypark
to the west and ZOOAMERICA to the east. Continuing along the eastern edge of Hersheypark, the road passes near some homes to the east before reaching Hersheypark Drive.
At this point, PA 743 turns east onto Hersheypark Drive, which is a four-lane road. The route passes between facilities owned by The Hershey Company
and the Outlets at Hershey to the south before heading northeast to Laudermilch Road. Here, PA 743 turns north onto two-lane Laudermilch Road and enters agricultural areas. The road turns north and crosses the Swatara Creek
into East Hanover Township
. Here, the route winds north through a mix of farms, woods, and homes. The road passes a few businesses at the US 22
intersection. The route becomes Bow Creek Road at this intersection and continues northwest to an interchange with I-81
. After this interchange, the route turns north into rural areas and passes a short distance to the west of Penn National Race Course
. PA 743 comes to its northern terminus at an intersection with PA 443
at the base of Blue Mountain
.
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 northern terminus is at Pennsylvania Route 443
Pennsylvania Route 443
Pennsylvania Route 443 is a long east–west state highway in the US state of Pennsylvania. Unlike other state highways, PA 443 terminates at not a traffic route at its west end, but at Front Street, formerly U.S. Route 22 and U.S. Route 322 and presently Quadrant Route 3009, in the...
one mile (1.6 km) west of the East Hanover Township
East Hanover Township, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania
East Hanover Township is a township in Dauphin County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 5,322 at the 2000 census. As of the 2005 census estimate, the population was 5,419.-Geography:...
hamlet of Grantville. The southern terminus is at Pennsylvania Route 441
Pennsylvania Route 441
Pennsylvania Route 441 is a long state route in central Pennsylvania and mostly parallels the Susquehanna River. The southern terminus is at Pennsylvania Route 999 in the Manor Township hamlet of Washington Boro...
in Marietta
Marietta, Pennsylvania
Marietta is a borough in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 2,689 at the 2000 census. It is located on the east bank of the Susquehanna River just north of Columbia.-Geography:Marietta is located at ....
. Until 1961, the southern terminus was located in Hershey
Hershey, Pennsylvania
Hershey is a census-designated place in Derry Township, Dauphin County in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. The community is located 14 miles east of Harrisburg and is part of the Harrisburg–Carlisle Metropolitan Statistical Area. Hershey has no legal status as an incorporated municipality...
.
In Hershey, the section north of Chocolate Avenue
Chocolate Avenue
Chocolate Avenue is a street in Hershey, Pennsylvania that runs past Hersheypark, and is considered to be the main street of the town. It runs from Hersheypark Drive to the intersection of Pennsylvania Route 3017, at which the road continues as Main Street. Most of Chocolate Avenue is a segment of...
is known as Park Avenue, and south of Chocolate Avenue, it is known as Cocoa Avenue. This is split by a left on Chocolate Avenue, and then a right one block later near the Hersheypark Arena
Hersheypark Arena
Hersheypark Arena is a multi-purpose indoor arena, located in Hershey, Pennsylvania. The arena has a seating capacity, for hockey, of 7,286 people and in excess of 8,000, including standing room...
. Park Avenue in the vicinity of Hershey Park has some street light
Street light
A street light, lamppost, street lamp, light standard, or lamp standard is a raised source of light on the edge of a road or walkway, which is turned on or lit at a certain time every night. Modern lamps may also have light-sensitive photocells to turn them on at dusk, off at dawn, or activate...
s shaped like Hershey's Kisses. These can also be found on Chocolate Avenue.
Lancaster County
PA 743 begins at PA 441Pennsylvania Route 441
Pennsylvania Route 441 is a long state route in central Pennsylvania and mostly parallels the Susquehanna River. The southern terminus is at Pennsylvania Route 999 in the Manor Township hamlet of Washington Boro...
near Marietta
Marietta, Pennsylvania
Marietta is a borough in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 2,689 at the 2000 census. It is located on the east bank of the Susquehanna River just north of Columbia.-Geography:Marietta is located at ....
in East Donegal Township, Lancaster County
Lancaster County, Pennsylvania
Lancaster County, known as the Garden Spot of America or Pennsylvania Dutch Country, is a county located in the southeastern part of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, in the United States. As of 2010 the population was 519,445. Lancaster County forms the Lancaster Metropolitan Statistical Area, the...
, heading northwest on two-lane undivided Maytown Road. The road passes a mix of farms and residential subdivisions as it comes to the community of Maytown
Maytown, Pennsylvania
Maytown is a census-designated place in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 2,604 at the 2000 census. Maytown is noted as the birthplace of 19th century politician Simon Cameron, who served in the Cabinet of President Abraham Lincoln.-Geography:Maytown is located at ...
