Why doesn't US 6 cross Pymatuning Reservoir?

[usends]

US 6 originally went to Erie PA, but it was rerouted to go through Meadville PA and Chardon OH in the mid- to late-1930s.  Presumably the Pymatuning Causeway (c. 1933) was already built by that time, so does anyone know why US 6 wasn't routed across it?  Or why US 6 traffic is still directed to go around the north shore of the lake?  That adds an extra 10 miles to the distance between Conneaut Lake PA and Andover OH.

[kenarmy]

From what I saw, The causeway was built in 1934 or shortly after because the reservoir itself was finished in 1934. and by then 6 had already been extended all the way to Greeley, And they never got around to rerouting it. Maybe Ohio felt bad for cutting most of SR 85 and decided to keep it around.

[zzcarp]

Looking at old maps, it appears that PA lagged behind in having a paved connection from the state line to Conneaut Lake. The 1930 map (pre-US 6 extension) shows an unimproved road from the Ohio line that turns south to meet US 322 at Hartsville. There was no direct connection to Conneaut Lake.

In the 1940 PennDOT map shows the PA Route 285 as complete to Conneaut Lake, but it is still unimproved for a majority of the route.

In contrast, US 6's route was shown as entirely paved and on the state highway system in 1930 in PA and in 1932 in Ohio. Likely ODOT and PennDOT just never felt strongly enough to try to switch the designations after the entire OH 85-PA 285 corridor was improved.

[sturmde]

US 6 originally went to Erie PA, but it was rerouted to go through Meadville PA and Chardon OH in the mid- to late-1930s.  Presumably the Pymatuning Causeway (c. 1933) was already built by that time, so does anyone know why US 6 wasn't routed across it?  Or why US 6 traffic is still directed to go around the north shore of the lake?  That adds an extra 10 miles to the distance between Conneaut Lake PA and Andover OH.

OH and PA could always submit it as a proposed US 6S to match 6N.    (kidding!)

[jecht]

Looking at old maps, it appears that PA lagged behind in having a paved connection from the state line to Conneaut Lake. The 1930 map (pre-US 6 extension) shows an unimproved road from the Ohio line that turns south to meet US 322 at Hartsville. There was no direct connection to Conneaut Lake.

In the 1940 PennDOT map shows the PA Route 285 as complete to Conneaut Lake, but it is still unimproved for a majority of the route.

In contrast, US 6's route was shown as entirely paved and on the state highway system in 1930 in PA and in 1932 in Ohio. Likely ODOT and PennDOT just never felt strongly enough to try to switch the designations after the entire OH 85-PA 285 corridor was improved.

Great thread; I've always wondered this. Like there is US 6 and also US 6N as well.

[texaskdog]

this begs the question for a thread about questionable routings.................