U.S. Route 222

Conowingo to Lancaster

View north at the south end of US 222 at US 1 in Conowingo

US 222 begins at an intersection with US 1 in the community of Conowingo in Cecil County, Maryland. Following US 1 southwest to the Conowingo Dam across the Susquehanna River leads to the northern terminus of MD 222. From this intersection, the route heads northwest on two-lane undivided Rock Springs Road, passing through a mix of fields and woods with some homes. The road curves to the north through woodland and passes east of the community of Oakwood. US 222 turns to the northeast and runs through fields and woods with some development, passing to the southeast of the Rock Springs Generation Facility in the community of Rock Springs before it comes to the Mason–Dixon line, which marks the border between the states of Maryland and Pennsylvania.^[1][3]

Upon crossing the Mason–Dixon line, US 222 enters Fulton Township in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, and heads north as Robert Fulton Highway, passing between woodland to the west and farm fields to the east. The route turns to the north-northwest and runs through agricultural areas with some trees and homes, passing through the community of New Texas Lyles. The road continues through rural areas and curves to the north, heading into the residential community of Wakefield and coming to an intersection with PA 272. At this point, PA 272 turns north for a concurrency with US 222 along Robert Fulton Highway, running through a mix of farms and homes. PA 272 splits from US 222 in the community of Penn Hill by heading northwest, and US 222 continues northeast through wooded areas. The road heads into a mix of fields and woods and reaches the community of Goshen, where it turns to the north. The route runs through farmland with some woods and homes, curving northeast before heading back to the north and passing to the east of the Robert Fulton Birthplace. US 222 continues north-northeast through rural land and passes through the community of Bethel, where it crosses into Little Britain Township. The road heads north and enters East Drumore Township, continuing through farmland with some trees and residences and passing through the communities of Unicorn and Mechanics Grove. The route passes east of Solanco High School and bends to the north-northwest as it runs through more rural land.^[3][4]

US 222 enters the borough of Quarryville and becomes South Church Street, heading north past homes. The route comes to an intersection with PA 372, at which point it turns west-southwest to join that route on West State Street, running through more residential areas. US 222 splits from PA 372 by heading northwest onto West 4th Street, passing between businesses to the southwest and homes to the northeast before running through more residential areas, cutting through a corner of East Drumore Township before heading into Providence Township.^[3][4] At this point, the route enters the Pennsylvania Dutch Country of eastern Lancaster County, which is home to many Amish farms.^[5][6] In Providence Township, the route becomes Beaver Valley Pike and passes under the Enola Low Grade Trail before it runs through a mix of farmland, woodland, and residential and commercial development. The road crosses the Big Beaver Creek into Strasburg Township and heads northwest through more rural land with some development, with the creek parallel to the southwest. The creek bends away to the west and US 222 continues into agricultural areas with occasional homes, passing through the community of Martinsville and turning to the west-northwest. The route passes to the northeast of the community of Refton and curves northwest, crossing the Pequea Creek into West Lampeter Township. The road heads north through farmland and bends northwest to reach an intersection with PA 741. Here, PA 741 becomes concurrent with US 222 and the two routes curve to the west-southwest, passing between farm fields to the north and residential and commercial development to the south and heading into the community of Willow Street. Here, the road comes to an intersection with PA 272, which is split into a one-way pair at this point.^[3][4]

At this point, US 222 splits from PA 741 by turning north to join PA 272 along Willow Street Pike, a one-way pair which carries two lanes in each direction. PA 272 becomes unsigned along the US 222 concurrency. Both directions of Willow Street Pike rejoin and it continues north as a two-lane undivided road past commercial development before it runs through wooded residential areas, passing through Hollinger. US 222/PA 272 crosses Mill Creek and heads through the community of Lyndon. The road briefly gains a center left-turn lane as it continues through wooded areas of development and passes to the west of a golf course. US 222/PA 272 splits into a one-way pair, with two lanes in each direction, and crosses the Conestoga River into Lancaster Township.^[3][4]

Lancaster to Reading

US 222/PA 272 southbound and PA 72 northbound approaching Prince Street in Lancaster

After crossing the Conestoga River, northbound US 222/PA 272 becomes Highland Avenue and southbound US 222/PA 272 is called South Prince Street. The southbound direction intersects PA 324 in the community of Engleside before the two routes continue into the city of Lancaster, heading into urban residential and commercial areas. A short distance after entering Lancaster, northbound US 222/PA 272 intersects the end of one-way northbound PA 324 and heads onto South Queen Street. The two routes continues past urban rowhomes along South Queen Street northbound and South Prince Street southbound, with South Queen Street passing to the west of Woodward Hill Cemetery. Northbound US 222/PA 272 splits from South Queen Street by heading northeast onto Church Street, which carries three lanes of one-way traffic, while northbound PA 72 starts along South Queen Street. Just south of downtown Lancaster, the northbound direction of the route turns north onto South Lime Street, which carries two lanes of one-way traffic. US 222/PA 272 heads into the commercial downtown of Lancaster and crosses eastbound PA 462 at King Street. Past this, the route becomes North Lime Street northbound and North Prince Street southbound, crossing eastbound PA 23 at Chestnut Street and westbound PA 23/PA 462 at Walnut Street. The two routes leave the downtown area and run through urban areas of homes and businesses. The northbound direction passes to the east of Lancaster General Hospital between East James and East Frederick streets while the southbound direction passes to the east of Clipper Magazine Stadium, home of the Lancaster Barnstormers baseball team, north of the Harrisburg Avenue/West James Street intersection. At the intersection with Liberty Street, northbound US 222/PA 272 shifts west a block onto four-lane undivided North Duke Street, a two-way road, while the one-way pair continues into Manheim Township. A block later, at McGovern Avenue, both directions of US 222/PA 272 rejoin along North Duke Street. Southbound US 222/PA 272 follows McGovern Avenue west between North Duke Street and North Prince Street, forming the border between a portion of the city of Lancaster that is home to the Lancaster station along Amtrak's Keystone Corridor railroad line to the north and Manheim Township to the south. The roadway is a three-lane road with two westbound lanes that carry southbound US 222/PA 272 and one eastbound lane. McGovern Avenue reaches an intersection with northbound PA 72 at North Queen Street, where northbound PA 72 turns west to join southbound US 222/PA 272 along the road. At North Prince Street, southbound US 222/PA 272 turn south while PA 72 becomes two-way heading north.^[3][4]

US 222 northbound in Manheim Township

Both directions of US 222/PA 272 continue north along four-lane undivided North Duke Street and the road reaches the Thaddeus Stevens Bridge over Amtrak's Keystone Corridor, where it becomes the border between Manheim Township to the west and Lancaster to the east. At Keller Avenue, the road name changes to Lititz Pike and it fully enters Manheim Township, running through commercial areas as a five-lane road with a center left-turn lane. Northbound US 222 and PA 272 head northeast onto Oregon Pike, with PA 272 becoming signed again, while southbound US 222 and PA 501 continue north along Lititz Pike. The two routes continue northeast as a three-lane road with a center left-turn lane and runs past businesses and a few homes before it comes to an interchange with the US 30 freeway. Here, US 222 splits from PA 272, which becomes signed again, by heading east concurrent with US 30 on an eight-lane freeway, passing near developed areas. US 222 splits from US 30 at a trumpet interchange and heads north onto a four-lane freeway. The route curves northeast and runs through a mix of farmland and residential and commercial development. The freeway comes to a northbound exit and entrance with Butter Road, which provides access to PA 272 via Jake Landis Road, and a southbound exit and entrance with PA 272. Past this interchange, US 222 continues through a mix of farm fields and woodland, passing through a corner of Warwick Township before crossing the Cocalico Creek into West Earl Township.^[3][4]

