MarketU.S. Route 322 in Pennsylvania
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U.S. Route 322 in Pennsylvania

U.S. Route 322 is a spur of US 22, running from Cleveland, Ohio, east to Atlantic City, New Jersey. In the U.S. state of Pennsylvania, the route runs from the Ohio state line in West Shenango Township southeast to the Commodore Barry Bridge over the Delaware River in Chester, at which point the route crosses into New Jersey, meeting the New Jersey Turnpike at exit 2. The route passes near or through several cities, including Meadville, DuBois, State College, and Harrisburg. US 322 in Pennsylvania is named the 28th Division Highway in honor of the 28th Infantry Division.

Route description
In Pennsylvania, US 322 is signed as 28th Division Highway, in honor of the 28th Infantry Division. Ohio to Brookville US 322 enters Pennsylvania from Ohio in Crawford County, heading southeast on two-lane undivided Williamsfield Road. The road runs through rural areas on the southwest border of Pymatuning State Park, which is home to the Pymatuning Reservoir. Past the state park, the route crosses into Mercer County and heads into the borough of Jamestown, becoming Gibson Street and coming to an intersection with PA 58. At this point, the two routes head east for a concurrency along Liberty Street, crossing the Shenango River. US 322 splits from PA 58 by turning north onto Depot Street. The route leaves Jamestown and crosses back into Crawford County, becoming an unnamed road. The road curves northeast and comes to the community of Hartstown, where it becomes Liberty Street and reaches an intersection with PA 18. At this point, PA 18 turns northeast for a concurrency with US 322 and the road comes to a bridge over the Canadian National's Bessemer Subdivision railroad line as it curves northeast and continues as an unnamed road. Farther northeast, the road enters the borough of Conneaut Lake and becomes State Street, turning north onto South 4th Street to come to an intersection with US 6/PA 285 in the center of the borough. At this point, US 322/PA 18 turn east to join US 6 and PA 285 on Water Street. A block later, PA 285 splits to the south. US 6/US 322/PA 18 become a five-lane road with a center left-turn lane and head east out of the borough, passing to the south of Conneaut Lake. PA 18 splits from US 6/US 322 by turning to the north, with US 6/US 322 continuing east-northeast on Conneaut Lake Road. The road heads into a business area to the west of the city of Meadville and comes to a roundabout with US 19 and the southern terminus of PA 98, at which point US 19 becomes concurrent with US 6 and US 322. The roadway becomes a four-lane divided highway and comes to a cloverleaf interchange with I-79. Past this interchange, the three routes reach an intersection with the southern terminus of PA 102 before curving north and entering Meadville upon crossing French Creek and a Western New York and Pennsylvania Railroad line. The road becomes French Creek Parkway before US 322 splits from US 6 and US 19 by turning to the east onto two-lane undivided Linden Street. The route runs through developed areas and turns south onto South Main Street before leaving Meadville. The road becomes Cochranton Road and runs through rural areas to the east of French Creek and the Western New York and Pennsylvania Railroad line. US 322 curves to the southeast and the name changes to Meadville Road. The route becomes an unnamed road and passes through the northern part of the borough of Cochranton before it comes to an intersection with PA 173. Past this intersection, the road curves to the south. The route crosses into Mercer County, where it makes a turn to the east. US 322 heads into Venango County and runs east, curving southeast in the community of Hannasville. The road enters the borough of Sugarcreek, where it crosses Sugar Creek and comes to an intersection with the southern terminus of PA 427. From here, the route curves south to run east of the parallel Sugar Creek before turning east and running north of French Creek and the Western New York and Pennsylvania Railroad line. US 322 turns south alongside the creek and railroad tracks before it curves east and enters the city of Franklin. At this point, the road becomes Grant Street and passes through developed areas of the city, curving northeast and back to the east. US 322 reaches an intersection with the southern terminus of PA 417, at which point it turns south onto four-lane undivided 13th Street, crossing the Western New York and Pennsylvania Railroad line at-grade. The road turns into a divided highway and crosses French Creek, becoming undivided again and heading into the downtown area of Franklin. US 322 comes to an intersection with US 62/PA 8, at which point it turns east for a concurrency with the two routes on four-lane undivided Liberty Street. The road turns southeast and leaves the downtown area, narrowing to one lane westbound before US 62/PA 8 split from US 322 by turning to the northeast. US 322 continues south along two-lane undivided Liberty Street before it turns east onto 8th Street and crosses the Allegheny River, leaving Franklin. From here, the route becomes an unnamed road and curves south parallel to the river, running through rural areas. The road turns to the east and passes through the community of Venango before the Allegheny River curves south away from the