FUTURE

Like other Interstates built in the 1960s, this one opened in the early years of the Interstates of the time.  However, unlike those others, this one did not receive its designation until 20xx.  In 1963, construction began on a PA 56 bypass which became the Johnstown Expressway, this is the section from PA 56 East exit to the PA 56 West exit.  In the following year, construction was extended to the PA 869 exit.  In 1966, these sections opened and construction began on the section from PA 869 to US 22.  In 1968, the latter section opened and construction began on the section from PA 56 East exit south to north of Somerset.  In 1969, the section from US 30 to the PA 601 Jerome exit opened and construction began on the Bradford bypass.

The 1970s began with the opening of the remaining sections, and so travelers could drive from Ebensburg to north of Somerset without having to climb hills or get stuck behind slow moving trucks.  The remaining section to be built got underway, and construction of the Somerset bypass commenced.  In 1971, the first section of the Bradford bypass opened from US 219 to Elm Street and construction continued to Mill Street.  In 1973, the latter section opened to Mill Street and the Somerset bypass opened.  In 1975, construction on the Bradford bypass was extended to the New York state line.

The 1980s came with the Bradford bypass opening completely and the construction of the Ebensburg bypass beginning. That section took along time because of right of way acquisition problems, but finally opened in 1990.  In January 1997, environmental studies began on the Meyersdale Bypass and entered the construction phase which ended with the opening in January 1999.  In 20xx, with the help of Congressman John Murtha, the US 219 corridor received the I-67 designation.

On April 25, 2001, it was announced that PennDOT will be studying upgrading US 219 between the Meyersdale Bypass and the end of the US 219 expressway in Somerset.  Even though engineering studies were conducted back in the 1970s on this section, environmental requirements and highway design standards have changed since that time and require revisions.  Ron Samuel of PennDOT District 9 said a minimum of five alternatives will be analyzed for the project:  a relocation of US 219 to the eastern portion of the study area west of Berlin, relocation to the west in the vicinity of the Garrett Shortcut, transportation system management which would include improvements such as intersection realignments, traffic signals, truck climbing lanes, reduction of curves, a no-build alternative, and one additional alternative not yet defined.  Project website:  http://www.us219.com/north/main/index.html.

Funds were secured in the 2000 Fiscal Year for studying the corridor for improvements.  Pennsylvania along with New York received $400,000 to conduct economic impact and traffic analysis studies from Interstate 80 near DuBois to Buffalo.  The Commonwealth also received $500,000 to assist in plans to connect the Turnpike to US 219, to provide a link to Interstate 68 in Maryland.

Construction for the extension of the Bradford Bypass from near the Kwik-Fill on US 219 to Owens Way began on June 24, 2002.  The new segment of expressway opened to traffic on October 10, 2003 and cost $7,537,000.  The work included a new bridge over Owens Way, and the usual drainage, landscaping, signing, guiderail installation, utility relocation, and wetland mitigation.

Trouble might be looming for the plan to upgrade US 219 to an expressway north of Ebensburg.  In 2004, PennDOT released its revised 12-Year Transportation Program and this section has been deferred for the time being.

Construction began on Phase I of the Johnsonburg Bypass in April 2006 and concluded in November 2007.  This section involved building a 694-foot-long bridge over the Buffalo & Pittsburgh Railroad line, sound walls, and approaches to the bridge.  Construction on Phase II, which will complete the highway by crossing the western branch of the Clarion River and connecting to the current alignment, will begin this year.  Once completed in 2009, the $38 million expressway will be officially designated the Sam Guaglianone Bypass.  Project website:  http://www.penndot2.com/elk.html.

On August 9, 2007, Transportation Secretary Allen Biehler along with other state and local officials dedicated US 219 between Maryland and Cambria County as the "Flight 93 Memorial Highway."  "The heroism of the victims of Flight 93 is something we want to always remember," Secretary Biehler said.  "Everyone who travels this route will never forget the bravery and unselfishness of those on the flight."  Joining him was state Senator Richard Kasunic who sponsored the legislation to change the name, and Kenny Nacke whose brother was aboard on United 93.  Also in attendance were the National Park Service as well as members of the Shanksville Volunteer Fire Department who were the first to respond to an initial report of a plane crash near Indian Lake.

