U.S. Route 220 Alternate

U.S. Route 220 Alternate
State	PA/MD
Type	US
Route	220 Alt.
Length mi	approx. value
Established	mid-20th century
Direction a	South
Terminus a	near Cumberland, Maryland
Direction b	North
Terminus b	near Williamsport, Pennsylvania
Counties	Allegany County; Bedford County; Blair County; Lycoming County

U.S. Route 220 Alternate is an alternate alignment of U.S. Route 220 serving regional traffic and connecting communities bypassed by the principal route. The corridor links historic towns, industrial centers, and transportation nodes while paralleling waterways and rail lines such as the Potomac River, Juniata River, and Pennsylvania Railroad. It interfaces with major corridors including Interstate 68, Interstate 99, and Pennsylvania Turnpike spurs.

Route description

The alignment begins near Cumberland, Maryland, adjacent to Interstate 68 and the Allegany County rail and canal corridors, then proceeds northeast through valleys framed by the Allegheny Mountains and ridgelines near Savage Mountain and Sideling Hill. The route intersects state routes linked to Frostburg, Maryland, Bedford, Pennsylvania, Altoona, Pennsylvania, and State College, Pennsylvania, and it parallels historic corridors such as the National Road and the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad. As it advances into Blair County, the corridor serves suburbs of Altoona, providing access to institutions and facilities including Penn State Altoona, Letterkenny Army Depot, and regional hospitals affiliated with University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. Northward, the alternate alignment negotiates the Susquehanna River watershed before terminating near Williamsport, Pennsylvania, a city known for the Little League World Series, connections to U.S. Route 15, and freight links to the Norfolk Southern Railway.

History

The corridor evolved from early turnpikes and plank roads tied to 19th-century commerce between Baltimore, Maryland and interior Pennsylvania markets including Harrisburg, Pennsylvania and Johnstown, Pennsylvania. In the early automotive era, sections were incorporated into the numbered highway system during the creation of the United States Numbered Highway System in the 1920s and were later redesignated to form an alternate routing to U.S. Route 220 as federal and state agencies such as the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation and Maryland State Highway Administration adjusted alignments to serve growing truck and commuter traffic. The postwar period saw improvements under programs influenced by legislation like the Federal-Aid Highway Act of 1956 and construction tied to interstate projects such as Interstate 70 and Interstate 80. Environmental reviews referencing the National Environmental Policy Act accompanied later widening and interchange projects near military, industrial, and educational sites including Letterkenny Army Depot and Penn State. Preservation efforts by historical societies in Bedford County and cultural organizations concerned with the National Road influenced some routing decisions and designation of scenic segments.

Major intersections

The alignment connects with multiple federal and state corridors, creating junctions that serve regional mobility and freight movements. Notable intersections include interchanges and at-grade junctions with Interstate 68 near Cumberland, Maryland, a major junction with U.S. Route 220 mainline near Bedford, Pennsylvania, intersections with U.S. Route 22 and U.S. Route 30 near Altoona, Pennsylvania, and northern connections to U.S. Route 15 and state highways approaching Williamsport, Pennsylvania. The corridor also interfaces with parkways and turnpike spurs tied to the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission network, rail freight sidings serving Norfolk Southern Railway and CSX Transportation, and local arterials leading to municipal centers such as Somerset, Pennsylvania and Frostburg, Maryland.

Special routes and spur designations

Over time, segments of the alternate corridor generated auxiliary and spur designations under state systems managed by entities like the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation and Maryland State Highway Administration. These include short connector routes serving industrial parks, military access spurs to Letterkenny Army Depot, business routes passing through central business districts of Altoona, and truck-designated routings to divert heavy vehicles around historic districts in Bedford and Williamsport. Local jurisdictions and metropolitan planning organizations such as the Altoona Metropolitan Planning Organization and Williamsport Metropolitan Planning Organization have proposed and maintained truck routes, business loops, and temporary detours coordinated with regional freight stakeholders including Conrail-era legacy operators and contemporary railroads.

Traffic and safety

Traffic volumes on the alternate alignment vary from low-density rural stretches within Bedford County to higher urbanized flows near Altoona, Pennsylvania and Williamsport, Pennsylvania. Freight movements tie to manufacturing and distribution centers linked to Interstate 99 and the Pennsylvania Turnpike, while commuter peaks correlate with employment at institutions such as Penn State Altoona and military shift changes at Letterkenny Army Depot. Safety initiatives have targeted high-crash intersections, employing countermeasures promoted by the Federal Highway Administration such as improved signage, rumble strips, intersection realignments, and roundabouts inspired by projects in nearby jurisdictions like Centre County, Pennsylvania and Blair County, Pennsylvania. Emergency response planning coordinates with county 911 centers, regional transit providers including Rider Transit systems, and state police units.

Future developments and projects

Planned and proposed projects along the corridor reflect multimodal priorities promoted by state and federal stakeholders including the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, Maryland Department of Transportation, and the Federal Highway Administration. Projects range from capacity upgrades and interchange reconstructions influenced by freight corridor studies to bridge rehabilitation programs that reference standards from the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials. Regional planning efforts tied to the Northcentral Pennsylvania Regional Planning and Development Commission and economic development authorities aim to improve freight access to intermodal terminals serving Norfolk Southern Railway and CSX Transportation while preserving scenic and historic resources associated with the National Road and Appalachian corridors. Funding mechanisms under consideration include federal INFRA and BUILD grant programs, state transportation improvement plans, and public-private partnerships with local industry stakeholders.

Category:U.S. Highways in Pennsylvania Category:U.S. Highways in Maryland