U.S. Route 11 in Pennsylvania

U.S. Route 11 (US 11) roughly parallels Interstate 81 (I-81) in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. The route runs from the Maryland state line in Antrim Township, Franklin County, northeast to the New York state line in Great Bend Township, Susquehanna County. US 11 serves Harrisburg, Wilkes-Barre, and Scranton. Between Harrisburg and Scranton, US 11 follows the Susquehanna River, while I-81 follows a shorter route over the mountains further to the east.

U.S. Route 11 marker
U.S. Route 11
Map
US 11 highlighted in red
Route information
Maintained by PennDOT
Length248.4 mi (399.8 km)
Major junctions
South end US 11 at Maryland border in Antrim Township
Major intersections
North end US 11 at New York border in Great Bend Township
Location
CountryUnited States
StatePennsylvania
CountiesFranklin, Cumberland, Perry, Dauphin, Juniata, Snyder, Union, Northumberland, Montour, Columbia, Luzerne, Lackawanna, Wyoming, Susquehanna
Highway system
PA 10 PA 11

Route description

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US 11 enters Pennsylvania parallel to I-81 south of Greencastle in Antrim Township, Franklin County. The two routes head to the northeast, running parallel to each other as they pass through Chambersburg, where they intersect US 30, Shippensburg, and Carlisle. Northeast of Carlisle in Middlesex Township, US 11 has interchanges with the Pennsylvania Turnpike (I-76), and then I-81 roughly one mile (1.6 km) later. The stretch of US 11 between I-76 and I-81 is known as the "Miracle Mile" since it contains plenty of traveler services including restaurants, gas stations, lodging, truck stops, and shops.[1] There is no direct interchange between the two Interstates, so travelers must use this stretch, or travel through downtown Carlisle, to get from one Interstate to the other.

US 11, now to the south of I-81, continues eastward into the western suburbs of Harrisburg as Carlisle Pike. This road serves a major arterial route in eastern Cumberland County. Rumored to have originally been a Native American trail, it is now a significant center of urban sprawl serving much of Harrisburg's western suburbs. The road passes through Middlesex Township, the small unincorporated village of New Kingstown, Silver Spring Township, and Hampden Township. Upon reaching Pennsylvania Route 581 (PA 581), US 11 splits from Carlisle Pike and runs concurrent with PA 581.

 
US 11/US 15 northbound in Wormleysburg

In Camp Hill, a close suburb of Harrisburg, US 11 stops paralleling I-81 and joins US 15 northward through the western suburbs of Harrisburg, crossing I-81 in this area. As the road exits the Harrisburg area, US 11 and US 15 begin to parallel the Susquehanna River as both head northward. They intersect US 22/US 322 near Duncannon and US 522 in Selinsgrove. The two routes remain overlapped to an intersection in Shamokin Dam, where US 15 branches off to the northwest, following the path of the West Branch Susquehanna River northward. US 11, in contrast, continues to parallel the main Susquehanna River, passing through municipalities such as Danville, Bloomsburg, and Berwick (where it crosses I-80) prior to reaching the Wilkes-Barre area.

 
US 11 north of Shickshinny

North of Wilkes-Barre in Pittston, US 11 breaks from the Susquehanna River and begins to run parallel to I-81 once more. From Wilkes-Barre, the highway goes through nearby Scranton, becoming the North Scranton Expressway north of downtown. The North Scranton Expressway (officially the Congressman Joseph M. McDade Expressway) is a freeway north of downtown Scranton that carries US 11 and PA 307 north from the Mulberry Street Bridge over the Lackawanna River near downtown north to I-81, US 6, and US 6 Business. It carried unsigned State Route 3027 (SR 3027) until SR 0011 and SR 0307 were moved off their former routes to match the signed US 11 and PA 307 alignments (forming SR 6011 and SR 6307). SR 3027 still runs along Mulberry Street from Jefferson Avenue, where US 11 and PA 307 turn southwest, southeast to Harrison Avenue (SR 6011).

 
US 6 eastbound/US 11 southbound approaching the interchange with I-81 and the northern terminus of I-476 in Clarks Summit

In the northwest corner of Scranton (referred to as the Notch), US 11 intersects US 6. US 6 joins US 11 westward to Factoryville, where US 11 separates from US 6 and resumes its northerly trek through Susquehanna County to the New York–Pennsylvania border in Great Bend Township. This stretch was originally built from 1918 to 1922 on the old route of the Delaware, Lackawanna and Western Railroad and is called the "Lackawanna Trail".[2] It parallels the current rail route between Scranton and Binghamton, New York, the Nicholson Cutoff, allowing views of the massive earthworks and the Tunkhannock Viaduct.

