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[74/171FAN]

Previous posts in PA thread:

https://www.aaroads.com/forum/index.php?topic=2410.msg2775954;topicseen#msg2775954

https://www.aaroads.com/forum/index.php?topic=2410.msg2770549;topicseen#msg2770549

(For US 322 and PA 45)  PennDOT - District 2 News: PennDOT Announces Start of Traffic Counts and Environmental Field Studies for State College Area Connector Study

[webny99]

Great to see this getting traction, as it is badly needed.

I know we've debated on this forum before whether a connection to the PA 26 stub at I-99 (Exit 81) would make sense as an alternative. I am still supportive of that idea, since it would relieve some of the pressure on 322 between I-99 and I-80, but I recognize that the Potters Mills-Boalsburg section needs to be upgraded or bypassed regardless.

[Ketchup99]

Great to see this getting traction, as it is badly needed.

I know we've debated on this forum before whether a connection to the PA 26 stub at I-99 (Exit 81) would make sense as an alternative. I am still supportive of that idea, since it would relieve some of the pressure on 322 between I-99 and I-80, but I recognize that the Potters Mills-Boalsburg section needs to be upgraded or bypassed regardless.

I like the idea in theory, but there's not much pressure on 322 between Clearfield and Port Matilda. The other thing is that it would be nearly impossible to build a highway over Mount Nittany without raising the ire of environmentalists, who would have a good point. It's currently only three minutes longer to take 322 W -> 99 N -> 80 W as opposed to 322 -> 970 -> 80. Once the new interchange is finished, I'd bet a lot of trucks would choose that option too.

[Bitmapped]

I like the idea in theory, but there's not much pressure on 322 between Clearfield and Port Matilda. The other thing is that it would be nearly impossible to build a highway over Mount Nittany without raising the ire of environmentalists, who would have a good point. It's currently only three minutes longer to take 322 W -> 99 N -> 80 W as opposed to 322 -> 970 -> 80. Once the new interchange is finished, I'd bet a lot of trucks would choose that option too.

I'm going to disagree about there not being much pressure on US 322 between I-99 and I-80. All of US 322 between Port Matilda and PA 970 (Clearfield area) is at 8400 AADT or greater, with the part nearest PA 970 at 15,000 AADT. Those numbers are enough to start a conversation about four lanes, especially when you take into account the grades and high percentage of truck traffic.

[webny99]

I like the idea in theory, but there's not much pressure on 322 between Clearfield and Port Matilda. The other thing is that it would be nearly impossible to build a highway over Mount Nittany without raising the ire of environmentalists, who would have a good point. It's currently only three minutes longer to take 322 W -> 99 N -> 80 W as opposed to 322 -> 970 -> 80. Once the new interchange is finished, I'd bet a lot of trucks would choose that option too.

Wow, three minutes isn't much - certainly less of a difference than I was expecting. The U-shape routing between Potters Mills and Pleasant Gap is rather deceiving. That's already not much different than shortcutting via PA 144/PA 26, subtract a few minutes in savings for the US 322 upgrades and the I-80/I-99 interchange upgrades, and I-99 to I-80 would be a true toss up or maybe even the preferred route - certainly preferred for trucks since it's flatter and would/will be all-freeway.

[Ketchup99]

I like the idea in theory, but there's not much pressure on 322 between Clearfield and Port Matilda. The other thing is that it would be nearly impossible to build a highway over Mount Nittany without raising the ire of environmentalists, who would have a good point. It's currently only three minutes longer to take 322 W -> 99 N -> 80 W as opposed to 322 -> 970 -> 80. Once the new interchange is finished, I'd bet a lot of trucks would choose that option too.

I'm going to disagree about there not being much pressure on US 322 between I-99 and I-80. All of US 322 between Port Matilda and PA 970 (Clearfield area) is at 8400 AADT or greater, with the part nearest PA 970 at 15,000 AADT. Those numbers are enough to start a conversation about four lanes, especially when you take into account the grades and high percentage of truck traffic.

Well, this threw me for a loop. I didn't realize the counts were that high, as every time I've driven it (which is routinely), it doesn't seem that congested. But numbers don't lie...

It would definitely be an interesting route to try to four-lane. In particular, the section heading down into Philipsburg from the east would be nearly impossible to four-lane. Would the only solution be a new bypass of Philipsburg? That would be expensive...

[Roadsguy]

I like the idea in theory, but there's not much pressure on 322 between Clearfield and Port Matilda. The other thing is that it would be nearly impossible to build a highway over Mount Nittany without raising the ire of environmentalists, who would have a good point. It's currently only three minutes longer to take 322 W -> 99 N -> 80 W as opposed to 322 -> 970 -> 80. Once the new interchange is finished, I'd bet a lot of trucks would choose that option too.

I'm going to disagree about there not being much pressure on US 322 between I-99 and I-80. All of US 322 between Port Matilda and PA 970 (Clearfield area) is at 8400 AADT or greater, with the part nearest PA 970 at 15,000 AADT. Those numbers are enough to start a conversation about four lanes, especially when you take into account the grades and high percentage of truck traffic.

Well, this threw me for a loop. I didn't realize the counts were that high, as every time I've driven it (which is routinely), it doesn't seem that congested. But numbers don't lie...

