U.S. Route 202 in Pennsylvania

Delaware County

US 202 enters Pennsylvania from Delaware in Bethel Township, Delaware County, heading north on four-lane divided Wilmington-West Chester Pike. The road soon crosses into Concord Township and continues past commercial development, coming to an intersection with the western terminus of PA 491 in the community of Johnsons Corners. Past this intersection, the route splits into a one-way pair carrying two lanes in each direction and heads northwest past businesses and some homes, coming to a junction with Smithbridge Road in the community of Elam. Both directions of US 202 rejoin and the route heads north as a four-lane divided highway into Chadds Ford Township, where it becomes a five-lane road with a center left-turn lane and runs through more commercial areas. The road passes through the community of Brandywine Summit and becomes a four-lane divided highway again, curving northwest and running along the border between Chadds Ford Township to the southwest and Concord Township to the northeast. The route comes to an intersection with US 1/US 322 (Baltimore Pike) in the community of Painters Crossroads, where US 322 turns northwest for a concurrency with US 202. US 202/US 322 heads northwest along a four-lane divided highway between businesses to the southwest and an office park to the northeast. The road enters a mix of fields and commercial development and fully enters Chadds Ford Township, running a short distance to the west of the border with Thornbury Township. The two routes pass to the west of a residential development before reaching an intersection with Dilworthtown Road.

Chester County

Upon crossing Dilworthtown Road, US 202/US 322 enters Birmingham Township in Chester County and continues northwest along four-lane divided Wilmington Pike past businesses a short distance west of the Thornbury Township border. The road crosses into Thornbury Township and passes between suburban residential neighborhoods. The two routes head into business areas and reach an intersection with PA 926 in the community of Darlington Corner. Upon crossing PA 926, US 202/US 322 heads into Westtown Township and runs between farmland to the west and wooded residential neighborhoods to the east. The road runs past more homes and commercial establishments, coming to a jughandle-controlled intersection at Skiles Boulevard. Past here, two routes head north-northwest through wooded areas of homes and businesses.

US 202/US 322 comes to a trumpet interchange with the south end of the West Chester Bypass, which bypasses the borough of West Chester to the east. At this point, US 202/US 322 head northeast onto the four-lane divided West Chester Bypass into West Goshen Township, while US 322 Bus. continues north on South High Street into West Chester. US 202/US 322 follow the bypass past industrial parks to an at-grade intersection with South Matlack Street, at which point the bypass becomes a four-lane freeway. The highway curves north and passes over the West Chester Railroad. Past this, the freeway comes to a diamond interchange at Westtown Road. US 202/US 322 continues north near residential neighborhoods and reaches an interchange with PA 3. Following this, the two routes come to an interchange serving Paoli Pike. The freeway continues near residential and commercial development before coming to a northbound exit and southbound entrance where US 322 splits from US 202 to continue along the two-lane West Chester Bypass to the north of West Chester.

Past the US 322 split, US 202 heads north as a four-lane freeway near business parks and passes to the west of Brandywine Airport, at which point it comes to a northbound exit and southbound entrance at the southern terminus of the PA 100 freeway. The route heads north-northeast near more business parks before it runs near wooded neighborhoods and comes to a diamond interchange at Boot Road. Following this, the freeway crosses into East Goshen Township and curves to the north-northwest, entering West Whiteland Township and passing through more wooded areas with nearby homes and commercial development. US 202 bends to the northeast and comes to a bridge over Amtrak's Philadelphia to Harrisburg Main Line before it reaches an interchange with US 30 and the eastern terminus of US 30 Bus. at Lincoln Highway. At this interchange, US 30 heads west on a freeway and east on at-grade Lincoln Highway while US 30 Bus. heads west along Lincoln Highway. From here, the route widens to six lanes and crosses into East Whiteland Township. The highway passes to the northwest of the community of Frazer, running through a mix of fields, woods, and residential and commercial development. The freeway passes over the Chester Valley Trail before it comes to the PA 401 exit. After this interchange, the route bends east and heads through wooded areas.

US 202 comes to an interchange with PA 29 in a commercial area to the south of the Great Valley Corporate Center and the Penn State Great Valley Campus. Following this, the freeway continues east-northeast near commercial development before crossing into Tredyffrin Township and running through wooded areas with nearby residential neighborhoods, with the Chester Valley Trail parallel to the south. Farther east, the route comes to a northbound exit and southbound entrance at Swedesford Road. US 202 curves northeast and runs near business parks, curving east to reach an interchange at Chesterbrook Boulevard south of the community of Chesterbrook. A short distance later, the freeway has a southbound exit to southbound PA 252 and northbound entrance from northbound PA 252. The route heads east, with PA 252 closely parallel to the south, between residential areas to the north and business areas to the south. US 202 comes to an interchange serving PA 252 and North Valley Forge Road, with PA 252 heading north away from US 202. The freeway is paralleled with Swedesford Road as a frontage road on each side and the Chester Valley Trail to the south, coming to a northbound exit providing access to West Valley Road. Following this, the frontage roads end and the route runs east-northeast past office parks with the trail to the south. The freeway comes to a northbound exit providing access to eastbound I-76 (Schuylkill Expressway) and Devon Park Drive and a southbound entrance from Swedesford Road. A short distance later, US 202 comes to an interchange with the eastern terminus of the US 422 freeway. This interchange also has access from southbound US 202 to Swedesford Road from the ramp to US 422 westbound.