History

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The Harrison Avenue Bridge in Scranton, part of old US 11

Prior to 1941, US 11 followed Walnut Bottom Road between Shippensburg and Carlisle while PA 33 ran along the Governor Rittner Highway. In and around Harrisburg, the highway crossed the Susquehanna River to directly service the city using the Carlisle Pike, Market Street, and the Market Street Bridge, leaving north via a concurrency with US 22 (which at the time followed Front Street out of Harrisburg). A bypass route of US 11 also existed at the time in Lemoyne, which has since been superseded by US 11 proper between Market and Front streets.[3] In 1941, US 11 and PA 33 swapped alignments, with US 11 moving to Governor Rittner Highway and PA 33 moving to Walnut Bottom Road. Additionally, US 11 was rerouted to the west side of the river, bypassing Harrisburg entirely and replacing US 11 Bypass in Lemoyne.[4][5]

 
US 11 northbound in Danville

Prior to 1989, US 11 followed an older alignment bypassing downtown Scranton. From Pittston Avenue, US 11 turned right onto Moosic Street and climbed the hill. At Crown Avenue, it turned left, joining PA 307 which was coming from the opposite direction on Moosic Street. Together, they crossed the Harrison Avenue bridge and continued about a mile to Myrtle Street. PA 307 and US 11 turned right on Myrtle Street for one block then left on Wheeler Avenue. After entering the borough of Dunmore and crossing the old Erie Railroad tracks, the pair turned left on Cherry Street then bore right onto South Blakely Street, entering downtown Dunmore. They turned left onto Green Ridge Street, reentering Scranton in the Green Ridge section of the city. At the end of Green Ridge Street at North Scranton Junior High School, they turned right onto Main Avenue entering the Providence section of the city. After a half mile (0.80 km), they turned left onto West Market Street. PA 307 left US 11 by turning left onto Keyser Avenue. US 11 continued on West Market Street to Saltry Place, where it turned left for one block then right onto the North Scranton Expressway. From it, it joined its current alignment heading toward Clarks Summit. At one time, this final intersection with the expressway was a four-way traffic circle servicing Oak Street, Market Street, the Scranton Carbondale Highway (US 6), and Northern Boulevard (today's US 11).

Major intersections

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CountyLocation[6]mikmDestinationsNotes
FranklinAntrim Township0.00.0 
 
US 11 south (Pennsylvania Avenue) – Hagerstown
Continues into Maryland
 
 
 
 
PA 163 west (Mason Dixon Road) to I-81
Eastern terminus of PA 163
2.23.5  I-81 – Hagerstown, ChambersburgI-81 exit 3
Greencastle5.08.0  
 
PA 16 (Buchanan Trail/West Baltimore Street) to I-81 – Mercersburg, Waynesboro
Guilford Township10.516.9 
 
 
 
PA 914 east (Swamp Fox Road) to I-81
Western terminus of PA 914
Chambersburg15.424.8 
 
 
 
PA 316 south (Wayne Street) to I-81
Northern terminus of PA 316
16.025.7 
 
 
 
US 30 east (Queen Street) to I-81 – Gettysburg
 
 
US 30 west (Lincoln Way) – McConnellsburg
Greene Township19.731.7 
 
 
 
 
PA 433 north / PA 997 Truck north (Sunset Pike) – Pleasant Hall, Orrstown, Roxbury
Southern terminus of PA 433; south end of PA 997 Truck concurrency
21.033.8  
 
PA 997 (Cumberland Highway) to I-81 – Letterkenny Army Depot, Scotland
North end of PA 997 Truck concurrency
CumberlandShippensburg26.743.0 
 
PA 533 west (Morris Street) – Orrstown
South end of PA 533 concurrency
 
 
 
 
PA 696 south (Fayette Street) to I-81
South end of PA 696 concurrency
26.943.3 
 
PA 696 north (Earl Street)
North end of PA 696 concurrency
Shippensburg Township28.045.1 
 
 
 
PA 174 east (Walnut Bottom Road) to I-81
Western terminus of PA 174
Southampton Township29.347.2 
 
PA 533 east – Newville
North end of PA 533 concurrency
Penn Township37.460.2  
 
PA 233 (Centerville Road) to I-81 – Newville
Carlisle44.972.3  
 
PA 465 (Allen Road) to I-81 – Plainfield, Mooredale
46.875.3 
 
PA 641 west (Orange Street)
South end of PA 641 concurrency
47.476.3 
 
PA 74 north (College Street)
South end of PA 74 concurrency
47.876.9 
 
 
 
PA 34 south (Hanover Street) to I-81
 
 
 
 
 
 
PA 74 south / PA 641 east (High Street) to I-81
North end of PA 74/PA 641 concurrencies; south end of PA 34 concurrency
48.277.6 
 
