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Pennsylvania Route 39

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Pennsylvania Route 39 marker
Pennsylvania Route 39
[[File:File:PA 39 map.png|300px|alt=]]
Route information
Maintained by PennDOT
Length17.68 mi[1] (28.45 km)
Existed1936–present
Major junctions
Major intersections US 22/US 322 in Harrisburg
I-81 in West Hanover Township
US 22 in West Hanover Township
Location
CountryUnited States
StatePennsylvania
CountiesDauphin
Highway system
← PA 38→ US 40

Pennsylvania Route 39 (PA 39) is a west-east route that begins at North Front Street, Susquehanna Township, and ends at US 322 and US 422 near Hummelstown and Hershey. It runs 17 miles and goes through Linglestown, Pennsylvania. PA 39 is one of the few state routes to end on a non-numbered road. This exists because North Front Street is the decommissioned route for US 22/US 322 (as well as US 11/US 15).

From the western terminus to Interstate 81, PA 39 is known as Linglestown Road. Linglestown Road is mostly a two lane road runing east and west through the northern portions of Dauphin County.

From Interstate 81 to Hersheypark Drive, PA 39 is known as Hershey Road, runing north and south although it has a east - west alignment. When becoming Hersheypark Drive, PA 39 runs opposite to its alignment before reaching the eastern terminus.

Route description

PA 39 starts at North Front Street and ends at US 322 and US 422 near Hummelstown and Hershey. There are two major sections of the road: Linglestown Road and Hershey Road, and one shorter section which is called Hersheypark Drive.

Linglestown Road starts at North Front Street and ends at Jonestown Road in West Hanover Township. Hershey Road starts there, and ends at Hersheypark Drive and Park Boulevard, adjacent to Hersheypark. PA 39 turns south onto Hersheypark Drive, running to the terminus 1 mile south. The road is heavily traveled, intersecting with several major local roads, one interstate highway, Interstate 81, as well as two U.S. Routes, US 22 and US 322. 22/322 runs concurrent from I-81 (only a mile south of PA 39) north to Williamsport.[2]

The flagpole at the Linglestown square.

PA 39 passes through Linglestown, which is a village that has a committee which is part of the governance of Lower Paxton Township, which it is located in.[3][4] A unique feature to Linglestown is the flag pole that is located in the middle of the road at the intersection of Mountain Road and PA 39. Since 1996, there have been a number of changes proposed, including moving the flag and replacing it with a traffic light. In 2007, Lower Paxton Township approved a plan to improve PA 39 in Linglestown, and improve the local community. Work will begin in Fall 2007.[5]

Communities[6]

Between Linglestown and Jonestown Road (a four mile stretch) is mostly wood and farm land, which is being more and more turned into residential or commercial land. In 2005, Central Dauphin High School (one of two high schools of Central Dauphin School District) moved from its old location in Harrisburg to its current location on Piketown Road.[7] Though a good distance away from PA 39, the school property starts at the corner of Linglestown and Piketown roads.

PA 39 intersects I-81 at Exit 77. Truck stops were built around the exit, and the area is heavily utilized by trucks. West Hanover Township plans to upgrade the interchange to incorporate traffic lights at both lanes of travel on and off of I-81, as well as traffic lights at the truck stops.

Linglestown Road ends at the intersection with Jonestown Road, only feet from the I-81 interchange.

The eastern terminus of PA 39 in Hummelstown.

Hershey Road was at one time mostly farm land, but since 2002, has become some what built up with many townhouses, villas, and houses. Two large developments have been built with in 2 miles of each other, and one smaller development was built. A shopping center, anchored by a supermarket was built in 2005.[2]

PA 39 intersects Hersheypark Drive at the parking lot for Hersheypark, as well as the Giant Center. PA 39 turns south, and ends at US 322 and US 422, in Hummelstown.[6]

History

PA 39 was established in 1936, running from (what at the time was) US 11/US 15/US 22/US 322. Eventually, US 11/US 15 was moved to the west shore of the Susquehanna River, and US 22/US 322 was moved a mile east, on a bypass highway. PA 39 had a concurrency with Pennsylvania Route 894 until 1946 when PA 894 was decommissioned. That concurrency ran from North Mountain Road to Piketown Road.[8][9]

