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Pennsylvania Route 512

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Pennsylvania Route 512 (PA 512) is a 26.1-mile-long (42.0 km) state route in Northampton County in the Lehigh Valley region in eastern Pennsylvania. The southern terminus is at U.S. Route 22 (US 22) north of Bethlehem in Hanover Township. The northern terminus is at PA 611 in Upper Mount Bethel Township. The route heads north from US 22 to Bath, where it intersects PA 248. From here, PA 512 continues northeast and intersects PA 946 in Moorestown before it reaches an interchange with the PA 33 freeway in Wind Gap. The route heads east through the northern Northampton County boroughs of Wind Gap, Pen Argyl, Bangor, and East Bangor, intersecting PA 191 in Bangor. It then continues east to PA 611.

Pennsylvania Route 512 marker
Pennsylvania Route 512
Map
Route information
Maintained by PennDOT
Length26.105 mi[1] (42.012 km)
Major junctions
South end US 22 in Hanover Township
Major intersections PA 248 in Bath
PA 946 in Moore Township
PA 33 near Wind Gap
PA 191 in Bangor
North end PA 611 in Upper Mount Bethel Township
Location
CountryUnited States
StatePennsylvania
CountiesNorthampton
Highway system
← PA 507→ PA 513
← US 202PA 202→ PA 203
← PA 701PA 702→ PA 706

PA 512 was originally designated by 1928 to run from PA 12 (now PA 191) in Hecktown north to PA 12 in Wind Gap. In the 1930s, the southern terminus was realigned to US 22/PA 12 at Center Street and Elizabeth Avenue in Bethlehem, with PA 946 replacing the route between Hecktown and Moorestown. The road between Wind Gap and Bangor was originally designated PA 202 in 1928 before being renumbered to PA 702 in 1935 to avoid conflict with US 202.

The section of road between Bangor and Mount Bethel was originally designated part of US 611 in 1926 before becoming part of PA 712 in the 1930s following the relocation of US 611 to the east. The PA 702 and PA 712 designations were both removed in the 1940s. In 1976, PA 512 was extended north to its current terminus along the former alignments of PA 702 and PA 712. Also, the southern terminus was cut back to its current location.

Route description

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PA 512 northbound past PA 248 in Bath

PA 512 begins at an interchange with the US 22 freeway in Hanover Township in Northampton County, which is in the Lehigh Valley, heading north on four-lane divided Bath Pike. South of this interchange, Bath Pike continues as State Route 3011, an unsigned quadrant route, towards Bethlehem, where it becomes Center Street.

From the US 22 interchange, the route runs north through commercial areas with some residential development, becoming an undivided road. The road heads into East Allen Township and narrows to two lanes, continuing through agricultural areas with some homes as Beth-Bath Pike. PA 512 crosses the Monocacy Creek and Norfolk Southern's Cement Secondary, passing through Clyde. Farther north, the route runs through commercial areas to the east of a cement plant before it enters the borough of Bath upon crossing the Norfolk Southern railroad tracks again.

The road then becomes South Walnut Street and passes businesses before it becomes lined with homes. PA 512 intersects Main Street in Bath and becomes North Walnut Street, soon reaching a junction with PA 248, which provides access to PA 329 and PA 987 to the west. The route continues through residential areas with some businesses in the northern part of the borough as a three-lane road with two northbound lanes and one southbound lane.[2][3]

PA 512 leaves Bath and becomes Moorestown Drive, briefly passing through East Allen Township before it continues into Moore Township. The road narrows to two lanes and runs through a mix of farms, woods, and residences, passing to the east of a golf course and serving Chapman Quarries. The route curves northeast and continues through rural areas with some residential subdivisions before it reaches an intersection with PA 946 in Moorestown. PA 512 continues through rural areas with homes and crosses into Bushkill Township, where the name changes to Moorestown Road. The road continues northeast through a mix of farmland and woodland with a few homes, crossing Bushkill Creek and passing through Clearfield. Farther northeast, the route enters Plainfield Township and passes through commercial areas before it reaches an interchange with the PA 33 freeway, where the route is briefly a four-lane divided highway.