PA 34 north (Spring Road)
North end of PA 34 concurrency
Middlesex Township50.781.6 
 
  I-76 Toll / Penna Turnpike – Philadelphia, Pittsburgh
I-76 / Penna Turnpike exit 226 (Carlisle); E-ZPass or toll-by-plate
51.883.4  I-81 – Chambersburg, HarrisburgI-81 exit 52
Silver Spring Township57.492.4  
 
PA 114 (New Willow Mill Road) to I-81 – Wertzville, Mechanicsburg
Hampden Township60.296.9South end of freeway
 
 
 
 
PA 581 west to I-81 – Carlisle
South end of PA 581 concurrency; PA 581 exit 3
Camp Hill61.799.3  PA 641 – MechanicsburgPA 581 exit 4; southbound exit and northbound entrance
62.7100.9 
 
US 15 south – Gettysburg
 
 
 
 
PA 581 east to I-83 – Harrisburg, York
South end of US 15 concurrency; north end of PA 581 concurrency; PA 581 exit 5
North end of freeway
 
 
PA 641 west (Trindle Road) – Mechanicsburg
Eastern terminus of PA 641
Camp HillEast Pennsboro Township lineM. Harvey Taylor Bridge – HarrisburgNorthbound exit and southbound entrance
East Pennsboro Township67.5108.6 
 
PA 944 west (State Street)
Eastern terminus of PA 944; no access from PA 944 to northbound US 11/US 15
70.1112.8  I-81 (Capital Beltway) – Carlisle, HarrisburgI-81 exit 65
PerryMarysville72.7117.0 
 
PA 850 west (Valley Street)
Eastern terminus of PA 850
Penn TownshipSouth end of freeway
Penn TownshipDuncannon line80.2129.1 
 
PA 274 west – Duncannon
Eastern terminus of PA 274
DauphinReed Township83.0133.6   US 22 / US 322 – Harrisburg, Lewistown
PerryWatts TownshipNorth end of freeway
Buffalo Township93.8151.0 
 
PA 34 south (Hunters Valley Road) – Newport
Northern terminus of PA 34
Liverpool95.6153.9 
 
PA 17 west – Millerstown
Eastern terminus of PA 17
Liverpool Township99.9160.8 
 
PA 104 north – Middleburg
Southern terminus of PA 104
Juniata
No major junctions
SnyderPenn TownshipSouth end of freeway
113.0181.9 
 
PA 35 south – Selinsgrove
Northern terminus of PA 35
Monroe Township115.6186.0 
 
US 522 south – Selinsgrove
Northern terminus of US 522
North end of freeway
Shamokin Dam118.6190.9 
 
 
 
PA 61 south / PA 147 south – Sunbury
Interchange; northern terminus of PA 61; south end of PA 147 concurrency
119.1191.7 
 
 
 
US 15 north / PA 147 north – Lewisburg
North end of US 15/PA 147 concurrency
Union
No major junctions
NorthumberlandNorthumberland121.5195.5 
 
PA 405 north (Duke Street) – Milton
South end of PA 405 concurrency
121.7195.9 
 
PA 405 south (King Street) – Sunbury
North end of PA 405 concurrency
MontourDanville132.8213.7  
 
PA 54 (Continental Boulevard) to I-80 – Washingtonville, Riverside
ColumbiaMontour Township140.5226.1 
 
PA 42 south (Rupert Drive) – Catawissa
Interchange; south end of PA 42 concurrency
Bloomsburg140.8226.6 
 
 
 
PA 42 north to I-80 – Millville, Buckhorn
Interchange; north end of PA 42 concurrency. Partially closed access to Bloomsburg Fair before the T intersection past the interchange.
142.4229.2 
 
 
 
PA 487 north (Lightstreet Road) to I-80 – Lightstreet
South end of PA 487 concurrency
142.8229.8 
 
PA 487 south (Poplar Street) – Catawissa
North end of PA 487 concurrency
South Centre Township148.5239.0  I-80 – Milton, HazletonI-80 exit 241
Berwick153.9247.7 
 
PA 93 north (Orange Street) – Orangeville
South end of PA 93 concurrency
154.6248.8 
 
PA 93 south (Market Street)
North end of PA 93 concurrency
LuzerneSalem TownshipShickshinny line164.6264.9 
 
PA 239 south – Mocanaqua, Wapwallopen
South end of PA 239 concurrency
Shickshinny165.2265.9 
 
PA 239 north (Union Street)
North end of PA 239 concurrency
Plymouth Township173.9279.9 
 
PA 29 north (Mill Street) – Silkworth
South end of PA 29 concurrency
175.3282.1 
 
 
 
PA 29 south (South Cross Valley Expressway) to I-81 – Nanticoke, Wilkes-Barre
Interchange, north end of PA 29 concurrency
Kingston182.4293.5 
 
