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Interstate 376

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Interstate 376 marker
Interstate 376
Map
I-376 highlighted in red
Route information
Auxiliary route of I-76
Maintained by PennDOT and PTC
Length84.427 mi[2] (135.872 km)
ExistedOctober 2, 1972[1]–present
HistoryExtended 2009
NHSEntire route
Major junctions
West end I-80 / PA 760 near Hermitage
Major intersections
East end
Location
CountryUnited States
StatePennsylvania
CountiesMercer, Lawrence, Beaver, Allegheny
Highway system
PA 374 PA 376

Interstate 376 (I-376) is a major auxiliary route of the Interstate Highway System in the US state of Pennsylvania, located within the Allegheny Plateau. It runs from I-80 near Sharon south and east to a junction with the Pennsylvania Turnpike (I-76, its parent) in Monroeville, after having crossed the Pennsylvania Turnpike at an interchange in Big Beaver. The route serves Pittsburgh and its surrounding areas and is the main access road to Pittsburgh International Airport (PIT).[3] Portions of the route are known as the Beaver Valley Expressway, Southern Expressway, and Airport Parkway.[4] Within Allegheny County, the route runs along the majority of the Penn-Lincoln Parkway, known locally as Parkway West and Parkway East. It is currently the ninth-longest auxiliary Interstate route in the system and second only to I-476 within Pennsylvania.

I-376 is signed east–west despite running north–south for nearly three-quarters of its length; however, it does run east–west through the majority of Allegheny County. This is because, until 2009, the route's western terminus was at I-279 in Downtown Pittsburgh; it was extended west and north to I-80 to give the corridor a single route designation. Despite the route's direction, it serves as a major artery through Pittsburgh's West End, with I-79 being the primary route through Pittsburgh's North Hills. Since its 2009 extension, the route has also served as a major way to access Northeast Ohio.[5]

A 16-mile (26 km) stretch of the Beaver Valley Expressway, officially named the James E. Ross Highway, from exit 15 where I-376 ends its brief concurrency with U.S. Route 422 (US 422) to exit 31 where I-376 has its first interchange with Pennsylvania Route 51 (PA 51), is tolled and is maintained by the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission (PTC), while the remainder of the highway is maintained by the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT). Near the airport, I-376 also has a business loop.

Route description

[edit]

Beaver Valley Expressway and Airport Parkway

[edit]
Eastward along the toll section of I-376 (then PA 60) in North Beaver Township, Lawrence County
I-376 westbound past the Brighton Road interchange in Brighton Township

I-376 begins at a cloverleaf interchange with I-80 and PA 760 located four miles (6.4 km) east of Ohio within the Glaciated Allegheny Plateau. From there, it travels in a southerly direction on the Beaver Valley Expressway, a four-lane freeway with a wide grass median. Paralleling PA 18, I-376 has its first interchange with that state highway in West Middlesex.

I-376 soon meets US 422 and forms an overlap with that highway along the west side of New Castle. After an interchange with US 224 in Union Township, I-376 eastbound splits from US 422 at a trumpet interchange southwest of the city in Taylor Township. At this point, I-376 becomes a toll road officially named the James E. Ross Highway.

I-376 continues southward, still paralleled by PA 18 and the Beaver River to the east. Shortly after entering Beaver County near Koppel, the route connects to its parent route I-76 (Pennsylvania Turnpike) for the first time at an interchange which also provides access to PA 351. Around this area, I-376 crosses into the Unglaciated Allegheny Plateau, where it remains for the remainder of its length.

I-376 then passes to the east of West Mayfield and becomes a non-tolled highway again at its first interchange with PA 51 in Chippewa Township, just west of Beaver Falls. The freeway then weaves through mountainous terrain, interchanging with PA 68 in Vanport just before crossing the Vanport Bridge over the Ohio River. It then has its second interchange with PA 18 near Kobuta and continues south from there. I-376 passes to the west of Aliquippa before leaving Beaver County and entering Allegheny County.

Approaching PIT, I-376 bends south-southwest and becomes the Southern Expressway, while the Beaver Valley Expressway diverges to the southeast along I-376 Business (I-376 Bus). I-376 circles around the southern edge of the airport, intersecting the western terminus of the Southern Beltway (PA Turnpike 576) at the main entrance to PIT before recombining with I-376 Bus and becoming the Airport Parkway, still four lanes and with a narrow median.

Parkway West

[edit]
I-376 westbound at the PA 121 exit in Green Tree

Now traveling southeast, the route comes to a partial cloverleaf interchange with the Penn-Lincoln Parkway (US 22 and US 30) and Steubenville Pike (PA 60) in Robinson Township. The two US Routes join I-376 here in a partially-unsigned concurrency (indicated only on reassurance markers), continuing east-southeastward bearing the Penn-Lincoln Parkway name, and soon reach an interchange with I-79. From that point eastward, along what was known for many years as I-279, I-376 runs east-southeast through Rosslyn Farms and Carnegie before turning northeast and passing through Green Tree.

Entering the city of Pittsburgh, I-376 winds its way northeast to its second interchange with PA 51 at Saw Mill Run Boulevard, which is also part of a spread-out series of ramps linking Banksville Road (US 19) and US 19 Truck. This junction, located just before the freeway passes under Mount Washington in the Fort Pitt Tunnel, features the infamous wrong-way concurrency of the northbound and southbound directions of US 19 Truck.

I-376 westbound between the Fort Pitt Bridge and Fort Pitt Tunnel

After passing through the Fort Pitt Tunnel, I-376 emerges onto the four-lane double-deck Fort Pitt Bridge, crossing over the Monongahela River. There are single-lane westbound exit and eastbound entrance ramps connecting Carson Street to the freeway between the tunnel's portal and the bridge. Once across the river, the route touches down in Downtown Pittsburgh at Point State Park. An interchange at the Point connects I-376 to I-279 (Parkway North), which leads to the Fort Duquesne Bridge, as well as Liberty Avenue.

Parkway East

[edit]

I-376 continues east from the Point, still carrying the partially-unsigned US 22 and US 30, following the north shore of the Monongahela River through the south side of the downtown area (the westbound area by Downtown from Grant Street to the Fort Pitt Bridge is locally known as the "Bathtub" because of a tendency of the underpass to flood in heavy rains).[4] The road then continues to the adjacent neighborhoods of Uptown and Oakland. The Parkway East eventually turns away from the river near the southwestern corner of Schenley Park and runs along that park's southern border before passing through the Squirrel Hill Tunnel under Squirrel Hill.

I-376 westbound approaching Downtown Pittsburgh

Parkway East exits the city of Pittsburgh near the southeastern corner of Frick Park, and US 30 leaves the freeway shortly thereafter at PA 8 in the suburb of Wilkinsburg. I-376 and US 22 (now fully signed) continue in a generally easterly direction through Churchill, Wilkins Township, Penn Hills, and finally Monroeville, where I-376 ends at an interchange with the Pennsylvania Turnpike and US 22 Bus. US 22 continues east from this interchange on the William Penn Highway toward Murrysville.

