U.S. Route 62 in Pennsylvania

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U.S. Route 62

US 62 highlighted in red and US 62 Business in blue
Route information
Maintained by PennDOT
Length119 mi[1] (192 km)
Existed1932[2]–present
NHS
  • Southern terminus to Neshannock Road
  • PA 8 to northern terminus[3]
Major junctions
South end US 62 at Ohio border in Sharon
Major intersections PA 18 in Hermitage

US 19 / PA 58 in Mercer
I-79 near Mercer
PA 173 / PA 358 in Sandy Lake
US 322 / PA 8 in Franklin
PA 36 in Tionesta

US 6 in Warren
North end US 62 at New York border in Pine Grove Township
Location
CountryUnited States
StatePennsylvania
CountiesMercer, Venango, Forest, Warren
Highway system
PA 61 PA 62

U.S. Route 62 (US 62) is a signed north-south U.S. Highway in Pennsylvania, which runs diagonally southwest-northeast through the industrial northwestern part of the state. Although initial portions of the route opened in 1926 in other areas of the country, US 62 was not designated in the commonwealth until 1932. The highway connects the small cities of Sharon, Franklin, Oil City, and Warren to larger markets, such as Youngstown, Ohio, and Buffalo, New York.

Route description

US 62 northbound in Hickory Township

U.S. Route 62 enters Pennsylvania from Ohio as part of the Shenango Valley Freeway. Four lanes, winding, and with limited stop lights, the road, which was built in 1958, bypasses the city of Sharon. A business route is signed on the former path of the highway. After passing through Sharon, the road reverts to two lane status, as it travels toward Mercer, the county seat of Mercer County. Here, it briefly joins US 19 through the center of town. The road then turns sharply toward a north-northeast alignment and features an interchange with Interstate 79. After cutting through rural Mercer and Venango counties, US 62 reaches the twin industrial towns of Franklin and Oil City. In Franklin, the highway is briefly cosigned with US 322, as it passes through the west side of town. The road then joins PA 8 to form a four–lane riverfront connector between the two towns. Immediately before entering Oil City, the roads split, with US 62 branching off to cross the Allegheny River over the Petroleum Street Bridge and serve the south side of town. After crossing this 1995 girder structure, which replaced a 1910 truss bridge, the highway remains four lanes until leaving the municipality.

The Allegheny River is only rarely out of sight as the highway winds its way through Venango and Forest Counties, crossing from the south bank to the north by way of the Hunter Station Bridge, an unusual 1934 truss design. It crosses the river a third time on the Tionesta Bridge, a 1961 girder structure that set the tone for 1980s–90s replacements of a series of historic bridges along the waterway. While traveling through Forest and into Warren County, the road is oriented in a north-south direction, which is reflected in its guide signs, despite the national route’s east-west direction. The route passes through the Allegheny Islands Wilderness, crosses the river again via the Irvine Bridge, and subsequently joins with US 6 via a trumpet interchange to form part of the freeway bypass of Warren, which was constructed in 1969. The routes divide near the city center, and US 62 follows a narrow path of city streets in the old city core before becoming a four–lane highway north of the town. The highway becomes a two–lane road again as it heads toward the New York boundary.

US 62 in Pennsylvania is part of the National Highway System south of Neshannock Road in Hermitage and north of the south end of the PA 8 concurrency in French Creek Township.[3]

History

US 62 was designated in Pennsylvania in 1932, replacing PA 65 between the Ohio border near Sharon and Franklin, PA 8 between Franklin and Oil City, PA 57 between Oil City and Fryburg, and PA 66 between Fryburg and the New York border. Signs were installed by June 1 of that year.[2]

Major intersections

CountyLocation[4]mikmDestinationsNotes
MercerSharon
US 62 west – Youngstown
Continues into Ohio


US 62 Bus. north (Irvine Avenue)
Southern terminus of US 62 Bus.
PA 718 / PA 760 (South Dock Street) – Farrell, WheatlandInterchange
PA 518 (Stambaugh Avenue)
Hermitage PA 418 (Maple Drive)


