Pennsylvania Route 863

Pennsylvania Route 863 (PA 863) is a state highway in Lehigh County, Pennsylvania, in the Lehigh Valley region of the state. The route runs 13.99 mi (22.51 km) from U.S. Route 222 (US 222) in Upper Macungie Township north to PA 143 in Lynn Township. The route is a two-lane undivided road that runs southeast-northwest through rural areas in western Lehigh County. Along the way, PA 863 has an interchange with Interstate 78 (I-78)/US 22 in Weisenberg Township. The road was originally unpaved, being improved to a bituminous road by the 1940s and a paved road by 1950. PA 863 was designated on March 8, 1962.

Pennsylvania Route 863
Route information
Maintained by PennDOT
Length13.988 mi[1] (22.512 km)
ExistedMarch 8, 1962[2]–present
Major junctions
South end US 222 in Upper Macungie Township
  I-78 / US 22 in Weisenberg Township
North end PA 143 in Lynn Township
Location
CountiesLehigh
Highway system
← PA 862PA 864 →

Route description

PA 863 begins at an intersection with US 222 in Upper Macungie Township, Lehigh County, which is in the Lehigh Valley, heading north on two-lane undivided Independent Road. The road soon crosses Schantz Road and heads northwest through agricultural areas with some trees and homes, entering Weisenberg Township. The route winds through wooded areas and curves to the west, turning north as it passes more farms. PA 863 crosses Old Route 22 and becomes Golden Key Road, passing businesses as it intersects I-78/US 22 at a diamond interchange. The road continues through commercial areas and passes to the east of a few warehouses, heading through an S-curve. The route passes through the community of Hynemansville and runs northwest through a mix of farms, woods, and residences. PA 863 heads through Seiberlingville and continues northwest through agricultural areas with some woods and homes. The route heads west into Lynn Township and passes through the community of Stines Corner before it winds north through wooded areas. The road heads west by farms before it turns north and crosses Kistler Creek, winding through forested areas with some fields. The route turns east onto Allemaengel Road and curves north into farmland. Allemaengel Road splits to the east and PA 863 continues north along Behler Road, crossing Ontelaunee Creek before coming to the residential community of Lynnport, where it ends at PA 143.[3][4]

History

When Pennsylvania first legislated routes in 1911, present-day PA 863 was not legislated as part of a route.[5] The present route of PA 863 existed as an unpaved road by 1915.[6] By 1941, the road was a low-type bituminous road between US 222 and Kistler Valley Road and a high-type bituminous road between Kistler Valley Road and PA 143.[7] By 1950, this roadway was paved.[8] PA 863 was designated on March 8, 1962 to follow its current alignment between US 222 and PA 143. The route was created in order to provide a route number at the interchange with I-78/US 22 in New Smithville.[2] The route has remained on the same alignment since.[4]

Major intersections

The entire route is in Lehigh County.

Locationmi[1]kmDestinationsNotes
Upper Macungie Township0.0000.000 US 222 (Hamilton Boulevard) – Allentown, ReadingSouthern terminus
Weisenberg Township3.4445.543 I-78 / US 22 – Harrisburg, AllentownExit 45 (I-78/US 22)
Lynn Township13.98822.512 PA 143 (Kings Highway) – Lenhartsville, New TripoliNorthern terminus
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi
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See also

References
  1. Bureau of Maintenance and Operations (January 2015). Roadway Management System Straight Line Diagrams (Report) (2015 ed.). Pennsylvania Department of Transportation. Archived from the original on February 17, 2011. Retrieved June 30, 2015.
  2. "State Designates Two Traffic Routes". The Morning Call. Allentown, PA. March 10, 1962. p. 9. Retrieved November 4, 2017 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. Google (January 21, 2015). "Pennsylvania Route 863" (Map). Google Maps. Google. Retrieved January 21, 2015.
  4. Lehigh County, Pennsylvania Highway Map (PDF) (Map). PennDOT. 2014. Archived from the original (PDF) on August 24, 2011. Retrieved January 5, 2015.
  5. Map of Pennsylvania Showing State Highways (PDF) (Map). Pennsylvania Department of Highways. 1911. Archived from the original (PDF) on July 5, 2011. Retrieved January 1, 2014.
  6. Map of the Public Roads in Lehigh County, Pennsylvania (PDF) (Map). Pennsylvania Department of Highways. 1915. Retrieved January 21, 2015.
  7. General Highway Map Lehigh County, Pennsylvania (PDF) (Map). Pennsylvania Department of Highways. 1941. Archived from the original (PDF) on July 18, 2011. Retrieved January 21, 2015.
  8. Official Road Map of Pennsylvania (PDF) (Map). Pennsylvania Department of Highways. 1950. Archived from the original (PDF) on July 5, 2011. Retrieved January 1, 2014.

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