Clinched Highway Mapping

lkefct · Joined: 08 Nov 2008 Posts: 15 Location: Martin, TN

On my latest drive, I noticed that Alt-US220 is very well marked from I-80 southward to the intersection with Old US322/220 north of Port Matilda. There is even a sign "End Alt US220" just prior to this intersection traveling southbound. Despite the uncertainty of how the old US220 will be signed from Port Matilda on south, I would suggest that the Alt-US220 commissioned in 2003 through Milesburg is still very much alive. The only signs that appear to be "missing" are approach signs from I-80, but the first reassurance shield is not far south of the intersection with said interstate.

rickmastfan67 · Joined: 14 Jul 2008 Posts: 2031 Location: Pittsburgh, PA

You have any pictures of this? I've been trying to tell Tim that this route was still alive (well, at least on the PennDOT County Maps). And pictures to prove this would be greatly appreciated. Smile

admin · Posted: Sat Apr 04, 2009 9:32 pm Post subject:

So let's see if I have the timeline right...

2002: Alt US 220 is well signed along its entire route. The ALT banners that were covered up for months were uncovered.

2003: Alt US 220 is added to PennDOT maps with the US 220 relocation.

At or before 2007: Alt US 220 signs are removed, except for a sloppy few on or near I-80. The rest of the route is signed PA 150-only according to the BGSes on WB I-80, PA 144/150, PA 144 only, PA 504 only (state route was extended), and "To I-80" (NB)/"TO US 220" (SB) from I-80 southward.

Late 2008: Little change. New BGSs on old 220/322 WB from Skytop just say "TO I-80". No sign of Alt US 220 there. Route still not sign as in 2007. Still sloppy appearances and non-appearances of Alt US 220 near I-80.

Early 2009: Alt US 220 is now back and signed except for where some Alt US 220 signs were never taken down? The END signs that used to be there, and then weren't there for a few years, are even back?

Why would Alt US 220 now end at the old 220/322 interchange?

Did you happen to travel on the route on April Fools Day?

lkefct · Joined: 08 Nov 2008 Posts: 15 Location: Martin, TN

Perhaps the timeline is correct, for as we all know, with PennDot, anything can happen...

Here's what is there as of today (4/4/09):
1: Driving south from I-80 road is marked only as PA150 or "To US220" on all BGS installations I observed.
2: Upon exiting I-80 at the Milesburg exit and turning right, reassurance shields for Alt-US220 appear every mile or two southbound. There is no "Begin Alt-US220" shield, unless it appears before intersection with I-80.
3: Just before intersection with old US-220/322, there is a South Alt-US220 reassurance shield: http://i654.photobucket.com/albums/uu268/lkefct/100_0760.jpg?t=1238898291
Shortly before an "End Alt-US220" assemblage: http://i654.photobucket.com/albums/uu268/lkefct/100_0763.jpg?t=1238898372
4: Approach signs from old US-220/322 show road marked as "To I-80, Milesburg", with no indication that you will drive on Alt-US220 to get to I-80: http://i654.photobucket.com/albums/uu268/lkefct/100_0750.jpg?t=1238897817
5: Traveling north on said road, at the end of the exit ramp, first "Alt North 220" reassurance shield appears on an assemblage with distances to Unionville and Milesburg, a "To I-80" shield, and a "To PA-504" marker for good measure: http://i654.photobucket.com/albums/uu268/lkefct/100_0758.jpg?t=1238898119

What's strange about this road now is that there are no BGS installations indicating the existance of "Alt-US220" on I-80, old US-322/220, or apparently any surrounding roads. My guess is that PennDot is trying to shunt traffic onto the new I-99, which is a longer distance but better road than Alt-US220. I'm assuming that Alt-US220 ends where it does because that's where US220 used to be. Also, in this area, old US220 ceases to be a real "Alternate" and becomes more of a "Business"-like road, as it closely parallels the new US220/I-99 alignment. What's now signed as "Alternate US220" goes through another valley entirely, bypassing "Happy Valley" for the less-populated Bald Eagle Valley.

rickmastfan67 · Joined: 14 Jul 2008 Posts: 2031 Location: Pittsburgh, PA

Time to "re-add" the route IMO Tim. Wink

admin · Posted: Sat Apr 04, 2009 11:24 pm Post subject:

James, I think you got lucky. Razz

Most of the shields Chris shows in the pics are--surprisingly?--old signs being recycled and reposted. You can tell by both the old number font and the faded background "white".

