Interstate 380 Pennsylvania

Interstate 380 Pennsylvania
History
North End
South End
I-84 east/I-380 south split

The south split of Interstates 84 and 380. I-84 continues to Milford and Newbergh, New York; I-380 angles southeast to I-80 ahead of Stroudsburg. Photo by Chris Elbert (07/06).

Overview

Forming part of the regional freeway network between New York City, Scranton and the I-81 corridor, Interstate 380 is a rural spur in northeastern Pennsylvania. The freeway branches northwest from I-80 by Mt. Pocono to Tobyhanna, Gouldsboro, Daleville and Moscow. Combining with I-84 across Moosic Mountain, I-380 connects with I-81 and U.S. 6 at Dunmore and the northeast side of Scranton.

Prior to 2001, Interstate 380 was signed as an east/west route to benefit travelers to or from New York City. With the route generally orientated north-south, signs were changed during the statewide Interstate exit renumbering program underway in 2001.

Most of Interstate 380 was resurfaced between 1996 and 2001, including the replacement of original concrete.

History

What would become I-380 was first designated Interstate 81-S. I-81S was one of the original Interstate highways approved by the American Association of State Highway Officials (AASHO) for the state of Pennsylvania in 1958. It was renumbered as I-81E by 1964.1

Work began on Interstate 81S in 1961.2 I-81S was part of the Penn-Can Highway, the name for Interstate 81 extending north from Scranton to Alexandria, New York near the Canadian border.3 The freeway was initially completed in Monroe County three miles from I-80 near Crescent Lake north to PA 940 at Pocono Manor. A 5.2 mile long section of I-81E opened northward from the Pocono Interchange to the Tobyhanna Interchange in 1968. 17.7 miles remained under construction at that time with 5.8 miles still in design. $30 million was estimated to complete the route, with $1.8 million just for the high-level bridges over Brook Creek and the Erie-Lackawanna Railroad. The 1,092 foot long spans cross the gorge with a clearance of 145 feet.4

Prior to the completion of I-81E at Scranton in October 1971, the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) sought to renumber the highway to avoid motorist confusion with differentiating between route shields for I-81 and I-81E. Following suggestions of I-381 or I-581, PennDOT proposed Interstate 380 to AASHO on May 3, 1972:

Morever, with the I-80 base route designation the renumbered route would be assigned milepost exit numbering beginning at its western terminus (the junction of I-81 at Scranton) and they would be coincident to those on I-84 and would be continued eastward beyond the I-84 junction in proper numerical sequence to the I-80 junction.

Additionally PennDOT proposed dually signing I-84 with I-380 west to

accomplish a Junction with I-81 at Scranton.

These changes were approved by AASHTO on June 19, 1972. PennDOT announced the renumbering program in August 1972, indicating that the installation of new signs was targeted for a June 1973 completion. I-380 was open at the time northwest from I-80 to PA 307 near Daleville and along the northernmost mile connecting with I-81 at Dunmore. Seven miles remained in design.5

Construction on the last four sections of I-380, connecting Dunmore and Yostville in the Scranton area, continued with work on the southbound roadway at the exchange with I-84 east and the interchange at Elmhurst extending to Summer 1975.6 Two additional lanes along this stretch of I-380 were completed in 1976.7

Route Information

  • North End – Dunmore

  • South End – Pocono Summit

  • Mileage – 24.45

  • Cities – Scranton

  • Junctions – I-80 I-84 I-81

Source: December 31, 2021 Interstate Route Log and Finders List

I-380 Annual Average Daily Traffic (AADT)

Source: Pennsylvania Traffic Volume Map 2017 (PennDOT)

Exits were renumbered along I-380 in Monroe County and I-84 in Pike County the last week of July 1976. Exit signs initially displayed the old and new numbers.8

Interchange Old Exit Number New Exit Number
PA 940 / Pocono Manor 1 8
PA 423 / Tobyhanna 2 7
PA 407 / Gouldsboro 3 6
PA 191 / Hamlin 17 5
PA 507 / Wallenpaupack 20 6
PA 390 / Promised Land State Park 26 7
PA 402 / Blooming Grove 30 8
PA 739 / Lords Valley 34 9
U.S. 6 / Milford 46 10
U.S. 6 / Matamoras 53 11

Highway Guides

North End I-81 U.S. 6 – Dunmore, Pennsylvania

I-84 West I-380 North at I-81 U.S. 6

I-380/84 north at I-81/US 6 - Dunmore, PA

A folded diamond interchange (Exit 1) joins I-84/380 west with Tigue Street and Drinker Street (SR 2020) just ahead of I-81 and U.S. 6. Photo by Eric Stuve (07/18/09).

I-380/84 north at I-81/US 6 - Dunmore, PA

I-84/380 conclude at a systems interchange with Interstate 81 and U.S. 6 (Robert Casey Highway) to Carbondale. Photo by Eric Stuve (07/18/09).

I-380/84 north at I-81/US 6 - Dunmore, PA

Westbound U.S. 6 combines with I-81 north from the freeway to Carbondale to bypass Scranton and the borough of Dickson City. The two overlap to Clarks Summit and the exchange with I-476 (Pennsylvania Turnpike). Photo by Chris Elbert (07/06).

I-380/84 north at I-81/US 6 - Dunmore, PA

I-81 runs east of Downtown Scranton southwest to Moosic, Avoca and Wilkes-Barre. Photo by Eric Stuve (07/18/09).