. After passing through Maytown, the route continues north through open farmland with a few homes, crossing into West Donegal Township. PA 743 makes a turn northeast prior to curving northwest. The road heads northeast and enters Elizabethtown
Elizabethtown, Pennsylvania
Elizabethtown is a borough in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, southeast of Harrisburg. Small factories existed at the turn of the century when the population in 1900 was 1,861. There was a slight increase in the next decade, with 1,970 people living in Elizabethtown in 1910. As of the 2000 census,...
, coming to a bridge over Amtrak
Amtrak
The National Railroad Passenger Corporation, doing business as Amtrak , is a government-owned corporation that was organized on May 1, 1971, to provide intercity passenger train service in the United States. "Amtrak" is a portmanteau of the words "America" and "track". It is headquartered at Union...
's Philadelphia to Harrisburg Main Line
Philadelphia to Harrisburg Main Line
The Philadelphia to Harrisburg Main Line is an electrified rail line owned and operated by Amtrak in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. The line runs from Zoo Interlocking in Philadelphia, where it meets the Northeast Corridor, west to Harrisburg , where electrification ends, along the former...
. A short distance later, PA 743 comes to an intersection with PA 230
Pennsylvania Route 230
Pennsylvania Route 230 is a state route in central Pennsylvania. Its western terminus is at an intersection with U.S. Route 22 in Harrisburg. Its eastern terminus is at an interchange with Pennsylvania Route 283 near Salunga.-Route description:...
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 that route by turning northwest onto South Market Street. The road, which contains a center left-turn lane, passes several homes prior to entering the downtown area of Elizabethtown and intersecting PA 241
Pennsylvania Route 241
Pennsylvania Route 241 is a 23 mile long state highway in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. The route runs from Pennsylvania Route 441 in Conoy Township, Lancaster County northeast to Pennsylvania Route 72 in the city of Lebanon in Lebanon County....
, at which point that route joins PA 230 and PA 743 on North Market Street. The road leaves the downtown and enters residential areas, with PA 241 and PA 743 splitting from PA 230 by briefly heading northeast on Linden Avenue. PA 241 and PA 743 turn north onto North Hanover Street a short distance later, passing a mix of homes and businesses as it crosses into Mount Joy Township
Mount Joy Township, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania
Mount Joy Township is a township in northwestern Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 7,944 at the 2000 census.-Geography:...
and becomes Hershey Road. PA 241 splits from PA 743 by heading northeast onto Mt. Gretna Road, and PA 743 heads north-northeast to an interchange with PA 283
Pennsylvania Route 283
Pennsylvania Route 283 is a long state highway in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. It connects Harrisburg to Lancaster as a freeway, paralleling the old U.S. Route 230...
. Within the area of the interchange, the road is briefly a divided highway
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:...
. At this point, the route becomes concurrent with PA 341 Truck and heads into areas of farms and woods as an undivided road.
Dauphin County
Conewago Creek (east)
Conewago Creek is a tributary of the Susquehanna River in Lebanon, Dauphin, and Lancaster counties in Pennsylvania in the United States. The source is at an elevation of at Mount Gretna Heights in Lebanon County...
, PA 743 enters Conewago Township
Conewago Township, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania
Conewago Township is a township in Dauphin County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 2,847 at the 2000 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the township has a total area of , all of it land.-Demographics:...
in Dauphin County
Dauphin County, Pennsylvania
Dauphin County is a county in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania and is one of the three counties comprising the Harrisburg–Carlisle Metropolitan Statistical Area. As of 2010 census, the population was 268,100. The county includes the city of Harrisburg, which has served as the state capital...
, continuing north-northwest past farmland, woodland, and a few homes. The road 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...
(I-76
Interstate 76 (east)
Interstate 76 is an Interstate Highway in the United States, running 435 miles from an interchange with Interstate 71 west of Akron, Ohio, east to Interstate 295 near Camden, New Jersey....
) without an interchange before reaching the PA 341
Pennsylvania Route 341
Pennsylvania Route 341 is a state highway in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. The route runs from Pennsylvania Route 230 in Londonderry Township in Dauphin County east to Pennsylvania Route 241 in South Londonderry Township in Lebanon County.-Route description:...
intersection, at which point the PA 341 Truck overlap ends. Past this intersection, PA 743 passes through more rural areas with some homes and businesses, continuing into Derry Township
Derry Township, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania
Derry Township is a township in Dauphin County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 21,273 at the 2000 census. Hershey, Pennsylvania, the site of the well-known Hershey's chocolate factory and its affiliated amusement park, are also located within the township...
and becoming Fishburn Road. The route turns northwest and passes residential neighborhoods as it enters the community of Hershey
Hershey, Pennsylvania
Hershey is a census-designated place in Derry Township, Dauphin County in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. The community is located 14 miles east of Harrisburg and is part of the Harrisburg–Carlisle Metropolitan Statistical Area. Hershey has no legal status as an incorporated municipality...
