Pennsylvania Route 581

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Image:Capital Beltway.gif
PA Route 581
Harrisburg Expressway
Length: 7.36 mi[1] (11.84 km)
Formed: 1992 (completed 1996)
West end: I-81/Beltway in Hampden Twp.
Major
junctions:
US 11 in Hampden Township
US 11/US 15 in Camp Hill
East end: I-83/Beltway in Lemoyne
Counties: Cumberland
Pennsylvania State Routes
< PA 580 PA 588 >
Minor - Legislative

Pennsylvania Route 581 is a 7 mile long state highway in Cumberland County, Pennsylvania. Its western terminus is at Interstate 81 exit 59 in Hampden Township, and its eastern terminus is at Interstate 83 exit 41 in Lemoyne. PA 581 makes up the southwestern quadrant of the Capital Beltway that encircles Harrisburg, with Interstate 81 and Interstate 83 comprising the remainder of the beltway.

The route is also known locally as the Harrisburg Expressway.

Contents

[edit] Exit list

County Location Mile[1] # Destinations Notes
Cumberland Hampden Township 0.00 1A-B I-81/Beltway (American Legion Mem. Hwy.) Westbound only.
1.00 2 Creekview Road
2.10 3 US 11 south (Carlisle Pike)
Western terminus of US 11/ PA 581 concurrency.
Camp Hill 4.09 4 PA 641 (Trindle Road, Central Blvd.)
Eastern terminus of US 11/ PA 581 concurrency.
5.07 5A-B US 11 north/US 15 (Corps League Mem. Hwy.) Cloverleaf interchange.
Lemoyne 7.36 6A-B I-83/Beltway (VFW Mem. Hwy.) Eastbound only.

[edit] History

The segment from Camp Hill to Lemoyne, then the only completed portion of the expressway, was first signed as PA 581 in 1992. Construction began on the Hampden Township - Camp Hill segment in 1995 and it was completed two years later, completing the beltway of expressways around Harrisburg. Engineering for the project was provided by Gannett Fleming Inc. of Camp Hill.[unreliable source?]

[edit] Miscellanea

There may be plans to upgrade this highway to Interstate 581. However, this proposal has not been put forth, and this is merely an argument among road enthusiasts, though if it were to become an interstate, it would more than likely be either 281, 481, 681, or 881, due to PA 581 connecting two interstates (I-81, and I-83).[unreliable source?]

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b DeLorme Street Atlas USA 2007 software