U.S. Route 422

U.S. Route 422
	US 422 highlighted in red
Route information
	Auxiliary route of US 22
Length	270.41 mi[1][2] (435.18 km)
Existed	1926–present
Western segment
Length	187.85 mi[1][2] (302.32 km)
West end	US 6 / US 20 / SR 8 / SR 14 / SR 43 / SR 87 at Public Square in Cleveland, OH
Major; junctions	I-90 in Cleveland, OH; I-77 in Cleveland, OH; I-271 / I-480 in Solon, OH; I-80 near Youngstown, OH; I-376 near New Castle, PA; US 224 in New Castle, PA; US 19 near Portersville, PA; I-79 near Portersville, PA; PA 28 near Kittanning, PA; US 119 near Indiana, PA;
East end	US 219 near Ebensburg, PA
Eastern segment
Length	82.560 mi[2] (132.867 km)
West end	US 322 / PA 39 near Hershey, PA
Major; junctions	PA 72 in Lebanon, PA; US 222 near Reading, PA; I-176 near Reading, PA; PA 100 in Pottstown, PA; PA 29 near Collegeville, PA;
East end	US 202 near King of Prussia, PA
Location
States	Ohio, Pennsylvania
Counties	OH: Cuyahoga, Geauga, Portage, Trumbull, Mahoning; PA: Lawrence, Butler, Armstrong, Indiana, Cambria; Dauphin, Lebanon, Berks, Montgomery, Chester
Highway system

U.S. Route 422 (US 422) is a 271-mile (436 km) long spur route of US 22 split into two segments in the U.S. states of Ohio and Pennsylvania. The western segment of US 422 begins in downtown Cleveland and ends at Ebensburg, Pennsylvania. The eastern segment, located entirely within Pennsylvania, begins in Hershey and ends at King of Prussia, PA, near Philadelphia. U.S. Route 422 Business is the offshoot road into each of 4 towns along the way.

The segmented nature of US 422 violates AASHTO numbering, as two separate roadways traditionally do not carry the same route number. However, the two sections of US 422 are connected by US 22 and US 322, allowing the two halves of US 422 to carry the same designation.[3]

In downtown Cleveland, the western terminus of the western segment of US 422 is at US 6, US 20, US 42, and State Route 3 in Cleveland's Public Square. In Hershey, Pennsylvania, the eastern segment of US 422 begins at an interchange with US 322 and Pennsylvania Route 39 (PA 39). US 422 is named the Benjamin Franklin Highway in Pennsylvania.

Originally, US 422 was routed along existing roads, but much of the route now runs along purpose-built alignments.

Route description

Western segment

Ohio

The western section of US 422 begins at the center of Cleveland's Public Square in the downtown district. US 422 and State Route 14, which shares its western terminus with that of US 422, form a concurrency as the roadway heads south from the square. Less than a mile from the Public Square, US 422 and SR 14 intersect the Cleveland Innerbelt, the confluence of Interstate 90 (I-90) and the northern termini of I-71 and I-77. US 422 and SR 14 split at the interchange as SR 14 turns south to join State Route 43. State Route 8 begins at the eastern terminus of the US 422/SR 14 overlap, forming a concurrency with US 422 along Woodland Avenue.

US 422 runs easterly along Woodland Avenue and Kinsman Road, through the Kinsman neighborhood. As it crosses Cleveland's city limits just west of Lee Road in Shaker Heights, the street name changes to Chagrin Boulevard, named for the Chagrin River and Chagrin Falls (the eastern terminus of the boulevard) in Cleveland's eastern suburbs. Today, US 422 in Shaker Heights and Beachwood, where it now merges with I-271, is almost a linear edge city, with millions of square feet in office space centered on this corridor. It is one of the busiest streets in Cuyahoga County and Greater Cleveland. It serves as the primary commercial district for the wealthiest pocket of communities in Northeast Ohio.

The US 422 freeway west of the SR 44 interchange.

At Northfield Road, SR 8 turns to the south, leaving US 422 to continue east along Chagrin Boulevard. Two miles east of SR 8 in Beachwood, US 422 intersects State Route 87 and State Route 175, running concurrent with the former for two blocks to I-271 exit 29. Here, US 422 departs SR 87 and Chagrin Boulevard at the southbound ramp to I-271 and joins the expressway southward for 2.5 miles (4.0 km). At Exit 27, US 422 splits from I-271 and proceeds through the eastern suburbs of Cleveland as a limited-access highway, exiting Cuyahoga County and entering Geauga County.

