Pennsylvania Route 26
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| Route information | ||||
| Maintained by PennDOT | ||||
| Length: | 126 mi[1] (203 km) | |||
| Existed: | 1928 – present | |||
| Major junctions | ||||
| South end: | Maryland state line in Union Township | |||
  US 30 Bus. in Everett US 22 in Huntingdon  US 322 Bus. in State College US 322 near State College  I-99 / US 220 near Bellefonte I-80 near Bellefonte | ||||
| North end: |
 PA 150 near Howard | |||
| Location | ||||
| Counties: | Fulton, Bedford, Huntingdon, Centre | |||
| Highway system | ||||
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Pennsylvania Route 26 (PA 26) is a 126-mile (203 km) highway in the south-central area of Pennsylvania. Its northern terminus is at Pennsylvania Route 150 northwest of Howard, Pennsylvania; its southern terminus is at the Maryland state line near Barnes Gap in Union Township. Two major destinations along this route are Raystown Lake near Huntingdon and the Pennsylvania State University at State College.
In State College, Pennsylvania, the road divides into two one-way streets, going northbound on Beaver Avenue and going southbound on College Avenue. The Centre Area Transportation Authority uses these two routes for their Campus Loop and the Town Loop.
As of November 24, 2008, a 3.6 miles (5.8 km) portion of PA 26 is concurrent with the northernmost stretch of Interstate 99 north of State College, Pennsylvania between Pleasant Gap and Interstate 80. The route also passes by two state penitentiaries: the State Correctional Institution - Rockview in Pleasant Gap and State Correctional Institution - Huntingdon, near Huntingdon.
Route description
Fulton and Bedford Counties
PA 26 begins at the Maryland state line (Mason–Dixon line) in Fulton County. In Maryland it continues as N. Orleans Road. In Union Township, PA 26 begins as Clear Ridge Road and makes a 90 degree angle turn to the west while intersecting the western terminus of Pennsylvania Route 484. PA 26 enters Bedford County as Clear Ridge Road heading towards the west. Then PA 26 shifts towards the north. In Mann Township, PA 26 makes two sharp turns; first towards the west and second towards the north. PA 26 also passes through Buchanan State Forest with many turns in the forest. In Monroe Township, PA 26 begins to parallel Tussey Mountain. North of the forest, PA 26 has multiple S-curves. In West Providence Township, PA 26 passes under Interstate 70 and Interstate 76 (Pennsylvania Turnpike). North of I-70/I-76, PA 26 shifts to the west and then makes a 90 degree angle turn to the north to become State Street.
PA 26 enters the borough of Everett as Hopewell Street. Then, PA 26 makes a right turn to the west when it begins a concurrency with U.S. Route 30 Business. Then, PA 26 makes another right turn to the north to leave the US 30 concurrency to become Spring Street. At the Everett boundary, PA 26 passes under U.S. Route 30 without access. North of US 30, PA 26 is called Raystown Road. In Hopewell Township, PA 26 shifts towards the east while intersecting the southern terminus of Pennsylvania Route 36. Then PA 26 shifts towards the southeast and then the northeast. North of Hopewell, PA 26 begins to parallel the Raystown Branch of the Juniata River while intersects the northern terminus of Pennsylvania Route 915. Then, PA 26 shifts towards the north and parallels the Raystown Branch Juniata River. In Liberty Township, PA 26 intersects the western terminus of Pennsylvania Route 913. North of PA 913, PA 26 intersects the southern terminus of Pennsylvania Route 164 while entering Huntingdon County.
Huntingdon County
PA 26 also passes west of Raystown Lake while entering Huntingdon County. In Lincoln Township, PA 26 is called Raystown Road and it intersects the western terminus of Pennsylvania Route 994. PA 26 continues towards the northeast as Raystown Road through Marklesburg borough, Penn Township, Walker Township and part of Smithfield Township. North of US 22 in Smithfield Township, PA 26 becomes Pennsylvania Avenue through the village of Smithfield, passing by State Correctional Institution - Huntingdon. PA 26 then makes a turn towards the east and crosses the Juniata River and follows and underpass under the Norfolk Southern Pittsburgh Line and becomes Penn Street. PA 26 travels through most of Huntingdon as Penn Street. It then makes a turn onto 2nd Street. PA 26 then makes another turn and becomes known as Standing Stone Avenue. Aften leaving Huntingdon, PA 26 then becomes Stone Creek Road. In Jackson Township, PA 26 has a concurrency with Pennsylvania Route 305. After the concurrency, PA 26 shifts towards the northeast as McAlvey's Fort Road. PA 26 also passes by Whipple Dam State Park.
Centre County
After crossing over Tussey Mountain, PA 26 enters Centre County with a concurrency with Pennsylvania Route 45 in Pine Grove Mills. Then PA 26 makes a left north turn to split from PA 45 and become College Avenue. Then PA 26 shifts towards the northeast and enters State College. In State College, PA 26 divides into two one-way streets (Beaver and College Avenues) and they intersect U.S. Route 322 Business. In downtown State College, PA 26 passes along the east edge of University Park, home to Pennsylvania State University. North of US 322 Business, PA 26 travels through the commercial district of State College. Then PA 26 north merges once again with PA 26 south on College Avenue. PA 26 next has an interchange with University Drive. In College Township, PA 26 interchanges with U.S. Route 322, the Mount Nittany Expressway.