I-376 westbound at the Squirrel Hill Tunnel

Tolls

[edit]

The James E. Ross Highway portion of I-376 between US 422 and PA 51 uses all-electronic tolling, with tolls payable by toll by plate (which uses automatic license plate recognition to take a photo of the vehicle's license plate and mail a bill to the vehicle owner) or E-ZPass. The tolled section of I-376 has two mainline toll plazas: the West Mainline Toll Plaza near milepost 18 and the East Mainline Toll Plaza near milepost 30. As of 2024, the West Mainline Toll Plaza costs $5.50 using toll by plate and $2.90 using E-ZPass for passenger vehicles while the East Mainline Toll Plaza costs $3.50 using toll by plate and $1.50 using E-ZPass for passenger vehicles. There are also ramp tolls at the eastbound exit and westbound entrance at exit 17, the westbound exit and eastbound entrance at exit 20, and the eastbound exit and westbound entrance at exit 29, which charge $3.50 using toll by plate and $1.50 using E-ZPass for passenger vehicles.[6] As part of Act 44, tolls are to be increased every year in January.[7][8]

The tolled portion of I-376 is the most expensive portion of the Pennsylvania Turnpike system per mile, charging toll-by-plate users an average of $0.44 per mile ($0.27/km) and E-ZPass users $0.20 per mile ($0.12/km). This is in stark contrast to the mainline Turnpike, which charges less than $0.12 per mile ($0.07/km) for E-ZPass users and more than $0.17 per mile ($0.11/km) for cash users. This is due to the bonds on newer sections of the Turnpike system (such as the James E. Ross Highway, Amos K. Hutchinson Bypass, Mon–Fayette Expressway, and the Southern Beltway) having not been paid for yet (in the case of the latter two, are only partially completed), whereas the mainline Turnpike and the Northeastern Extension had their bonds paid for decades ago. Even with the newer sections factored in—most of which except for a portion of the Mon–Fayette Expressway from I-70 near Bentleyville to US 40 near Brownsville opened after the James E. Ross Highway opened—it is the most expensive portion of the Turnpike system per mile.[9]

History

[edit]
I-376 westbound from the Smithfield Street Bridge in Downtown Pittsburgh in 2008 prior to the route being extended, looking west
Postcard from the 1930s or 1940s of the section parallel to Fort Pitt Boulevard along the Monongahela River, looking east

The first section of what would eventually become I-376 opened June 5, 1953, from PA 885 (Bates Street) near the Hot Metal Bridge east through the Squirrel Hill Tunnel to US 22 Bus (then US 22) at Churchill. Construction commenced on this stretch on July 25, 1946, near Wilkinsburg.[10] The next section to open, running from PA 60 (Steubenville Pike, then US 22/US 30) near PIT east to Saw Mill Run Boulevard (PA 51 and US 19), opened October 15, 1953. At Steubenville Pike, it connected to PA 60—the Airport Parkway—which had been built c. 1950[11] as a high-speed surface road to provide access to the airport.

In 1955, the Baltimore and Ohio Station was demolished to make way for construction of the new freeway. In late 1956, it opened from the Boulevard of the Allies (then US 22/US 30) near the Birmingham Bridge east to Bates Street, with the eastbound lanes opening September 10 and westbound opening September 29. The other downtown sections opened in segments from January 17, 1958, to 1959, the total cost of the parkway at this time came to $112.11 million (equivalent to $920 million in 2024[12]).[10] The $6.31-million (equivalent to $51.7 million in 2024[12]) Fort Pitt Bridge opened June 19, 1959, followed by the $16-million (equivalent to $130 million in 2024[12]) Fort Pitt Tunnel on September 1, 1960, using the West End Bypass (PA 51) and Carson Street (PA 837) as detours until the Fort Pitt Tunnel opened. The Parkway East ended in Churchill, with eastbound traffic continuing ahead on the William Penn Highway, until the $11.12-million (equivalent to $88.1 million in 2024[12]) extension east to the Pennsylvania Turnpike in Monroeville opened October 27, 1962.[4] The final piece of Parkway West (the part which has never had an Interstate route number), from PA 60 west to the US 22/US 30 split at Imperial, opened in 1964.[13][14] Early plans for that section would have instead taken it from PA 60 where it splits with PA 60 Bus. northwest to US 30 near Campmeeting Road at Clinton.[15]

The next section that opened was in 1968 from the present-day exit 2 with PA 18 to where PA 18 intersects with the present-day PA 760 just north of I-80 and the western terminus of I-376.[16][17]

Work began on the Beaver County sections of I-376 (in between Chippewa Township and the Airport Parkway) in 1971 and would finish by 1976.[16][18] The following year, the northern section finished construction, which would leave a gap between New Castle and Chippewa Township for the next 15 years. Until the middle section was completed, in order to continue on the highway, travelers had to use US 422, PA 168, PA 18, PA 251, and PA 51 before returning to the highway. Until that section opened, the present-day exit 12A marked the southern terminus of the northern section of PA 60 as an "END 60" sign was located near the exit.

In the early to mid-1980s, the entire section from downtown to Monroeville was refurbished.[19]

The Southern Expressway, a southern bypass of PIT, opened on September 9, 1992, and is the newest portion of I-376.[20][21]

I-376 at the interchange with I-279 in Pittsburgh in 2012

The next leg of the route opened to PA 108 in 1991 and to PA 51 in Chippewa on November 30, 1992, as the 16.5-mile (26.6 km) $260-million (equivalent to $520 million in 2024[12]) "missing link" between two sections of PA 60, when that route's designation was on the highway.[22] The aforementioned "END 60" sign was removed when the first leg of the middle section opened in 1991, and a "No re-entry this exit" sign has sat on the site since due to exit 12A being an indirect connection to US 422 westbound without a direct reentry ramp.

In 2003, the toll plaza at the PA turnpike interchange was removed.

The PTC retrofitted E-ZPass lanes on the tolled section of I-376 in 2006 at both the two mainline toll plazas as well as the exits that collect tolls.[23]

A "Toll I-376" trailblazer on the tolled section of I-376

As part of the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users in 2005, Congress had designated an expansion of I-376 past I-79 and along present day US 22/US 30 and PA 60 through Pittsburgh International Airport and north to I-80 near Sharon. This was done because the airport was one of the few major airports in the US without direct access to an Interstate Highway.[3] This routing required some major infrastructure work on US 22 west of Downtown Pittsburgh (particularly at the US 22/US 30 cloverleaf interchange in Robinson Township) and safety improvements to PA 60; though both were controlled-access freeways before the extension, they were not up to Interstate Highway standards in all areas. The improvements to both the US 22/US 30 cloverleaf in Robinson Township and the Lawrence County leg of the route, as well as replacing all of the signs with the I-376 shield, were funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.[24] The designation of I-279 from Downtown west through the Fort Pitt Tunnel to I-79 was officially dropped and replaced by that of I-376 on June 10, 2009.[25][26] I-279 still exists between I-376 in the Golden Triangle and I-79 in Franklin Park. On November 6, 2009, officials announced the initial transition was complete.[24] On January 21, 2010, the remainder of the route except for the Beaver Valley Expressway started receiving the I-376 signs. The stretch of PA 60 from I-80 in Shenango Township of Mercer County north past PA 18 (where the freeway terminates and the highway reverts to being a two-lane arterial) to the former northern terminus of PA 60 in Sharon became PA 760.[27] On August 1, 2010, signage along PA Turnpike 60 was officially changed to I-376,[28] and, unlike other tolled highways with an Interstate designation, it is not grandfathered from Interstate standards. Having been built in the early 1990s, this section was already up to Interstate standards. This section of I-376 is signed as "Toll I-376", with a black-on-yellow "Toll" sign above the I-376 trailblazer. This makes I-376 one of the first tolled Interstates with such a marker, which was a new addition to the 2009 edition of the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices.[29] Despite PennDOT giving motorists over four years of advance notice on the I-376 extension, some local drivers were confused after the transition was complete, thinking that the I-376 extension was going to be an all-new highway instead of a renaming of PA 60.[5]