Past this interchange, PA 512 narrows to two lanes and intersects Sullivan Trail, at which point it turns north and enters the borough of Wind Gap. The route becomes South Broadway, a three-lane road with a center left-turn lane that passes businesses. Farther north, the road narrows to two lanes and passes homes along with a few businesses, becoming North Broadway at the Center Street intersection. A block later, PA 512 turns east onto Park Avenue for a block before it heads northeast along North Lehigh Avenue, passing residences.[2][3]

 
PA 512 northbound in Plainfield Township

The route heads out of Wind Gap and crosses back into Plainfield Township, where it becomes Pennsylvania Avenue and heads through forested areas with some residential, commercial, and industrial development. The road enters the borough of Pen Argyl as West Pennsylvania Avenue and is lined with homes along with a few businesses, becoming East Pennsylvania Avenue at the Robinson Avenue intersection. PA 512 turns north onto East Main Street and curves northeast past a mix of homes and businesses. The route heads east onto Blue Valley Drive and leaves Pen Argyl for Plainfield Township, where it heads northeast through West Bangor. The road enters Washington Township and runs southeast through commercial areas. PA 512 continues east and heads into the borough of Bangor, where it becomes Market Street and is lined with homes.

In downtown Bangor, the route crosses PA 191 and Martins Creek before it turns south on Main Street for a block and then northeast along Erdman Street, crossing Norfolk Southern's Portland Secondary. PA 512 heads northeast along Bill Scott Boulevard through forested areas with some developments, running along the east side of the railroad tracks. The road enters the borough of East Bangor and heads east into residential areas as West Central Avenue. The route crosses Broad Street and becomes East Central Avenue, passing more homes. PA 512 turns northeast and enters Upper Mount Bethel Township, where it becomes Mt. Bethel Highway and runs through wooded areas with some farm fields and development. The route heads east and reaches its northern terminus at an intersection with PA 611.[2][3]

History

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Pennsylvania Route 202
LocationWind Gap – Bangor
Existed1928–1935
Pennsylvania Route 702
LocationWind Gap – Bangor
ExistedApril 1935[4]–1940s

When routes were first legislated in Pennsylvania in 1911, what is now PA 512 was legislated as part of Legislative Route 165 between Wind Gap and Bangor and Legislative Route 166 between Bangor and Upper Mount Bethel Township.[5] When the U.S. Highway System was established in 1926, the section of paved road between Bangor and Mount Bethel was designated as part of US 611, which ran concurrent with PA 2.

The road between Wind Gap and Bangor was also a paved road.[6] By 1928, the roadway between Bethlehem and Bath existed as a paved road.[7] PA 512 was first designated in 1928 to run from PA 12 (now PA 191) in Hecktown north to PA 12 (Sullivan Trail) in Wind Gap, heading north to Moorestown before continuing northeast along its current alignment to Wind Gap. PA 512 was then unpaved with the portion of road between PA 12 and PA 45 (now PA 248) under construction.

In 1928, PA 202 was designated to run from PA 12 (Broadway) in Wind Gap east to US 611 (Main Street) in Bangor along a paved road. Also, the concurrent PA 2 designation was removed from US 611 by this time.[8][9]

In the 1930s, PA 512 was realigned at Moorestown to head south to US 22/PA 12 (Elizabeth Avenue) in Bethlehem, following its current alignment south and entering Bethlehem on Center Street.[10][11] A portion of PA 946 was designated on the former alignment of PA 512 between Hecktown and Moorestown, which by then had been entirely paved.[10]

PA 202 was renumbered to PA 702 in April 1935[4] in order to avoid duplication with US 202, which was designated in Pennsylvania in 1934.[10][12] Also, the portion of road between Bangor and Mount Bethel became the northern segment of PA 712 following the rerouting of US 611 to a different alignment to the east.[10]

The PA 702 and PA 712 designations were decommissioned in the 1940s.[13]

In 1976, the northern terminus of PA 512 was extended from Wind Gap east to PA 611, following the former sections of PA 702 and PA 712. Also, the southern terminus was cut back to its current location at the interchange with the US 22 freeway.[14]

Major intersections

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The entire route is in Northampton County.

