Interstate 176 Pennsylvania

Overview

Known also as the Morgantown Expressway, Interstate 176 is a spur from I-76 / Pennsylvania Turnpike north to U.S. 422 on the outskirts of Reading. The freeway replaced Pennsylvania 10 and U.S. 122 as the main route between the Turnpike at Morgantown and the city of Reading.

Mileage by State

Pennsylvania

11.35 mi

Data Sources

December 31, 2021 Interstate Route Log and Finders List

History

Alternatively known as the Reading Spur, the Morgantown Expressway was first proposed in 1957.¹ Numbered Interstate 180, as the Pennsylvania Turnpike was designated as I-80S at the time, the first contract for the freeway was awarded on August 17, 1960. It covered the 3.61 mile long stretch of I-180 between Green Hills Lake and the Reading Bypass (U.S. 422).² Costing $9 million to build, the Morgantown Expressway was dedicated on October 23, 1962 by Governor David L. Lawrence in a ribbon cutting ceremony.¹ Completion of the route led to the 1963 decommissioning of U.S. 122, which followed a parallel course through Berks County.

Until 1996, Interstate 176 ended at PA 10/23 (Main Street) in the community of Morgantown in Caernarvon Township. There was no direct connection to I-76 along the Pennsylvania Turnpike. Eight options to link the two Interstates were considered in 1984. The most costly was a $33 million, 1.5 mile long connector branching southeast from a point 2.5 miles north of the freeway end at Morgantown. This option included building new trumpet interchanges at each end.³

Initial work on the Morgantown Connector focused on replacing the original Morgantown Interchange at PA 10 with a new trumpet interchange and access road located 1.5 miles to the northeast. This $17 million project was completed by November 1990.⁵ Costing $18.5 million, construction on the remainder of the two mile long Morgantown Connector commenced in 1994 and was completed on September 27, 1996.⁴ The former roadway of I-176 extending south to W Main Street was retained and numbered as Exit 2.

Interstate 176 Extension

A hearing held on December 8, 1966 outlined two concepts to extend Interstate 176 southward.⁶ One proposal lengthened Interstate 176 southwest from Morgantown along a parallel course 1.5 miles to the south of PA 23, to New Holland and Lancaster. Estimated to cost $15.4 million, the 21.8 mile long route was thought to initially open as a two lane limited access highway.⁷ This met strong opposition due to the duplication of the then proposed freeway for U.S. 222 from Reading to Lancaster. A second highway proposal involved either extending Interstate 176 south to Oxford or widening PA 10 into a four lane expressway. Talks at this time also included building the Morgantown Connector.⁶

Speed limits along Interstate 176 were posted at 65 miles per hour from 1966⁸ until November 30, 1973, when the national 55 mile per hour limit was imposed.⁹ All signage along I-176 was replaced by Summer 2000.

North End  ‐ Reading, PA

North at

An end sign for I-476 stands ahead of the diamond interchange (Exit 10) with PA 724 to the boroughs of Shillington and Birdsboro. 12/21/20

West at

U.S. 422 (West Shore Bypass) advances west across the Schuylkill River to Interstate 176. 12/21/20

East at

U.S. 422 (West Shore Bypass) crosses the Schuylkill River ahead of the trumpet interchange with Interstate 176 (Morgantown Expressway) south. 12/21/20

North End – Past Views

Past Views Gallery (Tap to Expand / Collapse Section)

North at

The previous 2.5 mile end sign for I-476 was carbon copied. Photo by Jason Ilyes (05/22/02).

at

Previous overheads on U.S. 422 east at I-176 south were replaced in 2016/2017. 07/28/00

South End  ‐ Morgantown, PA

South at

Interstate 176 shifts southeast onto the Morgantown Connector ahead of a parclo interchange (Exit 1) with PA 10 and the trumpet interchange with the Pennsylvania Turnpike. 12/21/20

East at

I-76 (Pennsylvania Turnpike) bends southeast through Caernarvon Township two miles ahead of the Morgantown Interchange with I-176 and PA 10. Photo by Chris and Amber Lokken (06/24/08).

West at

Interstate 76 (Pennsylvania Turnpike) navigates between Welsh Mountain and the borough of Elverson on the approach to the Morgantown Interchange with I-176 north to PA 10. 10/15/04

at

PA 10/23 combine west along Main Street in Morgantown to the original south end of Interstate 176 and nearby Twin County Road. 12/21/20

References

1. "Governor Officially Opens Morgantown Expressway." Reading Eagle (PA), October 23, 1962.
2. "First Expressway Contract Awarded." Reading Eagle (PA), August 17, 1960.
3. "Morgantown interchange plans weighed." Reading Eagle (PA), September 13, 1984.
4. "Morgantown Connector to open today." Reading Eagle (PA), September 27, 1996.
5. "Route 10 access limited." Reading Eagle (PA), February 28, 1989.
6. "Highway Department at Fault in Failure to Improve Route 10." Reading Eagle (PA), January 23, 1968.
7. "Berks Needs new Route 10 Southward and Before State Rebuilds Route 23." Reading Eagle (PA), December 8, 1968.
8. "Morgantown Expressway To Get 65 M.P.H. Limit." Reading Eagle (PA), July 25, 1966.
9. "Speed Signs Altered." Reading Eagle (PA), November 30, 1973.