Twelve years after a stretch of U.S. Route 15 from Corning to the New York state line was designated as an interstate highway, another portion of that road through northern Pennsylvania is set for that conversion as well.
The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) announced a 62-mile section of Route 15 from Williamsport through Tioga County to the state line will officially be designated Interstate 99 on July 30.
The Federal Highway Administration granted the designation after determining the corridor meets all federal standards for interstate design, safety, and performance.
The section of Route 15 north of the state line was converted to an interstate in 2014.
“This designation from U.S. 15 to I-99 reflects decades of planning and hard work to make a significant investment in our future,” PennDOT Secretary Mike Carroll said in a news release. “I-99 strengthens the region’s transportation network by enhancing long-term safety, mobility, and economic opportunity throughout the region.”
Since 1984, PennDOT has been modernizing U.S. 15 into a continuous, limited-access highway, the agency said.
The improvements were delivered through 34 projects representing a $480 million investment, including new alignments, upgrades to shoulders, pavement, access points, and roadway geometry.
Updated signage is currently being installed along the 62‑mile corridor and will remain covered until July 30.
The I‑99 designation also improves regional connectivity by linking key routes, including I‑80 and I‑86, making travel more efficient for residents, visitors, and commercial carriers, PennDOT said.
In the long term, the upgraded corridor is expected to bolster local economies by attracting business investment and improving clarity for road users.
The new designation will also mean some rule changes — including weight limits — for the hauling industry. Road users and haulers can find more information online at pa.gov/NewI99.
This article originally appeared on Elmira Star-Gazette: U.S. Route 15 through Tioga County, Pa. set for interstate designation
Reporting by Jeff Murray, Elmira Star-Gazette / Elmira Star-Gazette
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Jeff Murray, Elmira Star-Gazette | USA TODAY Network