The route passes near farmland before heading near homes and businesses, reaching a partial cloverleaf interchange with PA 772 north of the community of Brownstown. Past here, the freeway runs northeast through agricultural areas. Farther along, US 222 curves to the north and comes to a diverging diamond interchange with US 322 southeast of the borough of Ephrata, at which point it crosses into Ephrata Township. The route passes near businesses at the interchange before it turns northeast and runs through wooded areas with some nearby residential development and farm fields. The freeway heads into East Cocalico Township and runs through more woodland before it passes to the southeast of the community of Reamstown. US 222 passes through farmland and comes to a diamond interchange with Colonel Howard Boulevard, which heads west to provide access to PA 272 and east to provide access to the Pennsylvania Turnpike (I-76). Following this, the route passes over the Pennsylvania Turnpike and crosses into Brecknock Township, running through a mix of farm fields and woods with some nearby residential and commercial development as it passes to the southeast of the borough of Adamstown.^[3][4]

The US 222 freeway enters Brecknock Township in Berks County and continues north, passing a northbound weigh station before coming to a partial cloverleaf interchange serving the northern terminus of PA 272 and the western terminus of PA 568. Past this interchange, the route crosses into Spring Township and runs through wooded areas with some fields and homes, curving to the northeast and reaching a diamond interchange at Mohns Hill Road to the west of the community of Gouglersville. Here, the freeway crosses into Cumru Township and runs north-northeast through more rural areas, coming to a diamond interchange that connects to Grings Hill Road west of the borough of Mohnton.^[3][7]

Reading to Allentown

US 222 southbound at US 422 in Wyomissing

A short distance later, US 222 comes to a northbound exit and southbound entrance with the southern terminus of US 222 Bus., a business route that passes through the city of Reading, which US 222 bypasses to the west. From here, the route curves to the north and crosses back into Spring Township, passing near suburban residential development and coming to a partial cloverleaf interchange with PA 724 in a business area. The freeway turns to the northeast and passes through residential areas and some woodland between the community of West Wyomissing to the north and Lincoln Park to the south. US 222 briefly forms the border between Spring Township to the north and the borough of Wyomissing to the south before it bends to the north-northeast into Spring Township. The route crosses into Wyomissing and comes to an interchange with US 422 and the western terminus of US 422 Bus., at which point it also passes over Norfolk Southern's Harrisburg Line. At this interchange, US 422 becomes concurrent with US 222, and the two routes continue east-northeast along the six-lane Warren Street Bypass freeway, running between residential areas to the northwest and the Norfolk Southern tracks to the southeast. The freeway curves north into business areas and comes to a partial cloverleaf interchange with State Hill Road. Following this, US 222/US 422 passes between the Berkshire Mall to the west and commercial areas to the east before it reaches an interchange with Paper Mill Road and Crossing Drive, where it curves to the northeast and runs near more businesses. The freeway comes to an interchange where US 222 splits to the northwest, US 422 immediately afterward splits southeast along the West Shore Bypass, and, straight ahead, PA 12 begins northeast along the Warren Street Bypass.^[3][7]

Past this interchange, US 222 heads northwest as a four-lane freeway, crossing back into Spring Township and running between a farm field to the southwest and the Penn State Berks university campus to the northeast before reaching a diamond interchange with Broadcasting Road.^[3][7] The route between US 422 and the northern end of this expressway portion is known as the Outer Bypass, the POW/MIA Memorial Highway by an act of the Pennsylvania General Assembly, or the "Road to Nowhere" as it was known while incomplete and to this day.^[8] The route runs between a shopping center to the southwest and Tulpehocken Valley County Park to the northeast prior to reaching the Spring Ridge Drive exit. At this point, the freeway turns north and crosses the Tulpehocken Creek into Bern Township and runs north-northeast through wooded areas with some nearby homes and commercial development, coming to a partial cloverleaf interchange with PA 183. Following this, US 222 curves northeast, passing to the northwest of Reading Regional Airport and running through farm fields before crossing the Schuylkill River into Muhlenberg Township. The route passes near residential neighborhoods and some commercial development, passing over the Reading Blue Mountain and Northern Railroad's Reading Division line and reaching a partial cloverleaf interchange with PA 61. The freeway passes under another Reading Blue Mountain and Northern Railroad line and Norfolk Southern's Evansville Industrial Track railroad line, crossing into Ontelaunee Township. At this point, US 222 heads northeast through industrial areas, with Norfolk Southern's Reading Line parallel to the southeast. The freeway comes to an end at a trumpet interchange, where US 222 intersects the northern terminus of US 222 Bus. and merges onto that road.^[3][7]

US 222 northbound past PA 662 in Moselem Springs

From here, US 222 heads north-northeast on four-lane divided Allentown Pike past a few businesses. The route enters Maidencreek Township and becomes a five-lane road with a center left-turn lane, running through a mix of fields and woods with some homes. The road curves northeast and passes commercial development, coming to an intersection with PA 73 in the community of Maiden Creek. Past this intersection, US 222 runs past a mix of residential development and businesses with some farm fields, meeting Tamarack Boulevard/Genesis Drive and Schaeffer Road at roundabouts.^[3][7] At this point, the route narrows to three lanes with a center left-turn lane and heads into the agricultural East Penn Valley in northeastern Berks County, which is home to an Old Order Mennonite community.^[3][7][9] US 222 continues northeast through farmland with some trees, residences, and businesses, passing through the community of Kirbyville and crossing into Richmond Township, where the name becomes Kutztown Road. Farther northeast, the road heads past businesses and comes to a roundabout with PA 662 in the community of Moselem Springs. US 222 continues through farmland with some development, passing to the southeast of a golf course in the community of Kempville.^[3][7]

The route becomes a four-lane freeway called the Kutztown Bypass, which bypasses the borough of Kutztown to the northwest, with a northbound exit and southbound entrance at Kutztown Road providing access to Kutztown. The freeway heads northeast through agricultural areas and crosses into Maxatawny Township, where it comes to a southbound exit and northbound entrance at Crystal Cave Road that provides access to Crystal Cave and the community of Virginville. From here, the route heads through more rural land before it passes through a section of Kutztown and runs near residential areas and farmland north of the Kutztown University of Pennsylvania campus. US 222 crosses back into Maxatawny Township and curves east, passing over the Sacony Creek and coming to a partial cloverleaf interchange with the southern terminus of PA 737 that provides access to Kutztown. The freeway crosses back into Kutztown and passes near homes before it reenters Maxatawny Township and the Kutztown Bypass ends at a southbound exit and northbound entrance with Kutztown Road that serves the borough. From here, US 222 becomes two-lane undivided Kutztown Road and runs east-northeast through farmland before heading past businesses near the Long Lane intersection. The route gains a center left-turn lane and passes through the residential community of Monterey before it continues through agricultural areas. Farther east, the road heads into the community of Maxatawny, where it is lined with homes and a few businesses.^[3][7]

US 222 southbound at split with PA 100 in Trexlertown

US 222 enters Upper Macungie Township in Lehigh County, which is in the Lehigh Valley, and becomes two-lane undivided Hamilton Boulevard, passing through farmland with some businesses and coming to a roundabout with the southern terminus of PA 863, Schantz Road, and Farmington Road. The route gains a center left-turn lane and continues east through farm fields with some homes and businesses, heading to the south of an office park. Residential and commercial development along the road increases as it passes to the north of the community of Breinigsville. A bit further east, US 222 diverges from Hamilton Boulevard at a northbound exit and southbound entrance onto a four-lane divided expressway called the Frederick J. Jaindl Jr. Memorial Highway, immediately reaching a partial interchange with the PA 100 bypass of the community of Trexlertown. Here, Hamilton Boulevard continues east into Trexlertown, northbound US 222 merges with northbound PA 100, and southbound US 222 splits from southbound PA 100. All other connections between PA 100 and US 222 are provided by Hamilton Boulevard and Weilers Road. US 222 and PA 100 continue north concurrent along the expressway, passing near homes and intersecting Grim Road/Cetronia Road at-grade. The road curves northeast and runs between warehouses to the northwest and housing developments to the southeast. PA 100 splits from US 222 at a diamond interchange, at which point PA 100 continues north and Trexlertown Road heads south. US 222 continues past industrial areas and farmland, coming to a bridge over Norfolk Southern's C&F Secondary. The route bends east and runs past more farmland before heading near residential neighborhoods, crossing over Cetronia Road on a bridge before intersecting Grange Road/Mill Creek Road at-grade. US 222 crosses into Lower Macungie Township and curves to the east-northeast, passing north of a shopping center and intersecting North Krocks Road at an at-grade intersection with a northbound exit and entrance ramp for right turns and access to and from the shopping center. Past this, the route has a southbound exit to Brookside Road north of the community of Wescosville. The road comes to a bridge over the Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension (I-476) and runs between industrial development to the north and businesses to the south, reaching an intersection with Hamilton Boulevard and Cedarbrook Road/Kressler Road. Here, US 222 widens to six lanes and becomes Hamilton Boulevard again, heading east-northeast to the north of a park and ride lot before it comes to its northern terminus at a partial cloverleaf interchange with I-78/PA 309 in the community of Dorneyville. Past this interchange, Hamilton Boulevard continues as PA 222 towards the city of Allentown.^[3][10]