Between 1960 and 1964, PA 39 was extended to it's current terminus at US 322/US 422. However, the original extension was commissioned on Hershey Road, which turned into Hanover Road as it approached Union Deposit. After passing through Union Deposit, PA 39 turned south onto Hersheypark Drive and ran to US 322/US 422. Between 1964 and 1970, Hershey Road was extended from North Hanover Road to Hersheypark Drive. PA 39 was rerouted to bypass Union Deposit and give a more direct way to get to Hersheypark. Park Boulevard, in Hershey, was also rerouted to meet at the intersection of Hersheypark Drive and Hershey Road.[10][11]

In 1972 and 1973, PA 39 was widened from two to four lanes and included a median from North Front Street to Terrace Drive in Lucknow. In 1992, a center lane was added from Terrace Drive in Lucknow, to the Lower Paxton/Susquehanna Township border. In 1999 and 2000, that center lane was extended to one mile west of the Linglestown Square.[12][13]

In 1989, a median was installed between West Chocolate Avenue and the PA 39 terminus at US 322/US 422.[14]

The intersection of Hershey Road and Hersheypark Drive was upgraded in 2002 when the Giant Center opened, the Hersheypark parking lot was renovated, and the main entrance of the parking lot was moved off Hersheypark Drive.[2]

Current and future projects

Village of Linglestown

Since 1996, the village has been considering making improvements to the village square. At the center of the square, which happens to be in the middle of the road, is a flag pole. The initial plan was to move the flag pole, and insert a traffic light. After long debate, that idea was shot down. It was replaced by the "Linglestown Plan". It was proposed on March 31, 2000.

Nearly seven years later, on February 20, 2007, Lower Paxton Township approved a modified version of the Linglestown Action Plan, which involves the addition of roundabouts, other approaches to slowing down traffic through the square, and general community improvement.[15][16]

Other development along PA 39

Plans are in development to build a new shopping center near the intersection of PA 39 and Progress Avenue, which would be operated by Cedar Shopping Centers. As a result, Susquehanna Township, is considering widening PA 39 from 22/322 to Progress Avenue. Cedar Shopping Centers, Inc. already operates Oakhurst Plaza, which is about one mile east of Progress Avenue.[17]

In January 2007, Lower Paxton Township installed a traffic light at the intersection with Patton Road. The traffic light was installed at the request of a Commerce Bank going in at the corner of PA 39 and Patton Road, as well as a small shopping center, a doctor's office, and a Dunkin' Donuts/Baskin Robbins. The doctor's office opened in January 2007, and the Dunkin' Donuts opened in March 2007.

West Hanover Township also plans on making improvements to the I-81 interchange with the truck stops on PA 39. Currently, there is only one traffic light, which is at Jonestown Road. West Hanover Township plans to install traffic lights and add additional lanes to accompany the increased truck traffic because of warehouses built in 2003 and 2004.

The Hershey Road section of PA 39 is seeing the most development currently, as it was mostly farmland until 2002, when those lands were being bought and developed. Meadows Marketplace (also owned by Cedar Shopping Centers) was built in 2005, and is anchored by a Giant Foods. Giant opened in October 2005, and the smaller shops in the shopping center are still being built. Several other stores opened in July 2006, and the shopping center is reaching capacity as of 2007.[18][19]

Four traffic lights were also installed in October 2005, two where Hershey Meadows housing development and Meadows Marketplace was built, one at Grand View Road (the major route to Hummelstown which goes through Hummelstown and the Hummelstown Bypass). The fourth light was installed at North Hanover Road, the route PA 39 once followed before being directed slightly north towards Hersheypark.