I n 2014, exit 1C was rebuilt into a full interchange rather than legacy eastbound exit, mainly to serve as access to I-80 to West Middlesex residents. It marked the third partial interchange on the legacy PA 60/Parkway West to be upgraded to a full-service interchange in a decade, after I-79 at exit 64A and access to US 30 at exit 52 were upgraded from partial to full-service interchanges.[30]

Along with the Delaware River–Turnpike Toll Bridge (which is affected by the ongoing Pennsylvania Turnpike/Interstate 95 Interchange Project), the Beaver Valley Expressway became one of the first sections of the Pennsylvania Turnpike system to implement all-electronic tolling, which began along the Beaver Valley Expressway on April 30, 2017.[31][32] The Beaver Valley Expressway was selected as a test area so that the PTC could work out any bugs with mailing non-E-ZPass users bills with their unpaid tolls.[32]

A bridge crossing I-376 from Oakland to Greenfield, the Greenfield Bridge, gained some national notoriety on an episode of Last Week Tonight with John Oliver concerning infrastructure. The state could not immediately afford to replace the crumbling bridge, so instead a cover was built under the bridge to protect the vehicles on I-376. The Greenfield Bridge was finally demolished in December 2015, and a replacement was built over the following two years, officially opening on October 14, 2017.[33]

Route designations prior to 2009

[edit]
The western end of I-376 at I-279 in Pittsburgh in 2003. Upon its extension in 2009, the END panels were replaced with WEST panels

From PA 60 to I-376's eastern terminus, I-376 has had the US 22 and US 30 designations for its entire history (US 30 exiting at Wilkinsburg). Until 1961, it also carried the PA 80 designation until that route was decommissioned due to Pennsylvania needing the designation for I-80 to the north. In 1956, PA 60 was commissioned to have the Airport Parkway and the former alignment of US 22 and US 30 to Pittsburgh's West End.

From 1959 to 1964, I-70 occupied the highway east of PA 50 in Carnegie.[17] When I-70 moved to its current alignment (replacing I-70S) in 1964, the route received the I-76 designation into Pittsburgh.[34] West of Pittsburgh, from 1963 to 1970, I-79 occupied the route. In West Middlesex, the route would receive the PA 18 designation while the former alignment would receive a business route designation as PA 18 Business, since it served as a bypass of West Middlesex.[35]

In 1970, I-79 swapped positions with I-279, necessitating that I-76 be extended to I-79. With commencement on the Beaver Valley Expressway in 1971, PA 60 was extended to its future northern terminus in Chippewa. Finally, on October 2, 1972, after I-76 west of Monroeville moved to the Pennsylvania Turnpike and replaced I-80S, the western part of the highway took the I-279 designation while the section from Pittsburgh east to Monroeville would become the first section with the I-376 designation.[1] When I-376 was extended onto the Parkway West in 2009, I-279 was truncated to its current southern terminus at the former western terminus of I-376.[25]

PA 18 Business was decommissioned in 1978 when PA 18 returned to its former alignment (where it has remained to this day) and PA 60 was extended all the way to Hermitage.[36][37]

Pennsylvania Route 60 marker
Pennsylvania Route 60 Toll
LocationChippewa TownshipNew Castle
Existed1991–2009

On November 30, 1992, the 16.2-mile (26.1 km) gap in Beaver County was completed with a toll highway.[38]

When the Beaver Valley Expressway started opening in 1991, it would receive the "PA Toll 60" designation, because it was operated by the PTC. With the opening of the Southern Expressway in 1992, PA 60 moved to that highway, while the Airport Parkway received the PA 60 Bus designation. PA 60 was eventually extended to Sharon in 1997, ending at US 62 Bus.[39]

Exit list

[edit]
CountyLocation[40]mi[41][42]kmOld exitNew exit
[43]
DestinationsNotes
MercerShenango Township0.0000.000
PA 760 north – Sharon
Continuation north; former PA 60
1 I-80 – Youngstown, MercerSigned as exits 1A (west) and 1B (east); exit 4A on I-80
0.5460.8791C PA 318 – Mercer, West MiddlesexBecame a full interchange in October 2014[30]
1.7342.7912 PA 18 – West Middlesex
LawrencePulaski Township5.1038.21225[a]5 PA 208 – New Wilmington, Pulaski Township
Neshannock Township9.43915.19124[a]9
Mitchell Road to PA 18
NeshannockUnion
township line
12.19919.63212


US 422 west / US 422 Bus. east (Sampson Street) – Youngstown
Western end of US 422 concurrency; signed as exits 12A (west) and 12B (east) eastbound
Union Township13.48421.70013 US 224 (State Street) – Poland, OH
14.60423.503
15
US 422 east – Butler
Left exit eastbound; eastern end of US 422 concurrency; last eastbound exit before toll
North Beaver Township16.2826.20
17 PA 108 – Mt. JacksonTolled eastbound exit and westbound entrance
18.129.1Mainline West Toll Plaza (E-ZPass or toll-by-plate)[45]
19.9632.12
20 PA 168 – MoraviaTolled westbound exit and eastbound entrance
BeaverBig Beaver25.7141.38
26
I-76 / Penna Turnpike to PA 351 – Ohio, Harrisburg
Exit 10 on I-76 / Turnpike; access to PA 351 via Shenango Road
28.7946.33
29
PA 551 to PA 18 – Beaver Falls
Tolled eastbound exit and westbound entrance
Chippewa Township30.549.1Mainline East Toll Plaza (E-ZPass or toll-by-plate)[45]
31.0349.94
31 PA 51 – ChippewaLast westbound exit before toll
Brighton Township35.98257.90714[a]36Brighton
Vanport Township38.20361.48213[a]38 PA 68 – Beaver, MidlandSigned as exits 38A (west) and 38B (east) westbound
Ohio River38.343–
38.677
61.707–
62.245
Vanport Bridge
Potter Township39.32863.29212[a]39 PA 18 – Monaca, ShippingportAccess to Penn State Beaver Campus and Beaver Valley Mall Boulevard
Center Township41.59766.94411[a]42Center
Hopewell Township44.72371.97510[a]45Aliquippa
47.87777.0519[a]48 PA 151 – Hopewell
AlleghenyFindlay Township50.13980.6918[a]50
I-376 BL east – Moon
Eastbound exit and westbound entrance; western terminus of I-376 BL; former PA 60 Bus.
51.40582.7288[a]51
I-376 BL east / Flaugherty Run Road – Moon
Westbound exit and eastbound entrance
52.20984.0227[a]52
To US 30 – Clinton
52.867–
53.627
85.081–
86.304
6[a]53
PA Turnpike 576 east – Washington, Pittsburgh International Airport
Western terminus and exits 1A-B on PA 576; access to Airport via Airport Boulevard
56.36390.7074[a]56McClaren Road
Moon Township57.185–
57.895
92.030–
93.173
3[a]57
I-376 BL west / Orange Belt – Moon
Western end of Orange Belt concurrency; eastern terminus of I-376 BL; former PA 60 Bus.
58.48794.1262[a]58Montour Run Road
North Fayette Township59.47195.7091[a]59Robinson Town Centre Boulevard
Robinson Township59.970–
60.527
96.512–
97.409
60