Montgomery County

Past the US 422 interchange, the US 202 freeway enters Upper Merion Township in Montgomery County and continues past office parks and businesses south of the King of Prussia Town Center, with the southbound ramp to westbound US 422 and Swedesford Road parallel to the southbound lanes. The freeway comes to a modified cloverleaf interchange with I-76 (Schuylkill Expressway). This interchange provides all connections between I-76 and US 202 except between northbound US 202 and eastbound I-76, which is provided by a separate ramp further south. In addition, the ramp from southbound US 202 to westbound US 422 and Swedesford Road splits within this interchange, which also acts as a collector/distributor road for the I-76 interchange. I-76 heads west to provide access to the Pennsylvania Turnpike at the western terminus of I-276 at the Valley Forge interchange. Following this interchange, the US 202 freeway ends and the route becomes six-lane divided at-grade West Dekalb Pike, heading into King of Prussia. The route heads into business areas and intersects Gulph Road, at which point it passes southeast of the King of Prussia Mall. Following the Allendale Road intersection, the divided road narrows to four lanes and runs between commercial establishments to the northwest and residential neighborhoods to the southeast, coming to a bridge over the Pennsylvania Turnpike (I-276). US 202 continues southeast of a neighborhood and runs past more businesses, reaching an intersection with Henderson Road. From here, the route becomes East Dekalb Pike and runs through more commercial areas, crossing an abandoned railroad line and bending to the north-northeast.

US 202 splits into a one-way pair utilizing two-way roads, with the northbound direction turning east to follow four-lane divided East Dekalb Pike while southbound US 202 follows the four-lane divided Bridgeport Bypass. Northbound US 202 heads northeast into the borough of Bridgeport and becomes two-lane undivided Dekalb Street, passing over SEPTA's Norristown High Speed Line north of the DeKalb Street station before heading past residences and a few businesses. The northbound direction crosses an abandoned railroad line before it intersects PA 23 and widens to four lanes, coming to a bridge over Norfolk Southern's Harrisburg Line and running past more development. Southbound US 202 heads south into Bridgeport along the four-lane divided highway through wooded areas nearby commercial development, passing over the Harrisburg Line before coming to a southbound exit to PA 23 and a northbound entrance from Ross Road, with this interchange utilizing a portion of the incomplete Schuylkill Parkway freeway stub. Both directions of US 202 cross the Schuylkill River into the borough of Norristown. Northbound US 202 crosses the river on the Dekalb Veterans Memorial Bridge before it passes under SEPTA's Manayunk/Norristown Line and the Schuylkill River Trail east of the Norristown Transportation Center. Southbound US 202 passes under the Schuylkill River Trail before it heads onto the William F. Dannehower Memorial Bridge. The route passes over the Manayunk/Norristown Line before heading over the Schuylkill River. The route heads into West Norriton Township and passes over a Norfolk Southern line and wooded Barbadoes Island before heading over more of the river and into Bridgeport. From here, northbound US 202 crosses Lafayette Street and becomes one-way with two lanes of northbound traffic on Dekalb Street, passing businesses in the downtown area of Norristown, where it crosses Main Street. Southbound US 202 runs northeast along four-lane divided Markley Street through commercial areas, with the Manayunk/Norristown Line parallel to the west. Markley Street passes to the east of the Main Street station at Main Street, crosses under Airy Street, and heads to the east of the terminus of the Manayunk/Norristown Line at the Elm Street station at Elm Street. Markley Street narrows to a two-lane undivided road between Marshall and Elm streets. From here, US 202 continues northeast through urban residential areas with some businesses, following one-way, two-lane Dekalb Street northbound and two-way, two-lane Markley Street southbound. At the northern border of Norristown, southbound US 202 rejoins northbound US 202 at Dekalb Street by following two-lane undivided Johnson Highway northwest between Dekalb Street and Markley Street.

