William Penn Highway in Pictures

Photography by Robert Carlson
Listed on ClickaSnap.com as Profile
Lens4anEye

I like to start a project and follow it to wherever it takes me. Many times that means packing the car for a 2 or 3 day long trip and heading out on the generalized path I have chosen. One time it was to follow the Ohio river from Pittsburgh at one end and go to the other at Cairo, In. 

This blog post covers parts of the national road known as William Penn Highway which extends from New York City to Cincinnati crossing New Jersey and Pennsylvania.  Most of the early course has been bypassed, with some segments several times. These photographs document the history of the road from Old to New to US 22 to various Interstate designations. 


Photo Selection from the William Penn highway Album

During the National Highway building program of the 1920s, Pennsylvania build thousands of culverts and bridges to facilitate the roadway. These structures were identified with a brass plaque such as this one.  This one has been in place for nearly 100 years so far.


 
 Pennsylvania Highway Keystone - 1924
 
Many old sections of highway were infeasible to widen and bring up to new standards to accommodate the much higher vehicle uses. This segment was abandoned and the bridge across the river into New Alexandria demolished. 

Segment of Old William Penn Highway

The goal of the National highway building program was to connect all towns and cities along the route with a higher capacity and standardized road design. The named road path passed through (rather than around) the existing paved urban streets.


Fogelsville Post Office

A lot of existing businesses lost their highway traffic to the bypasses in later road building projects. Some enterprises moved while others died.


Abandoned Motel along Old US 22
 

Road building continues today at the fastest pace as ever, Much of what was originally built as limited access divided highways have already been rebuilt. 

 

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Photos are copyright by Robert Carlson. Most are available for purchase for personal use. Email Publish@modalchoice.com for commercial licensing.

 

Comments

  1. UnknownJune 17, 2023 at 5:18 PM

    The original national highways still remain as part of out heritage but they are disappearing slowly but surely.

    ReplyDelete

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