US 22 west / US 30 west / Orange Belt / PA 60 south – Weirton, Crafton
Signed as exits 60A (west) and 60B (south); eastern end of Orange Belt concurrency; western end of US 22/US 30 concurrency; northern terminus of PA 60
60.86497.95161Ridge Road
RobinsonCollier
township line
61.99899.77662 Yellow Belt (Campbells Run Road)Westbound exit and eastbound entrance
Robinson Township63.268–
64.177
101.820–
103.283
64A I-79 – Washington, ErieExit 59 on I-79
Rosslyn Farms64.481103.77264BRosslyn FarmsWestbound exit and eastbound entrance
Carnegie64.915104.471Buses only (West Busway)Eastbound exit and westbound entrance
65.323105.12765 PA 50 – Carnegie, Heidelberg
Green Tree67.225108.18867 PA 121 / Blue Belt – Green Tree, Mount Lebanon, CraftonSigned for Mount Lebanon eastbound, Crafton westbound
Pittsburgh67.699108.95168Parkway Center DriveWestbound exit and eastbound entrance
68.372110.03469A
US 19 south (Banksville Road) – Mt. Lebanon, Uniontown
Western end of US 19 concurrency; westbound exit and eastbound entrance
68.808110.736
69B


US 19 Truck south / PA 51 south – Uniontown
Western end of US 19 Truck concurrency; eastbound exit and westbound entrance
68.883110.856
69C

US 19 north / PA 51 north – West End
Eastern end of US 19 concurrency; eastbound exit and westbound entrance
68.952–
69.644
110.967–
112.081
Fort Pitt Tunnel under Mount Washington
69.708112.18469C

PA 837 north to PA 51 – West End
Westbound exit and eastbound left entrance
69.644–
69.873
112.081–
112.450
Fort Pitt Bridge over the Monongahela River
69.873–
70.029
112.450–
112.701
70ABoulevard of the Allies / Liberty Avenue – PPG ArenaEastbound left exit and westbound entrance
70BFort Duquesne Boulevard – Convention Center, Strip DistrictEastbound left exit and westbound entrance
70C
I-279 north (US 19 Truck north) – Fort Duquesne Bridge, North Shore
Southern terminus of I-279; eastern end of US 19 Truck concurrency; left exit eastbound
70.108112.82870DStanwix StreetNo eastbound exit; left exit and entrance westbound; left entrance eastbound
70.508113.47271AGrant StreetLeft exit and entrance
71.036114.32171BSecond AvenueWestbound exit only
71.962115.81272AForbes Avenue – OaklandEastbound exit and westbound entrance
72.088116.01472B

Boulevard of the Allies (PA 885 north) to I-579 north – Liberty Bridge
No eastbound exit; left entrance eastbound
72.742117.06773 PA 885 (Bates Street) – Glenwood, OaklandWestbound exit and eastbound entrance; signed as exits 73A (south) and 73B (north)
74.371119.68974 Blue Belt – Squirrel Hill, Homestead
74.618–
75.622
120.086–
121.702
Squirrel Hill Tunnel under Squirrel Hill
PittsburghSwissvale
Edgewood tripoint
76.554123.20277Edgewood, Swissvale
Wilkinsburg77.868125.316
78A
US 30 east – Forest Hills
Eastern end of US 30 concurrency; no westbound exit
77.920125.400
78B
PA 8 north – Wilkinsburg
Southern terminus of PA 8
Churchill78.732126.70779AGreensburg PikeEastbound exit and westbound entrance
79.503127.948
79B PA 130 – ChurchillLeft exit westbound
79.934128.641
80

US 22 Bus. east – Monroeville
Eastbound exit and westbound entrance; western terminus of US 22 Bus.
ChurchillWilkins Township line80.407129.403
81
PA 791 north / Yellow Belt – Penn Hills
81.250130.75982
PA Turnpike 43 south
Proposed; future northern terminus of PA Turnpike 43; PA Turnpike 43 exit 68B-C
Monroeville84.117135.373
84


US 22 Bus. west / PA 48 south / Orange Belt – Monroeville, Plum
Eastbound exit and westbound entrance; signed as exits 84A (south) and 84B (north); US 22 Bus. not signed
84.427135.872
85


I-76 Toll / Penna Turnpike / US 22 Bus. west – Monroeville, Ohio, Harrisburg
Exit 57 on I-76 / Turnpike; exit number not signed westbound; no eastbound access to US 22 Bus.
17[h]
US 22 east – Murrysville
Continuation east; eastern end of US 22 concurrency
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi

Business loop

[edit]
Interstate 376 Business marker
Interstate 376 Business
LocationAllegheny County
Length6.26 mi (10.07 km)
Existed2009–present
I-376 Bus shield in Moon Township

Interstate 376 Business (I-376 Bus) or Business Loop 376 (BL 376), known locally as the Airport Parkway, is a six-mile (9.7 km) Interstate Highway business loop in Moon Township and Findlay Township in Pennsylvania. Its western terminus is at I-376 and Flaugherty Run Road (exits 50 and 51) north of PIT. Its eastern terminus is at I-376's exit 57, southeast of PIT.

Before November 6, 2009, and after the Southern Expressway was completed in 1992, this road was known as PA 60 Bus.[21] Prior to that, it had the regular PA 60 designation; this was also originally the last leg of the Parkway West which ended at the intersection with then-Beers School Road (now University Boulevard) and began as the Beaver Valley Expressway past the intersection.[17][46] Much of the road is up to freeway standards, but several signaled at-grade intersections remain, making this multilane divided road a true expressway (unlike many of Pennsylvania's freeways, which are often misleadingly named using the suffix expressway, since they are often called such in the northeast). I-376 Bus is one of only two business Interstate routes found in the commonwealth of Pennsylvania, the other being the business loop of I-83 in York.

See also

[edit]

Notes

[edit]

References

[edit]
[edit]

Grokipedia

from Grokipedia
Interstate 376 (I-376) is an auxiliary Interstate Highway in western Pennsylvania that functions as a key east–west corridor across the Allegheny Plateau, extending 84.66 miles from its western terminus at an interchange with Interstate 80 near Sharon in Mercer County to its eastern terminus at an interchange with Interstate 76 and U.S. Route 22 near Monroeville in Allegheny County.[1][2] The route comprises several distinct sections, including the tolled Beaver Valley Expressway in Lawrence and Beaver counties, the Airport Expressway (Pennsylvania Route 60) providing access to Pittsburgh International Airport, the Parkway West from the airport area through downtown Pittsburgh, and the Parkway East (also known as the Penn-Lincoln Parkway East) continuing eastward through the city and its suburbs to Monroeville.[3][4][5][2] It is maintained primarily by the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT), with the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission overseeing the tolled portions such as the James E. Ross Highway near the airport.[4][3] Designated under the Interstate Highway System, I-376's Pittsburgh-area segments were originally planned and constructed in the 1950s and 1960s as part of what was initially envisioned as Interstate 76, with the Penn-Lincoln Parkway East receiving the I-376 numbering in 1972 after a statewide renumbering to avoid conflicts.[6] The full modern route was established through a 2009 extension approved by the Federal Highway Administration under the SAFETEA-LU Act, incorporating the former Interstate 279 along the Parkway West and additional western segments to enhance connectivity and economic development in the region.[2][7] Ongoing improvements, including interchange reconstructions and active traffic management systems, address congestion and safety on this heavily traveled urban and suburban artery.[5][8][9]

