Morgantown Expressway

Meant to serve the Reading area with a connection to the Pennsylvania Turnpike, work commenced on the Morgantown Expressway in 1961.  One of the driving forces behind the construction of an Interstate connection was that, at the time, Reading was center of the bustling coal industry.

In 1962, the first section opened from Exit 7 to Exit 11.  In 1963, the whole expressway opened as Interstate 180.  In 1963, with the introduction of Interstate 76, this designation changed to the current Interstate 176.  The first exit numbers to appear on the 1975 PennDOT map showed I-176 with mileage based exit numbers, which in 2001 reappeared.  The last time mileage based exit numbers were shown on I-176 was on the 1978 Department of Transportation map.

In 1996, a direct connection from the Turnpike to the highway opened.  Prior to this, traffic had to exit the Turnpike and take PA 23 into Morgantown to connect with the expressway.  I remember using this interchange back in 1990, and having to take that route to make the connection.

Links:
Exit Guide
Interstate 176 Ends
Interstate 176 Pictures
Interstate 180 (Decommissioned)
I-176 Interchange Browser - Tim Reichard
Interstate 176 - Andy Field/Alex Nitzman
Interstate 176 - Scott Oglesby
Interstate 176 Pictures - Andy Field/Alex Nitzman

INFORMATION