PA-33

[Some_Person]

Hey everyone, I just joined this site out of interest (big roadgeek here) and this is my first post and topic.

I know there are tons of state routes similar, but does anyone agree that PA-33 should be upgraded to interstate status? I travel the road frequently (I live right by the southern terminus), and it feels more like an interstate than nearby US-22 and I-476. Plus, it has a speed limit of 65 for a great distance, the highest in the state, and it is entirely an expressway from start to finish, not including how the northern terminus is at an at grade intersection with a traffic signal.

North of the PA-512 interchange, it's probably not built to interstate standards, but with a little construction it could be designated a _78 or _80. Has anyone who travelled on 33 ever thought of this? As a roadgeek, I feel saying I drove on "interstate 178" or "interstate 580" or whatever number it could end up being assigned sounds much cooler than saying just some state route

[Alex]

Used to think that a lot in 1993/94 when we used it as part of our Shunpike of the NE Extension between northern DE and Scranton. Though we noted the substandard parts as part of the problem back then too. Of course this was all before PA 33 was extended south from US 22 to I-78, and that stub and cloverleaf interchange was also a frequent topic of discussion.

[Alps]

Forget coolness, it would make sense as a link between 78, 22, and 80. That would probably bring more traffic to it as well. I-580 is the lowest reasonable x80, but you could reuse I-178, which has no PA state route assigned currently, so I'd go with that. PA had been considering I-67 for the US 219 corridor, so I don't know if they've cooled off of the Interstate bug or still have the fever.

[Some_Person]

Forget coolness, it would make sense as a link between 78, 22, and 80. That would probably bring more traffic to it as well.  I-580 is the lowest reasonable x80, but you could reuse I-178, which has no PA state route assigned currently, so I'd go with that. PA had been considering I-67 for the US 219 corridor, so I don't know if they've cooled off of the Interstate bug or still have the fever.

That's a good point, it would fit in as a 3di as well, being a spur of one of the interstates to connect to a major highway and another interstate. I've always thought that I-178 would work best, as the plans for that into Allentown are long gone and 33 connects more directly to 78 than 80. Again I'll bring up the fact that north of 512, 33 doesn't seem to be built to interstate standards, but did that stop them from turning PA-9 into 476? If anything, most of 33 is better suited as an interstate than 476 at that point, simply concerning the roadways.

[NE2]

I-81E.

[bugo]

Every freeway does not have to be an Interstate.  We have US highway freeways, state highway freeways, and city freeways here in Tulsa and they function just as well as Interstates.

[Roadsguy]

It would make more sense as an interstate if it were connected all the way down to Woodhaven Road (PA 63) in Northeast Philly via the 611 Doylestown Bypass. My guess is that it would all be 611, but it may have been later made an Interstate just like the Northeast Extension.

[PAHighways]

Every freeway does not have to be an Interstate.

Exactly!

[Some_Person]

Every freeway does not have to be an Interstate.

Exactly!

I do agree, as there are many more freeways than interstates and they all have their own designations, and turning them all into interstates would make it one big mess, I just feel PA-33 fits almost perfectly as a 3di of 78 or 80. I guess it's also just one of my pet peeves when a freeway has a highway designation that's the same as like, a 25mph back road, haha.

[Alps]

It would make more sense as an interstate if it were connected all the way down to Woodhaven Road (PA 63) in Northeast Philly via the 611 Doylestown Bypass. My guess is that it would all be 611, but it may have been later made an Interstate just like the Northeast Extension.

33 was never intended as 611. When the Woodhaven connection was briefly floated, I imagine the whole new freeway would have been 33. Before that, 33 was on its own alignment. I never heard anything about a Doylestown connection.

[Roadsguy]

I just now read Phillyroads.com (old but still usable info). It said it would probably all be 33.

Though it does pretty much follow 611, having 611 end at 95 nowhere near where it currently does wouldn't make much sense.

[roadman65]

I believe PA 33 was supposed to be PA 115 when built as PA 115 used to terminate at Easton years ago when this highway was planned.

[bugo]

Hey everyone, I just joined this site out of interest (big roadgeek here) and this is my first post and topic.

I know there are tons of state routes similar, but does anyone agree that PA-33 should be upgraded to interstate status? I travel the road frequently (I live right by the southern terminus), and it feels more like an interstate than nearby US-22 and I-476. Plus, it has a speed limit of 65 for a great distance, the highest in the state, and it is entirely an expressway from start to finish, not including how the northern terminus is at an at grade intersection with a traffic signal.

North of the PA-512 interchange, it's probably not built to interstate standards, but with a little construction it could be designated a _78 or _80. Has anyone who travelled on 33 ever thought of this? As a roadgeek, I feel saying I drove on "interstate 178" or "interstate 580" or whatever number it could end up being assigned sounds much cooler than saying just some state route

Every freeway doesn't have to be an interstate.  There's nothing wrong with state highway freeways.  The number "33" is more distinctive than "178".  It's been Hwy 33 for a long time, and there's no good reason to change the number.  I don't like the ideas of changing road numbers willy nilly.

[route_82]

First, why 178 or 580? It would end on both termini with an interstate... so even would fit right?

Anyways, I think it's ok to have state route freeways... but they should at least all have some connection to tell them apart from regular state routes... like every freeway is 22, 33, 44, 55, 66... etc.  Something in common.