North of US 322, PA 26 intersects the southern terminus of Pennsylvania Route 150. PA 26 continues towards the northeast as College Avenue. PA 26 next passes by State Correctional Institution - Rockview, a local prison in the Nittany Valley area. In Pleasant Gap, PA 26 intersects Pennsylvania Route 144. Then PA 26 intersects the southern terminus of Pennsylvania Route 64 while PA 26 makes a left turn towards the west and beginning a concurrency with U.S. Route 220 at an interchange. Here PA 26 joins an expressway and a concurrency with US 220 and Interstate 99. East of Bellefonte, PA 26 interchanges with Pennsylvania Route 550. South of I-80, US 220/PA 26 end the expressway and turn at-grade for less than a mile. In Marion Township, US 220 enters a concurrency with Interstate 80 to the east while PA 26 continues towards the northeast as Jacksonville Road. PA 26 also roughly parallels I-80/US 220 in this area. Then PA 26 makes a 90-degree angle turn to leave Jacksonville Road and proceeds to Howard as Walnut Street. Just to the northwest of Howard in Bald Eagle State Park, PA 26 terminates at an intersection with Pennsylvania Route 150.
Major intersections
| County | Location | mi[2] | km | Exit | Destinations | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fulton | MD state line | 0.0 | 0.0 | North Orleans Road | Southern terminus, continuation into Maryland | |
| Union Township |  PA 484 east – Warfordsburg | Western terminus of PA 484 | ||||
| Bedford | Everett | US 30 Bus. east (Main Street) – Breezewood | South end of US Bus 30 concurrency | |||
| US 30 Bus. west (Main Street) – Bedford | North end of US Bus 30 concurrency | |||||
| Hopewell Township |  PA 36 north – Roaring Spring, Altoona | Southern terminus of PA 36 | ||||
 PA 915 south – Hopewell | Northern terminus of PA 915 | |||||
| Liberty Township |  PA 913 east – Saxton | Western terminus of PA 913 | ||||
 PA 164 north – Martinsburg | Southern terminus of PA 164 | |||||
| Huntingdon | Lincoln Township |  PA 994 east – Entriken | Western terminus of PA 994 | |||
| Smithfield Township | US 22 – Hollidaysburg, Mount Union | Interchange | ||||
| Jackson Township |  PA 305 west – Alexandria | South end of PA 305 concurrency | ||||
| PA 305 east – Belleville | North end of PA 305 concurrency | |||||
| Centre | Ferguson Township |  PA 45 west (Pine Grove Road) – Water Street | South end of PA 45 concurrency | |||
| PA 45 east (Shingletown Road) – Boalsburg | North end of PA 45 concurrency | |||||
| State College | US 322 Bus. (Atherton Street) – Philipsburg, Lewistown | |||||
| University Drive | Interchange | |||||
| College Township | US 322 (Mount Nittany Expressway) to I-80 / I-99 / US 220 – Penn State University, Philipsburg, Lewistown | Interchange | ||||
| PA 150 north (Benner Pike) to I-80 / I-99 / US 220 – Bellefonte | Southern terminus of PA 150 | |||||
| Spring Township |  PA 144 (Main Street) – Bellefonte, Lewistown | |||||
 PA 64 north (College Avenue) – Zion | Southern terminus of PA 64 | |||||
| South end of freeway on I-99 | ||||||
| I-99 south / US 220 south – State College | Interchange, south end of I-99/US 220 concurrency | |||||
| 83 |  PA 550 – Bellefonte, Zion | Interchange | ||||
| I-80 / US 220 north (US 220 Alt. south) – Williamsport, Dubois | Exit 161 (I-80), north end of I-99/US 220 concurrency, I-99 ends here | |||||
| North end of freeway on I-99 | ||||||
| Howard Township | PA 150 – Milesburg, Lock Haven | Northern terminus | ||||
| 1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi | ||||||
PA 26 Truck
Huntingdon County
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| Location: | Huntingdon County |
There are 2 truck routes of PA 26 in Huntingdon County. The first bypasses a weight-restricted bridge over Muddy Run on which trucks over 36 tons and combination loads over 37 tons are prohibited. The second bypasses a weight-restricted bridge over Murray Run on which trucks over 35 tons and combination loads over 40 tons are prohibited. They were both created and established in September 2013.
Centre County
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| Location: | Centre County |
The truck route in Centre County bypasses a weight-restricted bridge over Lick Run on which trucks over 36 tons and combination loads over 40 tons are prohibited. It was signed in 2013.
See also
- U.S. Roads portal
- Pennsylvania portal
References
- ↑ Google (24 December 2012). "Driving directions From Maryland State Line to PA 150" (Map). Google Maps. Google. Retrieved 24 December 2012.
- ↑ DeLorme Street Atlas USA 2007