road, with the road gaining a second eastbound lane as it climbs a hill. US 322 narrows to two lanes prior to reaching the community of Cranberry. Here, the route passes businesses and heads to the south of the Cranberry Mall before it intersects the southern terminus of PA 257. Past this intersection, the road runs through rural land, crossing East Sandy Creek and reaching a junction with the northern terminus of PA 38. passing a rock cut US 22/US 322 enters Juniata County and continues through the water gap, coming to an eastbound access point to a fishing and boating area along the Juniata River. Farther east, the freeway curves to the southeast and exits the Lewistown Narrows, heading further from the river and coming to a diamond interchange with Arch Rock Road. The two routes head northeast and then southeast, crossing Lost Creek before turning south and reaching a diamond interchange with PA 35 east of the borough of Mifflintown. US 22/US 322 comes to a partial cloverleaf interchange with the northern terminus of PA 75 northeast of the borough of Port Royal. The freeway continues southeast, turning to the east-northeast. Farther east, the two routes come to a partial cloverleaf interchange with PA 333 on the northern border of the borough of Thompsontown. Past Thompsontown, US 22/US 322 has a westbound exit and eastbound entrance with Pfoutz Valley Road. After this interchange, the freeway runs closely parallel to the north bank of the Juniata River as it passes through a water gap in Tuscarora Mountain. Harrisburg to New Jersey US 322 heads east along with I-81 on a six-lane freeway that is part of the Capital Beltway that circles Harrisburg. The freeway leaves the city limits of Harrisburg and runs through suburban areas. I-81/US 322 comes to a partial cloverleaf interchange with Progress Avenue before reaching a directional T interchange with the northern terminus of I-83. At this point, US 322 and the Capital Beltway split from I-81 by heading south along I-83. The four-lane freeway runs south-southeast to the east of Harrisburg, coming to a partial cloverleaf interchange with US 22 that serves the communities of Progress to the west and Colonial Park to the east. Past here, I-83/US 322 reaches a diamond interchange with Union Deposit Road. Farther south, US 322 splits from I-83 at a eastbound exit and westbound entrance and heads south along four-lane divided Eisenhower Boulevard, immediately coming to a partial cloverleaf interchange with Derry Street. The road passes under Norfolk Southern's Harrisburg Line and reaches the Eisenhower Interchange with connections to I-83, the northern terminus of I-283, and Paxton Street, where US 322 splits from Eisenhower Boulevard to head east along a four-lane freeway. The freeway heads near suburban areas with some industrial development and comes to an interchange with Penhar Drive. Past this interchange, the freeway ends and US 322 continues east as a four-lane divided highway. Farther east, the route becomes Paxton Street and it runs east. The road turns into an unnamed freeway and crosses the Swatara Creek, bypassing the borough of Hummelstown to the south. The freeway runs along the southern border of Hummelstown and passes between developed areas of the borough to the north and rural areas to the south, crossing the Middletown and Hummelstown Railroad at-grade. While bypassing Hummelstown, US 322 comes to a eastbound exit and westbound entrance with South Hanover Street/Middletown Road and a westbound exit and eastbound entrance with Quarry Road/Waltonville Road; a two-lane undivided frontage road to the south of US 322 connects these two interchanges. From here, the freeway curves northeast and leaves Hummelstown, reaching a partial cloverleaf interchange with the western terminus of the eastern segment of US 422 and the eastern terminus of PA 39. At this point, the freeway continues as US 422, which soon becomes an at-grade divided highway, while US 322 exits to continue east along West Governor Road, a three-lane road with a center left-turn lane. The road heads into the southern part of the community of Hershey and runs through developed areas, passing to the north of Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center and Penn State Health Children's Hospital. The route narrows to two lanes before intersecting PA 743. US 322 becomes East Governor Road and heads between Hershey High School to the north and farmland to the south before passing through the campus of the Milton Hershey School, coming to roundabouts at Homestead Lane and Meadow Lane serving the school. The road leaves Hershey and runs through agricultural areas in the Lebanon Valley. The route crosses the Conestoga River and passes through the community of Hinkletown. Farther southeast, US 322 runs through the community of Reidenbach before it reaches the community of Blue Ball, where it has an intersection with PA 23. The road runs near some development and forms a short concurrency with PA 897. From here, the route continues east through agricultural areas, passing through the communities of Fetterville and Beartown. At this point, US 322 travels east-southeast across Welsh Mountain. US 322 enters Chester County and becomes Horseshoe Pike, continuing southeast through rural areas to the borough of Honey Brook. At this point, the route runs southeast through the borough, where it intersects PA 10. Upon