Route description

Western section

Interstate 376 begins at a trumpet interchange with Interstate 80 (exit 1) in Shenango Township, Mercer County, near the city of Hermitage and close to the Ohio state line. This western terminus marks the start of the 84.66-mile route, which initially travels southeast through rural landscapes of the Shenango Valley in Mercer and Lawrence counties. The highway provides essential connectivity for regional traffic between northwestern Pennsylvania and the greater Pittsburgh area, with annual average daily traffic (AADT) volumes starting at around 27,000 vehicles near Hermitage as of 2024.[10][11][12] As I-376 proceeds into Lawrence County, it serves the city of New Castle with an interchange at US 422 Business (exit 12), facilitating access to local industries and residential areas. Further southeast, the route intersects PA 168 (exit 20) in the Moravia area south of New Castle, where AADT reaches approximately 13,000 vehicles as of 2024. The highway then enters Beaver County, aligning closely with and paralleling PA 18 and the Beaver River to the east, traversing the Beaver Valley region. Key interchanges in this stretch include PA 18 near Beaver Falls (exit 29), with AADT of about 18,000 as of 2024, and PA 51 in Chippewa Township (exit 31), a significant landmark for local commerce near the Chippewa interchange, where traffic volumes are around 18,000 as of 2024.[13][11][12][13][11][12][13][11] The Beaver Valley Expressway portion of I-376 continues through Beaver County, connecting with PA 18 again near Monaca (exit 39) and US 30 in Clinton (exit 52), where AADT increases to roughly 23,000 and 29,000 vehicles as of 2024, respectively, reflecting growing suburban influence. Transitioning into Allegheny County, the route incorporates the Southern Expressway alignment from US 30 southeastward, providing a direct link to the Pittsburgh International Airport area. This segment culminates in the Airport Parkway, a critical access route to the airport with interchanges at PA 60 in Crafton (exit 60B) and US 22/US 30 (exit 60A), handling AADT of about 69,000 and 66,000 vehicles as of 2024. The Airport Parkway serves as the primary gateway to Pittsburgh International Airport, supporting air travel and regional logistics before connecting eastward to the central Parkway West section.[14][13][12][15][13][16][12]

Central section

The central section of Interstate 376, known as the Parkway West, begins near Pittsburgh International Airport in Moon Township and extends eastward through Robinson and Kennedy Townships into downtown Pittsburgh, providing a vital link for commuters and freight movement in the region's western suburbs.[17] This approximately 10-mile segment transitions from suburban landscapes to dense urban environments, passing through industrial zones and facilitating access to key employment centers along the Ohio River valley.[18] The route serves as the primary artery for airport-bound traffic and connects to major surface roads, supporting daily flows of around 87,000 vehicles near the airport as of 2024. (Note: Volumes based on 2024 PennDOT statewide data; specific segment AADT ranges from 64,000 near I-79 to 117,000 near downtown.) Major interchanges in this section include the connection to Pennsylvania Route 51 via Exits 69B/C near the West End.[13] Further east, Exit 64A/B connects to Interstate 79, directing traffic north toward Erie or south to Washington, with this junction handling significant truck volumes due to its proximity to industrial parks in Robinson Township and AADT of 64,000 as of 2024.[4] The highway then intersects with U.S. Route 19 and PA 51 at Exits 69A-C near the West End, where southbound ramps lead to Uniontown and northbound to Carnegie, integrating with the local grid for suburban commuters.[13] These exits feature partial cloverleaf designs with acceleration/deceleration lanes to manage merging flows, and the segment east of I-79 sees average daily traffic exceeding 110,000 vehicles near downtown as of 2024, contributing to routine peak-hour delays. As the route approaches downtown, it navigates urban terrain through the West End neighborhood, curving sharply to cross the Monongahela River via the Fort Pitt Bridge, a cantilever structure completed in 1959 that carries I-376 over 1,207 feet while offering views of the city's skyline.[17] Beyond the bridge, Exit 70A provides direct access to Fort Pitt Boulevard, funneling traffic into Pittsburgh's central business district and linking to Interstate 579 (Crosstown Boulevard), which serves industrial and government facilities in the Hill District.[13] This connection enhances the corridor's role in distributing freight to riverside warehouses and supporting logistics for the airport's 400+ daily flights.[18] The highway maintains a typical configuration of three lanes in each direction throughout this urban stretch, with shoulders for emergency use and occasional construction-related restrictions to accommodate maintenance on aging infrastructure.[19] Unlike adjacent parkways, this segment lacks dedicated high-occupancy vehicle (HOV) lanes, relying instead on general-purpose lanes to handle mixed traffic, including buses and carpools during rush hours.[20] Traffic patterns reflect heavy inbound congestion from the airport to downtown, particularly between 6-9 a.m. and 4-7 p.m., where bottlenecks at the I-79 interchange and Fort Pitt Bridge can add 15-30 minutes to typical 20-minute trips, exacerbated by the corridor's role as a gateway for 25% of the region's airport passengers.[17] Outbound flows peak similarly in the evenings, with industrial access points in Kennedy Township contributing to steady freight movement year-round. From the Fort Pitt Bridge, the alignment briefly transitions eastward via the Birmingham Bridge to continue into the eastern section.[17]

Eastern section

The eastern section of Interstate 376, designated as the Parkway East, originates in downtown Pittsburgh adjacent to the Smithfield Street Bridge and extends eastward approximately 14 miles through the city's academic and residential districts into the surrounding suburbs. This segment facilitates daily commutes for approximately 50,000 to 79,000 vehicles as of 2024 and plays a critical role in connecting downtown to eastern Allegheny County communities.[9][12] Heading east from downtown, I-376 passes through the Oakland neighborhood, where the Bates Street/Forbes Avenue interchange (Exit 72A-B) provides direct access to the University of Pittsburgh and Carnegie Mellon University, major research institutions drawing thousands of students and faculty daily. The highway then traverses the affluent Shadyside district before entering [Squirrel Hill](/page/Squirrel Hill), a key interchange area featuring connections to local roads like Beechwood Boulevard. Here, the route encounters the PA 885 (Boulevard of the Allies) interchange via Exit 72B, which links to South Oakland and the Birmingham Bridge over the Monongahela River, enhancing regional connectivity.[13][9] In Squirrel Hill, I-376 enters the namesake Squirrel Hill Tunnel, twin bores each 4,225 feet long that restrict traffic to two lanes per direction, forming a notorious merge point and frequent site of lane reductions due to geometry and volume constraints. Emerging from the tunnel in the Braddock's Narrows area, the highway skirts the northern edge of Frick Park, crossing Nine Mile Run and passing under the Commercial Street Bridge before reaching the Edgewood suburb via the Braddock Avenue interchange (Exit 77). This stretch supports access to residential areas and local businesses in Swissvale and Edgewood.[21][22] Continuing eastward, the Parkway East serves the eastern suburbs through interchanges such as US 30 (Lincoln Highway) in Forest Hills (Exit 78A) and PA 8 in Wilkinsburg (Exit 78B), accommodating traffic to commercial hubs and residential zones. The segment concludes in Monroeville at a full cloverleaf interchange with I-76 (Pennsylvania Turnpike) and US 22 (Exit 85), integrating with the broader toll road network and marking the eastern terminus of the overall 84.66-mile route. Lane configurations expand to six lanes with a median east of Churchill, though periodic reductions occur for maintenance and congestion management.[13][9]