Discover more about Route description related topics

Conowingo, Maryland

Conowingo, Maryland

Conowingo is a community in northwestern Cecil County, Maryland, United States. The community replaced a previous one that was inundated by a reservoir.

Cecil County, Maryland

Cecil County, Maryland

Cecil County is a county located in the U.S. state of Maryland at the northeastern corner of the state, bordering both Pennsylvania and Delaware. As of the 2020 census, the population was 103,725. The county seat is Elkton. The county was named for Cecil Calvert, 2nd Baron Baltimore (1605–1675), the first Proprietary Governor of the Province (colony) of Maryland. With the eastern part of the county being closer to Philadelphia than to Baltimore, it is part of the Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD Metropolitan Statistical Area. The county is located in Wilmington's Radio Market and Baltimore's Designated Market Area.

Maryland

Maryland

Maryland is a state in the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States. It borders Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware and the Atlantic Ocean to its east. With a total land area of 12,407 square miles (32,130 km2), Maryland is the 8th smallest state by land area, but with a population of over 6,177,200, it ranks as the 18th most populous state and the 5th most densely populated. Baltimore is the largest city in the state, and the capital is Annapolis. Among its occasional nicknames are Old Line State, the Free State, and the Chesapeake Bay State. It is named after Henrietta Maria, the French-born queen of England, Scotland, and Ireland, who was known then in England as Mary.

Conowingo Dam

Conowingo Dam

The Conowingo Dam is a large hydroelectric dam in the lower Susquehanna River near the town of Conowingo, Maryland. The medium-height, masonry gravity dam is one of the largest non-federal hydroelectric dams in the U.S., and the largest dam in the state of Maryland.

Maryland Route 222

Maryland Route 222

Maryland Route 222 (MD 222) is a state highway in the U.S. state of Maryland. The highway runs 11.36 miles (18.28 km) from MD 7 in Perryville north to U.S. Route 1 (US 1) near Conowingo. MD 222 connects Perryville, Port Deposit, and Conowingo along its route paralleling the Susquehanna River in western Cecil County. Due to limitations in the highway in Port Deposit, including a steep hill and a low-clearance railroad bridge, trucks are directed to use MD 275, MD 276, and US 1 through Woodlawn and Rising Sun to connect Interstate 95 (I-95) with US 222 in Conowingo.

Oakwood, Maryland

Oakwood, Maryland

Oakwood is an unincorporated community, in Cecil County, Maryland, United States. It lies at an elevation of 371 feet (113 m).

Mason–Dixon line

Mason–Dixon line

The Mason–Dixon line, also called the Mason and Dixon line or Mason's and Dixon's line, is a demarcation line separating four U.S. states, forming part of the borders of Pennsylvania, Maryland, Delaware, and West Virginia. It was surveyed between 1763 and 1767 by Charles Mason and Jeremiah Dixon as part of the resolution of a border dispute involving Maryland, Pennsylvania, and Delaware in colonial America. The dispute had its origins almost a century earlier in the somewhat confusing proprietary grants by King Charles I to Lord Baltimore (Maryland) and by King Charles II to William Penn.

Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania, officially the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, is a state spanning the Mid-Atlantic, Northeastern, Appalachian, and Great Lakes regions of the United States. Pennsylvania borders Delaware to its southeast, Maryland to its south, West Virginia to its southwest, Ohio to its west, Lake Erie and the Canadian province of Ontario to its northwest, New York state to its north, and the Delaware River and New Jersey to its east.

Lancaster County, Pennsylvania

Lancaster County, Pennsylvania

Lancaster County, sometimes nicknamed the Garden Spot of America or Pennsylvania Dutch Country, is a county in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. It is located in the south central part of Pennsylvania. As of the 2020 census, the population was 552,984. Its county seat is Lancaster. Lancaster County comprises the Lancaster, Pennsylvania metropolitan statistical area.

Pennsylvania Route 272

Pennsylvania Route 272

Pennsylvania Route 272 is a 54.7-mile-long (88.0 km) highway in southeastern Pennsylvania, in the Lancaster area. The southern terminus of the route is at the Mason–Dixon line southeast of Nottingham, where the road continues into Maryland as Maryland Route 272. The northern terminus is at an interchange with U.S. Route 222 and PA 568 near Adamstown, where PA 568 continues east. The route heads from the Maryland border northwest through the western corner of Chester County, intersecting US 1 in Nottingham. PA 272 continues west into Lancaster County and intersects US 222 in Wakefield, where it turns north and passes through Buck before widening into a divided highway as it comes to another junction with US 222 in Willow Street. Here, the route becomes unsigned and follows US 222 north through Lancaster along a one-way pair of city streets. North of Lancaster, US 222 splits at an interchange with US 30 and PA 272 becomes signed again, heading northeast parallel to the freeway alignment of US 222 and passing through Akron, Ephrata, and Adamstown. The route enters Berks County and comes to its northern terminus.

Concurrency (road)

Concurrency (road)

A concurrency in a road network is an instance of one physical roadway bearing two or more different route numbers. When two roadways share the same right-of-way, it is sometimes called a common section or commons. Other terminology for a concurrency includes overlap, coincidence, duplex, triplex, multiplex, dual routing or triple routing.

Mechanics Grove, Pennsylvania

Mechanics Grove, Pennsylvania

Mechanics Grove is an unincorporated community located within East Drumore Township in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. Mechanics Grove is located along U.S. Route 222 south of the town of Quarryville.

US 222 southbound/US 422 westbound at State Hill Road exit in Wyomissing

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.

1939 USGS Allentown map, showing US 222 along the current alignment of PA 222

By the early 1930s the road then signed as US 22 became problematic for motorists in Lebanon along the current US 422; Reading via US 22 and US 222; and Allentown on Hamilton Street (US 22).^[11] PA 43 had been aligned as a bypass between Allentown and Harrisburg.^[12] On June 8, 1931, the American Association of State Highway Officials came to a resolution to the traffic problem, by replacing the PA 43 corridor with US 22 and the William Penn Highway name to match.^[11][13] The state truncated PA 43 to Susquehanna Street from Allentown to Bethlehem.^[14] US 222 replaced the former US 22 alignment from Reading to Allentown. Hamilton Street was numbered as US 222, west of Center City Allentown, where it turned north onto 15th Street. This portion of US 222 was seven-blocks long which ended at Tilghman Street (then US 22).^[15] Signs were changed to reflect the new designations on May 31, 1932, with the new route designations officially in place on June 1, 1932.^[16]