From here, US 202 heads northeast into East Norriton Township along two-lane undivided Dekalb Pike, passing through suburban residential neighborhoods, passing through the community of Grand View Heights. The road heads into business areas and passes to the southeast of Suburban Community Hospital, widening into a four-lane divided highway and coming to an intersection with Germantown Pike. The route becomes a three-lane road with a center left-turn lane, narrowing to two lanes and running through wooded residential neighborhoods. US 202 comes to an intersection with Township Line Road in the community of Washington Square, at which point it crosses into Whitpain Township. The road gains a center turn lane and passes businesses, intersecting Swede Road. The route continues past a mix of residential and commercial development and comes to a bridge over the Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension (I-476). US 202 narrows to two lanes and continues past development, coming to an intersection with PA 73 in the community of Center Square. From here, the road runs past businesses before heading near residential subdivisions. The route passes to the northwest of Montgomery County Community College and gains a second northbound lane, crossing Morris Road in the community of Franklintown. US 202 becomes four lanes and passes residential development, soon narrowing to two lanes and crossing Township Line Road into Lower Gwynedd Township. The road passes through wooded areas with some homes, crossing the Wissahickon Creek. The route widens to four lanes and passes under SEPTA's Lansdale/Doylestown Line. US 202 curves north and crosses Sumneytown Pike in the community of Gwynedd. The road continues through wooded areas of development and turns northeast, running along the border between Upper Gwynedd Township to the northwest and Lower Gwynedd Township to the southeast as a five-lane road with a center left-turn lane.

US 202 becomes a four-lane divided highway and comes to an intersection with the southern terminus of US 202 Bus., where that route heads north on Dekalb Pike. Here, US 202 becomes a four-lane undivided expressway-grade parkway dedicated as the George A. Penglase Memorial Parkway. The US 202 parkway features landscaping and split-rail fences and is designated as a Pennsylvania Scenic Byway known as the U.S. Route 202 Parkway Scenic Byway; as such, billboards are banned. Soon after beginning, the parkway comes to an intersection with PA 63. Upon crossing PA 63, the US 202 parkway enters Montgomery Township and becomes paralleled by a multi-use trail called the US 202 Parkway Trail to the east of the road. The road winds north near residential and commercial development, intersecting Knapp Road. The route curves to the northeast and comes to an interchange with PA 309 (Bethlehem Pike), at which point the US 202 Parkway Trail crosses to the west side of the road. Following this, US 202 continues near development, crossing the trail again at the Costco Drive/Terrace Way intersection. The parkway reaches a junction with PA 463, at which point it narrows to two lanes. The road winds northeast through wooded areas with nearby residential neighborhoods, coming to an intersection with County Line Road.

Bucks County

Upon crossing County Line Road, the US 202 parkway enters Warrington Township in Bucks County, where it and the US 202 Parkway Trail wind north through a mix of fields and woods. The road curves northeast and comes to an intersection with PA 152. The route heads northeast near residential neighborhoods and some woodland, reaching a junction with Bristol Road. At this point, the trail heads to the west side of US 202 and the parkway continues into Doylestown Township, curving east and coming to a bridge over the Neshaminy Creek. The road heads through a mix of fields and woods and turns to the northeast. The route curves back to the east and runs through more woodland, coming to an intersection with Lower State Road. Here, the US 202 Parkway Trail crosses to the south. US 202 continues along the parkway past residential subdivisions and curves northeast. The road passes over New Britain Road, at which point the US 202 Parkway Trail ends. The parkway ends and US 202 transitions into a four-lane freeway, coming to a cloverleaf interchange with the PA 611 freeway, at which point US 202 Bus. returns to the route. The US 202 freeway bypasses the borough of Doylestown to the south and runs through wooded areas, coming to a diamond interchange with South Main Street. Here, the freeway passes through a small section of Doylestown before heading back into Doylestown Township and running through woodland with nearby residential development. The freeway section of US 202 ends at an intersection with East State Street.

At this point, US 202 becomes two-lane undivided Doylestown-Buckingham Pike, crossing PA 313 and entering Buckingham Township. The road heads east-northeast through a mix of wooded residential neighborhoods and some fields, bending to the east. The route continues through wooded areas with housing developments, curving to the northeast. US 202 heads east into the community of Buckingham, where it becomes a divided highway and comes to an intersection with PA 413. The road passes more development and becomes undivided, reaching a junction with PA 263. At this point, US 202 turns northeast for a concurrency with PA 263 on two-lane undivided York Road, heading through fields and woodland with some development and passing through the community of Holicong. Upon reaching the unincorporated village of Lahaska, the two routes split, with US 202 heading east-northeast onto Lower York Road. The road passes between Peddler's Village to the north and the Penn's Purchase Factory Stores to the south, crossing Street Road into Solebury Township. The route passes residential subdivisions before it heads east through a mix of fields and woods with some residential and commercial development. US 202 crosses Aquetong Road in the community of Aquetong and bends east-northeast through wooded areas. The road heads between residential areas to the north and businesses to the south, gaining a second southbound lane and then a median before coming to an intersection with the southern terminus of PA 179, which heads east into the borough of New Hope. Here, the route turns northeast and becomes a two-lane undivided road, passing near more development. US 202 comes to a northbound ramp to PA 32 and curves north, running through fields. The route turns east and becomes a four-lane freeway, coming to an interchange with PA 32 that has a southbound exit and entrance and a northbound entrance. US 202 has a southbound toll plaza and passes over the Delaware Canal and the Delaware River on the New Hope-Lambertville Toll Bridge, where it leaves Pennsylvania for New Jersey.

