3rd St. NB, former US 611, from downtown Easton at Bushkill St., current PA 248.

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Eastbound


EB to the PA 164 ramp.


Continuing on the freeway to Altoona. The Ebensburg exit is the old eastern end of the western Pennsylvania US 422 (yes, there are two in the same state), while Summit is a direct exit to Old US 22 through the Allegheny Portage Railroad Historic Site.


How not to sign a multiplex, and I don't just mean the US 322 shield. The milemarkers on US 22/322 reflect US 22's mileage, which you'll only discover after the routes split. There's no point in misleading US 322 travelers by even having their mileposts at all.


One representative sign from the highway east of Harrisburg.


All east of the I-78 duplex, first and fourth signs courtesy Lou Corsaro. This part of US 22 was I-78 through PA; although substandard, it was grandfathered in the original system, and there was even an I-378 into Bethlehem. However, NJ's piece of 22 through Phillipsburg simply isn't upgradable, so I-78 was brought on a new alignment south of Allentown-Bethlehem (this new road was needed anyway to handle traffic), and the now-orphaned I-378 degraded into PA 378. One plan had I-78 following US 22 until just before West Easton, then breaking off to meet the current alignment toward NJ. (Bypassing Alpha to the north instead of the south was also part of that old plan, but survived into the development of the current alignment.)


Finishing the button copy in the last city in Pennsylvania.


An overhead black-on-yellow sign for the slowest curve on any mainline freeway, taken in 1978 by Michael Summa.


Looking east to New Jersey from the PA 611 entrance ramp (via PA 248 WB) at the 1938 Bushkill St. Bridge.

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Westbound


Crossing the Delaware River from NJ, and I am told all gone now. The "US 22" on the second sign is dull because it is the original text; the PA 33 was patched where "I-78" once stood. The PA 611 advance sign may or may not be as old as I-78, but the curve sign certainly is. You may be wondering how an Interstate could be put on a 25 MPH highway, and the tight curves through Easton caused some hesitation in designating I-78 there - yet, had NJ come through Phillipsburg and the old PA plan for the south bypass of Easton failed, I-78 would be on record as having the lowest mainline design speed of any Interstate (I-278 has low ramp speeds connecting pieces of itself). I guess the 78s are cursed.


The first sign shows a relatively new state-name shield, dating only from the completion of PA 33 to I-78 in 2002. The last three are examples of dwindling button copy.


There used to be more button copy here than just this sign, but unfortunately it was replaced. Click for the former look of this gantry, courtesy Doug Kerr, and then continue reading this caption. I-78 doesn't have an interchange with the Northeast Extension of the Turnpike because 78 is too new, but the original US 22-cum-I-78 freeway was old enough to have one, so I-78 traffic is either directed up PA 309 (from WB) or up US 22 (from EB) to get here.


Magically skipping the I-78 multiplex (only this 2-mile advance is on US 22 alone), and emerging on the other end (no longer a freeway).


In Harrisburg, second photo courtesy Doug Kerr. Reflective button copy can still be found in many places, but the old non-reflective stuff with button-copy shields is obviously on its way out.


A unique and non-reflective keystone, where US 22 turns onto Herr St. as it bypasses downtown Harrisburg, and then coming out of the city at some new but strange signs. The EXIT ONLY is fine, but the arrow should be pointing down to the lane. The EXIT HERE is something I saw more in Delaware, but never before in Pennsylvania, and really just needs to be a white slanted arrow on a green background, no text.


US 22/322 westbound from Harrisburg before the fog has had a chance to burn off. Between clouds there was some breathtaking scenery and spectacular rock cuts.


West of US 522 across the Juniata River. You're supposed to warn people in advance of the route junction. Here, obviously, the shield does nothing to help.


From Hollidaysburg into Duncansville.


From Altoona to the PA 164 ramp.


And one more exit. The button copy was patched over when US 422 was truncated to US 219. The overhead sign may be intentionally ambiguous as to whether the TO or the WEST applies to US 422, because while it technically begins at 219, FHWA's rationale for having two separate 422's is that they are linked by US 22 and 322.

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Continue on US 22 west of Ebensburg
Onto US 322 alone
I-78 and the 78/US 22 duplex
Old US 22 alongside 78/22
Back to US 22 main page

Into New Jersey on US 22
To US 422
To US 219
Onto PA 164
Onto PA 53
Onto I-81
Onto I-83
Exit 49 to PA 100
Onto PA 72
Onto PA 309
Onto Cedar Crest Blvd.
Onto PA 512
Onto PA 191
Onto PA 33
Onto PA 611
Back to Pennsylvania Roads
Back to Roads