The first stretch of highway between Perryville and Conowingo in Maryland that would become part of US 222 to be improved was in Perryville, where Cecil County constructed with state aid a macadam road from the Aikin station on the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad south toward the Post Road (now MD 7) by 1910.^[17] Cecil County extended the macadam road to the Post Road by 1919.^[18][19] The highway from the Aikin railroad crossing to Port Deposit was paved as a 15-foot-long (4.6 m) concrete road in two sections: from the railroad to near Port Deposit by 1921 and through Port Deposit by 1923.^[19][20][21] MD 268, which was the original designation for the road between Perryville and Conowingo, was paved as a concrete road from Port Deposit to US 1 at Conowingo Dam between 1930 and 1933; the construction work included repurposing a railroad bridge across Octoraro Creek as a highway bridge.^[22][19][23] MD 268's bridge across the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad was constructed between 1931 and 1934.^[24][25] The old highway approaching the Aikin grade crossing became MD 449.^[25] MD 268 was proposed to be widened to 20 feet (6.1 m) from US 40 to US 1 in 1934.^[24]

The section of Rock Springs Road between present-day US 1 and Old Conowingo Road/Ragan Road was constructed by the state of Maryland as a macadam road by 1921.^[19] The portion of Rock Springs Road between Old Conowingo Road/Ragan Road and the Pennsylvania border was built by the state as a concrete road by 1928.^[26] US 222 was designated in Maryland by 1930, with the southern terminus at US 1 in Conowingo.^[27]

MD 268 was replaced by a southern extension of US 222 from US 1 at Conowingo to US 40 (now MD 7) in Perryville in 1938.^[28] The portion of US 222 from US 40 to near Port Deposit was expanded to improve access between the U.S. Highway and United States Naval Training Center Bainbridge, east of Port Deposit in 1942 and 1944.^[29][30]

With the construction of the Lehigh Valley Thruway in the early 1950s and the relocation of US 22 to that route, US 222 was extended east along Tilghman Street to 7th Street, then north on 7th Street to the interchange with the new freeway.

In the late 1950s, US 222 was realigned to a newly constructed bypass carrying US 309 and PA 29, west of Allentown. From the south, US 222 left Hamilton Boulevard and turned north onto the freeway. US 222 terminated at an interchange with US 22, US 309, and PA 29 in South Whitehall Township.^[31][32] The freeway, originally signed as US 309/PA 29/US 222, dropped the PA 29 designation in 1966; in 1968, US 309 was replaced with to PA 309 and US 222 was truncated to end at the current northern termini.^[33][34] By the 1980s, I-78 became part of the freeway that occupied PA 309.^[35]

US 222 in Maryland was widened and resurfaced between what is now the MD 222–MD 275—MD 824 intersection and Port Deposit in 1959 and 1960.^[36] US 222 was relocated as part of the construction of its original diamond interchange with I-95 in 1962 and 1963.^[36][37] The old alignment of US 222 east of its I-95 interchange became MD 824.^[37] The highway was resurfaced with bituminous concrete from MD 7 to US 40 and reconstructed and widened from US 40 to the southern MD 824 intersection in 1968 and 1969.^[36] The widening work included widening US 222's bridge across the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, which was removed and replaced between 1987 and 1989.^[25][38] The I-95 interchange was converted from a standard diamond to a four-ramp partial cloverleaf with all four ramps east of US 222 between 1993 and 1994.^[39][40][41]

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 borough of Kutztown, which is situated between Reading and Allentown.

Studies for a limited-access highway connecting Lancaster and Reading began in the early 1950s.^[42] In 1962, construction began on a four-lane highway between Spring Township and Bern Township that would eventually connect to US 222. After construction stopped, this stretch became known as "The Road to Nowhere."^[42][43] In 1970, construction began for a freeway bypass carrying US 222 around Kutztown. The US 222 bypass of Kutztown opened on May 25, 1973, with a ribbon-cutting ceremony held.^[44] In 1973, the federal government approved the relocation of homes and businesses along the path of the proposed US 222 freeway between Lancaster and Reading. In July 1977, the final section of the US 222 freeway between Lancaster and the Berks County border opened to traffic.^[42]

US 222 northbound past the PA 183 interchange in Bern Township

In 1949, plans were made to build a four-lane bridge across Tulpehocken Creek at Warren Street. As part of this plan, Warren Street was to be widened from the proposed bridge to Schuylkill Avenue. This widened Warren Street was envisioned to become part of a bypass route of Reading for US 222.^[45] The bridge and widening were approved with the provision that Warren Street only be widened as far as Schuylkill Avenue as not to build a bypass route through a residential area.^[46] Construction on the bridge and the Warren Street Bypass between US 422 (Harrisburg Pike, now Penn Avenue) and PA 83 (now PA 183, Schuylkill Avenue) began in 1950.^[47] In 1953, the Park Avenue Extension (which extended Park Avenue in Wyomissing to the bypass) and the Warren Street Bypass from US 422 in Wyomissing to Tulpehocken Creek, along with the Tulpehocken Creek bridge, was finished, with a continuation of the Warren Street Bypass northeast from PA 83 to US 222 (Allentown Pike, now 5th Street Highway) proposed.^[48][49] Construction on the extension of the Warren Street Bypass to US 222 began in 1956 with the process of widening of the existing Warren Street.^[50] The PA 83 bridge over the bypass was built in 1957.^[51] In 1959, the Warren Street Bypass extension to US 222 was opened to traffic with the portion of Warren Street between Tulpehocken Creek and PA 83 widened to four lanes.^[52][53] The Warren Street Bypass included an interchange with the under-construction Reading Bypass (now US 422, West Shore Bypass) southwest of Tulpehocken Creek when it opened in 1959.^[52] On November 15, 1975, the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) approved for US 222 to be routed to bypass Reading, with the route following US 422 along the West Shore Bypass between Lancaster Avenue and the Warren Street Bypass and the Warren Street Bypass between the West Shore Bypass and Allentown Pike. The former alignment of US 222 through Reading between the West Shore Bypass and the Warren Street Bypass received the US 222 Bus. designation.^[54][55]

In 1984, the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) was planning to extend PA 145 and US 222 in Allentown. Traffic engineer Samuel D. Darrohh said that Allentown is one of few Pennsylvania cities without a traffic route going through it. After the plan was introduced, he said that motorists might be aided if US 222 were extended along Hamilton Boulevard to connect with the proposed PA 145 corridor.^[56] PennDOT originally planned the road as US 222 but AASHTO denied the extension, stating that the route "is not the shortest or best available route between major control points on the system, and therefore, does not adhere to the policies established under AASHTO's 'Purpose and Policy Statement for U.S. Numbered Highways'". In addition, the route did not meet the criteria for a business route.^[57] In 1991, it was commissioned as PA 222. PA 145 was extended south of the Lehigh Valley Thruway to the I-78/PA 309 overlap near Lanark.^[58]

US 222 in Maryland used to extend down to MD 7 in Perryville. In 1972, the south end of US 222 was cut back to US 40 in Perryville, with MD 222 replacing the route along Aiken Avenue between MD 7 and US 40.^[59][60] AASHTO approved rolling back the southern end of the US 222 designation from US 40 in Perryville to US 1 in Conowingo at their April 1995 spring meeting.^[61] The Maryland State Highway Administration proposed and AASHTO approved the redesignation of US 222 to MD 222 from US 40 in Perryville to US 1 in Conowingo in February 1996; however, the new designation had already been enacted officially and marked publicly in 1995.^[62][63][64]

In 1995, construction began on the Park Road Corridor to connect US 222/US 422 at the junction of the West Shore Bypass and Warren Street Bypass to the Road to Nowhere.^[42] Construction of the Park Road Corridor was completed in October 1998. As a result, US 222 was shifted to follow the Park Road Corridor and the Road to Nowhere to bypass the Reading area, replacing SR 3055 along the Road to Nowhere. The former alignment of US 222 that was bypassed became PA 12 along the Warren Street Bypass between US 222/US 422 and US 222 Bus. and a northern extension of US 222 Bus. along 5th Street Highway and Allentown Pike through Muhlenberg Township.^[65] In 1998, construction began on the US 222 freeway bypass of Reading between PA 724 and US 422; this section of road opened in 2000. Construction began in 2001 on the US 222 freeway between Grings Hill Road and PA 724 while construction of the section between the Lancaster County border and Grings Hill Road started in 2003.^[42] In 2004, construction was completed on the section of the US 222 freeway between Grings Hill Road and PA 724. As a result, US 222 was shifted to follow the new freeway between Grings Hill Road and US 422 and run concurrent with US 422 on the Warren Street Bypass north to the interchange with the West Shore Bypass and PA 12. The former alignment of US 222 along Lancaster Avenue became a southern extension of US 222 Bus.^[42][66] In June 2006, the US 222 freeway was completed between the Lancaster County border and Grings Hill Road; marking the completion of the US 222 freeway between Lancaster and Reading.^[42]