leaving Honey Brook, the road continues through rural areas with increasing development, crossing the West Branch Brandywine Creek. Farther southeast, US 322 reaches an intersection with PA 82 in the community of Brandywine Manor. From here, the route runs southeast through suburban areas with some rural land, passing through the communities of Little Washington and Guthriesville. The road comes to a partial cloverleaf interchange with the US 30 freeway, where it briefly becomes a divided highway. Past this interchange, US 322 passes north of a park and ride lot and becomes Manor Avenue, a three-lane road with a center left-turn lane that enters the borough of Downingtown. Here, the route passes through developed areas, heading to the south of Downingtown West High School, and narrows to two lanes before coming to an intersection with US 30 Bus. At this point, US 322 turns northeast for a concurrency with US 30 Bus. on West Lancaster Avenue, crossing the East Branch Brandywine Creek and heading in the downtown area of Downingtown on East Lancaster Avenue. US 322 splits from US 30 Bus. by turning south onto Brandywine Avenue, with US 322 Truck heading east along with US 30 Bus. The route passes under Amtrak's Keystone Corridor railroad line and intersects the other end of US 322 Truck at Boot Road along the southern border of Downingtown. From here, the road curves southeast and passes over the East Branch Brandywine Creek and under the abandoned Brandywine Valley Viaduct. At this point, US 322 becomes Downingtown Pike and runs parallel to the creek through a mix of rural and suburban areas. The route turns east and crosses the creek, at which point the East Branch Brandywine Creek turns south away from the road. US 322 widens to four lanes and turns east onto the West Chester Bypass, a two-lane expressway. US 322 Bus. continues southeast along Downingtown Pike toward the borough of West Chester. The route follows the bypass east-northeast through suburban areas to the north of West Chester, coming to an at-grade intersection with North New Street, then a westbound exit to northbound Pottstown Pike (the former routing of PA 100) and eastbound entrance from southbound Pottstown Pike. The road continues northeast and curves east as it comes to an at-grade intersection with Phoenixville Pike (the former routing of PA 29), then passes under an abandoned railroad line before merging into the southbound direction of the US 202 freeway at a partial interchange. US 202/US 322 continues south-southeast along the West Chester Bypass as a four-lane freeway bypassing West Chester to the east, coming to a partial cloverleaf interchange with Paoli Pike. A short distance later, the two routes reach a partial cloverleaf interchange with PA 3. The bypass continues south to a diamond interchange at Westtown Road before it curves southwest, passing over the West Chester Railroad. The freeway portion of the bypass then ends at an at-grade intersection with South Matlack Street. Following this, the bypass continues to its terminus at a trumpet interchange with the eastern terminus of US 322 Bus., which heads north (west) into West Chester on South High Street, providing access to the campus of West Chester University. At this point, US 202/US 322 exit and head southeast along four-lane divided Wilmington Pike, passing through suburban areas. The road comes to a jughandle-controlled intersection at Stetson Middle School Drive/Skiles Boulevard before it crosses PA 926 in the community of Darlington Corners. US 202/US 322 crosses into Delaware County and continues southeast along Wilmington-West Chester Pike, coming to an intersection with Oakland Road that has an eastbound jughandle. The road comes to the community of Painters Crossing and reaches an intersection with US 1, where US 322 splits from US 202 by heading east along with US 1 on four-lane divided Baltimore Pike. The road continues east to the community of Concordville, where US 322 splits from US 1 by heading southeast along Conchester Highway, a four-lane divided highway. The route runs through suburban areas, passing over Smithbridge Road and narrowing to a two-lane undivided road before coming to an interchange with the northern terminus of PA 261. The road continues east and passes over Chichester Avenue before it widens into a four-lane divided highway and reaches an interchange with PA 452. Farther east, US 322 passes over CSX's Philadelphia Subdivision railroad line and comes to an interchange with Bethel Road. The route passes north of CSX's Twin Oaks Rail Yard, an automotive unloading facility, before it comes to an interchange with I-95 and Highland Avenue. At this interchange, US 322 merges onto northbound I-95; this interchange consists of full access between US 322 and Highland Avenue and partial access between US 322 and I-95. At this point, US 322 joins I-95 on the Delaware Expressway, a seven-lane freeway with four northbound lanes and three southbound lanes and enters the city of Chester, passing through urban areas. The freeway leaves the city limits and US 322 splits from I-95 to head southeast on a freeway at a directional T interchange; this interchange includes a ramp from westbound US 322 to Concord Road. The route crosses back into Chester as it follows a five-lane freeway with three eastbound lanes and two westbound lanes that is maintained by the Delaware River Port Authority. The freeway comes to a westbound exit and eastbound entrance with US 13 Bus. before it passes over Amtrak's Northeast Corridor railroad line and reaches an eastbound exit and westbound entrance with US 13/PA 291. At this point, US 322 heads onto the Commodore Barry Bridge, passing over Conrail Shared Assets Operations' Chester Industrial Track line and running to the northeast of Subaru Park, the home stadium of the Philadelphia Union of Major League Soccer, before it crosses the Delaware River into New Jersey. ==History==