In Auburn Township, US 422 returns to grade-level upon crossing the LaDue Reservoir. The route continues to the southeast, cutting through northeast Portage County and then entering Trumbull County, where US 422 runs through the center of Warren and Girard. The section from downtown Warren to State Route 46 is known as "The Strip" and is lined with shopping centers, fast-food restaurants and other retail establishments, including the Eastwood Mall. In the 1960s and 1970s, nightclubs along The Strip attracted top-name entertainers.

Farther southeast, US 422 enters Youngstown and Mahoning County before entering Pennsylvania.

US 422 west of New Castle, PA

Pennsylvania

US 422 enters Pennsylvania eight miles (13 km) northwest of New Castle. Three miles northwest of New Castle the route spurs off to bypass New Castle running along with Interstate 376. Interstate 376 spurs off and becomes a toll road, while US 422 continues onward to where it becomes a two lane road with a center lane three miles southwest of New Castle. The route continues to the east where it meets with US Route 19 and adjacent Interstate 79. The road becomes an expressway again after its intersection with Interstate 79 through Moraine State Park. The expressway ends just north of Prospect by the Big Butler Fairgrounds. It proceeds further for four miles to where it becomes an expressway bypassing Butler, and ending in East Butler. It continues on for fifteen miles, becoming an expressway again to bypass Kittanning, where it meets with the Allegheny Valley Expressway (Pennsylvania Route 28) at the route's terminus. Route 422 crosses over the Allegheny River, soon leaving the expressway and becoming a two-lane highway with a center lane. It continues in this way for eighteen miles to where it bypasses Indiana, where it junctions with US Route 119. The expressway continues for eight miles to where the expressway ends north of Yellow Creek State Park, becoming a two-lane highway. It continues like this for sixteen miles, until just before its terminus at US Route 219 near Ebensburg.

Eastern segment

Dauphin and Lebanon counties

US 422 eastbound at PA 743 in Hershey at intersection of Chocolate and Cocoa avenues. This intersection was realigned in 2012.

The eastern section of US 422 begins at a partial cloverleaf interchange with US 322 and the eastern terminus of PA 39 east of the borough of Hummelstown in Derry Township, Dauphin County, heading northeast as a four-lane divided highway. The road passes commercial development along with some farm fields and residential development as it heads into the community of Hershey, where it becomes West Chocolate Avenue. The route heads into a mix of homes and businesses and turns east-northeast, where it narrows to a two-lane undivided road. At this point, West Chocolate Avenue becomes lined with street lamps that are shaped like Hershey's Kisses. US 422 continues along West Chocolate Avenue and comes to an intersection with PA 743 at Cocoa Avenue in the center of Hershey. At this point, the route becomes East Chocolate Avenue, a three-lane divided with two eastbound lanes and one westbound lane that passes southeast of the Hershey Chocolate factory. The road becomes undivided, still with two eastbound lanes and one westbound lane, and passes near a few residences and businesses as it heads between two golf courses, narrowing to two lanes. US 422 runs past more residential and commercial development, leaving Hershey and heading through the community of Palmdale.[4][5]

US 422 enters the borough of Palmyra in Lebanon County and becomes West Main Street, heading past homes and a few businesses. The route heads into the downtown area and becomes East Main Street at the Railroad Street intersection. The road runs past residences before it heads through commercial areas and comes to an intersection with the northern terminus of PA 117. US 422 gains a center left-turn lane and continues past businesses, leaving Palmyra for North Londonderry Township and becoming Benjamin Franklin Parkway. The route bends east and passes between businesses to the north and residential development to the south before it heads into farmland and crosses Killinger Creek, where it becomes the border between North Annville Township to the north and South Annville Township to the south as West Main Street. The road heads through agricultural areas with some woods, homes, and businesses, crossing the Quittapahilla Creek into Annville Township. At this point, US 422 heads east as a two-lane road that is lined with homes. In the commercial center of Annville, the route crosses PA 934 and becomes East Main Street, heading south of the Lebanon Valley College campus. The road continues east past residential areas with a few businesses, gaining a center left-turn lane. US 422 heads into the borough of Cleona and becomes West Penn Avenue, heading past homes and commercial establishments. The route becomes East Penn Avenue at the Center Street intersection and runs through more developed areas, becoming the border between Cleona to the north and North Cornwall Township to the south. The road becomes the boundary between North Lebanon Township to the north and North Cornwall Township to the south and the name changes to Cumberland Street. US 422 heads east past businesses and passes to the south of the Lebanon Valley Mall. The route runs along the border between West Lebanon Township to the north and North Cornwall Township to the south as it continues through commercial areas with a few homes.[4][6]

