Interstate 176 Pennsylvania

History

Southern Terminus

Northern Terminus

Routing

Interstate 176 is a spur from Interstate 76/Pennsylvania Turnpike north to the southern edges of the city of Reading. The freeway replaced Pennsylvania 10 and U.S. 122, which was decommissioned in the 1960s. Once constructed, the freeway was originally signed as Interstate 180, when the Pennsylvania Turnpike was designated as Interstate 80S.

History

From its inception until 1996, Interstate 176 terminated at a traffic light with Pennsylvania 23. However, by 1996 when the southern terminus was relocated to connect directly to Interstate 76 and the Pennsylvania Turnpike along a new alignment and interchange.

Originally, access to the turnpike from Interstate 176 was only available through a trumpet interchange located just to the east of the old south end on PA 10. Upon completion of the new alignment, this interchange was closed and since abandoned. The old roadway for the south end is now an extension of Exit 1B.

All signage was replaced along Interstate 176 as of Summer 2000.

Highway Guides

• Interstate 176 Pennsylvania

	Southern Terminus - Interstate 76/Pennsylvania Turnpike - Morgantown, Pennsylvania Perspective from Interstate 176 south Pennsylvania 10 and Pennsylvania 23 overheads along Interstate 176 southbound. These signs have been replaced, as the realigned section now veers to the left. The right-hand sign is for Exit 1B - Pennsylvania 10 south/Pennsylvania 23, which uses the old alignment. The left-hand sign is now for Exit 1A - Pennsylvania 10 north (Last Exit Before Toll). Vidcap taken by Alex Nitzman (12/95). Perspective from Interstate 76/Pennsylvania Turnpike west Westbound Interstate 76/Pennsylvania Turnpike approaches Exit 298, Junction Interstate 176 north to Reading (Morgantown interchange), one mile. The original Exit 22 trumpet interchange is located just to the west of this location and is all but removed. Photo taken by AARoads (10/15/04). Interstate 176/Pennsylvania 10 guide signage on Interstate 76/Pennsylvania Turnpike westbound. The first Interstate 176 exit serves Pennsylvania 10, one mile north of its overlap with Pennsylvania 23. Pennsylvania 10 is part of the original U.S. 122 between Oxford and Reading. Photo taken AARoads (10/15/04). Perspective from Interstate 76/Pennsylvania Turnpike east Now traveling east on the Interstate 76/Pennsylvania Turnpike between Harrisburg and Valley Forge, this mileage sign provides the distance to Morgantown (Junction Intestate 176, 13 miles) and Downington (Junction Pennsylvania 100, 27 miles). This sign is posted just after the interchange with U.S. 222 near Reamstown (known as the Reading Interchange). This type of signage is common for upcoming exits mileage signs on the Pennsylvania Turnpike. Photo taken by Chris Lokken and Amber Mason (06/24/08). Several miles ahead is the two-mile advance guide sign for the interchange with Interstate 176 and Pennsylvania 10 (known as the Morgantown interchange) on Interstate 76/Pennsylvania Turnpike east. Photo taken by Chris Lokken and Amber Mason (06/24/08). The one-mile advance guide sign follows for Exit 298, Junction Interstate 176 and Pennsylvania 10 (the Morgantown interchange) on Interstate 76/Pennsylvania Turnpike east. Traffic to Hopewell Furnace National Historical Site is advised to exit the Pennsylvania Turnpike at Exit 298, the Morgantown interchange. The historic site is located adjacent to French Creek State Park northeast of Morgantown via Pennsylvania 23 east. Pennsylvania 23 connects to the Turnpike via Exit 298; follow the signs for Pennsylvania 23 upon departing the Turnpike. Photo taken by Chris Lokken and Amber Mason (06/24/08). The former mainline of Interstate 176 crosses over Interstate 76/Pennsylvania Turnpike east. Interstate 176 used to connect to the Turnpike via an indirect connection at Exit 298; the interchange was revised to provide a direct freeway connection from Interstate 76 to Interstate 176 in the early 2000s. As a result of