North Star Way
Buffalo-Pittsburgh Highway

Prior to the dawn of the 21st Century, this corridor only saw one major event when 2,200 people died on May 31, 1889 in the greatest disaster in the United States at the time in Johnstown.  The 1889 flood unleashed 20 million gallons of water onto the unsuspecting city and it would see significant flooding in 1936 and again in 1977.  Flooding became such a constant in Johnstown that it would become known as "Flood City."  The current alignment of US 219 passes approximately 100 yards to the west of the remains of the South Fork Dam, which caused the 1889 catastrophe.  On September 11, 2001, United Airlines Flight 93 crashed eight miles to the east of US 219 and in July 2002 nine miners were trapped in Quecreek two miles to the west of the corridor in Somerset County.

In the early days the route passed through Somerset, Johnstown, and Ebensburg.  In Johnstown, the route followed Franklin Street, Washington Street, Walnut Street, and William Penn Avenue.  Originally, the designation ended in DuBois but was extended in 1927 to Ridgway, then north to New York a year later.  In Bradford, the designation followed South Avenue, Main Street, and East Main Street to head to Foster Brook and New York.  In 1928, the route was under construction from Lantz Corners to Lewis Run.

In 1934, the alignment was under construction from Mundy's Corners to the Cambria Township line and completed the following year.  A change in designation took place in Johnstown in 1938 when the route was signed on Napoleon Street, Johns Street, and Iron Street to form a bypass of downtown.

In 1940, the highway was widened in Meyersdale and at the Lincoln Drive intersection south of DuBois.  In 1946, the route was changed to North Center Street and Plank Road north of Ebensburg.  Prior to that year, the designation was signed on Highland Avenue and Colver Road between Ebensburg and the current US 219 alignment.  Also that year, the highway was widened from Custer City to South Bradford.  In Johnstown, the designation was moved to Conemaugh Avenue from Iron Street while Napoleon Street between Somerset Street and Johns Street became known as Stony Creek Street.  In 1948, the highway was widened at the Jackson Street intersection in Goods Corner.

The 1950s began with widening taking place in Somerset and a new alignment under construction from Halsey Road in Halsey to Lantz Corners.  The following year this segment was completed; however, without the US 219 designation.  It would not be until 1952 that this section would receive the US 219 markers.  Previously, the designation was signed on the current PA 321 alignment to Kane and then US 6 to Lantz Corners.  In 1953, the designation was removed from Brotherton Road and PA 31 between Berlin and Somerset to its current alignment.  Also that year, the highway was widened between South Bradford and Bradford.  In 1955, the highway was widened from Bradford to Foster Brook.  Widening continued the following year with sections from New Germany Road to Ebensburg, in Grampian, and in DuBois being completed.  In Johnstown, Stony Creek Street became Johns Street.  In 1958, the highway was widened in Mahaffey.  In the final year of the 1950s, construction began on the Mundys Corner bypass.

The 1960s began with another change in the alignment in downtown Johnstown, with northbound signed on Union Street and southbound on Johns Street between Washington Street and Johns Street.  In 1961, the Mundys Corner and Ebensburg bypasses opened and the segment between the two was widened and a median was installed.  Also that year, the highway was widened between Stony Lane and Ridgway.  Construction on the first section of expressway began in 1963 between Scalp Avenue and the Johnstown Expressway.  Work would be extended to the PA 869 interchange a year later.  The section between Scalp Avenue and the Johnstown Expressway opened in 1965, while construction began from the Tower Road overpass to US 22.  While work would finish on the section from the Johnstown Expressway to PA 869 finished, it began on the segment between PA 869 and Tower Road in 1966.  The expressway opened from PA 869 to US 22 in 1967, and the designation moved onto it from the current PA 271 alignment.  The designation was also removed from downtown Johnstown by  turning at Ferndale onto Eisenhower Boulevard to Scalp Avenue and joining the expressway at that interchange.  Construction began in 1968 on the section from the PA 601 connector north of Somerset to the PA 56 East/Scalp Avenue interchange.  Also that year, the highway was widened and a median installed on it at the Interstate 80 interchange.  In 1969, the section from US 30 to PA 403 opened while work began on the Bradford Bypass from Owens Way to Elm Street.

The first year of the 1970s was celebrated with two new sections of expressway opening from PA 56 east to PA 403 and from US 30 to the PA 601 connector.  With that opening, the US 219 designation was signed on a continuous expressway-grade highway from Somerset to Ebensburg.  Prior to the opening, the designation was signed on PA 601 and PA 985 between Somerset and Johnstown.  While that section opened, construction began from the US 219 alignment southeast of Somerset to the connector that year.  In 1971, the segment of the Bradford Bypass from Owens Way to Elm Street opened, and the designation moved off South Avenue.  However, now the designation was signed on Elm Street, Davis Street, and Main Street to keep the continuity.  Construction began from Elm Street to the Mill Street underpass that year as well.  In 1973, two sections of the highway opened:  US 219 to the PA 601 connector and Elm Street to Mill Street.  The designation was removed from Plank Road, East Main Street, and North Center Street through Somerset.  Another routing change happened in Bradford with US 219 signed on Mill Street to East Main Street and southbound traffic was signed on Fisher Avenue and Homestead Avenue.  The designation was removed from Elm Street, Davis Street, and East Main Street to Mill Street.  The following year, construction began on the Ebensburg bypass from US 22 to US 422.  In 1975, construction continued on the Bradford Bypass from Mill Street to the New York state line.  In 1977, the Ebensburg Bypass opened to traffic from US 22 to US 422; however, the designation was still signed on US 22, Old US 219, Center Street, and Plank Road.  The US 219 designation would not switch to this route until the following year, and even then drivers had to follow West High Street into the borough to continue on the route.  Another section to open was from Mill Street to the Foster Brook interchange opened.  In 1979, the entire Bradford Bypass opened to traffic to the New York state line.