US 222 northbound past PA 100 in Trexlertown

In 2002, construction began on a bypass route for US 222 and PA 100 around Trexlertown. On September 29, 2005, PA 100 was rerouted to bypass the community to the west along the four-lane divided Trexlertown Bypass.^[67][68] US 222 was moved onto the bypass on September 28, 2007 following the extension of the bypass east to allow US 222 to bypass the community. The bypass cost $144 million to build.^[68] The former alignment of US 222 through Trexlertown along Hamilton Boulevard was designated SR 6222.^[10][67]

In March 2013, construction began on a new bridge to carry US 222/PA 272 over the Amtrak tracks in Lancaster. The bridge project cost $26.6 million, with $12.7 million of that figure the actual construction costs of the bridge. The new bridge, which is four lanes wide and connects Lititz Pike directly with North Duke Street, opened to traffic on July 9, 2014, with the old bridge closed and later demolished. The bridge carrying US 222/PA 272 over the Amtrak line was named the Thaddeus Stevens Bridge in honor of Thaddeus Stevens, a 19th-century abolitionist and United States Representative who was from Lancaster. Concurrent with the construction of the new bridge, McGovern Avenue was converted to a two-way road between North Queen Street and North Duke Street to provide improved access to Lancaster station.^[69]

In 2010, officials in Berks County pushed for PennDOT to widen a portion of the two-lane road to four lanes due to traffic and safety issues.^[70] In June 2018, plans to widen a portion of US 222 in Maidencreek Township near the PA 73 intersection to five lanes with a center left-turn lane received approval from township supervisors. Bidding for the widening project was expected to begin in spring 2019, with the project lasting for two years.^[71] On September 9, 2019, construction began on a $26 million project to widen US 222 at the PA 73 intersection along with adding roundabouts at Genesis Drive and Schaeffer Road in Maidencreek Township.^[72] The roundabout at Schaeffer Road opened in December 2021.^[73] The construction project widening US 222 in Maidencreek Township and adding two roundabouts was completed in June 2022.^[74]

In addition to the proposed widening, a roundabout was planned at the intersection with PA 662 in Richmond Township in order to reduce traffic congestion.^[75] The project, which cost $6.6 million, replaced the signalized intersection between the two routes with a roundabout, with US 222 widened to four lanes at the roundabout. Construction of the roundabout began on September 6, 2016.^[76] The roundabout opened to traffic on May 22, 2018,^[77] with all lanes at the roundabout opened on July 20, 2018.^[78] There are plans to construct a roundabout at the intersection with Schantz Road in Upper Macungie Township.^[79] In 2021, preliminary design began on a project to widen US 222 between Maidencreek Township and the southern end of the Kutztown Bypass to a four-lane road with a median barrier preventing left turns and cross traffic. Along this stretch, roundabouts will be constructed at Pleasant Hill Road and Richmond Road. Construction contracts are planned to be awarded in 2024 with completion expected in 2026. In 2022, construction will begin on a roundabout at Long Lane in Maxatawny Township. Preliminary engineering to widen US 222 between the northern end of the Kutztown Bypass and the Lehigh County line is not expected to take place until the late 2020s.^[80]

In 2019, construction began to convert the interchange with US 322 near Ephrata into a diverging diamond interchange. The diverging diamond interchange, which cost $10.9 million and received federal funding, opened on May 17, 2021, one year ahead of schedule.^[81]

Discover more about History related topics

Reading, Pennsylvania

Reading, Pennsylvania

Reading is a city in and the county seat of Berks County, Pennsylvania, United States. The city had a population of 95,112 at the 2020 census and is the fourth-largest city in Pennsylvania after Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, and Allentown. Reading is located in the southeastern part of the state and is the principal city of the Greater Reading Area, which had 420,152 residents in 2020.

Allentown, Pennsylvania

Allentown, Pennsylvania

Allentown is a city in Lehigh County in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, United States. The city had a population of 125,845 at the 2020 census. Allentown is the fastest-growing major city in Pennsylvania and the state's third-largest city after Philadelphia and Pittsburgh. It is the largest city in both Lehigh County and the Lehigh Valley, which had a population of 861,899 and was the 68th most populous metropolitan area in the United States as of 2020. Allentown was founded in 1762 and is the county seat of Lehigh County.

Harrisburg, Pennsylvania

Harrisburg, Pennsylvania

Harrisburg is the capital city of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, United States, and the seat of Dauphin County. With a population of 50,135 as of 2021, Harrisburg is the 9th largest city and 15th largest municipality in Pennsylvania.

Lebanon, Pennsylvania

Lebanon, Pennsylvania

Lebanon is a city in and the county seat of Lebanon County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 26,814 at the 2020 census.

Center City, Allentown, Pennsylvania

Center City, Allentown, Pennsylvania

Center City is the downtown and central business district of Allentown, Pennsylvania, the third largest city in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. It has a dense population and is currently undergoing an urban revitalization process.

State Route 1002 (Lehigh County, Pennsylvania)

State Route 1002 (Lehigh County, Pennsylvania)

State Route 1002 (SR 1002), locally known as Tilghman Street and Union Boulevard, is a major 13.8 mi (22.2 km) long east–west road in the Lehigh Valley area of the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. The majority of the roadway is the former alignment of U.S. Route 22, maintained by the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation as a Quadrant Route, and is not signed except on small white segment markers.

Perryville, Maryland

Perryville, Maryland

Perryville is a town in Cecil County, Maryland, United States. The population was 4,361 at the 2010 census. The town is located near an access for Interstate 95, on the north side of the outlet of the Susquehanna River.

Baltimore and Ohio Railroad

Baltimore and Ohio Railroad

The Baltimore and Ohio Railroad was the first common carrier railroad and the oldest railroad in the United States with its first section opening in 1830. Merchants from Baltimore, which had benefited to some extent from the construction of the National Road early in the century, wanted to do business with settlers crossing the Appalachian Mountains. The railroad faced competition from several existing and proposed enterprises, including the Albany-Schenectady Turnpike, built in 1797, the Erie Canal, which opened in 1825, and the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal. At first, the B&O was located entirely in the state of Maryland; its original line extending from the port of Baltimore west to Sandy Hook, Maryland, opened in 1834. There it connected with Harper's Ferry, first by boat, then by the Wager Bridge, across the Potomac River into Virginia, and also with the navigable Shenandoah River.

Maryland Route 7

Maryland Route 7

Maryland Route 7 (MD 7) is a collection of state highways in the U.S. state of Maryland. Known for much of their length as Philadelphia Road, there are five disjoint mainline sections of the highway totaling 40.23 miles (64.74 km) that parallel U.S. Route 40 (US 40) in Baltimore, Harford, and Cecil counties in northeastern Maryland. The longest section of MD 7 begins at US 40 just east of the city of Baltimore in Rosedale and extends through eastern Baltimore County and southern Harford County to US 40 in Aberdeen. The next segment of the state highway is a C-shaped route through Havre de Grace on the west bank of the Susquehanna River. The third mainline section of MD 7 begins in Perryville on the east bank of the Susquehanna River and ends at US 40 a short distance west of the start of the fourth section, which passes through Charlestown and North East before ending at US 40, just west of Elkton. The fifth segment of the highway begins at South Street and passes through the eastern part of Elkton before reconnecting with US 40 east of Elkton and west of the Delaware state line.