There was also once a plan to build an indoor waterpark approximately near North Hanover Street. However, South Hanover Township effectively stopped the plan from moving forward because of concerns about traffic on PA 39.[20]

Major intersections

CountyLocationmikmDestinationsNotes
DauphinSusquehanna Township0.000.00
PA 14/US 11/15/22/322		Former routing of PA 14 and US 11/15/22/322.
Module:Jctint/USA warning: Unused argument(s): street
0.490.79 US 22/US 322Interchange.
2.253.62 SR 3015Connects to I-81, US 22, SR 2010 Union Deposit Road, Derry Street, and SR 3010 Paxton Street.
Module:Jctint/USA warning: Unused argument(s): street
Lower Paxton Township3.966.37 SR 3017Connects to US 22.
Module:Jctint/USA warning: Unused argument(s): street
5.869.43 PA 894Connects to I-81 and US 22; the square of Linglestown.
Former western terminus of overlap.
Module:Jctint/USA warning: Unused argument(s): street
West Hanover Township7.4712.02 PA 894Central Dauphin High School is located at this intersection.
Former eastern terminus of overlap.
Module:Jctint/USA warning: Unused argument(s): street
9.8015.77 I-81Exit 77 of I-81.
11.0917.85 US 22Former terminus of PA 39.
South Hanover Township14.2222.88Grandview RoadConnects to Hummelstown.
14.7423.72 PA 39Former routing of PA 39.
Module:Jctint/USA warning: Unused argument(s): street
Derry Township15.6425.17 SR 2016PA 39 follows east on Hersheypark Drive.
Module:Jctint/USA warning: Unused argument(s): street
17.6828.45 US 322/US 422Western terminus of US 422.
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi

References

  1. ^ "Length of Pennsylvania Route 39". Mapquest. Retrieved 2007-03-18.
  2. ^ a b c "2004 Dauphin County Map" (PDF). PennDOT. Retrieved 2007-03-17.
  3. ^ "Lower Paxton Community Planning Unit Map" (gif). Lower Paxton Township. Retrieved 2007-03-29.
  4. ^ "Lower Paxton Township Manager" (HTM). Lower Paxton Township. Retrieved 2007-03-29.
  5. ^ "Start pushed back for Rt. 39, square project" (HTML). Linglestown Gazette - Blogspot.com. Retrieved 2007-03-29.
  6. ^ a b "Pennsylvania Official Tourism and Transportation Map 2006" (PDF). PennDOT. Retrieved 2007-03-27.
  7. ^ "Central Dauphin Sr. High School" (HTML). Public School Review. Retrieved 2007-03-29.
  8. ^ "1926 Dauphin County Map" (PDF). PennDOT. Retrieved 2007-03-17.
  9. ^ "1941 Dauphin County Map" (PDF). PennDOT. Retrieved 2007-03-17.
  10. ^ "1964 Dauphin County Map (Sheet 1)" (PDF). PennDOT. Retrieved 2007-03-17.
  11. ^ "1964 Dauphin County Map (Sheet 2)" (PDF). PennDOT. Retrieved 2007-03-17.
  12. ^ "1974 Dauphin County Map (Sheet 1)" (PDF). PennDOT. Retrieved 2007-03-17.
  13. ^ "1974 Dauphin County Map (Sheet 2" (PDF). PennDOT. Retrieved 2007-03-17.
  14. ^ "1990 Dauphin County Map (Sheet 1)" (PDF). PennDOT. Retrieved 2007-03-17.
  15. ^ Fishlock, Diana (2007-02-21). "Linglestown project approved". The Patriot-News. Retrieved 2007-03-11. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  16. ^ "Linglestown Action Plan" (PDF). Retrieved 2007-03-11.
  17. ^ Cassidy, Carrie (2007-03-05). "More lanes weighed for Route 39 traffic". The Patriot-News. Retrieved 2007-03-11. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  18. ^ "Oakhurst Plaza" (PDF). Cedar Shopping Centers, Inc. Retrieved 2007-03-11.
  19. ^ "Meadows Marketplace" (PDF). Cedar Shopping Centers, Inc. Retrieved 2007-03-11.
  20. ^ Cassidy, Carrie (2007-02-27). "Traffic worries delay shopping center OK". The Patriot-News. Retrieved 2007-03-11. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)

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