Infrastructure

Tolls

The tolled portion of Interstate 376 consists of the 16-mile (26 km) James E. Ross Highway, extending from its interchange with U.S. Route 422 in Chippewa Township, Beaver County, to Pennsylvania Route 51 in Findlay Township, Allegheny County; this segment opened to traffic on November 20, 1992, at a total construction cost of $243 million.[23] Operated by the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission as Toll 60, it forms the Beaver Valley Expressway and features two all-electronic toll plazas: the west plaza at mile marker 18 near Chippewa Township and the east plaza at mile marker 30 near Findlay Township.[24] Tolls are collected without stopping via overhead gantries using E-ZPass transponders or license plate imaging for Toll By Plate billing, with the system implemented system-wide, including this segment, on March 16, 2020, to enhance traffic flow.[25] For two-axle passenger vehicles, the west plaza toll is $3.05 using E-ZPass or $6.10 using Toll By Plate, while the east plaza toll is $1.58 using E-ZPass or $3.16 using Toll By Plate, resulting in a full crossing cost of $4.63 with E-ZPass or $9.26 with Toll By Plate as of January 5, 2025; these rates reflect a base structure approximately equivalent to $0.29 per mile for E-ZPass users across the segment, with Toll By Plate charges roughly double.[26][27] Higher rates apply to vehicles with additional axles based on class. Traffic destined for Pittsburgh International Airport is exempt from these tolls by exiting westward onto the tolled Southern Expressway (Pennsylvania Route 576) prior to the west plaza.[26] Toll revenues from the James E. Ross Highway contribute to the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission's overall net fare revenue of $1.72 billion for fiscal year 2025, which funds system-wide operations including $100.4 million allocated for normal maintenance of roadways and bridges, $912.9 million for debt service on bonds, $50 million in mandated payments to the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, and a $8 billion ten-year capital plan for infrastructure improvements such as reconstructions and rehabilitations.[25]

Bridges and tunnels

The Fort Pitt Bridge carries Interstate 376 across the Monongahela River in Pittsburgh, featuring a double-deck steel bowstring arch design with a total length of approximately 1,217 feet and a main span of 750 feet, providing 47.1 feet of vertical clearance above the river.[28][11] The upper deck accommodates eastbound traffic toward downtown Pittsburgh, while the lower deck handles westbound flow, supporting eight lanes in total and facilitating over 100,000 vehicles daily as a critical link in the central section of I-376. Adjoining the bridge is the Fort Pitt Tunnel, a dual-bore structure completed in 1960 with each bore measuring 3,614 feet long and 28 feet wide, offering 13.5 feet of vertical clearance and two lanes per bore to manage high-volume urban traffic under Mount Washington.[29] Maintenance for these structures includes regular inspections of the tunnel's reinforced concrete lining and fire suppression systems, addressing challenges such as corrosion from river proximity and ensuring operational reliability for the Penn-Lincoln Parkway corridor.[30] Further east along I-376, the Squirrel Hill Tunnel consists of dual two-lane bores spanning 4,225 feet through Squirrel Hill, forming part of a 1.79-mile controlled-access section that serves as the primary eastern gateway to Pittsburgh and handles more than 100,000 vehicles per day.[31][32] Engineering features include ceramic tile lining for durability, cross passages for emergency evacuation, and integrated traffic signals at entrances to regulate flow and prevent backups. Ventilation upgrades in the 2010s involved removing outdated ceiling-mounted systems to increase vertical clearance from 13 feet 6 inches, alongside modernizing electrical, lighting, and drainage components to mitigate air quality issues and structural wear from heavy use.[33][34] These enhancements address ongoing maintenance challenges like ventilation efficiency in a high-traffic, confined environment, with periodic concrete repairs to arches and shafts ensuring seismic resilience in the region's geology.[35] In the western section, the Vanport Bridge spans the Ohio River as a four-lane continuous truss structure, integral to the Beaver Valley Expressway portion of I-376, and was completed in 1968 to enhance connectivity between Beaver County and Pittsburgh.[36][37] Routine inspections focus on truss integrity and deck conditions to handle freight and commuter loads, with challenges including corrosion resistance near industrial areas along the river. Other notable crossings include the Birmingham Bridge over the Monongahela River, originally constructed in 1927 and rebuilt in 1977 as a 1,662-foot viaduct with a 607-foot bowstring arch span, supporting ramps to I-376 and requiring periodic rehabilitation for expansion joints and protective coatings.[38][39] The Commercial Street Bridge, built in 1951 and spanning a ravine near the Squirrel Hill Tunnel, is undergoing full replacement with a $95 million project employing accelerated bridge construction techniques, including lateral sliding of the new arched delta-frame structure to minimize disruptions while addressing deterioration and load limitations.[40][41] Across I-376's infrastructure, common maintenance hurdles involve upgrading ventilation in tunnels for carbon monoxide control and evaluating bridges for seismic retrofitting, given Pennsylvania's moderate earthquake risk, to sustain capacities exceeding 50,000 vehicles daily on key segments.[9]

History

Early planning and construction

The planning for what would become Interstate 376 originated in the 1940s as part of broader efforts to extend the Pennsylvania Turnpike system and develop urban parkways in the Pittsburgh region. The Pennsylvania Turnpike, authorized in 1937 and opening its initial sections in 1940, served as a model for limited-access highways, inspiring proposals for a "Pitt Parkway" to alleviate congestion in the city's Golden Triangle. In November 1943, the first contract for detailed plans was awarded to engineer Michael Baker Jr., focusing on a route connecting downtown Pittsburgh eastward along the Monongahela River valley and westward toward the airport, envisioned as a landscaped urban expressway similar to earlier parkways like the Jones and Laughlin Steel Company's private roads.[42][43] Construction of the initial segments began in the early 1950s, predating but later influenced by federal funding. The Parkway West section opened on October 15, 1953, extending from Saw Mill Run Boulevard to near the Greater Pittsburgh Airport, providing the first limited-access link west of downtown. On the eastern side, the Parkway East's inaugural portion, including the Squirrel Hill Tunnels, opened on June 5, 1953, from near Bates Street through the tunnels to connect with existing roads toward Monroeville; additional sections followed in the 1950s, such as the downtown linkage on January 17, 1958, and extensions into the 1960s to complete the core Penn-Lincoln Parkway alignment. The Federal-Aid Highway Act of 1956 significantly shaped these developments by incorporating the Parkway into the Interstate system, providing 90% federal funding for upgrades to interstate standards and influencing alignments to integrate with the Pennsylvania Turnpike at Monroeville.[17][44][45] Further eastward expansion included the Beaver Valley Expressway, constructed from 1966 to 1978 to parallel the older two-lane PA 68 and improve access from Pittsburgh to Beaver County and beyond. Construction began in 1966, with the first segment opening in December 1968 from the West Middlesex interchange to PA 18 near New Castle, followed by phased openings through the 1970s, including connections to the Ohio state line by 1978. Key infrastructure milestones included the Fort Pitt Bridge, which opened on June 19, 1959, and its adjacent tunnels on September 1, 1960, completing the vital crossing under Mount Washington to link the Parkway West directly to downtown.[14] On January 11, 1972, the Federal Highway Administration designated the route as Interstate 376, initially applying from downtown Pittsburgh eastward to Monroeville and the Pennsylvania Turnpike interchange, reflecting its integration into the national Interstate network while retaining the Penn-Lincoln Parkway name locally.[6][17] This designation formalized the highway's role as a major east-west corridor, building on the pre-Interstate foundations to support growing suburban and industrial traffic in western Pennsylvania.[46]