Port Deposit, Maryland

Port Deposit, Maryland

Port Deposit is a town in Cecil County, Maryland, United States. It is located on the east bank of the Susquehanna River near its discharge into the Chesapeake Bay. The population was 653 at the 2010 census.

Conowingo Dam

Conowingo Dam

The Conowingo Dam is a large hydroelectric dam in the lower Susquehanna River near the town of Conowingo, Maryland. The medium-height, masonry gravity dam is one of the largest non-federal hydroelectric dams in the U.S., and the largest dam in the state of Maryland.

Octoraro Creek

Octoraro Creek

Octoraro Creek is a 22.1-mile-long (35.6 km) tributary of the Susquehanna River, joining it 9 miles (14 km) above the Susquehanna's mouth at Chesapeake Bay. The Octoraro rises as an East and West Branch in Pennsylvania. The East Branch and Octoraro Creek form the southern half of the border between Lancaster and Chester counties until the creek crosses the Mason-Dixon line. It winds through northwestern Cecil County, Maryland before joining the Susquehanna.

State	County	Location	mi [1][2]	km	Destinations	Notes
Maryland	Cecil	Conowingo	0.00	0.00	US 1 (Conowingo Road) to MD 222 south / I-95 – Bel Air, Rising Sun, Perryville	Southern terminus of US 222
Mason–Dixon Line			3.61 0.000	5.81 0.000	Maryland–Pennsylvania state line
Pennsylvania	Lancaster	Fulton Township	4.054	6.524	PA 272 south (Nottingham Road) – Nottingham	South end of PA 272 overlap
			4.526	7.284	PA 272 north (Lancaster Pike) – Lancaster	North end of PA 272 overlap
		Quarryville	13.709	22.062	PA 372 east (State Street) to PA 472 – Christiana, Oxford	South end of PA 372 overlap
			14.162	22.792	PA 372 west (State Street) – Buck	North end of PA 372 overlap
		West Lampeter Township	22.807	36.704	PA 741 east (Village Road) – Lampeter, Strasburg	South end of PA 741 overlap
			24.180	38.914	PA 272 south (Willow Street Pike) – Buck, Wakefield, Baltimore PA 741 west (Long Lane) – New Danville	North end of PA 741 overlap; south end of PA 272 overlap; south end of unsigned section of PA 272
		Lancaster Township–Lancaster line	26.991	43.438	PA 324 south (New Danville Pike)	Northern terminus of PA 324; no direct access from northbound US 222 / PA 272 to PA 324
		Lancaster	27.708	44.592	PA 72 north (South Queen Street)	Southern terminus of northbound PA 72; no access from southbound US 222 / PA 272
			28.127	45.266	PA 462 east (King Street)
			28.345	45.617	PA 23 east (Chestnut Street)
			28.454	45.792	PA 23 west / PA 462 west (Walnut Street)
		Lancaster–Manheim Township line	29.210	47.009	PA 72 north (North Prince Street) – Manheim, Lebanon	Southern terminus of southbound PA 72; no direct access between northbound US 222 / PA 272 and PA 72
		Manheim Township	29.839	48.021	PA 501 north (Lititz Pike) – Lititz	South end of PA 501 overlap with southbound US 222; southern terminus of PA 501; north end of unsigned section of PA 272; no direct access from southbound PA 501 to northbound US 222
			30.280	48.731	South end of freeway
			30.280	48.731	US 30 west / PA 283 west – York, Harrisburg PA 272 north (Oregon Pike) PA 501 north (Lititz Pike) – Lititz	Diamond interchange with collector-distributor lanes along US 30 freeway; north end of PA 501 overlap with southbound US 222; north end of PA 272 overlap; south end of US 30 overlap
			30.920	49.761	US 30 east – Coatesville, Philadelphia	Trumpet interchange; north end of US 30 overlap
			34.112	54.898	To PA 272 (Oregon Pike)	Complementary half-diamond interchanges; northbound exit and entrance via Butter Road and Jake Landis Road; southbound exit and entrance via PA 272
		West Earl Township	36.849	59.303	PA 772 – Rothsville, Brownstown	Partial cloverleaf interchange; access to Akron and Lititz
		Ephrata Township	41.235	66.361	US 322 – Ephrata	Diverging diamond interchange; access to Ephrata Cloister
		East Cocalico Township	46.385	74.649	I-76 Toll / Penna Turnpike / PA 272 – Denver	Diamond interchange; access via Colonel Howard Boulevard; I-76 / Penna Turnpike Exit 286 (Reading); E-ZPass or toll-by-plate on Penna Turnpike; access to Reamstown and Adamstown
	Berks	Brecknock Township	51.185	82.374	PA 272 south / PA 568 east – Adamstown, Knauers	Partial cloverleaf interchange; northern terminus of PA 272; western terminus of PA 568
		Spring Township	53.120	85.488	Gouglersville	Diamond interchange; access via Mohns Hill Road
		Cumru Township	54.629	87.917	Mohnton	Diamond interchange; access via Grings Hill Road
			55.065	88.619	US 222 Bus. north (Lancaster Avenue) – Shillington	Northbound exit, southbound entrance; southern terminus of US 222 Bus.
		Spring Township	56.388	90.748	PA 724 – Sinking Spring, Shillington	Partial cloverleaf interchange
		Wyomissing	57.813	93.041	US 422 west / US 422 Bus. east (Penn Avenue) – Lebanon	Partial cloverleaf interchange with flyovers; south end of US 422 overlap
			58.745	94.541	State Hill Road	Partial cloverleaf interchange
			59.232	95.325	Crossing Drive / Paper Mill Road	Partial cloverleaf interchange
			59.907	96.411	US 422 east – Pottstown PA 12 east – Pricetown	Partial cloverleaf interchange with flyovers; western terminus of PA 12; no access from westbound PA 12 to northbound US 222 or from southbound US 222 to eastbound PA 12; north end of US 422 overlap
		Spring Township	61.090	98.315	Broadcasting Road	Diamond interchange; access to Penn State Berks
			61.775	99.417	Spring Ridge Drive	Diamond interchange
		Bern Township	63.157	101.641	PA 183 (Bernville Road) – Strausstown	Partial cloverleaf interchange; access to Reading Regional Airport
		Muhlenberg Township	66.369	106.811	PA 61 – Pottsville, Tuckerton
		Ontelaunee Township	68.266	109.863	US 222 Bus. south – Laureldale	Trumpet interchange; northern terminus of US 222 Bus.
			68.266	109.863	North end of freeway
		Maidencreek Township	69.793	112.321	PA 73 (Main Street) – Leesport, Oley, Boyertown
		Richmond Township	73.896	118.924	PA 662 (Moselem Springs Road) – Shoemakersville, Fleetwood	Roundabout
			75.508	121.518	South end of freeway
			75.508	121.518	Virginville, Kutztown	Northbound exit, southbound entrance; access via Kutztown Road
		Richmond–Maxatawny township line	76.437	123.013	Virginville	Southbound exit, northbound entrance; access via Crystal Cave Road
		Kutztown–Maxatawny Township line	78.200	125.851	PA 737 north – Krumsville	Partial cloverleaf interchange; southern terminus of PA 737; access to Kutztown University
		Maxatawny Township	79.717	128.292	Kutztown	Southbound exit, northbound entrance; access via Kutztown Road
			79.717	128.292	North end of freeway
	Lehigh	Upper Macungie Township	83.226	133.939	PA 863 north (Schantz Road/Independent Road) – New Smithville	Roundabout; southern terminus of PA 863
			85.693	137.910	Hamilton Boulevard to PA 100 south – Trexlertown	Northbound exit, southbound entrance
			86.073	138.521	PA 100 south – Macungie, Pottstown	Southbound exit, northbound entrance; south end of PA 100 overlap
			87.454	140.744	PA 100 north – Fogelsville, Trexlertown	Diamond interchange; north end of PA 100 overlap
		Lower Macungie Township	90.533	145.699	Brookside Road	Southbound exit only
		Lower Macungie–South Whitehall township line	91.354	147.020	I-78 / PA 309 – Bethlehem, Quakertown, Harrisburg, Tamaqua PA 222 north (Hamilton Boulevard) – Allentown	I-78 / PA 309 Exit 54; northern terminus of US 222; southern terminus of PA 222
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi       Concurrency terminus       Incomplete access

Discover more about Major intersections related topics

Maryland

Maryland

Maryland is a state in the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States. It borders Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware and the Atlantic Ocean to its east. With a total land area of 12,407 square miles (32,130 km2), Maryland is the 8th smallest state by land area, but with a population of over 6,177,200, it ranks as the 18th most populous state and the 5th most densely populated. Baltimore is the largest city in the state, and the capital is Annapolis. Among its occasional nicknames are Old Line State, the Free State, and the Chesapeake Bay State. It is named after Henrietta Maria, the French-born queen of England, Scotland, and Ireland, who was known then in England as Mary.

