I-81 runs from the lower right corner of this map to the top, I-476 (The Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension) comes in from the lower left and US 6/11 goes from the upper left to lower right as a surface street.
I-476 is the longest 3di in the entire I-system, and was marked as PA 9 until the I-476 western bypass of Philadelphia was completed several years ago and the number extended northward (apparently for route continuity purposes). The rather unusual end of I-476 is due to the existing Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension being opened a few years before the I-system came into existance, and I-81 being built before the the Turnpike could be extended to its then planned end at Binghamton, NY. As a result, there is a very sharp curve in the mainline of the highway where the mainline interchange 'trumpet' was to be had this further extension been built. There was always a tollgate between the sharp curve and the first 'trumpet'. The NE Extension was origionally entirely opened as a 'ticket' tollway, but now uses mainline barrier tollgates in the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton metro area. The 'get ticket'/'pay toll' mainline tollgate is now passed as one goes by Wilkes-Barre.
An interesting feature here is that access between I-81 and US 6-11/Clarks Green, PA is by going through all three 'trumpets' of this interchange, paying no toll.
On I-81, there is precious little mention of I-476, no more than two shields on all of the green signage for this interchange in either direction.
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Just follow this sign to make your OWN great signs!!!! |
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This page © Michael G. Koerner |
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