Designation changes

The original designation of Interstate 376 occurred on January 11, 1972, when the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) approved it as a spur of the newly established Interstate 76, covering approximately 12 miles along the Penn-Lincoln Parkway East from downtown Pittsburgh eastward to the suburbs of Edgewood, Forest Hills, and Churchill.[6] This segment, part of the broader Interstate system realignment following the renumbering of former Interstate 80S to Interstate 76, provided a key east-west connection through the city.[47] Concurrent with this, on June 29, 1970, the FHWA approved the designation of Interstate 279 for a beltway loop around central Pittsburgh, initially incorporating segments from Interstate 76 and extending from the Fort Pitt Bridge northward to Interstate 579 and southward to the Parkway West.[6] This route, which formed a roughly 12-mile semicircular path encircling the city's Golden Triangle business district, remained signed as Interstate 279 until 2009, serving as a primary north-south bypass for local and through traffic.[47] Prior to these Interstate assignments, portions of the alignment carried Pennsylvania Route 80 from 1951 to 1961, when the overlap was removed to avoid confusion with the parallel northern routing of Interstate 80.[17] In 2009, a major redesignation extended Interstate 376 westward and northward, absorbing the former Interstate 279 from its junction with Interstate 376 (the original Parkway East) westward along the Parkway West to Interstate 79, and further incorporating Pennsylvania Route 60 (including the Airport and Beaver Valley Expressways) northward to Interstate 80 near New Castle.[11] The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) submitted the request for FHWA approval on June 10, 2009, following legislative support under the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU) of 2005, which facilitated the route's expansion to meet Interstate standards through targeted upgrades estimated at $150 million.[11][48] This change effectively eliminated the standalone Interstate 279 designation, reclassifying it as the western extension of Interstate 376, while truncating Pennsylvania Route 60 to its pre-expressway alignment south of the Airport Parkway.[49] The redesignation necessitated widespread updates to signage, official maps, and navigation systems across Pennsylvania and neighboring states, with PennDOT completing the initial transition by November 6, 2009, including the installation of over 500 new Interstate 376 shields along the 85-mile corridor.[49] As part of this process, a business route for Interstate 376 was established along the former Pennsylvania Route 60 alignment in Moon and Findlay townships west of Pittsburgh, as well as in New Castle, to preserve local access and numbering continuity for the bypassed sections.[11] These changes, approved jointly by the FHWA and implemented by PennDOT, enhanced federal funding eligibility for maintenance and improvements while standardizing the route's identity within the national Interstate system.[11]

Recent developments

In the 2020s, the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) initiated the Parkway East Betterment Project to improve a 4.5-mile section of I-376 between exits 79B (Churchill/Route 130) and 84A (Monroeville/Route 48) in Allegheny County.[5] This $70.1 million effort includes superstructure replacement of the bridge over Old William Penn Highway, rehabilitation of two bridges spanning Old William Penn Highway/Lougay Road/Sunset Drive and Thompson Run Road/Thompson Run/Union Railroad, and preservation of six additional bridges along the route.[5] Construction began in February 2024 and is scheduled for completion in fall 2026, with ongoing single-lane restrictions and weekend closures to facilitate the work. As of November 2025, paving work on the westbound Parkway East has been completed ahead of schedule, and a crossover switch is in place through early December 2025.[5] Another significant initiative is the $95 million Commercial Street Bridge Replacement project in Pittsburgh, aimed at modernizing a 1951 structure that carries I-376 over Commercial Street.[50] Construction started in May 2024 and is expected to conclude in summer 2027, incorporating accelerated bridge construction techniques such as building the new span on temporary foundations south of the existing one before sliding it into place.[51] As of November 2025, the project is in progress, with ongoing single-lane and shoulder restrictions on I-376 through 2026. Planned disruptions include overnight full closures and detours of eastbound I-376 and full weekend closures in both directions during 2025, a 25-day full closure and detour of I-376 in 2026, and closure of Commercial Street/Forward Avenue and the Nine Mile Run Trail from November 24, 2025, to February 6, 2026 (while I-376 remains open).[22] On the western end, the Parkway West Preservation Project addresses pavement deterioration in Robinson and Kennedy townships, Allegheny County, from the I-376 Airport Exit 60A to west of the I-376/I-79 interchange.[19] This $14.97 million restoration, which began in April 2024, encompasses milling and resurfacing, base repairs, structure preservation and rehabilitation, signage updates, guide rail enhancements, drainage improvements, and pavement markings.[19] Work includes frequent single-lane restrictions and overnight ramp closures, with completion anticipated in late December 2025.[4] The Mon/Fayette Expressway extension from PA Route 51 to I-376 in Monroeville, managed by the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission, represents a major connectivity upgrade spanning approximately 14 miles in Allegheny County.[52] This $214 million project, divided into sections like 53A1 (PA 51 to Coal Valley Road) and 53A2 (north of Coal Valley Road to I-376), involves constructing new toll road segments, bridges, and an interchange at I-376 to link it with I-68 near Morgantown, West Virginia.[53] Construction advanced through multiple phases starting in 2023, with beam placements over PA 51 in 2024 and ongoing earthwork; full completion is projected for fall 2026. As of September 2025, construction updates show continued progress on the extension.[52][54][55] Toll collection on the tolled portions of I-376 transitioned to all-electronic tolling (AET) in 2020 as part of the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission's broader implementation, eliminating cash booths at locations including the Beaver Valley Expressway segment.[56] This system uses E-ZPass transponders or license plate recognition for seamless payment, enhancing traffic flow without stops.[57] Additionally, during the 2010s, PennDOT upgraded ventilation systems in key I-376 tunnels, such as repairs to the Fort Pitt Tunnel in 2017 that included concrete wall reinforcements and associated airflow enhancements to improve safety and air quality. Looking ahead, PennDOT has incorporated provisions for potential widening of I-376 in several projects to mitigate growing traffic congestion, including extended bridge structures at the Route 22/I-376 interchange in Robinson Township designed to support future lane additions.[58] Similar accommodations appear in the Squirrel Hill Interchange Improvement Project, which plans to handle increased volumes through 2040 and beyond.[8]

