Pennsylvania Route 576, the Southern Beltway, is a partially completed highway in the southern suburbs of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States. Upon completion it will serve as a southern beltway around the metro Pittsburgh area from the Pittsburgh International Airport to the historic Steel Valley of the Monongahela River.
The first section of the highway from Interstate 376 (former PA 60) near Pittsburgh International Airport to U.S. Route 22 opened on October 11, 2006 at 3 p.m. Construction on two additional segments of the beltway that will link US 22 to Interstate 79 and PA Turnpike 43 is pending. Federal approval has been given for both segments. On December 21, 2012, the PTC announced that sections between U.S. Route 22 and I-79 will proceed, with completion projected to occur sometime in 2020. The section of the route between US 22 and I-79 will be the first part of the Pennsylvania Turnpike System to implement all-electronic tolling.
Although PA 576 runs north–south between I-376 and US 22, the route is signed as east–west to reflect the routing that the completed beltway will take.
Like the Mon–Fayette Expressway, the Southern Beltway will have no direct connection to the Pennsylvania Turnpike's mainline despite being built and maintained by the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission. (Both the tolled section of Interstate 376 and the tolled section of Pennsylvania Route 66 as well as the Northeast Extension have direct connections to the Turnpike's mainline.) Both highways, however, will have indirect connections with the Turnpike's mainline via Interstate 376.
Read more about Pennsylvania Route 576: Route Description, Tolls, Future, Exit List, See Also
Famous quotes containing the words pennsylvania and/or route:
“The discovery of Pennsylvania’s coal and iron was the deathblow to Allaire. The works were moved to Pennsylvania so hurriedly that for years pianos and the larger pieces of furniture stood in the deserted houses.”
—For the State of New Jersey, U.S. public relief program (1935-1943)
“But however the forms of family life have changed and the number expanded, the role of the family has remained constant and it continues to be the major institution through which children pass en route to adulthood.”
—Bernice Weissbourd (20th century)