Pennsylvania Route 981

Pennsylvania Route 981 is a state highway located in Westmoreland County in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. It serves as a significant north-south connector between the Laurel Highlands region and the suburban areas near Greensburg. The route traverses a mix of rural, agricultural landscapes and passes through several boroughs and townships, providing a vital transportation link for local communities and access to major regional corridors.

Route description

Pennsylvania Route 981 begins at an intersection with PA 31 in the borough of Ligonier, within the scenic Laurel Highlands. It proceeds northward, concurrent with PA 711 for a short distance, before heading independently through Ligonier Township. The route continues north, passing through the borough of Latrobe, where it is known as Loyalhanna Street and intersects with PA 981 Truck. North of Latrobe, PA 981 enters Unity Township, running along the western edge of the Laurel Mountain ridge. It proceeds through the borough of New Stanton, where it has a major interchange with the Pennsylvania Turnpike (I-76) and intersects U.S. 119. The highway continues north into Hempfield Township, eventually terminating at a junction with U.S. 30 just east of downtown Greensburg, near the Westmoreland County Courthouse.

Major intersections

The entire route is in Westmoreland County. {| class="wikitable" |- ! Location ! mi ! km ! Destinations ! Notes |- | Ligonier | 0.000 | 0.000 | PA 31 (Main Street) / PA 711 south | Southern terminus; southern end of PA 711 concurrency |- | Ligonier Township | 1.2 | 1.9 | PA 711 north | Northern end of PA 711 concurrency |- | Latrobe | 9.2 | 14.8 | PA 982 (Jefferson Street) | |- | Unity Township | 13.5 | 21.7 | PA 819 (Beatty County Road) | |- | New Stanton | 19.8 | 31.9 | US 119 (New Stanton Boulevard) | |- | style="background:#ddffdd;"| New Stanton | style="background:#ddffdd;"| 20.1 | style="background:#ddffdd;"| 32.3 | style="background:#ddffdd;"| Pennsylvania Turnpike / I-76 – Pittsburgh, Harrisburg | style="background:#ddffdd;"| Exit 75 (Pennsylvania Turnpike) |- | Hempfield Township | 25.2 | 40.6 | US 30 (Lincoln Highway) | Northern terminus |- |}

History

The alignment of what is now PA 981 was originally a series of local roads connecting the communities in central Westmoreland County. With the creation of the Pennsylvania State Highway System in the early 20th century, the route was gradually incorporated and improved. It was designated as part of PA 71 for a period before being renumbered to its current designation. Significant modernization occurred in the mid-20th century, particularly with the construction of the Pennsylvania Turnpike interchange near New Stanton in the 1950s, which enhanced its role as a feeder route. The bypass routing for PA 981 Truck around Latrobe was established later to alleviate traffic congestion in the borough's central business district.

Special routes

A single special route is associated with Pennsylvania Route 981. * Pennsylvania Route 981 Truck is a truck bypass around the borough of Latrobe. It follows a signed detour using PA 982, PA 819, and U.S. 30, allowing commercial vehicles to avoid the narrower streets and tighter turns of the main route through downtown Latrobe. This routing passes near the Arnold Palmer Regional Airport and the Saint Vincent College campus.

Category:State highways in Pennsylvania