After years of talk but no action, state officials had basically written-off upgrading US 219 to an expressway through southern Somerset County.  Even PennDOT had removed this section from its 12-Year Plan.  That was until Fourth of July 2008 when the 2008-2009 state budget was signed into law by Governor Edward Rendell, which allocated $35 million for construction.  It will be enough to match the $46 million coming from the Federal government.  Late on July 3, a Senate committee approved the money which followed a week of intense behind-the scenes lobbying.  Pressure for inclusion was a bi-partisan effort with the governor, state senators and representatives, Somerset County commissioners, and even US Representatives John Murtha and Bill Shuster involved.  The cost of completing the expressway between the Maryland state line and Somerset is $600 million.

Links:
US 219
US 219-Paving the Way - PennDOT
Continental 1
ISTEA/NHS/TEA-21 High Priority Corridor 21 - Andy Field/Alex Nitzman
US 219 Bradford Bypass - Doug Kerr

EXIT GUIDE

MILE	NORTHBOUND Read Down	SOUTHBOUND Read Up	Other Features
STATE OF MARYLAND COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA
NO EXPRESSWAY NEXT 6 MILES
BEGIN		END
MILE 6	Meyersdale		Somerset County Fairgrounds FOOD GAS HOSPITAL
END		BEGIN
NO EXPRESSWAY NEXT 14 MILES
BEGIN		END
MILE 27		SOUTH Meyersdale	Somerset Industrial Park
MILE 30	Friedens Somerset		Somerset County Airport FOOD GAS LODGING STATE POLICE Kooser State Park Laurel Hill State Park FOLLOW SOUTH TO WEST
MILE 32	Pittsburgh Harrisburg		TO Somerset Commons Horizon Outlet Center FOOD GAS LODGING HOSPITAL STATE POLICE Somerset Historical Center
MILE 40	Jennerstown Stoystown		Boswell Jennerstown Speedway FOOD GAS
	TRUCK WIDTHS OVER 8' - 5" PROHIBITED WEST
CAUTION HIGH CROSS WINDS MILE 44
MILE 45	Jerome		FOOD
MILE 47	Davidsville Hollsopple		FOOD GAS
Somerset County Cambria County
MILE 53	EAST Scalp Avenue Windber EXIT SPEED 20 MPH	EAST Scalp Avenue Windber Scalp Avenue - WEST	Univ of Pittsburgh at Johnstown University Park Shopping Center FOOD GAS LODGING
MILE 54	Elton Geistown		Richland Towne Center FOOD GAS
MILE 55	WEST EXPRESSWAY Johnstown Expressway		Point Stadium Cambria County War Memorial Arena Johnstown Flood Museum Inclined Plane
MILE 56	Galleria Drive		Johnstown - Cambria County Airport Johnstown Industrial Park Johnstown Galleria FOOD GAS LODGING
MILE 60	EAST St Michael Sidman		Johnstown Flood National Memorial Blue Knob State Park
MILE 62	NORTH South Fork Portage		Summerhill
MILE 63	New Germany
MILE 67	EAST Hollidaysburg		Ebensburg Cambria County Industrial Park FOOD GAS LODGING STATE POLICE
MILE 67	WEST Blairsville		Ebensburg Airport
MILE 69	WEST Indiana Ebensburg
MILE 74	NORTH Carrolltown
END		BEGIN
NO EXPRESSWAY NEXT 123 MILES
McKean County
BEGIN		END
MILE 192	Owens Way
MILE 194	WEST Davis Street		Univ of Pittsburgh at Bradford Allegheny Reservoir
MILE 196	EAST Kendall Avenue Corwins Corners		FOOD GAS LODGING HOSPITAL
MILE 198	EAST Foster Brook		FOOD GAS
END		BEGIN
EXPRESSWAY ENDS
COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA STATE OF NEW YORK

INFORMATION