History

Before the creation of the U.S. highway system, the route had been part of Pennsylvania Route 29 between the Delaware border and West Chester and Pennsylvania Route 52 between West Chester and the New Jersey border. U.S. Route 122 was created in 1926, connecting US 22 at Whitehouse, New Jersey with Wilmington, Delaware. It became part of US 202 in 1934.

U.S. Route 202 had followed a different alignment in Chester County before the limited access alignment was built. The former alignment had US 202 exiting from US 322 and what was then the West Chester By-Pass onto Paoli Pike, then later overlapping US 30 in Paoli and then turning north on what later became PA 252.

The Piedmont Expressway

In the early 1960s, a four-lane freeway was proposed that would follow the US 202 corridor. The "Piedmont Expressway" was to be 59 miles (95 km) long, and would cost approximately $146 million. It was to serve as an outer beltway around the Philadelphia area, similar to the Capital Beltway that encircles Washington, D.C.

The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation divided the US 202 Expressway into the following eight sections:

202 Parkway

The 202 Parkway was proposed as an 8.5-mile (13.7 km) at-grade road that would run from Montgomeryville to Doylestown north of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The road has been at the front of discussion and controversies around the Bucks and Montgomeryville areas for almost forty years. It was originally planned as a four-lane expressway, but in 2005 the plan was changed to a two to four lane parkway after funding for the road was cut. Construction began in November 2008 on the portion between PA 63 and PA 463, with the portion from PA 463 to the interchange with PA 611 following in January 2010. Completion of the parkway was initially expected by late 2010 with a planned opening date in early 2011. The parkway was completed by the end of 2010 between PA 63 and PA 463; this section remained closed to traffic until the remainder of the road was complete, with the exception of a small portion near PA 463. The parkway opened to traffic at 2 p.m. on December 3, 2012 at a cost of $200 million. Lieutenant Governor Jim Cawley cut the ribbon to open the parkway. The parkway has four lanes from Pennsylvania Route 63 to Pennsylvania Route 463 and two lanes from PA 463 to Pennsylvania Route 611. It has 5-foot-wide (1.5 m) shoulders, a 12-foot-wide (3.7 m) walking path on the side, and a 40 mph (64 km/h) speed limit. The 202 Parkway has been designated as a Pennsylvania Scenic Byway; as such, billboards are banned.

Widening of US 202 between Sumneytown Pike and PA 63 to 5 lanes (4 travel lanes plus a center left-turn lane) is also underway as an adjunct to the 202 Parkway project, linking the southern end of the Parkway with the existing 4-lane highway below Sumneytown Pike. This section is expected to be completed by late fall 2012.

Prior to the opening of the parkway, US 202 followed DeKalb Pike, PA 309, Doylestown Road, Butler Avenue, State Street, and PA 611 between Montgomery Township and Doylestown.

Future

PennDOT has plans to widen two sections of U.S. Route 202, from U.S. Route 30 in East Whiteland Township to North Valley Road in Tredyffrin Township in Chester County, costing $175 million, and from Johnson Highway on the Norristown/East Norriton Township border to Pennsylvania Route 309 in Montgomeryville in Montgomery County, costing $130 million. Preliminary work on the US 30 to North Valley Road widening project involved the replacement of three bridges over US 202 between March 2007 and fall 2008, with an additional four bridges replaced or modified between February 2008 and summer 2010. Construction on the actual widening of both segments was expected to start in 2009. However, PennDOT indefinitely suspended construction on both segments due to need to use money to repair structurally deficient bridges. Work on widening and reconstructing US 202 from four to six lanes between the Mill Road overpass and North Valley Road began in April 2011, with completion in September 2014. Construction on widening and reconstructing the highway between US 30 and the Mill Road overpass commenced in April 2013 and was completed in August 2016.

PennDOT is planning on realigning the intersection where US 202 meets State Street at the north end of the freeway in Doylestown into a T-intersection with a traffic signal. Construction is expected to begin in March 2015 with completion in October of that year. In addition, the intersection with Mechanicsville Road in Buckingham Township will be realigned from a sharp angle to a T-intersection.