Cecil County, Maryland

Cecil County, Maryland

Cecil County is a county located in the U.S. state of Maryland at the northeastern corner of the state, bordering both Pennsylvania and Delaware. As of the 2020 census, the population was 103,725. The county seat is Elkton. The county was named for Cecil Calvert, 2nd Baron Baltimore (1605–1675), the first Proprietary Governor of the Province (colony) of Maryland. With the eastern part of the county being closer to Philadelphia than to Baltimore, it is part of the Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD Metropolitan Statistical Area. The county is located in Wilmington's Radio Market and Baltimore's Designated Market Area.

Conowingo, Maryland

Conowingo, Maryland

Conowingo is a community in northwestern Cecil County, Maryland, United States. The community replaced a previous one that was inundated by a reservoir.

Maryland Route 222

Maryland Route 222

Maryland Route 222 (MD 222) is a state highway in the U.S. state of Maryland. The highway runs 11.36 miles (18.28 km) from MD 7 in Perryville north to U.S. Route 1 (US 1) near Conowingo. MD 222 connects Perryville, Port Deposit, and Conowingo along its route paralleling the Susquehanna River in western Cecil County. Due to limitations in the highway in Port Deposit, including a steep hill and a low-clearance railroad bridge, trucks are directed to use MD 275, MD 276, and US 1 through Woodlawn and Rising Sun to connect Interstate 95 (I-95) with US 222 in Conowingo.

Interstate 95 in Maryland

Interstate 95 in Maryland

Interstate 95 (I-95) is an Interstate Highway running along the East Coast of the United States from Miami, Florida, north to the Canadian border in Houlton, Maine. In Maryland, the route is a major highway that runs 110.01 miles (177.04 km) diagonally from southwest to northeast, entering from the District of Columbia and Virginia at the Woodrow Wilson Bridge, to Maryland's border with Delaware near Elkton. It is the longest Interstate Highway within Maryland and is one of the most traveled Interstate Highways in the state, especially between Baltimore and Washington, D.C., despite alternate routes along the corridor, such as the Baltimore–Washington Parkway, U.S. Route 1 (US 1), and US 29. Portions of the highway, including the Fort McHenry Tunnel and the Millard E. Tydings Memorial Bridge, are tolled.

Perryville, Maryland

Perryville, Maryland

Perryville is a town in Cecil County, Maryland, United States. The population was 4,361 at the 2010 census. The town is located near an access for Interstate 95, on the north side of the outlet of the Susquehanna River.

Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania, officially the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, is a state spanning the Mid-Atlantic, Northeastern, Appalachian, and Great Lakes regions of the United States. Pennsylvania borders Delaware to its southeast, Maryland to its south, West Virginia to its southwest, Ohio to its west, Lake Erie and the Canadian province of Ontario to its northwest, New York state to its north, and the Delaware River and New Jersey to its east.

Lancaster County, Pennsylvania

Lancaster County, Pennsylvania

Lancaster County, sometimes nicknamed the Garden Spot of America or Pennsylvania Dutch Country, is a county in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. It is located in the south central part of Pennsylvania. As of the 2020 census, the population was 552,984. Its county seat is Lancaster. Lancaster County comprises the Lancaster, Pennsylvania metropolitan statistical area.

Fulton Township, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania

Fulton Township, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania

Fulton Township is a township in southern Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, United States, and it is the only municipality in the county to touch the Maryland border. At the 2020 census the population was 3,227. It is part of the Solanco School District.

Pennsylvania Route 272

Pennsylvania Route 272

Pennsylvania Route 272 is a 54.7-mile-long (88.0 km) highway in southeastern Pennsylvania, in the Lancaster area. The southern terminus of the route is at the Mason–Dixon line southeast of Nottingham, where the road continues into Maryland as Maryland Route 272. The northern terminus is at an interchange with U.S. Route 222 and PA 568 near Adamstown, where PA 568 continues east. The route heads from the Maryland border northwest through the western corner of Chester County, intersecting US 1 in Nottingham. PA 272 continues west into Lancaster County and intersects US 222 in Wakefield, where it turns north and passes through Buck before widening into a divided highway as it comes to another junction with US 222 in Willow Street. Here, the route becomes unsigned and follows US 222 north through Lancaster along a one-way pair of city streets. North of Lancaster, US 222 splits at an interchange with US 30 and PA 272 becomes signed again, heading northeast parallel to the freeway alignment of US 222 and passing through Akron, Ephrata, and Adamstown. The route enters Berks County and comes to its northern terminus.

Nottingham, Pennsylvania

Nottingham, Pennsylvania

Nottingham is an unincorporated community and census-designated place located in West Nottingham Township in Chester County, Pennsylvania. The community is located at the intersection of U.S. 1 and Pennsylvania Route 272 near the border with East Nottingham Township, a short distance north of the Maryland border. As of 2020, the CDP has a population 1,260.

Lancaster, Pennsylvania

Lancaster, Pennsylvania

Lancaster is a city in and the county seat of Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, and one of the oldest inland cities in the United States. With a population at the 2020 census of 58,039, it ranks 11th in population among Pennsylvania's municipalities. The Lancaster metropolitan area population is 552,984, making it the 104th-largest metropolitan area in the U.S. and second-largest in the South Central Pennsylvania area.

Former Maryland truck route

U.S. Route 222 Truck was a 12.49-mile (20.10 km) truck bypass of US 222 from US 222 in Perryville to US 1 and US 222 in Conowingo.^[1] The signed route followed MD 275 from US 222 in Perryville north to MD 276 in Woodlawn. US 222 Truck continued north on MD 276 from Woodlawn north to US 1 west of Rising Sun. The truck route then headed west on US 1 to US 222 in Conowingo.^[1][82] US 222 Truck was downgraded to MD 222 Truck when US 222 became MD 222 between Perryville and Conowingo.