this new direct connection, a section of Interstate 176 was orphaned but still provides access to downtown Morgantown. Photo taken by Chris Lokken and Amber Mason (06/24/08). A third lane forms for the ramp to Exit 298, Junction Interstate 176 north and Pennsylvania 10. From this interchange, Interstate 176 travels north as a freeway to Reading. Pennsylvania 10 parallels Interstate 176 on the old alignment of U.S. 122 north to Reading. Pennsylvania 10 also travels south to meet U.S. 30 near Parkesburg and U.S. 1 near Oxford. Nearby Pennsylvania 23 travels southwest to Lancaster and east to Phoenixville. Photo taken by Chris Lokken and Amber Mason (06/24/08). Eastbound Interstate 76/Pennsylvania Turnpike reaches Exit 298 to Interstate 176 north to Reading, Pennsylvania 10 south to Oxford, Pennsylvania 23 east to Hopewell Furnace National Historic Site and Pottstown, and Pennsylvania 23 southwest to Lancaster. Photo taken by Chris Lokken and Amber Mason (06/24/08). Perspective from Pennsylvania 10 and Pennsylvania 23 North Interstate 176 shield along southbound Pennsylvania 10/westbound Pennsylvania 23 at the original southern terminus. This signage was replaced, but still displays the same information. Traffic turning to the right will merge onto Interstate 176 in one mile. Photo taken by Alex Nitzman (07/96). Northern Terminus - U.S. 422 - Reading, Pennsylvania Perspective from Interstate 176 north Interstate 176 ends guide sign, 2.50 miles south of the terminus with U.S. 422. This sign is posted just north of the Exit 7 interchange with with Pennsylvania 10 nearing Flying Hills. Photo taken by Jason Ilyes (05/22/02). Guide signage on Interstate 176 northbound showing the lane allocation for the pending terminus with U.S. 422. Although there is no exit tab on this particular assembly, U.S. 422 represents new Exit 11A/B and old Exit 4A/B. Photo taken northbound as Pennsylvania 724 traffic merges from Exit 10. Photo taken by Douglas Kerr (03/23/02). Faded end Interstate 176 shield, posted just before the U.S. 422 interchange (old Exit 4/new Exit 11). This sign was replaced with that of the next photo. Vidcap taken by Alex Nitzman (09/93). Replaced end Interstate 176 shield. The sign bridge in the background is the last for the split to U.S. 422 east and west. The federal highway bypasses Reading to the south via a limited access highway of its own. Photo taken by Douglas Kerr (03/23/02). Interstate 176 northbound at the partition to Exits 11A and 11B. U.S. 422, known as the West Shore Bypass, continues northwest three miles into the central business district of Reading. The freeway recently extended westward with a relocated U.S. 222, allowing Reading commuter traffic interests improved access to downtown. Photo taken by Jason Ilyes (05/22/02). The original text/button copy overheads for the northern terminus of Interstate 176. The replacement of these signs is seen in the above photograph. With the exception of an eight mile at-grade stretch of U.S. 422, the highway is a full freeway between Reading and Philadelphia metro. Vidcap taken by Alex Nitzman (12/95). Perspective from U.S. 422 east Interstate 176 south sign on U.S. 422 eastbound. These signs were the last to include Interstate 176 Pennsylvania shields. They are believed to be replaced as of 2002. Just to the south of this guide sign and U.S. 422 is an abandoned bridge over the Schuylkill River. Vidcap taken by Alex Nitzman (12/95). U.S. 422 eastbound at the southbound Interstate 176 ramp. The main emphasis of Interstate 176 is to link Reading with the Pennsylvania Turnpike/Interstate 76. The highway also replaced U.S. 122 (Pennsylvania 10) between Morgantown and the Reading area. Photo taken by Alex Nitzman (07/28/00). The original button copy signs on U.S. 422 eastbound at Interstate 176 south. These signs saw replacement by the late 1990s in conjunction with the Interstate 176 resurfacing and realignment project at the southern terminus. Vidcap taken by Alex Nitzman (09/93).

Page Updated August 10, 2008.