William Flinn Highway
Perry Highway

Another highway named after significant members of Pennsylvania history, and not a politician, US 19 was the major corridor in Western Pennsylvania before Interstate 79 was even a thought in President Dwight D. Eisenhower's mind.  The route in the early years was the same as today with a few exceptions.  

In Washington, it followed Maiden Street, College Street, Highland Avenue, Ridge Avenue, and Murtland Avenue.  At Canonsburg it turned onto Weavertown Road and followed Morganza Road, Washington Pike, and current PA 50 to Crafton, then onto current PA 60 to Pittsburgh.  There it followed South Main Street, East Carson Street, Point Bridge, Manchester Bridge, Manchester Avenue, West Ohio Street, East Ohio Street, and Butler Road in Pittsburgh before heading to Butler on the current PA 8 alignment.  In Meadville, the designation followed Pennsylvania Avenue, Mercer Street, Water Street, Poplar Street, Park Avenue, and Baldwin Street.  In Erie, it followed Peach Street into downtown.  

In 1928, the designation was moved onto its current alignment from Pittsburgh to Meadville and the current PA 99 alignment from Cambridge Springs to Erie.  In Pittsburgh, the designation was moved onto Ridge Avenue, Chateau Street, and the current alignment from there north due to the change from the PA 8 alignment.  Much of the new route was still unimproved from Harmony to Portersville and Rose Point to West Union.  Construction was taking place to upgrade it from Dutilh Road to Gudenkunst Road that year.  In 1929, the alignment had been paved from Dutilh Road to Middle Lancaster and was under construction from the Lawrence County line to Mercer.

The first year of the 1930s saw that section completed while construction got underway from Sheakleyville to the Crawford County line and current PA 285 to US 6/US 322 in 1931 and the West End Bridge in Pittsburgh.  The following year those sections were finished as was the designation moved onto its current alignment from Cambridge Springs to Waterford then the current PA 97 alignment into Erie.  The West End Bridge opened in 1932 and with it came another change of alignments for US 19 in Pittsburgh, which was moved to cross this span then onto Ridge Avenue, Manchester Avenue, Allegheny Avenue, and California Avenue.  In 1936, the designation was moved onto the current alignment between Zelienople and Harmony, before it turned onto current PA 68 and Mercer Road.  Also that year the designation was moved onto the current alignment between Waterford and Kearsarge, and the northern terminus moved from Parade Street to its current location.  In 1938, the highway was widened from Laboratory to Washington, Bridgeville to Pittsburgh, and Pittsburgh to Wexford.

The 1940s saw the start of the bulk of widening work along US 19.  In 1940, it was widened from Washington to Manifold Road, in Canonsburg, Portersville to the Lawrence County line, US 6/US 322 to the location of the current I-79 interchange, and Kerrtown to Meadville.  In 1941, the designation was moved onto the current alignment from Weavertown Road to Pittsburgh and the highway widened from McMurray Road to Clifton.   In Pittsburgh, the designation was moved to Banksville Road, Woodville Street, and Wabash Avenue.  In 1946, the designation was moved back to Chateau Street between the West End Bridge and Marshall Avenue and back through Hickory on that former alignment.  In 1948, the highway was widened from Manifold Road to PA 519 and the designation moved to Cochran Road and Beverly Road from McFarland Road in Dormont.  In 1949, the highway was widened from PA 519 to McMurray Road.

The 1950s continued to see widening work taking place along the highway.  In 1951, widening work took place on the route from Kearsage to Erie.  Construction began that year on the long-awaited Penn-Lincoln Parkway in Pittsburgh, which ended up using a small section of the US 19 alignment near Saw Mill Run Boulevard.  In 1952, widening took place from Wexford to Cranberry, Lutz Road to Zelienople, and the current I-79 interchange to Kerrtown.  A change in alignment took place in Washington, with northbound traffic shifted to Lincoln Street between Maiden Street and Highland Avenue.  Southbound traffic remained on the original route.  In Pittsburgh, the West End Bypass opened from the Penn-Lincoln Parkway to PA 837.  In 1954, the highway was widened from Cranberry to Lutz Road, Camp Warner Road to Warner Lane, at the Pleasant Hill Road intersection, and Bauder Mill Road/Bauder School Road to Portersville.  Significant changes took place with the opening of the Penn-Lincoln Parkway which was built over a section of Banksville Road, the designation was moved back to the current alignment between Zelienople and Mercer Road, and in Meadville the designation was moved onto its current alignment from PA 102 to Park Avenue which it was now signed on completely.  In 1955, the highway was widened from the Top Road to Ruff Creek, Greene County line to Hackney Station Road, and at the Vankirk Ridge Road intersection.  Also this year, the designation was moved off Woodville Street and Wabash Street in Pittsburgh and onto the West End Bypass.  In 1956, the section from Morrisville to Waynesburg was widened while a median was installed from Manifold Road to McMurray Road, City of Pittsburgh limit to the Penn-Lincoln Parkway, Wexford to Zelienople, at the US 422 intersection, and PA 102 to Meadville.  In 1959, the highway was widened from Pleasant Hill Road to Bauder Mill Road/Bauder School Road.

The 1960s saw construction on the Interstate System swing into full gear which even affected US 19.  While not currently signed on a long section of Interstate highway, in the 1960s, it was signed on parts of I-79 and I-70.  Interstate 70 was under construction around Washington in 1960, and I-79 from I-70 to US 40 began a year later.  The latter opened in 1962 from a temporary interchange at US 19 and the earlier opened to traffic in 1963.  With these portions open to traffic, the US 19 designation was moved onto them out of Washington.  In 1961, the highway was widened from Waterford to PA 97.  US 19 shields reappeared on its former alignment in Washington in 1967, only four years after they were installed on the Interstates bypassing the city.