US 422 eastbound east of Lebanon

US 422 enters the city of Lebanon at the 16th Street intersection, where it becomes a four-lane undivided road that passes commercial development and encounters an abandoned railroad line at the north end of the Lebanon Valley Rail Trail. At 12th Street, the route crosses Quittapahilla Creek and splits into a one-way pair following Cumberland Street westbound and Walnut Street eastbound, with each street carrying two lanes of traffic. US 422 continues east past urban rowhomes along with a few businesses, intersecting the southbound direction of PA 72 at 10th Street and the northbound direction of PA 72 at 9th Street. The westbound direction heads through the downtown area of Lebanon, passing south of the Harrisburg Area Community College Lebanon Campus, while the eastbound direction heads through residential areas to the south of downtown. Farther east, US 422 passes urban areas of homes and businesses in the eastern part of Lebanon, with the eastbound direction passing north of Good Samaritan Hospital. On the eastern border of Lebanon, the route comes to an intersection with the northern terminus of PA 897. At this, westbound US 422 becomes the border between Lebanon to the north and South Lebanon Township to the south while eastbound US 422 fully enters South Lebanon Township, heading past residential areas in the community of Hebron. Eastbound US 422 turns north and passes businesses, crossing Quittapahilla Creek and rejoining westbound US 422 at East Cumberland Street. At this point, US 422 heads northeast as four-lane undivided East Cumberland Street past businesses, passing through a corner of Lebanon before entering North Lebanon Township and coming to a bridge over Norfolk Southern's Harrisburg Line as it passes north of the community of Avon. The route becomes a three-lane road with a center left-turn lane and runs along the border between North Lebanon Township to the northwest and South Lebanon Township to the southeast, heading through residential areas in the community of Avon Heights. The road heads into a mix of farmland and residential and commercial development. US 422 enters Jackson Township and becomes West Lincoln Avenue, crossing the Tulpehocken Creek and continuing through agricultural areas with some homes and businesses. The route heads into business areas and enters the borough of Myerstown, where it reaches an intersection with the southern terminus of PA 645. The road becomes a four-lane divided highway and crosses PA 501 before becoming East Lincoln Avenue at the Railroad Street intersection. US 422 leaves Myerstown for Jackson Township again and becomes a three-lane road with a center turn lane, heading east through farmland with some commercial development.[4][6]

Berks County

US 422 crosses into Marion Township in Berks County and becomes Conrad Weiser Parkway, passing through farm fields with some residences and businesses. The route runs past homes and businesses in the community of Stouchsburg before it runs through more agricultural areas with some development, bending to the east-southeast. The road becomes three lanes with two westbound lanes and one eastbound lane, crossing the Tulpehocken Creek into the borough of Womelsdorf. Here, US 422 becomes a four-lane divided highway and passes businesses as it comes to an intersection with PA 419. The route continues southeast near residential areas before it leaves Womelsdorf for Heidelberg Township and passes to the north of the Conrad Weiser Homestead. US 422 heads east-southeast as West Penn Avenue, a three-lane road with a center turn lane that heads through rural areas with residential and commercial development. The road runs a short distance to the north of Norfolk Southern's Harrisburg Line before it enters the borough of Robesonia. Here, the route runs along two-lane West Penn Avenue and is lined with homes and a few businesses. US 422 becomes East Penn Avenue at the Robeson Street intersection and passes more development. The road heads back into Heidelberg Township and gains a center left-turn lane, heading southeast past commercial development and to the south of Conrad Weiser High School. The route passes through a corner of Lower Heidelberg Township and becomes West Penn Avenue, soon forming the boundary between Lower Heidelberg Township to the northeast and South Heidelberg Township to the southwest. US 422 passes through farmland with some homes and businesses before it enters the borough of Wernersville. Here, the route becomes two-lane West Penn Avenue and passes through residential areas with a few businesses. The road becomes East Penn Avenue in the commercial center of town and continues east past more homes. US 422 leaves Wernersville and once again follows the border between Lower Heidelberg Township to the north and South Heidelberg Township to the south along Penn Avenue. The road gains a center turn lane and runs through agricultural areas with some residences and commercial establishments. The route crosses the Cacoosing Creek into the borough of Sinking Spring and becomes two lanes, following Penn Avenue past a mix of homes and businesses. In the eastern part of Sinking Spring, US 422 widens to four lanes and comes to an intersection with the western terminus of PA 724. Past this intersection, the road becomes three lanes with a center turn lane and continues through residential and commercial areas, leaving Sinking Spring for Spring Township, where it passes through the community of Springmont. The route continues east through developed areas and heads through the community of West Lawn. US 422 enters the borough of Wyomissing and widens to a four-lane divided highway. Here, it comes to an interchange with the US 222 freeway and the western terminus of US 422 Bus., which continues east along Penn Avenue.[4][7]

US 422 west approaching US 222 in Reading.