. PA 743 turns north onto Cocoa Avenue and passes between businesses to the west and farms to the east as it reaches the US 322
U.S. Route 322 in Pennsylvania
U.S. Route 322 is a U.S. highway running from Cleveland, Ohio east to Atlantic City, New Jersey. In the U.S. state of Pennsylvania, the route runs from the Ohio border in West Shenango Township southeast to the Commodore Barry Bridge over the Delaware River in Chester, at which point the route...
intersection. From this point, Cocoa Avenue continues through residential areas prior to intersecting US 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...
(Chocolate Avenue
Chocolate Avenue
Chocolate Avenue is a street in Hershey, Pennsylvania that runs past Hersheypark, and is considered to be the main street of the town. It runs from Hersheypark Drive to the intersection of Pennsylvania Route 3017, at which the road continues as Main Street. Most of Chocolate Avenue is a segment of...
) in the downtown area of Hershey. Here, PA 743 turns west on the four-lane US 422 for a block before heading north onto two-lane Park Avenue. The road comes to a bridge over Norfolk Southern's Harrisburg Line
Harrisburg Line
The Harrisburg Line is a railroad line owned and operated by the Norfolk Southern Railway in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. The line runs from Philadelphia west to Harrisburg along the former Reading Company main line....
before running between Hersheypark
Hersheypark
Hersheypark is an amusement park located in Hershey, Pennsylvania, near the Hershey Chocolate Factory.Hersheypark was opened on April 24, 1907 as a leisure park for the employees of the Hershey Chocolate Company, an American confectionery company. Later, the company decided to open the park to the...
to the west and ZOOAMERICA to the east. Continuing along the eastern edge of Hersheypark, the road passes near some homes to the east before reaching Hersheypark Drive.
At this point, PA 743 turns east onto Hersheypark Drive, which is a four-lane road. The route passes between facilities owned by The Hershey Company
The Hershey Company
The Hershey Company, known until April 2005 as the Hershey Foods Corporation and commonly called Hershey's, is the largest chocolate manufacturer in North America. Its headquarters are in Hershey, Pennsylvania, which is also home to Hershey's Chocolate World. It was founded by Milton S...
and the Outlets at Hershey to the south before heading northeast to Laudermilch Road. Here, PA 743 turns north onto two-lane Laudermilch Road and enters agricultural areas. The road turns north and crosses the Swatara Creek
Swatara Creek
Swatara Creek is a tributary of the Susquehanna River in east central Pennsylvania in the United States. "Swatara" is an Indian word meaning "Where we feed on eels."...
into East Hanover Township
East Hanover Township, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania
East Hanover Township is a township in Dauphin County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 5,322 at the 2000 census. As of the 2005 census estimate, the population was 5,419.-Geography:...
. Here, the route winds north through a mix of farms, woods, and homes. The road passes a few businesses at the US 22
U.S. Route 22 in Pennsylvania
U.S. Route 22 is an east–west route stretching from Cincinnati, Ohio in the west to Newark, New Jersey in the east. In Pennsylvania, the route runs for between the West Virginia state line at Washington County, where it is a limited-access expressway-grade route through the western suburbs...
intersection. The route becomes Bow Creek Road at this intersection and continues northwest to an interchange with I-81
Interstate 81 in Pennsylvania
Interstate 81 is an long north–south Interstate Highway, stretching from Dandridge, Tennessee to Fisher's Landing, New York at the US/Canadian border...
. After this interchange, the route turns north into rural areas and passes a short distance to the west of Penn National Race Course
Penn National Race Course
Hollywood Casino at Penn National Race Course is a thoroughbred horse racing track and casino located in Grantville, Pennsylvania, east of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.The track opened on August 30, 1972...
. PA 743 comes to its northern terminus at an intersection with PA 443
Pennsylvania Route 443
Pennsylvania Route 443 is a long east–west state highway in the US state of Pennsylvania. Unlike other state highways, PA 443 terminates at not a traffic route at its west end, but at Front Street, formerly U.S. Route 22 and U.S. Route 322 and presently Quadrant Route 3009, in the...
at the base of 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...
.