The 1970s began with a project to install a median I-90 to PA 99 in the first year of the decade, and concluded a year later.  Construction would being on the next section of Ohio River Boulevard from near the California Avenue/Marshall Avenue intersection to Pennsylvania Avenue in January 1970.  In 1971, construction began on the French Creek Parkway in Meadville between Linden Street and Baldwin Street Extension.  In 1973, the $16 million section of Ohio River Boulevard that began in 1970 opened to traffic, relieving Chateau Street of its US 19 designation.  In 1974, the French Creek Parkway opened and with it, the US 19 designation was removed from Park Avenue, Baldwin Street, and Baldwin Street Extension.

Construction on the $8 million Phase One project to connect the two sections of Ohio River Boulevard together began in Spring 1987 from Allegheny Avenue to Western Avenue.  Phase Two of the project would begin in January 1988, which would consist of a new interchange between the expressway and the West End Bridge.  The bridge would be closed for two years while it underwent rehabilitation and new ramps were built at the northern end for the interchange.

Area of the missing-link which was completed.

On January 14, 1992, the project finished 40 years after first being planned and opened to traffic for that day's afternoon rush hour.  Dick Enterprises, now Dick Corporation, the contractor for the project, finished the $45 million West End project which included rehabilitation of the West End Circle and Bridge ten months ahead of schedule.  The bridge reopened three months earlier than the projected 16 months in July 1991.

PennDOT had been studying the problems of the West End Circle, which causes congestion as US 19, PA 51, PA 60, and PA 837 all converge.  The plan was to align the West End Bypass with the West End Circle so that US 19 traffic would continue unimpeded from bypass to bridge.  The first phase, costing $4.4 million, was completed in Summer 2003 when a short tunnel was bored under the Norfolk Southern Railway for the direct connection.  With budget problems befalling the Department of Transportation, $7 million had to be shaved from the $42 million by making some lanes shorter and cutting the size of a retaining wall.  The changes also saved money that would have to be spent to move the Norfolk Southern rail line.

Links:
US 19 Auxiliary Routes
Ohio River Boulevard
JCT US 6, 19, 322 - David Brunot
Terminus of US 19 - Dale Sanderson
Terminus of US 19 in Pennsylvania - Tim Reichard
US 19 Junction List - Tim Reichard
West End Bridge - Bruce Cridlebaugh
William Flinn Highway - Adam Prince/Bruce Cridlebaugh

INFORMATION

Southern Entrance:	West Virginia state line 1/2 mile south of Mount Morris.
Northern Terminus:	US 20 in Erie.
Length:	188 miles
National Highway System:	I-79 to Pittsburgh Truck US 19 to PA 228 US 6/US 322 to Meadville I-90 to US 20
Names:	Mount Morris Road, East High Street, High Street, Greene Street, Morris Street, Richhill Street, William Flinn Highway, Amity Ridge Road, Waynesburg Road, Maiden Street, College Street, Ridge Avenue, Washington Road, Cochran Road, Banksville Road, Saw Mill Run Boulevard, West End Bypass, Ohio River Boulevard, Marshall Avenue, Perrysville Avenue, Perry Highway, Main Street, Erie Street, Franklin Street, French Creek Parkway, Waterford Pike, High Street, and Peach Street
SR Designations:	SR 0019 SR 0279:  Exit 5A to Exit 5C SR 0006:  US 322 to US 6N
Counties:	Greene, Washington, Allegheny, Butler, Lawrence, Mercer, Crawford, and Erie
Expressway:	Exit 5A to Exit 5C on I-279/US 22/US 30 I-279/US 22/US 30 to PA 837 West End Bridge to Marshall Avenue in Pittsburgh
Multiplexed Routes:	PA 21:  Morrisville to Waynesburg US 40:  Laboratory to Washington US 22:  Exit 5A to Exit 5C of I-279 US 30:  Exit 5A to Exit 5C of I-279 I-279:  Exit 5A to Exit 5C PA 51:  I-279 to PA 837 PA 65:  West End Bridge to Marshall Avenue PA 68:  Zelienople PA 488:  Portersville PA 208:  Leesburg US 62:  Mercer PA 58:  Mercer PA 258:  Mercer US 6:  US 322 to US 6N US 322:  US 6 to Meadville PA 198:  Saegertown PA 97:  Waterford
Former Designations:	PA 8  (1925 - 1930):  West Virginia state line to Weavertown Road PA 5  (1925 - 1930):  Meadville to Waterford PA 88  (1927 - 1928):  Pittsburgh to Kerrtown PA 78  (1927 - 1928):  Waterford to Kearsarge PA 97  (1928 - 1936):  Waterford to Kearsarge
Pennsylvania Byway:	Laboratory to Washington
Pittsburgh Belt System:	Bascom Street to Ivory Avenue
Pittsburgh Belt System:	Swickley-Oakmont Road to Babcock Boulevard
Pittsburgh Belt System:	Connor Road to PA 121
Washington's Trail:	PA 65 South to PA 65 North PA 910 to PA 528 Mercer Road to Portersville Meadville to Fort LeBoeuf
Traffic Conditions:	PA 51 to the West End Bridge (Northbound) West End Bridge (Northbound) West End Bridge to Marshall Avenue (Northbound) Marshall Avenue to West End Bridge (Southbound) West End Bridge (Southbound) West End Bridge to PA 51 (Southbound)
Traffic Cameras:	West End Bridge South West End Bridge North