Interstate 176

Interstate 176
Morgantown Expressway
I-176 highlighted in red
Route information
Auxiliary route of I-76
Maintained by PennDOT
Length	11.345 mi[1] (18.258 km)
Existed	1964 – present
Major junctions
South end	I-76 / Penna Turnpike in Morgantown
	PA 10 / PA 23 in Morgantown PA 10 in Green Hills PA 724 in Cumru Township
North end	US 422 near Reading
Location
Counties	Berks
Highway system
Interstate Highway System Main Auxiliary Suffixed Business Future Pennsylvania State Route System Interstate US State Scenic Byways Legislative ← PA 174 PA 176 →

Interstate 176 (I-176) is a spur route of eastern Interstate 76 in Pennsylvania. I-176, known locally as the "Morgantown Expressway", travels from Morgantown to Cumru Township in Berks County, a suburban township just outside Reading; the entire length of the highway is just over 11 miles (18 km). The highway was originally known as I-180 or the "Reading Spur" when the Pennsylvania Turnpike was designated as I-80S, but was redesignated to its present-day number in 1964 when it became I-76.^[2]

Route description

I-176 northern terminus at U.S. 422 in Cumru Township

I-176 begins at the Morgantown interchange with I-76 (Pennsylvania Turnpike) near the community of Morgantown in Caernarvon Township, Berks County. The highway heads north from the trumpet interchange through the toll plaza and continues north as a four-lane freeway called the Morgantown Expressway, coming to an interchange with PA 10 that provides access to Morgantown to the south. At this interchange, the freeway turns to the west, with a southbound runaway truck ramp just past the southbound exit ramp for PA 10. I-176 heads into the borough of New Morgan and runs through forested areas. The road comes to a southbound exit and northbound entrance with SR 2089, a four-lane freeway that heads south to an intersection with PA 10/PA 23 in Morgantown. This used to be I-176’s old alignment before it was realigned between that point and its current terminus at the Turnpike. At this point, the freeway curves to the northwest and forms the border between Caernarvon Township to the west and New Morgan to the east, passing through wooded surroundings as it heads to the west of a landfill. The route turns north and becomes the border between Robeson Township to the west and New Morgan to the east before fully entering Robeson Township as it continues through forests. I-176 runs through wooded areas with some farm fields, passing over PA 568 before it comes to a northbound exit and entrance with the parallel PA 10 to the east in Green Hills. From here, the freeway continues through woodland with nearby development and passes over PA 10 prior to entering Cumru Township and coming to a southbound exit and entrance connecting to PA 10 to the west. The road heads north-northeast through forested hills, curving to the north. The route reaches a diamond interchange with PA 724 and passes over a Norfolk Southern railroad line and the Schuylkill River Trail as it heads west of industrial areas. I-176 reaches its northern terminus at a trumpet interchange with the US 422 freeway southeast of the city of Reading.^[3][4]

History

I-176 first northbound shield in Caernarvon Township

Prior to 1996, motorists wanting to get to I-176 from the Pennsylvania Turnpike (I-76) had to travel through Morgantown on Pennsylvania Route 10 and then enter I-176 northbound to Reading at a traffic light, similar to that found on Interstate 70 in Breezewood. Since 1996, a replacement Pennsylvania Turnpike interchange and a new stretch of I-176 have eliminated the need to travel through Morgantown, with the old section, now a spur numbered SR 2089,^[4] still maintained as ramps leading to and from Exit 2. The entire highway, except for the new direct connection, has a 65 mph (105 km/h) speed limit.

In May 2018, I-176 was dedicated as the Vietnam War Veterans Memorial Highway, the Persian Gulf War Veterans Memorial Highway, and the Iraq and Afghanistan War Veterans Memorial Highway in honor of veterans from the Vietnam War, Persian Gulf War, Iraq War, and War in Afghanistan.^[5]

Exit list

The entire route is in Berks County.

Location	mi[1]	km	Old exit [6]	New exit [6]	Destinations	Notes
Caernarvon Township	0.000	0.000	–	–	I-76 / Penna Turnpike – Harrisburg, Philadelphia	Southbound only; Morgantown Interchange on I-76 / Penna Turnpike (Exit 298)
	0.201	0.323	1A	1	PA 10 to PA 23 – Morgantown, Beckersville	Split into exits 1A and 1B northbound, Last free exit southbound
	1.275	2.052	1B	2	PA 10 / PA 23 – Honey Brook	Southbound exit and northbound entrance; exit ramps occupy the former routing of I-176
Robeson–Cumru township line	7.884	12.688	2	7	PA 10 to PA 568 – Green Hills
Cumru Township	10.751	17.302	3	10	PA 724 – Shillington, Birdsboro
	11.345	18.258	4	11	US 422 – Pottstown, Reading
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi       Incomplete access

See also

• U.S. Roads portal
• Pennsylvania portal

References

External links

Route map:

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Interstate 176.

• Interstate-Guide.com - Interstate 176