I-81 South U.S. 6 East at I-84 I-380

I-81/US 6 south at I-380-84 - Dunmore, PA

One mile ahead of Exit 187 with I-84 east and I-380 south on Interstate 81 south and U.S. 6 east. Construction of the U.S. 6 freeway spur to Carbondale in the mid 1990s included widening I-81 through north Scranton. 07/04/05

I-81/US 6 south at I-380-84 - Dunmore, PA

Traffic to I-84/380 separates from I-81 south just beyond the PA 347 overpass, and well ahead of the directional T interchanges with the freeway southeast across Moosic Mountain and U.S. 6 northeast to Jessup. 07/04/05

I-81/US 6 south at I-84/380 - Dunmore, PA

Exit 187 shifts motorists onto a collector distributor roadway leading southeast from PA 347 to I-84 east, I-380 south and U.S. 6 east. I-84 connects Scranton with Hartford, Connecticut and Boston, Massachusetts while I-380 south to I-80 east leads toward New York City. Photo by Chris Elbert (07/06).

I-81 North at I-84 I-380 U.S. 6

I-81 north at I-84-380/US 6 - Dunmore, PA

One mile ahead of Exit 187 for I-84 east to Milford, I-380 south to Mt. Pocono and U.S. 6 east to Carbondale. Photo by Chris Elbert (07/06).

I-81 north at I-84-380/US 6 - Dunmore, PA

Traffic partitions with two lanes continuing north along I-81 and U.S. 6 to Dickson City and Binghamton, New York, and three lanes for U.S. 6 east and the 3.8-mile long overlap of I-84/380 southeast toward Moscow. Photo by Chris Elbert (07/06).

I-81 north at I-84-380/US 6 - Dunmore, PA

U.S. 6 shifts from I-81 south onto a 15.3 mile long freeway winding northeast to Archbald, Mayfield and Carbondale. I-84/380 curve south and separate for Mt. Cobb and Daleville respectively. Photo by Chris Elbert (07/06).

South End I-80 – Pocono Summit, Pennsylvania

I-380 South at I-80

I-380 south at I-80 - Tobyhanna Twp, PA

Interstate 380 proceeds south from PA 940 between Pocono Summit and Little Summit to the directional T interchange (Exit 1) with I-80. Photo by Chris Elbert (07/06).

I-380 south at I-80 - Tobyhanna Twp, PA

Local control points are used for I-80 throughout Pennsylvania. Hazelton lies near the crossroads with Interstate 81 to the west while Stroudsburg is located 13 miles to the east near Delaware Water Gap. Photo by Chris Elbert (07/06).

I-380 south at I-80 - Tunkhannock Twp, PA

Traffic defaults onto I-80 east to Stroudsburg and New York City (Exit 1B) at the south end of Interstate 380. Exit 1A leads motorists west 17 miles to the Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension (I-476). Photo by Chris Elbert (07/06).

I-80 West at I-380

I-80 west at I-380 - Pocono Twp, PA

Two miles ahead of Interstate 380 north on I-80 west. Cardinal directions for I-380 changed from east/west to north/south during the statewide Interstate exit renumbering program in 2001. 12/19/16

I-80 west at I-380 - Pocono Twp, PA

Three lanes advance west along Interstate 80 to Exit 293 with I-380 north to Scranton. Interstate 380 was formerly designated as I-81S between 1958 and 1964 and as I-81E between 1964 and 1973. 12/19/16

I-80 west at I-380 - Jackson Twp, PA

Interstate 380 branches northwest toward Mount Pocono and Tobyhanna while I-80 progresses west toward Hazelton, Williamsport and Youngstown, Ohio. Prior to 2001, this exchange was unnumbered. 12/19/16

I-380 East End Throwback

I-380 south at I-80 - 2005

Non reflective button copy signs for Interstate 80 along I-380 southbound were replaced by 2006. Exit tabs were previously replaced as part of the state wide exit renumbering program. 09/01/05

I-380 south at I-80 - 2005

Vintage button copy signs for the single lane ramps to Interstate 80 at I-380’s southern terminus. 09/01/05

I-380 south at I-80 - 2005

Traffic partitioned for I-80 west to Hazelton and I-80 east to Stroundsburg. 09/01/05

I-80 east at I-380 - 2000

Original guide signs for the three-wye interchange joining Interstate 80 east with I-380 north. 07/00

I-80 west at I-380 - 2005

Replaced button copy signs at the westbound I-80/380 split. 09/01/05

Sources:

  1. Pennsylvania Highways: Pennsylvania’s Dearly Departed Interstates.
  2. Pennsylvania Highways: Interstate 380.
  3. “Interstate Route 84 Charted. The Pocono Record (Stroudsburg, PA), April 10, 1961.
  4. “Rt. 81-E will open this year.” The Pocono Record (Stroudsburg, PA), July 18, 1968.
  5. “Interstate 81-E renamed I-380.” The Pocono Record (Stroudsburg, PA), August 28, 1972.
  6. “State may open I-80, 84 links by early next year.” The Pocono Record (Stroudsburg, PA), June 26, 1975.
  7. “More I-84 construction approved.” The Pocono Record (Stroudsburg, PA), February 17, 1975.
  8. “Exit numbers to change along I-380 and I-84.” The Pocono Record (Stroudsburg, PA), July 22, 1976.

Page updated May 27, 2022.