Something that hadn't happened in almost a decade occurred in 1990 when construction began on the section from US 22 to Plank Road.  The following year it opened and the designation was removed from passing through Ebensburg.  Environmental studies began in 1997 on the Meyersdale Bypass, which is the same year construction commenced.  The

In January 1997, environmental studies began on the Meyersdale Bypass and entered the construction phase that same year.  However, if you looked on the 1976 Department of Transportation map, you'd think work began that year.  The bypass opened to traffic in January 1999.

Meyersdale Bypass in 1976.
(PennDOT)

Also during the 1990s, is when Representative John Murtha spearheaded a campaign to get money for the upgrading of US 219 to expressway standards through Pennsylvania.  He referred to this highway as Interstate 67, and said that it would provide a much needed highway connection through west-central Pennsylvania and a NAFTA corridor from Buffalo to Miami. 

Promotional map depicting
the entire proposed route.
(Represenative John Murtha)

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/.

The current end of the expressway southeast of Somerset.  The stub
terminates at the border of a state game land.  Those three vehicles in the
median are PennDOT trucks.

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.

Is this a case of "Bud Envy?"  I noticed the following sign on the expressway segment from US 22 to the end north of Ebensburg.  "Jack" refers to Representative John P. Murtha (D) who is the representative for the district that US 219 traverses.  Just as his counterpart Bud Shuster slapped his name on I-99/US 220, I guess John decided that two can play at that game and did the same.  No other section of the expressway has these signs.

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 to build.  The work included a new bridge over Owens Way, and the usual drainage, landscaping, signing, guiderail installation, utility relocation, and wetland mitigation.

The former southern end of the Bradford Bypass at Owens Way.  It was
like the ends of other expressway segments along the route.  (Doug Kerr)

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:
Exit Guide
US 219 Auxiliary Routes
US 219 Pictures
Interstate 67
Johnstown Flood
Quecreek Mine Accident
Shanksville and Flight 93
Continental 1
US 219-Paving the Way - PennDOT
ISTEA/NHS/TEA-21 High Priority Corridor 21 - Andy Field/Alex Nitzman
Terminus of US 219 - Dale Sanderson
Terminus of US 219 in Pennsylvania - Tim Reichard
US 219 Bradford Bypass - Doug Kerr
US 219 Junction List - Tim Reichard
US 219 Pictures - Steve Alpert
US 219 Pictures (Clearfield County) - Doug Lowmaster
US 219/PA 36 Pictures (Clearfield County) - Doug Lowmaster

INFORMATION

Northern Entrance:	New York state line one mile north of Foster Brook.
Southern Entrance:	Maryland state line six miles south of Salisbury.
Length:	208 miles
National Highway System:	Entire length
Names:	Flight 93 Memorial Highway, Grant Street, North Star Way, Broadway Street, Jack P. Murtha Highway, Plank Road, Main Street, Bigler Avenue, Philadelphia Avenue, Chestnut Avenue, Cherry Tree to Patchin Road, Patchinville to Burnsi Road, Mahaffey to Curry Run Road, Curry Run-Bells Landing Road, Bells Landing-Grampian Road, First Street, Grampian-Chestnut Grove Road, Chestnut Grove-Luthers Road, 28th Division Highway, C&M Junction Road, Salem to DuBois Road, Buffalo-Pittsburgh Highway, Brady Street, Liberty Boulevard, DuBois Avenue, Cherry Street, Broad Street, Center Street, and Marvin Street
SR Designation:	SR 0219
Counties:	Somerset, Cambria, Clearfield, Jefferson, Elk, and McKean
Expressway:	Meyersdale Bypass Somerset to Ebensburg South Bradford to the New York state line
Multiplexed Routes:	PA 56:  Scalp Avenue to the Johnstown Expressway PA 36:  McGees Mills to Mahaffey US 322:  Luthersburg to US 322 West PA 948:  Boot Jack to Ridgway Truck PA 770:  Timbuck to Custer City PA 770:  Custer City to Degolia PA 346:  Bradford to Foster Brook
Former Designations:	PA 6  (1926 - 1930):  Maryland to Berlin and Ebensburg to Wilcox US 119  (1926 - 1927):  DuBois to Ridgway US 120  (1926 - 1928):  Ridgway to Wilcox PA 10  (1927 - 1928):  Lewis Run to Bradford
BicyclePA Route:	DuBois to PA 830
Traffic Cameras:	PA 56 PA 756 Liberty Boulevard