PA 18 (South Hermitage Road) to I-376 / I-80




US 62 Bus. south (State Street) to PA 18 north
Roundabout; northern terminus of US 62 Bus.
Mercer
PA 258 north (North Maple Street) – Clark
Southern end of PA 258 concurrency


PA 158 south (South Shenango Street) to PA 318
Northern terminus of PA 158


US 19 south (South Erie Street) to I-80 – Zelienople


PA 58 east / PA 258 south (Diamond Street)
Northern end of PA 258 concurrency; southern end of US 19 and PA 58 concurrencies

PA 58 west (Greenville Road) – Greenville
Northern end of PA 58 concurrency
Coolspring Township
US 19 north (Perry Highway) – Meadville
Northern end of US 19 concurrency
Jackson Township I-79 – Erie, PittsburghI-79 exit 121

PA 965 east (Henderson Road) – Polk, Franklin
Western terminus of PA 965
Sandy Lake Township
PA 845 north (Walnut Street) – Stoneboro
Southern terminus of PA 845
Sandy Lake
PA 173 south (South Main Street)
Southern end of PA 173 concurrency

PA 173 north (North Main Street)


PA 358 west (Lake Street) to I-79
Northern end of PA 173 concurrency; eastern terminus of PA 358
VenangoVictory Township
PA 965 west (Jackson Center-Polk Road) – Jackson Center
Eastern terminus of PA 965
French Creek Township

PA 8 south (Pittsburgh Road) to I-80 – Butler
Southern end of PA 8 concurrency
Franklin
US 322 west (13th Street)
Southern end of US 322 concurrency

US 322 east (Liberty Street)
Northern end of US 322 concurrency
Oil City
PA 8 north (Main Street) – Titusville

PA 428 north (Halyday Street)
Northern end of PA 8 concurrency; southern terminus of PA 428

PA 257 south – Cranberry
Northern terminus of PA 257
Cranberry Township
PA 157 east – Fryburg
Eastern terminus of PA 157
ForestTionesta Township
PA 36 north (Colonel Drake Highway) – Pleasantville
Southern end of PA 36 concurrency
Tionesta
PA 36 south (Elm Street) – Brookville
Northern end of PA 36 concurrency
Hickory Township
PA 127 north (Main Street) – West Hickory
Southern terminus of PA 127

PA 666 east – Endeavor
Western terminus of PA 666
WarrenLimestone Township
PA 127 south (Buckingham Street) – Tidioute
Northern terminus of PA 127
Brokenstraw Township
US 6 west (Grand Army of the Republic Highway) – Youngsville
Southern end of US 6 concurrency; interchange
Warren
US 6 east (Grand Army of the Republic Highway)


US 6 Bus. begins
Northern end of US 6 concurrency; southern end of US 6 Bus. concurrency; interchange


US 6 Bus. east (Pennsylvania Avenue West)
Northern end of US 6 Bus. concurrency
Conewango Township
PA 69 north (Jackson Run Road) – Sugar Grove
Southern terminus of PA 69
Pine Grove Township
PA 957 west – Sugar Grove
Eastern terminus of PA 957

US 62 north – Jamestown
Continues into New York
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi

References

  1. ^ Google (June 29, 2013). "U.S. Route 62 in Pennsylvania" (Map). Google Maps. Google. Retrieved June 29, 2013.
  2. ^ a b "No. 62 Designated As New Number Of Route Through Franklin". The News-Herald. Franklin, PA. February 18, 1932. p. 2. Retrieved May 25, 2016 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. ^ a b National Highway System: Pennsylvania (PDF) (Map). Federal Highway Administration. March 25, 2015. Retrieved August 14, 2015.
  4. ^ "Video Log". Pennsylvania Department of Transportation. Retrieved June 10, 2016.

External links


U.S. Route 62
Previous state:
Ohio
Pennsylvania Next state:
New York