Central Susquehanna Valley Transportation Project

[TheOneKEA]

I will be interested to see if there are any calls for some of the busier at-grade intersections on the loooooooong stretch of US 11/15 south of Selinsgrove to be grade-separated once the CSVT is complete. I could foresee a lot of north-south truck, bus and other long-distance traffic switching to US 11/15 north of US 22/322 from other routes, especially because of the fast access to I-80. Left turns across the 11/15 carriage way are already difficult in a few places, and a few jughandle-type intersections exist in a few spots already (such as the PA 14 intersection).

[74/171FAN]

Left turns across the 11/15 carriage way are already difficult in a few places, and a few jughandle-type intersections exist in a few spots already (such as the PA 14 intersection).

I think you meant PA 34 and/or PA 104.

[TheOneKEA]

Left turns across the 11/15 carriage way are already difficult in a few places, and a few jughandle-type intersections exist in a few spots already (such as the PA 14 intersection).

I think you meant PA 34 and/or PA 104.

Whoops, you're correct; I haven't been that way since 2022 and mis-remembered rhe layout of the intersections. PA 14 is a straightforward T-intersection while PA 34 and PA 104 are equipped with extra loops and off-ramps, along with lengthy left turn lanes protected by Jersey barriers.

[74/171FAN]

PA 14 does not even make it to US 11/US 15.  Its southern terminus is at US 15 (Future I-99) in Trout Run.

[lepidopteran]

I will be interested to see if there are any calls for some of the busier at-grade intersections on the loooooooong stretch of US 11/15 south of Selinsgrove to be grade-separated once the CSVT is complete.

Building interchanges might be tricky space-wise (and environmental-wise) for many of the intersections, since 11/15 runs so close to the river most of the way.  If there ever is a call for more grade-separations, it might be more practical to relocate the highway to new r/w further inland, to the west.  That could also help reduce possible flooding issues.

[Beltway]

I will be interested to see if there are any calls for some of the busier at-grade intersections on the loooooooong stretch of US 11/15 south of Selinsgrove to be grade-separated once the CSVT is complete.

Building interchanges might be tricky space-wise (and environmental-wise) for many of the intersections, since 11/15 runs so close to the river most of the way.  If there ever is a call for more grade-separations, it might be more practical to relocate the highway to new r/w further inland, to the west.  That could also help reduce possible flooding issues.

They haven't even needed to signalize any intersection yet. I have used this highway at least 20 times each way over the last 15 years.  I don't see the need for grade separations yet.

[webny99]

I just drove the Clarks Ferry-Selinsgrove stretch of US 11/15 NB on the evening of the 4th and I was again reminded that it's a beautiful, easy drive. I believe I had the cruise set the entire 32 miles from merging on at 22/322 to exiting the current terminus of the freeway in Selinsgrove (while gawking at the ongoing CSVT construction). As much as I'd like it to be on the Interstate system, I also cannot credibly claim that any significant investment or upgrades are needed for the foreseeable future.

Once CSVT is complete, this corridor will form a stoplight-free and entirely free-flowing route from Baltimore, MD up to Rochester, NY. For this reason among others, I'd strongly oppose the addition of any stoplights on this stretch. Northbound is well set up with left turn lanes and accel lanes for entering traffic, and southbound is equally well set up with right turn lanes and jughandles for turning traffic. There's not a single intersection that warrants a stoplight IMO, and with all the the trucks and long haul traffic, adding a stoplight anywhere on this stretch - especially after CSVT is complete - would create far more problems than it would solve.

[MASTERNC]

I just drove the Clarks Ferry-Selinsgrove stretch of US 11/15 NB on the evening of the 4th and I was again reminded that it's a beautiful, easy drive. I believe I had the cruise set the entire 32 miles from merging on at 22/322 to exiting the current terminus of the freeway in Selinsgrove (while gawking at the ongoing CSVT construction). As much as I'd like it to be on the Interstate system, I also cannot credibly claim that any significant investment or upgrades are needed for the foreseeable future.