At this interchange, US 422 becomes concurrent with US 222, and the two routes continue east-northeast along the six-lane Warren Street Bypass, a freeway that runs between residential areas to the northwest and Norfolk Southern's Harrisburg Line to the southeast. The freeway curves north into business areas and comes to a partial cloverleaf interchange with State Hill Road. Following this, US 222/US 422 passes between the Berkshire Mall to the west and commercial areas to the east before it reaches an interchange with Paper Mill Road and Crossing Drive, where it curves to the northeast and runs near more businesses. The freeway comes to an interchange where US 222 splits to the northwest, US 422 immediately afterward splits southeast along the West Shore Bypass, and, straight ahead, PA 12 begins northeast along the Warren Street Bypass. Following this interchange, US 422 heads southeast along the West Shore Bypass, a four-lane freeway that runs between residential areas to the southwest and the Tulpehocken Creek to the northeast. The road passes under Norfolk Southern's Reading Line and comes to a diamond interchange with North Wyomissing Boulevard. The route follows the west bank of the Schuylkill River as it continues southeast and passes under Norfolk Southern's Harrisburg Line #2, crossing into the borough of West Reading. US 422 runs between the river to the northeast and Norfolk Southern's Harrisburg Line #1 to the southwest before reaching a cloverleaf interchange with US 422 Bus. Following this, the freeway heads south between the Schuylkill River to the east and industrial areas to the west, passing through a small exclave of Cumru Township and crossing over the Schuylkill River Trail. The road curves southeast and crosses Wyomissing Creek into the city of Reading, where it runs along the riverbank and comes to an interchange with US 222 Bus. that has left exits and entrances. From here, the route heads southeast between wooded areas near the Schuylkill River to the northeast and the Schuylkill River Trail and urbanized areas to the southwest. The freeway turns east and crosses the river into Cumru Township, where it passes through woodland and comes to a bridge over Norfolk Southern's Harrisburg Line. US 422 crosses the Schuylkill River again and reaches a trumpet interchange with the northern terminus of I-176. The road crosses the river a third time and enters Exeter Township, passing over Norfolk Southern's Harrisburg Line #2 and passing between residential areas to the north and industrial areas to the south before reaching an eastbound exit and westbound entrance with Neversink Road that provides access to the borough of Mount Penn. From here, US 422 passes near more development before it comes to a westbound exit and eastbound entrance with the eastern terminus of US 422 Bus., at which point the freeway ends.[4][7]

East of Douglassville and PA 662 on US 422 west as the freeway ends.

From here, US 422 heads southeast as Perkiomen Avenue, a four-lane divided highway with occasional jughandles that is lined with businesses. The route passes north of the community of Lorane as it continues through suburban residential and commercial development, crossing Antietam Creek. The road continues southeast through a mix of woodland and development before the carriageways split as it reaches an intersection with the northern terminus of PA 345 in the community of Baumstown. Following this intersection, US 422 continues east as a one-way pair through wooded areas with some residences and businesses, crossing into Amity Township. Both directions of the route rejoin and the route continues southeast as a four-lane divided Benjamin Franklin Highway, crossing Monocacy Creek and passing farm fields before running through wooded areas with some commercial development. The road passes south of a residential development before the carriageways split again, passing a short distance to the north of Norfolk Southern's Harrisburg Line. US 422 curves southeast and heads into businesses areas, coming to an intersection with the southern terminus of PA 662 in the community of Douglassville. Following this, the route curves to the east before both directions rejoin. US 422 splits from Benjamin Franklin Highway by heading southeast onto a four-lane freeway called the Pottstown Bypass at an eastbound exit and westbound entrance. The freeway passes over Norfolk Southern's Harrisburg Line before it enters Douglass Township and heads east-southeast through wooded areas to the north of the Schuylkill River.[4][7]

Montgomery and Chester counties

US 422 westbound west of PA 100.

