From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
U.S. Route 222 is a spur of U.S. Route 22. It runs for 100 miles (161 km) from Conowingo, Maryland at U.S. Route 1 to Interstate 78 and Pennsylvania Route 309 in Dorneyville, Pennsylvania, where the US 222 right-of-way continues into Allentown as Pennsylvania Route 222.
[edit] Route description
| Lengths |
|
mi[1] |
km |
| MD |
3.60 |
5.79 |
| PA |
90.85 |
146.21 |
| Total |
94.45 |
152.00 |
[edit] Maryland
US 222 in Maryland used to extend down to Maryland Route 7 in Perryville, but was later truncated to US 1 at Conowingo, with the rest becoming Maryland Route 222. Because of hills, and also because of the narrowness of MD 222 in Port Deposit, a truck route (Maryland Route 222 Truck) also exists, with part of that truck route being a wrong-way concurrency with US 1.
Between Conowingo and the state line, US 222 follows an elongated "C-curve", curving to the west then doubling back east to cross the state line near the hamlet of Rock Springs.
[edit] Pennsylvania
The speed limits on US 222 in Pennsylvania range from 25 mph through towns to 65 mph on expressway portions. However, the road has a notorious reputation for speeding and tailgating. Insufficient shoulders throughout much of the length and the presence of horse and buggies in Lancaster and Berks County can make the road dangerous to travel on.
US 222 serves as the principal artery between the Lancaster and Reading areas and the Lehigh Valley. With increased development in the late 20th century the two-lane road became increasingly congested. To alleviate these problems a number of construction projects took place, most notably a four-lane Reading bypass, a four-lane expressway to connect Lancaster to Reading, and a four-lane expressway bypass around the town of Kutztown, which is situated between Reading and Allentown.
Advance signage for
US 422 on US 222 south
In Reading, US 222 has an auxiliary route, U.S. Route 222 Business, the only such route for US 222.
Recently, there has been work in Lehigh County to build a bypass around Trexlertown, since the area surrounding the intersection of Pennsylvania Route 100 and US 222 was one of the most problematic areas of the road. In 2005 the west half of the bypass was opened and the east half of the bypass, which was originally scheduled to open in late 2006, opened Sept. 28, 2007.
[edit] History
Approaching
US 30 on US 222 south
When US 222 was first designated in the 1920s, it only reached as far north as Reading, but at the time US 22 dipped down from Allentown to Reading, then west to Harrisburg. US 22 was rerouted to become a straight shot from Allentown to Harrisburg, so the roadway between Reading and Allentown became part of US 222, explaining why the highway, designated as north/south, actually runs mostly east/west between the two cities.
[edit] Major intersections
[edit] Maryland
In Maryland, US 222 is a rural road that travels through Cecil County to US 1.
[edit] Maryland state line to Lancaster
[edit] Lancaster to Reading
[edit] Kutztown Road
[edit] Kutztown Bypass
[edit] Kutztown to Upper Macungie Township
[edit] Trexlertown Bypass
[edit] References
- ^ a b DeLorme Street Atlas USA 2007 software, DeLorme's Driving Directions
- ^ DeLorme Street Atlas USA 2007 software, Toggle Measure Tool
[edit] External links
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Transportation infrastructure of the Lehigh Valley |
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| East-west thru highways |
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View of Allentown Skyline looking northwest from the Albert E. Myers (8th Street) bridge. |
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| North-south thru highways |
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| Allentown roads |
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| Bethlehem roads |
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| Other roads |
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| Public transportation |
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| Waterways and Rail |
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US 30 in Lancaster, PA
I-76/PA Tpk/PA 272 in East Cocalico Twp., PA
US 422 near Reading, PA
I-78/PA 222/PA 309 in Dorneyville, PA
continues into Pennsylvania
PA 772 - Rothsville, Brownstown
US 322 - Ephrata
PA 272 south/PA 568 east - Adamstown
PA 724 - Sinking Spring, Shillington
US 422 east/ PA 12 (Warren Street Bypass) east - Pottstown, Pricetown
PA 183 (Bernville Road) - Strausstown
PA 61 - Pottsville, Tuckerton
PA 73 (Main Street)
PA 662 (Moselem Springs Road)
PA 737 - Krumsville
PA 863
PA 100 south — Macungie, Pottstown
Grim Road/Mosser Road
US 220
PA 221