Once CSVT is complete, this corridor will form a stoplight-free and entirely free-flowing route from Baltimore, MD up to Rochester, NY. For this reason among others, I'd strongly oppose the addition of any stoplights on this stretch. Northbound is well set up with left turn lanes and accel lanes for entering traffic, and southbound is equally well set up with right turn lanes and jughandles for turning traffic. There's not a single intersection that warrants a stoplight IMO, and with all the the trucks and long haul traffic, adding a stoplight anywhere on this stretch - especially after CSVT is complete - would create far more problems than it would solve.

Dillsburg and Camp Hill, PA would beg to differ about US 15 being free-flowing

[sprjus4]

I just drove the Clarks Ferry-Selinsgrove stretch of US 11/15 NB on the evening of the 4th and I was again reminded that it's a beautiful, easy drive. I believe I had the cruise set the entire 32 miles from merging on at 22/322 to exiting the current terminus of the freeway in Selinsgrove (while gawking at the ongoing CSVT construction).

[...]

Once CSVT is complete, this corridor will form a stoplight-free and entirely free-flowing route from Baltimore, MD up to Rochester, NY.

Dillsburg and Camp Hill, PA would beg to differ about US 15 being free-flowing

Good thing neither are located between Baltimore, MD to Rochester, NY.

[jmacswimmer]

I also drove the Clarks Ferry-Selinsgrove stretch of US 11/15 over the weekend (as well as the open portion of the CSVT to the north) and while it's certainly a nice drive if you're continuing straight, I can see how some of the turn-offs could start to become an issue at busier times such as this past weekend. I didn't notice anything like that heading north, but returning south on Sunday I did notice a long line of cars on PA 104 leading back from the intersection with US 11/15, as well as several other intersections where traffic turning left off 11/15 NB had to take  whatever slim gaps they could get and quickly gun it across 11/15 SB. Granted the weekend of the 4th is not your typical weekend traffic-wise, but I wonder if any of these intersections could become problematic in the future with enough increased traffic.

In a perfect (fictional) world I wouldn't mind an I-83 extension all the way to Rochester, but I doubt this segment of US 11/15 is in need of a freeway upgrade anytime soon. And even if it was, the terrain might pose some constraints as was noted upthread.

I just drove the Clarks Ferry-Selinsgrove stretch of US 11/15 NB on the evening of the 4th and I was again reminded that it's a beautiful, easy drive. I believe I had the cruise set the entire 32 miles from merging on at 22/322 to exiting the current terminus of the freeway in Selinsgrove (while gawking at the ongoing CSVT construction).

[...]

Once CSVT is complete, this corridor will form a stoplight-free and entirely free-flowing route from Baltimore, MD up to Rochester, NY.

Dillsburg and Camp Hill, PA would beg to differ about US 15 being free-flowing

Good thing neither are located between Baltimore, MD to Rochester, NY.

Dillsburg is certainly a thorn not unlike Hummels Wharf/Shamokin Dam if heading towards Frederick (or DC via Frederick rather than Baltimore). But regardless of direction south of Harrisburg, the Camp Hill-Duncannon stretch is easily bypassed by US 22/322 & either side of Harrisburg via I-81/I-83/PA 581 which maintains the free-flowing minimum-4-lane route.

(gawking at the ongoing CSVT construction).

Speaking of, I unintentionally got a nice view of several of the high overpasses currently under construction. US 15 SB had a long backup entering Shamokin Dam that almost extended back to the CSVT interchange, so I diverted onto back roads just south of the CSVT interchange and rejoined 11/15 within Hummels Wharf. And along the way, I wound up with these progress photos:

[Beltway]

Speaking of, I unintentionally got a nice view of several of the high overpasses currently under construction. US 15 SB had a long backup entering Shamokin Dam that almost extended back to the CSVT interchange, so I diverted onto back roads just south of the CSVT interchange and rejoined 11/15 within Hummels Wharf. And along the way, I wound up with these progress photos:

I drove all thru the project last month.  Looks like all the fills for the viaducts are in place, the piers and abutments built, and the bridges themselves are either complete or at the stage of placing steel girders.