US 422 enters West Pottsgrove Township in Montgomery County and comes to an interchange with Grosstown Road that provides access to the community of Stowe. The freeway curves northeast and continues to follow the Schuylkill River before it turns east and passes through a corner of the borough of Pottstown prior to crossing the river.[4][8] At this point, the route enters North Coventry Township in Chester County and runs between woods to the north and farm fields to the south before passing near development and coming to a cloverleaf interchange with PA 100. Past this interchange, the road heads through the community of South Pottstown, which is across the river from the borough of Pottstown, and comes to a westbound exit and eastbound entrance with South Hanover Street. US 422 heads through woodland and reaches an eastbound exit and westbound entrance at Keim Street. A short distance later, the route comes to a trumpet interchange connecting to PA 724 to the south in the community of Kenilworth.[4][9] From here, the road turns northeast and crosses the Schuylkill River into Lower Pottsgrove Township in Montgomery County, reaching a diamond interchange with Armand Hammer Boulevard in an industrial area. The freeway passes over a railroad spur and the Harrisburg Line belonging to Norfolk Southern before passing near residential and commercial development and turning to the east. US 422 passes between the community of Sanatoga to the north and woodland to the south before it reaches a partial cloverleaf interchange with Evergreen Road that provides access to Sanatoga. This interchange marks the end of the Pottstown Bypass designation of the US 422 freeway.[4][8]

US 422 westbound approaching Oaks/Audubon exit

From here, the four-lane US 422 freeway continues southeast as the Pottstown Expressway into Limerick Township and passes between the Philadelphia Premium Outlets to the southwest and Heritage Field Airport to the northeast, with the Limerick Nuclear Power Plant located further to the southwest. The road passes near a mix of farmland and residential and commercial development, coming to a diamond interchange with Lewis Road that provides access to the communities of Limerick and Linfield. The route continues near more suburban development and reaches a diamond interchange with Township Line Road in a commercial areas that serves the borough of Royersford to the southwest and the borough of Trappe to the northeast. Past this interchange, the freeway enters Upper Providence Township and continues southeast past suburban housing developments. US 422 passes over PA 113 without an interchange before coming to a partial cloverleaf interchange with PA 29 that serves the borough of Collegeville to the northeast and the borough of Phoenixville the southwest. The Providence Town Center is located along PA 29 north of this interchange. Following this interchange, the road passes near office parks before heading through wooded areas with some farm fields, with the median widening. The route passes near housing developments and office complexes before the median narrows and it curves to the south. The freeway comes to a partial cloverleaf interchange with Egypt Road in the community of Oaks. From here, US 422 passes between a commercial area that includes the 422 Business Center office park (where the American Treasure Tour is located) and the Greater Philadelphia Expo Center to the west and the Lower Perkiomen Valley Park to the east.[4][8]

US 422 next to the Schuylkill River Trail

The road crosses the Perkiomen Trail and the Perkiomen Creek into Lower Providence Township and becomes parallel to the Schuylkill River Trail to the west, making a sharp turn to the east and passing through woods and fields within Valley Forge National Historical Park. The route comes to a partial cloverleaf interchange with the southern terminus of PA 363 that provides access to the communities of Audubon and Trooper, where it enters West Norriton Township and makes a turn to the south. US 422 heads over the Schuylkill River Trail before it crosses the Schuylkill River on the Schuylkill River Crossing Complex into Upper Merion Township (where it becomes the County Line Expressway). The freeway passes over Norfolk Southern's Harrisburg Line before reaching a partial cloverleaf interchange with PA 23 to the east of the Valley Forge National Historical Park Visitor Center. From here, the route heads into the community of King of Prussia and passes to the west of business parks and the Valley Forge Casino Resort, coming to an eastbound exit and entrance with First Avenue that serves the business parks and the casino.[4][8] At this point, the road enters Tredyffrin Township in Chester County and runs a short distance west of the border with Upper Merion Township in Montgomery County. The freeway passes under the Pennsylvania Turnpike (I-76) and heads near commercial areas west of the King of Prussia Town Center. US 422 comes to its eastern terminus at a trumpet interchange with the US 202 freeway that also has ramps connecting to Swedesford Road and eastbound I-76 (Schuylkill Expressway) to the city of Philadelphia. US 202 northbound provides access from US 422 to westbound I-76 and the Pennsylvania Turnpike at the western terminus of I-276 at the Valley Forge Interchange along with the King of Prussia mall.[4][9]