History
The earliest predecessors of US 322 were several turnpikes. The Downingtown, Ephrata, and Harrisburg Turnpike was chartered in 1803, forming the bulk of the highway east of Harrisburg. A brief section from Philipsburg to West Decatur was part of the Philipsburg and Susquehanna Turnpike, with a western terminus at Curwensville. From there to Meadville, the highway was the Susquehanna and Waterford Turnpike, which extended north to Waterford. The latter two turnpikes were part of the cross-state route known as the Northumberland and Waterford Turnpike. These highways were mostly incorporated into the Lakes-to-Sea Highway, which went from Erie east to Atlantic City, New Jersey. This route deviated from the early turnpikes in central Pennsylvania, by swinging south from DuBois along US 219 to service Grampian, then north on PA 879 to service Clearfield. From Philipsburg, it followed PA 53 to Osceola Mills and State Street and PA 350 to Bald Eagle. It then went south along South Bald Eagle Road (at the time also US 220) to Tyrone, then PA 453 and PA 45 meet US 22 at Water Street. The two highways bore a concurrency to Harrisburg. At the time of their marking, both highways swung north from Mill Creek, following PA 655 to Reedsville, then south to Lewistown, where they resumed the modern alignment. From West Chester, the highway followed PA 3 to Philadelphia. This highway was numbered as PA 5 in the earliest numbering system in the state. US 322, in its original inception in 1926, followed PA 5 from Water Street to Meadville, where it continued west on its modern alignment. Both US 22 and US 322 followed their modern alignments east of Lewistown. In 1928, concurrencies with this highway and its PA 5 moniker were deleted in favor of the national number. In 1937, US 322 was extended to and through New Jersey, replacing what remained of PA 5 between Harrisburg and West Chester, and PA 61 to Chester. In 1933, the eastern terminus was moved from Water Street to Lewistown. In 1935, the highway was opened from the Ohio state line to the Mercer County line. The bypass was originally constructed as a limited-access two-lane highway with a mix of at-grade intersections and graded interchanges, with bridges and overpasses built to accommodate a second carriageway for four lanes. In 1971, the US 202 freeway that ran to King of Prussia had been completed, which connected to the West Chester Bypass northeast of the borough and routed US 202 with US 322 on a concurrency through the remainder of the bypass. As a result, the segment of the bypass from the US 202 connection to its terminus south of the borough was widened to four lanes, while the segment from the US 202 connection to Downingtown Pike northwest of the borough remains a two-lane expressway with a freeway-grade speed limit of . In 1959, a median was installed from the West Chester Bypass to US 1. In 2011, construction was completed on improvements to the Commodore Barry Bridge approach. In 2019, construction began to convert the interchange with US 222 near Ephrata into a diverging diamond interchange. The diverging diamond interchange, which cost $10.9 million and received federal funding, opened on May 17, 2021, one year ahead of schedule. The State College Area Connector project will upgrade US 322 to four lanes between the eastern terminus of the Mount Nittany Expressway and the PA 144 interchange. On August 9, 2023, three build alternatives for the project were released, with proposals to construct along the PA 144 corridor and upgrade the existing alignment of US 322 eliminated. On January 19, 2024, it was announced that plans to build a connector road to PA 45 were dropped. PennDOT had plans since 1979 to widen the stretch of US 322 along Conchester Highway from a two-lane road to a four-lane road. The stretch of road saw a large number of accidents and fatalities, leading to the nickname "Killer Conchester". Construction on the project to widen the Conchester Highway section of US 322 began on April 28, 2017, with Governor Tom Wolf, PennDOT secretary Leslie Richards, and other state and local officials in attendance for a groundbreaking ceremony. Construction on the first phase of the widening between US 1 and Clayton Park Drive started in 2017 and was completed in December 2020. Plans to widen US 322 between Clayton Park Drive and east of Chelsea Parkway/Bethel Avenue are in the final design phase, with construction to begin in 2025. Plans to reconstruct the four-lane section of US 322 from Cherry Tree Road/Bethel Avenue to east of PA 452 are in the final design phase, with construction to begin in 2024. Plans to replace the bridge over the CSX tracks and Bethel Road along with improving the Bethel Road interchange are in the final design phase, with construction to begin in 2024. ==Major intersections==
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