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Pennsylvania Route 97 (north)
Encyclopedia
Pennsylvania Route 97 is one of two Pennsylvania
state highways that carries the PA 97 designation; the other Pennsylvania Route 97 is in Adams County
. The northern PA 97, 15 miles (24.1 km) in length, is a north–south highway that terminates at Pennsylvania Route 8
at both ends. The southern terminus is in Union City
and the northern terminus is in Erie
.
. South of the borough, PA 97 merges with U.S. Route 19, joining the Perry Highway and following the U.S. route northward for 1.5 miles (2.4 km) through Waterford. North of Waterford, PA 97 splits from US 19 but remains on the Perry Highway. Although both roads head north to Erie, PA 97 takes a more easterly alignment as it travels northward.
After 8.7 miles (14 km), PA 97 meets Interstate 90 at exit 27 immediately south of Erie. 0.9 miles (1.4 km) from the exit, PA 97 meets the southern terminus of Pennsylvania Route 505
. At PA 505, PA 97 separates from the Perry Highway and follows Old French Road north through downtown Erie to its terminus at an intersection with PA 8 two blocks south of U.S. Route 20.
in Waterford to US 19 in Kearsarge on what is now U.S. Route 19
. U.S. Route 6
ran along the current PA 97 designation from Waterford to Erie as the Lakes-to-Sea Highway
.
By 1940, PA 97 was moved to its current alignment.
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...
state highways that carries the PA 97 designation; the other Pennsylvania Route 97 is in Adams County
Adams County, Pennsylvania
Adams County is a county in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. As of the 2010 census, the population was 101,407. It was created on January 22, 1800, from part of York County and named in honor of the second President of the United States, John Adams...
. The northern PA 97, 15 miles (24.1 km) in length, is a north–south highway that terminates at Pennsylvania Route 8
Pennsylvania Route 8
Pennsylvania Route 8 is a major long route in western Pennsylvania. Officially, PA 8 is named the William Flinn Highway. Its southern terminus is at Interstate 376, U.S. Route 22, and U.S. Route 30 in Pittsburgh...
at both ends. The southern terminus is in Union City
Union City, Pennsylvania
Union City is a borough in Erie County, Pennsylvania, southeast of Erie. In the twentieth century, there were three large chair factories, planing and grist mills, a powdered milk plant, and several furniture factories. In 1900, 3,104 people lived here, and in 1910, 3,684 people lived here. The...
and the northern terminus is in Erie
Erie, Pennsylvania
Erie is a city located in northwestern Pennsylvania in the United States. Named for the lake and the Native American tribe that resided along its southern shore, Erie is the state's fourth-largest city , with a population of 102,000...
.
Route description
PA 97 starts in Union City at the junction of PA 8 and PA 97. It travels west for about 7.5 miles (12.1 km) until it reaches WaterfordWaterford, Pennsylvania
Waterford is a borough in Erie County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 1,449 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Erie Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:Waterford is located at ....
. South of the borough, PA 97 merges with U.S. Route 19, joining the Perry Highway and following the U.S. route northward for 1.5 miles (2.4 km) through Waterford. North of Waterford, PA 97 splits from US 19 but remains on the Perry Highway. Although both roads head north to Erie, PA 97 takes a more easterly alignment as it travels northward.
After 8.7 miles (14 km), PA 97 meets Interstate 90 at exit 27 immediately south of Erie. 0.9 miles (1.4 km) from the exit, PA 97 meets the southern terminus of Pennsylvania Route 505
Pennsylvania Route 505
Pennsylvania Route 505 is a 2 mile long state highway located in northwest Pennsylvania. The route is a continuation of Pennsylvania Route 97 along the Perry Highway and ends at U.S. Route 20 in Erie as Glenwood Park Avenue....
. At PA 505, PA 97 separates from the Perry Highway and follows Old French Road north through downtown Erie to its terminus at an intersection with PA 8 two blocks south of U.S. Route 20.
History
The first designation of PA 97 existed in the 1930s, from U.S. Route 6U.S. Route 6
U.S. Route 6 , also called the Grand Army of the Republic Highway, a name that honors an American Civil War veterans association, is a main route of the U.S. Highway system, running east-northeast from Bishop, California to Provincetown, Massachusetts. Until 1964, it continued south from Bishop to...
in Waterford to US 19 in Kearsarge on what is now U.S. Route 19
U.S. Route 19
U.S. Route 19 is a north–south U.S. Highway. Despite encroaching Interstate Highways, the route has remained a long-haul route, connecting the Gulf of Mexico with Lake Erie....
. U.S. Route 6
U.S. Route 6
U.S. Route 6 , also called the Grand Army of the Republic Highway, a name that honors an American Civil War veterans association, is a main route of the U.S. Highway system, running east-northeast from Bishop, California to Provincetown, Massachusetts. Until 1964, it continued south from Bishop to...
ran along the current PA 97 designation from Waterford to Erie as the Lakes-to-Sea Highway
Lakes-to-Sea Highway
The Lakes-to-Sea Highway, also known as the "Ship-to-Shore" highway, was an auto trail in the Northeast U.S., running from Erie, Pennsylvania southeast via Harrisburg and Philadelphia to Atlantic City, New Jersey .The highway roughly followed the following present routes:*U.S. Route 19, Erie to...
.
By 1940, PA 97 was moved to its current alignment.