Secondly, PA state & US freeways need to get EXIT numbers!!  Like why doesn't PA assign exit numbers to state and US freeways??  They only provide them for interstate highways.  The only one that does have them is PA 378... and we all know why that is the way it is.

[roadman65]

The reason why there are no exit numbers on state and us routes in PA is cause the feds do not require them to have it.  Interstates must have them by requirements, especially now.  I do remember at one time NJ did not have them on all its interstates and it wasn't until the 90s when I-287 received all of its exit numbers.  I believe that in East Orange, NJ I-280 is still missing some unless NJDOT had a recent signing project or included it with the new GSP Exit 145 flyover for that one at least.

I know they should and with PennDOT using mileage based numbers they could easily apply it to all roads including the many freeways of  US 22, US 30, US 219, etc.  I guess its money as the feds will not pay for some of it like with interstates as they do or will.

[Interstatefan78]

I just now read Phillyroads.com (old but still usable info). It said it would probably all be 33.

Though it does pretty much follow 611, having 611 end at 95 nowhere near where it currently does wouldn't make much sense.

The only problem with the PA-33 extension would be the trumpet interchange with I-78 at Bethelehem township,pa and currently this will require the reconfigulation of the leigh river brige and I-78 this will cost even more with the demoltion of the I-78 east to PA-33 North ramp and PA-33 South to I-78 East ramp to make room for the PA-33 southern extension to Doylestown.

[Some_Person]

I understand what you're all saying about how not every state route freeway, or really any freeway, needs to be signed as an interstate, I just feel that, out of most state route freeways, it's a little more worthy. Like, one major factor is that it's a freeway from start to finish, and it's definitely up to interstate standards south of 22, and pretty close from there to the northern terminus.

[bugo]

What's the point?  Will the road magically become easier to drive on because of the I shields?

[Mr_Northside]

Secondly, PA state & US freeways need to get EXIT numbers!!  Like why doesn't PA assign exit numbers to state and US freeways??  They only provide them for interstate highways.  The only one that does have them is PA 378... and we all know why that is the way it is.

PA-28 has exit numbers.  Though they're still sequential.  (An error in judgement on the part of PennDOT in my opinion.)

I do agree that certain freeway sections of non-interstate should go ahead and have exit #'s.  At least ones like US-22 between the WV state line & I-376, as there probably won't be any re-routings / upgrades that would ever alter those numbers.  I'd say the same for US-219 once (IF) it's freeway-ized in southern Somerset County to the MD state line.  I'm not so sure about more spontaneous freeway segments of mostly non-freeway routes.

As for PA-33 being an interstate, if it already has "brand recognition" (Such as PA-28 in this part of the state), it's best just to leave it as is.

[roadman65]

Yeah most locals know it as Route 33, and even thought the NE Extension is officially I-476, I am sure many are still calling it The Extension  just as the free I-476 is being called the Blue Route. 

Many freeways have idenities and many accept it as they are.  Even NJ 495 is still being called Route 3 in New Jersey even after its been around 50 years that NJ 3 was truncated to One and Nine where its current eastern terminus is.

[KEVIN_224]

Funny, I've never called that section of NJ Route 495 as "Route 3" even once. Maybe I'm not from New Jersey?

[signalman]

Many freeways have idenities and many accept it as they are.  Even NJ 495 is still being called Route 3 in New Jersey even after its been around 50 years that NJ 3 was truncated to One and Nine where its current eastern terminus is.

I've never once heard 495 being refered to as route 3, and I'm a life-long NJ resident.  Granted, I've never lived in nor do I frequent Hudson County where the route is located.

[mc78andrew]

I have never heard the approach to the Lincoln tunnel called 495 even though its clearly marked that on a map.  You would hardly know it was 495 based on my recollection of the signage.  I referred to it as route 3 until I started roadgeeking.  A lot of people refer to it as the helix beucase of the shape of the roadway.  Traffic stations refer to it as the helix as well.

[Interstatefan78]

Yeah most locals know it as Route 33, and even thought the NE Extension is officially I-476, I am sure many are still calling it The Extension  just as the free I-476 is being called the Blue Route. 

Many freeways have idenities and many accept it as they are.  Even NJ 495 is still being called Route 3 in New Jersey even after its been around 50 years that NJ 3 was truncated to One and Nine where its current eastern terminus is.

You also forgot that Bee 104.4 traffic reports mention I-476 as the turnpike, but NJ 101.5 traffic reports use RT-495 from Seacaucus up to Lincoln Tunnel

[Alps]

Yeah most locals know it as Route 33, and even thought the NE Extension is officially I-476, I am sure many are still calling it The Extension  just as the free I-476 is being called the Blue Route. 

Many freeways have idenities and many accept it as they are.  Even NJ 495 is still being called Route 3 in New Jersey even after its been around 50 years that NJ 3 was truncated to One and Nine where its current eastern terminus is.

You also forgot that Bee 104.4 traffic reports mention I-476 as the turnpike, but NJ 101.5 traffic reports use RT-495 from Seacaucus up to Lincoln Tunnel

Old-timers still use 3. I grew up with "3 goes to the Lincoln Tunnel." For those coming from the Turnpike, maybe it's 495 now, but living to the west and going that way frequently, many people just remember the 3 part.