Interstate 99 FINALLY Opens on Skytop

Those who live along and those who have had to travel the narrow and dangerous US 220 in the Bald Eagle Valley have another reason to be thankful this Thanksgiving. As of 3 PM today, the Bud Shuster Highway is finally open to both northbound and southbound traffic across Bald Eagle Mountain.

PennDOT had previously opened both directions from Bald Eagle to Port Matilda in December 2007, but from there north it was only open northbound due to continuing clean-up of the pyritic rock that was unearthed during construction. Southbound traffic was still using the old alignment. So it is now official: PennDOT has slain the acid rock dragon.



The new highway is signed as Interstate 99. However, since it is only one of two Interstates to have its designation signed into law, legislation has to be passed to amend the definition of the route. It has not as of yet, so it is illegally designated as such but then again some people would already say it is due to being west of Interstate 81.

I-99 Open to All Traffic - Centre Daily Times