Route details

Exit list

Interstate 376 spans approximately 85 miles through western Pennsylvania, with exits numbered sequentially from 1 to 85 based on mileposts starting at the western terminus with Interstate 80 near Hermitage. The current numbering system was implemented in 2009 to standardize the corridor following its designation as a continuous Interstate route, replacing older sequential numbers on the former sections of the Beaver Valley Expressway, Airport Expressway, and Parkway East/West. Several exits are partial interchanges allowing traffic in only one direction, and Exit 64B provides exclusive access for high-occupancy vehicles (HOV) and buses to the West Busway. The following table lists all exits from west to east, including mile markers and destinations, based on Pennsylvania Department of Transportation data.[13][59]
ExitMileDestinationsNotes
1A0I-80 West – Youngstown, OHPartial interchange; eastbound exit only; ramp speed 25 mph
1B0I-80 East – MercerPartial interchange; eastbound exit only; ramp speed 25–30 mph
1C1PA 318 – West MiddlesexDiamond interchange; ramp speed 20–25 mph
22PA 18 – West Middlesex, New CastleFull interchange; ramp speed 35 mph
55PA 208 – New Wilmington, PulaskiFull interchange; ramp speed 30–35 mph
99Mitchell Road – To PA 18Full interchange; services available; ramp speed 35 mph
12A12US 422 West – Youngstown, OHPartial interchange; eastbound exit only; no re-entry; ramp speed 35 mph
12B12US 422 East – Sampson StreetPartial interchange; eastbound exit only; ramp speed 25 mph
1313US 224 – State Street, Poland, OHFull interchange; services available; ramp speed 30–35 mph
1515US 422 East – Benjamin Franklin Highway, ButlerFull interchange; toll plaza begins eastbound; ramp speed 40 mph
1717PA 108 – Mount JacksonFull interchange; ramp speed 25–30 mph
2020PA 168 – MoraviaFull interchange; ramp speed 20–35 mph
2626I-76 / Pennsylvania Turnpike – Ohio, Harrisburg; To PA 351Full interchange; ramp speed 20–25 mph; height restrictions for trucks
2929To PA 551 / PA 18 – Beaver FallsFull interchange; ramp speed 25–35 mph
3131PA 51 – ChippewaPartial interchange; ramp speed 25 mph; Pittsburgh International Airport signage
3636Brighton HeightsPartial interchange; hospital and state police access
38A–B38PA 68 – Beaver, MidlandFull interchange; services available; ramp speeds 15–30 mph
3939PA 18 – Monaca, ShippingportFull interchange; services available; ramp speed 35 mph
4242Center TownshipPartial interchange; Park & Ride lot; ramp speed 35 mph
4545AliquippaFull interchange; services available; ramp speed 25–35 mph
4848PA 151 – HopewellFull interchange; Raccoon Creek State Park access; ramp speed 15 mph
5050I-376 Bus. East – Moon, Robert Morris UniversityPartial interchange; eastbound exit only
5151To I-376 Bus. East / Flaugherty Run RoadPartial interchange; eastbound exit only; services available
5252To US 30 – ClintonPartial interchange; eastbound exit only; ramp speed 35–40 mph
5353Pittsburgh International Airport, Southern BeltwayPartial interchange; E-ZPass only toll; ramp speed 35 mph
5656McClaren RoadPartial interchange; Air National Guard base access; ramp speed 35 mph
5757I-376 Bus. West / Airport ParkwayFull interchange; services available; ramp speed 45 mph
5858Montour Run RoadPartial interchange; eastbound exit only; ramp speed 15 mph
5959Robinson Town Centre BoulevardPartial interchange; westbound exit only; services available; ramp speed 30 mph
60A60US 22 / US 30 West – Weirton, WVPartial interchange; westbound exit only; services available; ramp speed 20–25 mph
60B60PA 60 South – CraftonPartial interchange; eastbound exit only; services available; ramp speed 25 mph
6161Ridge RoadPartial interchange; eastbound exit only; Settlers Cabin Park access; ramp speed 15–30 mph
6262Campbells Run RoadPartial interchange; westbound exit only; services available; ramp speed 25 mph
64A64I-79 – Erie, WashingtonPartial interchange; eastbound exit only; ramp speed 40 mph
64B64Rosslyn Farms, West BuswayHOV and buses only; partial interchange; westbound exit only
6565To PA 50 – Carnegie, HeidelbergFull interchange; services available; ramp speed 15–30 mph
6767PA 121 – Green TreePartial interchange; eastbound exit only; services available; ramp speed 25 mph
6868Parkway Center DrivePartial interchange; truck restrictions
69A–C69US 19 / PA 51 – Banksville, West EndPartial interchange; eastbound exit only; Fort Pitt Tunnel restrictions; ramp speed 20–25 mph
70A–D70Boulevard of the Allies, Fort Duquesne BoulevardPartial interchange; eastbound exit only; services available; ramp speed 25 mph
71A–B71Grant Street, Second AvenuePartial interchange; eastbound exit only; ramp speed 25 mph
72A–B72Forbes Avenue; To I-579 – OaklandPartial interchange; eastbound exit only; hospital access
73A–B73PA 885 – Glenwood, OaklandPartial interchange; eastbound exit only; ramp speed 20 mph
7474Squirrel Hill, HomesteadPartial interchange; eastbound exit only; Squirrel Hill Tunnel restrictions; ramp speed 20 mph
7777Edgewood, SwissvaleFull interchange; services available; ramp speed 35 mph
78A–B78US 30 East, PA 8 North – Forest Hills, OaklandFull interchange; height restrictions; ramp speed 35 mph
79A–B79Greensburg Pike, PA 130 – ChurchillPartial interchange; eastbound exit only; ramp speed 25 mph
8080US 22 East – MonroevillePartial interchange; eastbound exit only; services available
8181PA 791 – Penn HillsFull interchange; services available; ramp speed 15 mph
84A–B84To PA 48 – PlumFull interchange; services available; ramp speed 25–40 mph
8585I-76 / Pennsylvania Turnpike East – HarrisburgFull interchange; toll plaza; ramp speed 25 mph

Business route

Interstate 376 Business (I-376 Bus.) is a 6.96-mile (11.2 km) business loop of Interstate 376 in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, designated in 2009 and known locally as the Airport Parkway.[60] It begins at an interchange with the mainline I-376 in Findlay Township and travels eastward through Moon Township, forming a loop south of the primary route to provide direct access to Pittsburgh International Airport via Pennsylvania Route 60 and U.S. Route 22 while bypassing the mainline's tolled sections.[61] The route features multiple interchanges providing access to airport facilities, business parks, and local roads.[62] The roadway was previously designated as PA 60 from 1961 until the 2009 redesignation as I-376 Business, making it one of only two Interstate business routes in Pennsylvania.[60] This loop serves a critical traffic function by offering congestion-free local access to the airport and nearby business parks, supporting regional travel in the western Pennsylvania area without relying on the busier mainline corridor.[61]

Exit list

MileDestinationsNotes
0I-376 / PA Turnpike 576 – New Castle, PittsburghWestern terminus; full interchange
1Flaugherty Run RoadPartial interchange; ramp speed 45 mph; to Pittsburgh International Airport
2International DrivePartial interchange; ramp speed 45 mph; cargo areas
3To PA 51 / University Boulevard – Horizon DrivePartial interchange; Orange Belt, Park & Ride, Robert Morris University
4Airside Business Park / Thorn Run RoadPartial interchange; ramp speed 25 mph; Air Force Reserve Base
5Ewing RoadPartial interchange; ramp speed 30 mph; Moon Park
6I-376 / Airport Parkway – Montour Run RoadEastern terminus; full interchange; ramp speed 45 mph

References

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