There used to be a SB BEGIN sign - it would be on I-80 WB at the I-99 interchange if one is posted as before:
http://www.m-plex.com/roads/pamplex/mp_i80_altus220.html

Thanks for sharing this, Chris. I'll put the route back up soon, even if its south end no longer makes sense.

Did you happen to visit Bald Eagle? There the business route ends at the old intersection with PA 350 and US 220, but since US 220 got relocated to I-99, the business route is orphaned there rather than extended to re-connect at the Bald Eagle exit. This was the case in late Nov. 2008, shortly after I-99 completed opened. I'm curious if the business route has been extended.

lkefct · Joined: 08 Nov 2008 Posts: 15 Location: Martin, TN

I haven't been south of Port Matilda on the old US220 since I-99 opened, but I know that Bus-220 has not been extended as far north as there. I'm living in State College nowadays, so perhaps next time I head down to Altoona I can take the old road to give it a check. Perhaps it's signed in Blair County but not Centre...

PAHighways · Joined: 30 Oct 2008 Posts: 53 Location: Unity Township, PA

I'm doing a road enthusiast meet in State College next weekend, and part of the tour will be along the former 220 alignment. I'll check out BUS and ALT 220.
_________________
Jeff Kitsko
http://www.pahighways.com/

PAHighways · Joined: 30 Oct 2008 Posts: 53 Location: Unity Township, PA

PAHighways · Joined: 30 Oct 2008 Posts: 53 Location: Unity Township, PA

Froggie texted me yesterday that he saw Business US 220 signage at Bald Eagle.

Coming home from State College, I decided to try and follow the business route. I didn't see any assemblies all the way to Tyrone and lost the route in the downtown area so I got back on I-99. I took the Tipton/Grazierville exit to see if I saw any Business US 220 assemblies at that intersection and there were from that point south into Altoona. It makes me think that PennDOT will have the route turn and meet its parent at Exit 45.
_________________
Jeff Kitsko
http://www.pahighways.com/

froggie · Posted: Sun Apr 19, 2009 5:02 pm Post subject:

Missed a turn in downtown Tyrone myself when I was trying to follow the route, though I managed to stay on it. Otherwise, my own observations echo Jeff's.
_________________
Froggie
http://www.ajfroggie.com

admin · Posted: Sun Apr 19, 2009 9:22 pm Post subject:

If you visited the PA 350 & Bus US 220 intersection in Bald Eagle, were there any new signs pointing Bus US 220 in a direction besides south? In late Nov. 2008, there were not.

Does US 220 Bus show up anywhere south of the Plank Road exit (south Altoona)? It's supposed to go south to Sproul, but it wasn't signed the last time I was through (2006?).

I have a photo page from 2002 that shows every Bus US 220 sign that was probably ever signed in Tyrone:
http://www.m-plex.com/roads/pamplex/mp_busus220_pa453.html

froggie · Posted: Mon Apr 20, 2009 6:56 am Post subject:

yakra · Joined: 30 Jul 2008 Posts: 2600 Location: Area Code 207

FWIW, from MTR: PA 2009 map online
link
Don't worry, I won't provide analysis. =)

admin · Posted: Fri May 01, 2009 3:56 am Post subject:

Very nice. It tells me nothing extra about Alt US 220, but it's the first map I've found that shows what new US 15 is doing at the PA/NY border.