Former Interstate 378 Pennsylvania

Interstate 378 Pennsylvania
Hill to Hill Bridge – Downtown Bethlehem, PA ↔ Bethlehem, PA•3.34 miles

Overview

Interstate 378 was the original designation for the freeway connecting U.S. 22 (Lehigh Valley Thruway) near Lehigh Valley International Airport (ABE) with Downtown Bethlehem. Designated Pennsylvania State Route 378, the short spur winds southeast from the Westgate and Notre Dame Hills neighborhoods to the Hill to Hill Bridge spanning the Lehigh River. Interchanges along the route are numbered sequentially and increase from north to south.

Mileage by State

Pennsylvania3.34 mi

Data Sources

Pennsylvania Highways: Pennsylvania’s Decommissioned Highways. https://www.pahighways.com/interstates/pdi.html

History

Allentown-Bethlehem, PA - 1968
Interstate 378 under construction in 1968. The signing of Pennsylvania Route 378 would later replace PA 191 south from the Hill to Hill Bridge to University Heights and Wydnor.

The Bethlehem freeway spur was constructed between 1966 and 1968.1 The route was signed as I-378 until the proposed realignment of Interstate 78 south of Allentown and Bethlehem was finalized. The American Association of State Highway Officials (AASHO) approved the elimination of Interstate 378 and the adjacent Allentown Spur (I-178), on June 30, 1970. I-78 was subsequently dropped from the Lehigh Valley Thruway, which remains as U.S. 22. The former I-378 was renumbered as part of Pennsylvania Route 378, a 9.55 mile long route stretching south to PA 309 in Upper Saucon Township.

Interstate 378 was also previously proposed to extend south across the Lehigh River to an interchange with a separate planned freeway: Constitution Drive to the west and South Side Spur to the east. The South Side Spur was projected to go east and south to the realignment of I-78.

North End U.S. 22 / Lehigh Valley Thruway ‐ Bethlehem, PA

Pennsylvania Route 378 North at U.S. 22

PA 378 north at US 22 - Bethlehem

The eastbound on-ramp from the end of PA 378 joins a collector distributor roadway to adjacent Schoenersville Road. U.S. 22 (Lehigh Valley Thruway) runs between Allentown and Lehigh Valley International Airport (ABE) west to I-476 (PA Turnpike) at South Whitehall Township and I-78 at Upper Macungie Township. 09/01/05

PA 378 north at US 22 - Bethlehem PA 378 north at US 22 - Bethlehem

U.S. 22 East at Pennsylvania Route 378

US 22 east at PA 378 - Bethlehem

Entering the city of Bethlehem, an auxiliary lane opens east from the exchange with PA 987 to the trumpet interchange with PA 378 to Downtown. 09/01/05

US 22 east at PA 378 - Bethlehem US 22 east at PA 378 - Bethlehem US 22 east at PA 378 - Bethlehem

South End Pennsylvania Route 378 ‐ Hill to Hill Bridge – Downtown Bethlehem, PA

Pennsylvania Route 378 South at Hill to Hill Bridge

PA 378 south at Hill to Hill Bridge - Bethlehem

Right in right out (RIRO) style ramps join PA 378 southbound with 3rd Avenue to Broad Street and Downtown Bethlehem. The freeway concludes in a half mile. 09/01/05

PA 378 south at Hill to Hill Bridge - Bethlehem PA 378 south at Hill to Hill Bridge - Bethlehem PA 378 south at Hill to Hill Bridge - Bethlehem PA 378 south at Hill to Hill Bridge - Bethlehem

Pennsylvania Route 378 North at Hill to Hill Bridge

PA 378 north at Hill to Hill Bridge - Bethlehem

Locally known as the steel bridge, PA 378 crosses the Lehigh River on the Hill to Hill Bridge north to Main Street. Interstate 378 began at the turn off for Main Street to Downtown Bethlehem. 09/01/05

PA 378 north at Hill to Hill Bridge - Bethlehem PA 378 north at Hill to Hill Bridge - Bethlehem

References

  1. Kitsko, J. (2019, September 2). Pennsylvania's Decommissioned Interstates. Pennsylvania Highways. Retrieved from https://www.pahighways.com/interstates/pdi.html
Updated June 10, 2022