Interstate 99

Interstate 99 is a north–south auxiliary Interstate Highway located in central Pennsylvania. It serves as a high-speed corridor connecting the Altoona area with State College and points north toward the Southern Tier of New York. The route, which is largely concurrent with U.S. Route 220, was designated in 1998 through federal legislation spearheaded by Representative Bud Shuster. Its unique number, which violates the standard Interstate Highway System numbering grid, has been a subject of controversy and discussion among transportation officials.

Route description

The highway begins at a partial interchange with Interstate 80 near the community of Bald Eagle in Centre County, where it merges with US 220. It proceeds southward through the Bald Eagle Valley, passing near Tyrone and skirting the eastern edge of Altoona in Blair County. The route then traverses the rugged terrain of the Allegheny Mountains, passing through Huntingdon County and the Raystown Lake region. It continues south into Bedford County, where it currently terminates at an interchange with the US 30 expressway near Bedford. Notable features along the corridor include the Skytop Mountain area and crossings of the Franklin County line.

History

The push for a modern north-south highway in this corridor began in the 1960s, with efforts to upgrade US 220. The project gained significant momentum in the 1990s under the advocacy of powerful House Transportation Committee Chairman Bud Shuster. In 1998, a provision was inserted into the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century (TEA-21) by Senator Arlen Specter designating the US 220 corridor as Interstate 99, named the "Bud Shuster Highway." This designation was controversial as it broke the established pattern where Interstate numbers ending in '9' are reserved for circumferential beltways. The first section, from Interstate 80 to US 322, was signed in 2002, with subsequent segments opening southward over the following years.

Major intersections

From north to south, key junctions include its northern terminus at Interstate 80 in Bald Eagle. It intersects PA 150 near Port Matilda and meets US 322 and US 15 at a major interchange in Bellefonte. Farther south, it has interchanges with PA 453 serving Tyrone, and US 22 near Hollidaysburg. The route crosses PA 36 near East Freedom and intersects PA 869 and PA 164 in the Morrisons Cove area. It meets PA 26 near Loysburg and PA 31 near Everett before reaching its current southern terminus at US 30 east of Bedford.

Future

Plans exist to extend the highway south from Bedford to Meyersdale, ultimately connecting to Interstate 68 in Maryland near Frostburg. This extension, often referred to as the Southern Alleghenies planning corridor, would complete a continuous interstate link between Interstate 80 and Interstate 68. The project faces significant challenges, including high costs, complex engineering through the Allegheny Mountains, and environmental reviews. The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) and the Maryland Department of Transportation continue to study the corridor, with funding being a primary obstacle to construction.

Category:Interstate Highways in Pennsylvania Category:Transportation in Centre County, Pennsylvania Category:Transportation in Blair County, Pennsylvania