Locationmi[1]kmDestinationsNotes
Hanover Township0.0000.000  US 22 (Lehigh Valley Thruway) – Allentown, EastonInterchange; southern terminus; roadway continues south of US 22 as Bath Pike and then Center Street in Bethlehem
Bath4.5567.332  
  PA 248 (East Northampton Street) to PA 987 – Lehighton, Easton
Moore Township8.53113.729  PA 946 (Community Drive/Daniels Road) – Klecknersville, Nazareth
Plainfield Township14.04022.595  PA 33 – Easton, Bethlehem, StroudsburgInterchange
Bangor20.48932.974  PA 191 (1st Street) – Stroudsburg, Nazareth
Upper Mount Bethel Township26.10542.012  PA 611 (North Delaware Drive) – Portland, Stroudsburg, EastonNorthern terminus
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi

PA 512 Truck

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Pennsylvania Route 512 Truck
LocationBath, Pennsylvania
Existed2013–2016

Pennsylvania Route 512 Truck was a truck route around a weight-restricted bridge over the Bushkill Creek on which trucks over 35 tons and combination loads over 40 tons were prohibited. The route followed PA 946, Cherry Hill Road, Noff Road, and Bushkill Center Road. It was signed in 2013, but it was removed in 2016 following a bridge repair.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b Bureau of Maintenance and Operations (January 2015). Roadway Management System Straight Line Diagrams (Report) (2015 ed.). Pennsylvania Department of Transportation. Retrieved June 30, 2015.
  2. ^ a b c "overview of Pennsylvania Route 512" (Map). Google Maps. Retrieved January 22, 2015.
  3. ^ a b c Northampton County, Pennsylvania Highway Map (PDF) (Map). PennDOT. 2014. Archived from the original (PDF) on November 6, 2011. Retrieved January 22, 2015.
  4. ^ a b "State to Change Route Numbers". The Plain Speaker. Hazleton, Pennsylvania. April 18, 1935. p. 12. Retrieved January 13, 2016 – via Newspapers.com.  
  5. ^ Map of Pennsylvania Showing State Highways (PDF) (Map). Pennsylvania Department of Highways. 1911. Archived from the original (PDF) on July 5, 2011. Retrieved January 1, 2014.
  6. ^ Pennsylvania Highway Map (eastern side) (Map). Gulf Oil. 1926. Retrieved December 26, 2007.
  7. ^ Pennsylvania Highway Map (Philadelphia Metro) (Map). Gulf Oil. 1928. Retrieved November 8, 2007.
  8. ^ Map of Pennsylvania (Map). Pennsylvania Department of Highways. 1928. Retrieved May 7, 2015.
  9. ^ Tourist Map of Pennsylvania (PDF) (Map). Pennsylvania Department of Highways. 1930. Archived from the original (PDF) on July 5, 2011. Retrieved January 1, 2014.
  10. ^ a b c d Official Road Map of Pennsylvania (PDF) (Map). Pennsylvania Department of Highways. 1940. Archived from the original (PDF) on July 5, 2011. Retrieved June 24, 2010.
  11. ^ Official Road Map of Pennsylvania (back) (PDF) (Map). Pennsylvania Department of Highways. 1940. Archived from the original (PDF) on July 18, 2011. Retrieved January 1, 2014.
  12. ^ "U.S. 202 - Maine to Delaware - General Highway History - Highway History - Federal Highway Administration". Federal Highway Administration (FHWA). Retrieved August 26, 2019.
  13. ^ Official Road Map of Pennsylvania (PDF) (Map). Pennsylvania Department of Highways. 1950. Archived from the original (PDF) on July 5, 2011. Retrieved January 1, 2014.
  14. ^ General Highway Map Northampton County, Pennsylvania (PDF) (Map). Pennsylvania Department of Transportation. 1976. Archived from the original (PDF) on August 31, 2011. Retrieved January 22, 2015.
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