It would definitely be an interesting route to try to four-lane. In particular, the section heading down into Philipsburg from the east would be nearly impossible to four-lane. Would the only solution be a new bypass of Philipsburg? That would be expensive...

A new-alignment freeway is exactly what would most likely happen along the entire corridor from Port Matilda to I-80, and I believe PennDOT does still intend to build it someday, though it's been shelved for a long time. It's even designated ADHS Corridor O-1, a branch from Corridor O (I-99/US 220).

[ARMOURERERIC]

I like the idea in theory, but there's not much pressure on 322 between Clearfield and Port Matilda. The other thing is that it would be nearly impossible to build a highway over Mount Nittany without raising the ire of environmentalists, who would have a good point. It's currently only three minutes longer to take 322 W -> 99 N -> 80 W as opposed to 322 -> 970 -> 80. Once the new interchange is finished, I'd bet a lot of trucks would choose that option too.

I'm going to disagree about there not being much pressure on US 322 between I-99 and I-80. All of US 322 between Port Matilda and PA 970 (Clearfield area) is at 8400 AADT or greater, with the part nearest PA 970 at 15,000 AADT. Those numbers are enough to start a conversation about four lanes, especially when you take into account the grades and high percentage of truck traffic.

Well, this threw me for a loop. I didn't realize the counts were that high, as every time I've driven it (which is routinely), it doesn't seem that congested. But numbers don't lie...

It would definitely be an interesting route to try to four-lane. In particular, the section heading down into Philipsburg from the east would be nearly impossible to four-lane. Would the only solution be a new bypass of Philipsburg? That would be expensive...

A new-alignment freeway is exactly what would most likely happen along the entire corridor from Port Matilda to I-80, and I believe PennDOT does still intend to build it someday, though it's been shelved for a long time. It's even designated ADHS Corridor O-1, a branch from Corridor O (I-99/US 220).

There was a straight line schematic posted on the board about 20 years ago

[amberjns]

I like the idea in theory, but there's not much pressure on 322 between Clearfield and Port Matilda. The other thing is that it would be nearly impossible to build a highway over Mount Nittany without raising the ire of environmentalists, who would have a good point. It's currently only three minutes longer to take 322 W -> 99 N -> 80 W as opposed to 322 -> 970 -> 80. Once the new interchange is finished, I'd bet a lot of trucks would choose that option too.

I'm going to disagree about there not being much pressure on US 322 between I-99 and I-80. All of US 322 between Port Matilda and PA 970 (Clearfield area) is at 8400 AADT or greater, with the part nearest PA 970 at 15,000 AADT. Those numbers are enough to start a conversation about four lanes, especially when you take into account the grades and high percentage of truck traffic.

Well, this threw me for a loop. I didn't realize the counts were that high, as every time I've driven it (which is routinely), it doesn't seem that congested. But numbers don't lie...

It would definitely be an interesting route to try to four-lane. In particular, the section heading down into Philipsburg from the east would be nearly impossible to four-lane. Would the only solution be a new bypass of Philipsburg? That would be expensive...

A new-alignment freeway is exactly what would most likely happen along the entire corridor from Port Matilda to I-80, and I believe PennDOT does still intend to build it someday, though it's been shelved for a long time. It's even designated ADHS Corridor O-1, a branch from Corridor O (I-99/US 220).

I would like to believe that this will actually happen. This is very important for me because my son was among the students from the Landscape Architecture 414 class who made their presentations regarding the State College Area Connector project at Center LifeLink. I hope everything works out for us. Regarding the State College Area Connector project, the compilation of all student's presentations will be available in February.

Advertising link removed.  --J N Winkler

[74/171FAN]

PennDOT - District 2 News: PennDOT Releases Draft PEL as Part of the State College Area Connector (SCAC) Study

[webny99]

Thanks for the update, this is great to see. My initial preference of the three preferred alternatives is the northernmost one.

I'm a little disappointed that none of the PA 144 alternatives are being considered, since that will make the stub near I-99 basically permanent. However, I can't argue that US 322 is in much greater need of improvement.

[Ketchup99]

The thing is that, as annoying as it is from a roadgeek point of view, the PA 26 stub at Exit 81 does its job - it provides a bypass of Pleasant Gap and a route from Pleasant Gap to I-80, giving high-speed access from Penn State out eastbound on 64. There's no real demand for a route across Mt. Nittany - US 322 is congested, whereas 144 basically just serves as a local road.

[webny99]

The thing is that, as annoying as it is from a roadgeek point of view, the PA 26 stub at Exit 81 does its job - it provides a bypass of Pleasant Gap and a route from Pleasant Gap to I-80, giving high-speed access from Penn State out eastbound on 64. There's no real demand for a route across Mt. Nittany - US 322 is congested, whereas 144 basically just serves as a local road.

I think trucks and long-distance traffic connecting to I-80 would absolutely use a high-speed route on the PA 144 corridor if one existed. It's not busy now only because it's not a very high quality road, so US 322 is still a better/faster route even though it's congested.

[74/171FAN]

PennDOT - District 2 News: PennDOT Announces Additional Traffic Counts for State College Area Connector Study