Reading business loop

U.S. Route 222 Business (US 222 Bus.) is a 12.17-mile (19.59 km) business route of US 222 located in Reading, Pennsylvania. The southern terminus is at US 222 in Cumru Township. Its northern terminus is at US 222 in Ontelaunee Township. The route begins at the US 222 freeway and heads through the southwestern suburbs of Reading as Lancaster Avenue, intersecting PA 724 in Shillington. US 222 Bus. continues into Reading on Lancaster Avenue and intersects the northern termini of PA 625 and PA 10 before reaching an interchange with the US 422 freeway. The business route crosses the Schuylkill River and becomes Bingaman Street. US 222 Bus. turns north on 5th Street and intersects US 422 Bus. in downtown Reading and the southern terminus of PA 61 to the north of downtown. The route interchanges with the PA 12 freeway and continues north through suburban Muhlenberg Township as 5th Street Highway. US 222 Bus. reaches Temple and continues northeast to its northern terminus as Allentown Pike. US 222 Bus. is the only auxiliary route of US 222 in Pennsylvania.^[7][83]

With the creation of the U.S. Highway System in 1926, the road between Reading and Lancaster was designated US 222 while the road between Reading and Allentown was part of US 22, which ran along what was designated the William Penn Highway in 1916 and PA 3 in 1924.^[13][84][85] In the late 1920s, US 222 briefly ran concurrent with PA 41 and PA 240 at different times.^[86][87] PA 42 originally ran north–south through Reading starting in 1927. By 1930, the concurrent state route designations were removed from US 222 and US 22. US 222 entered Reading along with PA 73 along Lancaster Avenue and Bingaman Street before turning north on 9th Street along with PA 83 to end at US 22 and US 422 at Penn Street. US 22 continued north on 9th Street out of Reading and continued along Kutztown Road through Temple toward Allentown. US 120 began at US 222 at Bingaman Street and headed north on 4th Street and Center Street out of Reading.^[12][88] In 1931, US 22 was moved to a more direct alignment between Harrisburg and Allentown, and US 222 was extended north along the former alignment between Reading and Allentown.^[13] US 222 was shifted to use Lancaster Avenue, Bingaman Street, and 5th Street and 5th Street Highway through the Reading area in the 1930s, running concurrent with US 122 through downtown Reading.^[15][89] The US 122 and PA 73 concurrencies were removed by 1966.^[90] In 1975, US 222 was rerouted to bypass Reading on the West Shore Bypass and the Warren Street Bypass, with the former alignment through the city becoming US 222 Bus.^[54][55] In 1998, US 222 Bus. was extended north to its current terminus following the rerouting of US 222 to a new outer bypass of Reading.^[42][66][91] The business route was extended south to its current endpoint in 2004 with the completion of the US 222 freeway south of Reading to Mohnton.^[42][66][92]

Discover more about Special routes related topics

Business route

Business route

A business route in the United States is a short special route that branches off of a parent numbered highway at its beginning, then continues through the central business district of a nearby city or town, and finally reconnects with the same parent numbered highway at the business route's end.

Reading, Pennsylvania

Reading, Pennsylvania

Reading is a city in and the county seat of Berks County, Pennsylvania, United States. The city had a population of 95,112 at the 2020 census and is the fourth-largest city in Pennsylvania after Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, and Allentown. Reading is located in the southeastern part of the state and is the principal city of the Greater Reading Area, which had 420,152 residents in 2020.

Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania, officially the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, is a state spanning the Mid-Atlantic, Northeastern, Appalachian, and Great Lakes regions of the United States. Pennsylvania borders Delaware to its southeast, Maryland to its south, West Virginia to its southwest, Ohio to its west, Lake Erie and the Canadian province of Ontario to its northwest, New York state to its north, and the Delaware River and New Jersey to its east.

Cumru Township, Berks County, Pennsylvania

Cumru Township, Berks County, Pennsylvania

Cumru Township is a township in Berks County, Pennsylvania. The population was 15,638 at the 2020 census. Nolde Forest Environmental Education Center, a Pennsylvania state park, is in Cumru Township.

Ontelaunee Township, Berks County, Pennsylvania

Ontelaunee Township, Berks County, Pennsylvania

Ontelaunee Township is a township in Berks County, Pennsylvania. The population was 1,646 at the 2010 census.

Pennsylvania Route 724

Pennsylvania Route 724

Pennsylvania Route 724 is a 30-mile (48 km) road in the U.S. commonwealth of Pennsylvania that runs from U.S. Route 422 in Sinking Spring southeast to PA 23 near Phoenixville. PA 724 travels through Berks and Chester counties. The route runs through the southern suburbs of Reading, passing through Shillington and Kenhorst. Past the Reading area, PA 724 continues southeast parallel to the Schuylkill River, passing through or near Birdsboro, Pottstown, and Spring City. The route intersects many roads including US 222 near Shillington, PA 10 and Interstate 176 (I-176) southeast of Reading, PA 345 in Birdsboro, and PA 100 and US 422 near Pottstown.

Shillington, Pennsylvania

Shillington, Pennsylvania

Shillington is a borough in Berks County, Pennsylvania, United States. With a population of 5,273 at the time of the 2010 census the borough is nestled amongst other suburbs outside Reading. It is perhaps best known for being the location of the homestead to Pennsylvania's first governor, Thomas Mifflin, and as the childhood home of American author John Updike. Many of Updike's stories take place in the fictional town of Olinger, a lightly-disguised version of Shillington, and in its environs.

Pennsylvania Route 625

Pennsylvania Route 625

Pennsylvania Route 625 is a 16.7-mile-long (26.9 km) state route in east central Pennsylvania, United States. The southern terminus is at PA 23 in East Earl Township. The northern terminus is U.S. Route 222 Business in Reading. PA 625 is a two-lane undivided road its entire length. The route runs through rural areas in the Pennsylvania Dutch Country of northeastern Lancaster County, passing through Bowmansville. PA 625 continues into Berks County and runs through more rural areas, intersecting PA 568 in Knauers before coming to a junction with PA 724. Past this intersection, the route heads into developed areas and passes through Kenhorst before coming to its northern terminus. The route was designated as the westernmost of segment of PA 73 in 1928, which continued past Reading to Philadelphia. By 1940, the entire length of PA 73 between Blue Ball and Reading was completely paved. PA 625 was designated onto its current alignment by 1966 following the rerouting of PA 73 to its current terminus at Leesport.

Pennsylvania Route 10

Pennsylvania Route 10

Pennsylvania Route 10 is a 44.04-mile-long (70.88 km) state route in southeastern Pennsylvania. Its southern terminus is at PA 472 in Oxford. Its northern terminus is at U.S. Route 222 Business in Reading. PA 10 is mostly a two-lane undivided road that serves Chester, Lancaster, and Berks counties. The route begins in Oxford and passes through rural areas of western Chester County, serving Cochranville, Parkesburg, Compass, and Honey Brook. The route passes through a small corner of eastern Lancaster County before it enters Berks County and reaches Morgantown, where it has interchanges with Interstate 176 (I-176) and the Pennsylvania Turnpike (I-76). Between Morgantown and Reading, PA 10 parallels I-176.

Schuylkill River

Schuylkill River

The Schuylkill River is a river running northwest to southeast in eastern Pennsylvania. The river was improved by navigations into the Schuylkill Canal, and several of its tributaries drain major parts of Pennsylvania's Coal Region. It flows for 135 miles (217 km) from Pottsville to Philadelphia, where it joins the Delaware River as one of its largest tributaries.

Pennsylvania Route 61

Pennsylvania Route 61

Pennsylvania Route 61 is an 81.8-mile-long (131.6 km) state highway in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. The route is signed on a north–south direction, running from U.S. Route 222 Business in Reading northwest to US 11/US 15/PA 147 in Shamokin Dam. PA 61 heads north from Reading through Berks County to Hamburg, where it meets Interstate 78 (I-78)/US 22. The route continues into the Coal Region in Schuylkill County and heads through Schuylkill Haven, Pottsville, Frackville, and Ashland. PA 61 passes through the southern part of Columbia County, where it turns west in Centralia, before it heads into Northumberland County and runs west through Mount Carmel, Kulpmont, Shamokin, and Sunbury. The route crosses the Susquehanna River into Snyder County and soon reaches its northern terminus.

Pennsylvania Route 12

Pennsylvania Route 12

Pennsylvania Route 12 (PA 12) is a 9.566-mile-long (15.395 km) state highway located in Berks County in eastern Pennsylvania. The western terminus of the route is at U.S. Route 222 (US 222) and US 422 in Wyomissing. Its eastern terminus is PA 662 in the community of Pricetown in Ruscombmanor Township. In the Reading area, PA 12 is a four-lane freeway called the Warren Street Bypass that heads northeast through urban areas, coming to interchanges with several roads including PA 183, PA 61, and US 222 Business (US 222 Bus.). In Alsace Township, the route becomes a two-lane undivided road with at-grade intersections called Pricetown Road and continues northeast through rural areas, intersecting PA 73 before ending at PA 662.