Bayfront Connector
| |
|---|---|
| Route information | |
| Maintained by PennDOT | |
| Length: | 5.3 mi[1] (8.6 km) |
| Existed: | 2005 – present |
| Component highways: |
 PA 290 from Erie to Harborcreek Township PA 430 in Harborcreek Township |
| Major junctions | |
| West end: |
 PA 5 / PA 290 in Erie |
 US 20 in Erie PA 430 in Harborcreek Township | |
| East end: |
 I-90 in Harborcreek Township |
| Highway system | |
The Bayfront Connector is a 5.34-mile (8.59 km),[a] four-lane expressway that connects Interstate 90 to downtown Erie, Pennsylvania.
Route description
At the intersection of East 12th Street, the Bayfront Parkway becomes the Bayfront Connector and picks up the concurrency with Pennsylvania Route 290. After it bridges the railroad tracks owned by CSX, the Connector parallels the tracks for Norfolk Southern. The Connector intersects East 38th Street at angle, prohibiting turns onto 38th Street. After the intersection of Shannon Road, the Bayfront Connector stops paralleling railroad tracks and crosses Fourmile Creek over the Wintergreen Gorge Bridge. The concurrency for Pennsylvania Route 430 begins at the intersection with Station Road. The entrance to Penn State Erie is on the Connector at the intersection for Hannon Road and Knowledge Parkway. The Bayfront Connector terminates, along with PA 290, at the I-90 interchange, while PA 430 continues as Station Road.
History
Starting in 1962, a number of studies were done to address the traffic congestion problems on the east side of the city of Erie and the adjacent communities of Harborcreek Township, Lawrence Park and Wesleyville.[2] The proposed highway was called the "East Side Access Highway". On March 3, 1997, the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) issued a Record of Decision authorizing the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) to "proceed to final design, right-of-way acquisition and construction".[2]
The construction of the Connector was broken up into different segments. The first segment, between Interstate 90 and McClelland Avenue, opened on November 21, 2003.[3] The segment between McClelland Avenue and Broad Street was opened on November 4, 2004.[4] The last section of the Bayfront Connector, from Broad Street to East 12th Street was opened on June 17, 2005 and was officially dedicated on June 24.[5][6] Construction of the Bayfront Connector cost $180 million.[6]
Major intersections
The entire route is in Erie County.
| Location | mi[1] | km | Destinations | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Erie | 0.00 | 0.00 | PA 5 / PA 290 (East 12th Street) / Bayfront Parkway | Western terminus of concurrency with PA 290. | |
| 1.05 | 1.69 | US 20 (Broad Street) | |||
| 2.43 | 3.91 | McClelland Avenue | |||
| 2.78 | 4.47 | East 38th Street | |||
| Harborcreek Township | 3.40 | 5.47 | Shannon Road | ||
| 4.37 | 7.03 | PA 430 (Station Road) / Jordan Road – Penn State Erie | Western terminus of concurrency with PA 430. | ||
| 5.16 | 8.30 | Hannon Road / Knowledge Parkway – Penn State Erie | |||
| 5.34 | 8.59 | I-90 – Erie, Buffalo | Eastern terminus of concurrency with PA 290 and PA 430. Exit 32 (I-90). | ||
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi
| |||||
See also
U.S. Roads portal
Pennsylvania portal
Erie portal
Notes
- a. ^ PennDOT lists the official meausurement of the Bayfront Connector as 6.2 miles (10.0 km) long.[7] The 0.9-mile (1.4 km) segment from the Bayfront Parkway to East 12th Street, which was built as part of the East Side Access Highway project, was counted as part of the Connector but is signed and designated as part of the Parkway.
References
- 1 2 Google (October 23, 2015). "Bayfront Connector" (Map). Google Maps. Google. Retrieved October 23, 2015.
- 1 2 "Project History". The Erie East Side Access Highway. PennDOT. 2003. Archived from the original on November 8, 2004. Retrieved May 26, 2009.
- ↑ Carroll, Jim (November 22, 2003). "Bayfront Connector segment opens". Erie Times-News. p. 4B.
- ↑ Carroll, Jim (November 4, 2004). "Connector nearly connected". Erie Times-News. p. 1B.
- ↑ Carroll, Jim (June 17, 2005). "Bayfront link finishes today". Erie Times-News. p. 1B.
- 1 2 Carroll, Jim (June 25, 2008). "Bayfront Connector dedicated". Erie Times-News. pp. 1B–3B.
- ↑ "New highway's length matter of who measures". Erie Times-News. June 25, 2005. p. 3B.
External links
- The Erie East Side Access Highway (PennDOT/FHWA), archived by Internet Archive