Route 23

PA 23 stretches across southeastern Pennsylvania from PA 441 at Marietta to U.S. 1 along the Philadelphia and Montgomery County line. The state route connects Lancaster with New Holland, Morgantown, Bridgeport and Conshohocken.

A new alignment for PA 23 opened to traffic on November 20, 1992 from central Lancaster to U.S. 30. Measuring 1.5 miles in length, the four lane controlled access arterial links the couplet of Chestnut and Walnut Streets by Grofftown Road with the Lancaster Bypass. This included a bridge over the Conestoga River and a parclo interchange with the freeway along U.S. 30. The exchange included provisions for the unconstructed expressway alignment for PA 23, the "Goat Path Expressway," from Lancaster east to New Holland and Morgantown.

Ground broke on the $28.3 million project in October 1990.¹ It was initially slated to open in August 1992, but was delayed due to a community issue concerning Grofftown Road being converted to one-way traffic to prohibit it from being used as a shortcut to the new roadway.² Grofftown Road now dead ends just ahead of the northward turn of PA 23 from Chestnut Street to Walnut Street. PA 23 previously followed New Holland Avenue southwest from U.S. 30 to Walnut Street outside Downtown Lancaster.

Goat Path Expressway / Schuylkill Parkway

Constructed in the 1970s in conjunction with the Norristown to Phoenixville expressway project, Schuylkill Parkway constitutes an abandoned highway southwest of Norristown. The four lane expressway stems west from U.S. 202 to a grade separation with PA 23 (Valley Forge Road), with only a section of the eastbound roadway used as part of the connection from U.S. 202 south to PA 23 (Valley Forge Road).

Schuylkill Parkway was planned as the easternmost segment of a longer freeway for PA 23 between Norristown and Lancaster. A longer section of abandoned expressway remains paralleling PA 23 east of Lancaster and south of Leola. The incomplete highway is known as the "Goat Path Expressway" due to the right of way being leased to local farmers. A number of bridges and overpasses were constructed for the expressway and grading for a diamond interchange with PA 772 was also completed.

• East

• West

• East

East

PA 23 follows New Holland Pike east from U.S. 30 (Lincoln Highway) through Manheim township. The state route narrows to two lanes en route to the borough of New Holland. 08/01/04

PA 772 ties into PA 23 (Main Street) from Glenbrook Road to the north at the community of Leola. 08/01/04

PA 772 arcs west from PA 23 at Leola to Lititz, Manheim and Mt. Joy. 08/01/04

East

PA 23/772 combine for 0.24 miles along Main Street in Leola. 09/18/04

PA 772 branches southeast from PA 23 (Main Street) along Newport Road 5.9 miles to PA 340 (Old Philadelphia Pike) at the unincorporated village of Intercourse. 09/18/04

PA 772 travels 11.5 miles southeast from Leola to U.S. 30 at Gap. PA 23 continues another 4.5 miles to the borough of New Holland and 16.3 miles to Morgantown. 09/18/04

East

PA 23 (Valley Forge Road) intersects Moore Road in Upper Merion township east of the exchange with U.S. 422 (Schuylkill Expressway Extension) and Valley Forge National Historical Park. This former signal array was replaced with mast arms in 2000. December 1999

Within the borough of Bridgeport, PA 23 shifts from Valley Forge Road onto Schuylkill Parkway east from below the Bridgeport Bypass (U.S. 202 south) to U.S. 202 north along Dekalb Street. PA 23 continues along 4th Street. 08/15/04

• West

West

Within West Conshohocken, PA 23 turns onto Front Street from Conshohocken State Road to Mastonford Road (SR 3016) west to I-76/476 and Fayette Street east across the Schuylkill River to Conshohocken.
07/05/00

PA 23 continues from Front Street in West Conshohocken onto Schuylkill River Road to Bridgeport. PA 23 follows 4th Street west across Bridgeport to U.S. 202 (Dekalb Street) and Schuylkill Parkway here.
08/15/04

Schuylkill Parkway represents the easternmost portion of a planned expressway taking PA 23 west from Bridgeport to Lancaster via New Holland. Only a short section was constructed west from Dekalb Street to Valley Forge Road.
08/15/04

PA 23 arcs northward from Schuylkill Parkway along Valley Forge Road to Upper Merion township. An unused exit ramp was constructed to link Schuylkill Parkway east with the Dannehower Bridge into Norristown.
08/15/04

PA 23 (Main Street) west of PA 82 (Chestnut Street) in the borough of Elverson.
12/21/20

West from Elverson, PA 23 (Main Street) crosses into Berks County and Caernarvon Township.
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South West

12/21/20

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PA 10/23 (Main Street) advance west through Morgantown to the original south end of Interstate 176.
12/21/20

I-176 opened north in 1963. The Morgantown Connector directly linking I-176 with I-76 was completed in 1996.
12/21/20

I-176 (Morgantown Expressway) spurs north to U.S. 422 at Reading.
12/21/20

West

PA 772 turns north from PA 23 (Main Street) along Glenbrook Road to the West Earl township line and State Street into the community of Brownstown.
09/18/04

PA 772 arcs north of Lancaster via Lititz and Manheim while PA 23 continues across the city. The two state routes converge at Marietta to the west.
09/18/04

West

Hellers Church Road (SR 1003) stems south from PA 23 (Main Street) at Leola to Horsehoe Road (SR 1003).
09/18/04

PA 23 (Main Street) continues west from Hellers Church Road through Leacock.
09/18/04

A pedestrian overpass spans PA 23 (Main Street) ahead of the intersection with Geist Road south.
09/18/04

scenes

Exit ramps connect I-76 (Schuylkill Expressway) and I-476 (Mid County Expressway) with Matsonford Road (SR 3016) east to PA 23 (Front Street) in the borough of West Conshohocken.
December 1999

- Schuylkill Parkway

An abandoned section of Schuylkill Parkway extends west from U.S. 202 south along the Dannehower Bridge to an overpass for PA 23 (Valley Forge Road).
08/15/04

The west end of the roadways constructed for Schuylkill Parkway below PA 23 (Valley Forge Road).
08/15/04

An exit ramp connects U.S. 202 south from the Dannehower Bridge with PA 23 east along Schuylkill Parkway. The westbound roadway is unused.
08/15/04

Schuylkill Parkway west of the U-turn ramp connecting U.S. 202 south with PA 23 east into Bridgeport.
08/15/04

08/15/04

Schuylkill Parkway passes below U.S. 202 (Bridgeport Bypass) and an unused ramp to the Dannehower Bridge northbound.
08/15/04

08/15/04

PA 23 (Valley Forge Road) ties into Schuylkill Parkway at an intersection adjacent to the Dannehower Bridge. PA 23 follows the remainder of Schuylkill Parkway east to 4th Street at U.S. 202 (Dekalb Street) northbound.
08/15/04