NB just after the MD border (the 2's are PA font), and then further along US 222 toward Lancaster. The original US 222 alignment here is now PA 272 (linked at bottom); they switched for some unworthy reason. The PA 741 duplex brings them back together. The second sign is actually a new keystone, not embossed but at least in the style of the original.


Ma, ma, where's my Pa? Gone to be a Turnpike, ha ha ha! Besides the lack of postal abbreviation capitalization, this sign also runs into an interesting piece of trivia - there are two I-76's, and the second one in the West runs diagonally through Colorado to - you guessed it - Denver. In this case, Denver is a town on PA 272, not signage for a destination that requires following a couple thousand miles of I-80.


On the PA 272/US 222 SB ramp to and from the Turnpike, which meets the US 222 freeway at a diamond interchange. The first sign is therefore missed by NB traffic to the Turnpike, which is a shame, because it's one of the last button-copy Turnpike entrance trailblazers (the 8-foot-tall variety). PA 272 is old 222 from Lancaster to Reading.


Courtesy Scott Sullivan, a 19th-century bridge on Garden Spot Rd. off of N. State St. in Ephrata, original US 222 and obviously a road well before that.


US 222/422 NB/WB near Reading, first photo on the Paper Mill Rd. ramp and second photo courtesy Doug Kerr.


On all four legs of this intersection, PA 73 gets wide shields. These are NB.


And these are SB, with the one oddball shield of the bunch, on down to a railroad trestle by PA 61.


Button copy and general oldness, NB on the Kutztown bypass. The 4th photo is courtesy Mike Byrnes so that it's not blurry.


And these are SB.


The Trexlertown Bypass is almost open in the first photo, and completed by the second photo - the western part carrying PA 100 had been open, but obviously, US 222 was not ready to continue along the eastern part. The reason that's only TO PA 100 is because a creek of some sort prevented a more complex interchange, so traffic must make the next right on Weilers Road to get there. In the first photo, US 222 went "right" here (really straight), staying on Hamilton Boulevard to I-78, but in the time of the second photo, there's not even so much as a Business 222 on Hamilton.


Construction brings out the worst in contractors. Not only are the shields not cut out, but there is extra white space around them. At least there's some button copy up there, but it's wrong - US 222 now ends right here at I-78, and PA 222 takes it on into Allentown. That part of 222, and continuing on Hamilton St. to Hanover Ave. and Broad St., was the original routing of US 22.


Looking south at the construction at the end of Hamilton Boulevard, with the Trexlertown Bypass bearing off to the right in the background.


Southbound button copy to delight the eyes, and a freak-show I-78 shield to horrify them. The bear-left arrow is misleading, because it's just a turn left - should be a bent left or straight left arrow. These photos are on PA 222, turning into US 222 by the time you pass the last signs. (Note to Delaware - this is how you do it - end the US highway before beginning the state highway with the same number.)


Unfortunately rain-streaked, this sign leaving Dorney Park is unremarkable except PA 309 becomes R-309 (Route? Raccoon? Rapier?) and US 222 becomes R-222. More than that, you cannot see, but I'm pretty sure there's an R-33 in there too.

Onto PA 272 and 272/US 222
Business US 222, Reading

Onto PA 741
Onto the PA Turnpike, I-76
Onto US 422
Onto PA 73
Onto PA 100
Onto I-78 (and 78/309)
Onto PA 309 alone
US 222 on Jeff Kitsko's pahighways.com
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