PA 309 north (North Cross Valley Expressway) – Luzerne, Dallas
PA 309 exit 5; access to northbound PA 309 and access from southbound PA 309
West Pittston188.6303.5 
 
PA 92 north (Exeter Avenue) – Tunkhannock
Southern terminus of PA 92
Pittston TownshipDupont line191.7308.5 
 
To I-81 – Hughestown, Dupont
Interchange; access via Laurel Street/Main Street
LackawannaMoosic 
 
 
 
PA 502 east to I-81
Western terminus of PA 502
194.1312.4  I-81 – Wilkes-Barre, ScrantonI-81 exit 180
Scranton199.1320.4 
 
PA 307 south (Moosic Street)
South end of PA 307 concurrency
199.1320.4 
 
 
 
 
 
President Biden Expressway east to I-81 / I-84 / I-380
Access from southbound US 11/PA 307 to eastbound President Biden Expressway and from westbound President Biden Expressway to northbound US 11/PA 307
South end of freeway
200.0321.97th Avenue / Providence Road
200.7323.0Main Avenue
202.1325.2 
 
PA 307 north (Keyser Avenue)
North end of PA 307 concurrency; access to Lackawanna County Coal Mine Tour, McDade Park, and Anthracite Museum
203.0326.7 
 
 
 
 
 
 
US 6 Bus. east to US 6 / I-81 – Dickson City
West end of US 6 Bus.
North end of freeway
South Abington Township205.2330.2  
 
 
 
 
 
I-81 / US 6 east / I-476 south / Penna Turnpike NE Extension south – Binghamton, Wilkes-Barre
I-81 exit 194; I-476 / Penna Turnpike NE Extension exit 131 (Clarks Summit); northern terminus of I-476; south end of US 6 concurrency
206.5332.3 
 
PA 407 north (South Abington Road) – Clarks Green
Southern terminus of PA 407
Dalton210.4338.6 
 
PA 632 east – Dalton
Interchange; western terminus of PA 632
La Plume Township212.2341.5 
 
PA 438 east
Western terminus of PA 438
WyomingFactoryvilleClinton Township line214.2344.7 
 
PA 107 east – Lake Sheridan, Fleetville
Western terminus of PA 107
Clinton Township214.8345.7 
 
US 6 west (Grand Army of the Republic Highway) – Tunkhannock
Northbound exit and southbound entrance; north end of US 6 concurrency
Nicholson219.6353.4  PA 92 (State Street)Interchange
SusquehannaHop Bottom225.6363.1 
 
PA 167 north (Main Street) – Brooklyn, Montrose
Southern terminus of PA 167
Harford Township229.6369.5 
 
 
 
PA 106 east to I-81 – Carbondale
Western terminus of PA 106
229.9370.0 
 
PA 547 east
Western terminus of PA 547
New Milford Township238.3383.5 
 
PA 706 west (Wyalusing Street) – Montrose
Eastern terminus of PA 706
New Milford239.2385.0 
 
PA 848 east (Harford Road) – Harford, Gibson
Western terminus of PA 848
239.4385.3 
 
 
 
PA 492 east (Jackson Street) to I-81
Western terminus of PA 492
Great Bend Township246.1396.1 
 
 
 
PA 171 south (State Street) to I-81 – Susquehanna
Northern terminus of PA 171
248.4399.8 
 
US 11 north (Kirkwood Avenue) – Binghamton
Continues into New York
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi


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Route 11 in Pennsylvania is where Nan Adams has her tire blow-out in the "Twilight Zone" episode "The Hitch Hiker".

See also

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  U.S. Route 11
Previous state:
Maryland
Pennsylvania Next state:
New York

References

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  1. ^ "Miracle Mile, Carlisle, PA". Central PA Magazine. May 2002. Archived from the original on December 10, 2007. Retrieved October 1, 2022.
  2. ^ Flanagan, Thomas F. Northern Electric Railway. p. 19. Ben Rohrbeck Traction Publications, 1980.
  3. ^ Official Road Map of Pennsylvania (PDF) (Map). Pennsylvania Department of Highways. 1940. Retrieved December 16, 2014.
  4. ^ "Local Road Route Changes Affect Harrisburg Drivers". The Evening News. Harrisburg, PA. June 20, 1941. p. 18. Archived from the original on December 22, 2015. Retrieved August 14, 2015 – via Newspapers.com.  
  5. ^ Official Road Map of Pennsylvania (PDF) (Map). Pennsylvania Department of Highways. 1950. Retrieved January 1, 2014.
  6. ^ "Video Log". Pennsylvania Department of Transportation. Archived from the original on April 10, 2016. Retrieved June 8, 2016.
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