Pennsylvania Route 343
Encyclopedia
Pennsylvania Route 343 is an 8.21 miles (13.2 km) route between Lebanon, Pennsylvania
and Fredericksburg, Pennsylvania
. It begins at PA 72
and ends at Exit 6 of Interstate 78
. State Route 343 heads mostly through urbanized areas, with several rural areas also surrounding. There is a concurrency with U.S. Route 22
near the northern terminus.
State Route 343 has had a number of different realignments, most of them relating to the northern terminus of the highway. The highway originally terminated at an intersection with SR 443 in Lickdale, moved to end in the community of Bordnersville soon after. The highway was then extended along the local continuation to end at U.S. Route 22 at an intersection in Harpers Tavern. In 1963, State Route 343 was moved back to Lickdale, and seven years after, moved to its northern terminus, thirteen years after the construction of Interstate 78
.
. State Route 343 heads eastward along Maple Street, a highly urbanized city street. The route intersects with North 8th Street and North 7th Street, where it turns northward from Maple Street. The highway also passed the Mount Lebanon Cemetery, but there is no direct access to it. At the intersection with Cherry Street, State Route 343 enters the community of Reindeldville, located northeast of downtown Lebanon. The stretch in Reindeldville is not long, with the highway entering Sunset at an intersection with Kimmerlings Road and Kochenderfer Road. At the intersection with Mount Lebanon Road in Eustontown, State Route 343 left the urbanized region and into a more rural region of east-central Pennsylvania.
Still named North Seventh Street, State Route 343 heads northward, making a curve to the northwestern turn at Heffelfinger Road. At the intersection with Golf Road, the highway winds its way through the area of forests as South Pine Grove Street. The highway passes a nearby pond and the Freeport Mills Golf Course, just south of the community, Freeport Mills. A stream follows State Route 343 until the Pine Meadows Golf Course, where it turned eastward and crossed the highway. The highway begins to re-enter a more developed region, the town of Fredericksburg
. Passing the "firemen's park", State Route 343 passes through Sharksville, a local community. Just north of Sharksville, the highway intersects with U.S. Route 22
(the William Penn Highway
). The two highways become concurrent, and follow a trek to the northeast. South Pine Grove Road continues ahead of the intersection, without the state designation.
State Routes 22 and 343 head to the northeast, passing to the south of Fredericksburg. The highways work as a bypass around the city, entering Bethel Township at an intersection with East Main Street, a major thoroughfare in Fredericksburg. At a nearby park, State Route 343 turns off U.S. Route 22 and heads to the northeast. The final intersection along 343 is with Sherwin Williams Drive near the Cedar Hill Cemetery. After that intersection, State Route 343 approaches the interchange with Interstate 78
, intersecting with the eastbound off-ramp. After crossing over the interstate, State Route 343 terminates at an intersection with the westbound on-ramp. From there, the highway continues north as a locally-maintained road.
. The highway stayed intact for two years, until 1930, when the highway was extended a few miles to the community of Bordnersville, where it ended without another state highway. The highway then continued as a local highway.
The highway was paved from Fredericksburg to an intersection with Lancaster Street and from Lickdale to Bordnersville in 1932. In 1936, the Pennsylvania Department of Highways extended State Route 343 past Bordnersville and Lickdale, along the local road. This changed the northern terminus to an intersection with U.S. Route 22 (formerly the alignment of State Route 43) in Harper Tavern. This alignment remained intact for more than two decades. In 1963, even with the construction of Interstate 78 six years prior, State Route 343 was realigned once again by the Department of Highways. This time, Route 22 went from Harper Tavern back to Lickdale and the State Route 443 intersection. The highway remained intact for another seven years, and in 1970, State Route 343 was realigned for the final time, this time using its current alignment. The northern terminus is now at an eastbound interchange with Interstate 78.
Lebanon, Pennsylvania
Lebanon, formerly known as Steitztown, is a city in and the county seat of Lebanon County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 25,477 at the 2010 census, a 4.2% increase from the 2000 count of 24,461...
and Fredericksburg, Pennsylvania
Fredericksburg, Pennsylvania
Fredericksburg is the name of some places in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania:*Fredericksburg, Crawford County, Pennsylvania*Fredericksburg, Lebanon County, Pennsylvania...
. It begins at PA 72
Pennsylvania Route 72
Pennsylvania Route 72 is a long north–south state route located in southeast Pennsylvania. The southern terminus of the route is at U.S. Route 222 and Pennsylvania Route 272 in downtown Lancaster. The northern terminus is at Pennsylvania Route 443 north of Lickdale in Swatara Township.It...
and ends at Exit 6 of Interstate 78
Interstate 78
Interstate 78 is an Interstate Highway in the Northeast United States, running 144 miles from Interstate 81 northeast of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, through Allentown, Pennsylvania, and western and northern New Jersey to the Holland Tunnel and Lower Manhattan in New York City.I-78 is a major road...
. State Route 343 heads mostly through urbanized areas, with several rural areas also surrounding. There is a concurrency with U.S. Route 22
U.S. Route 22
U.S. Route 22 is a west–east route and is one of the original United States highways of 1926, running from Cincinnati, Ohio, at US 27, US 42, US 127, and US 52 to Newark, New Jersey, at U.S. Route 1/9 near the Newark Liberty International Airport.US 22 also carries the names of the William...
near the northern terminus.
State Route 343 has had a number of different realignments, most of them relating to the northern terminus of the highway. The highway originally terminated at an intersection with SR 443 in Lickdale, moved to end in the community of Bordnersville soon after. The highway was then extended along the local continuation to end at U.S. Route 22 at an intersection in Harpers Tavern. In 1963, State Route 343 was moved back to Lickdale, and seven years after, moved to its northern terminus, thirteen years after the construction of Interstate 78
Interstate 78 in Pennsylvania
Interstate 78 is an east–west route stretching from Union Township, Lebanon County, Pennsylvania to New York City. In the U.S. state of Pennsylvania, I-78 runs for about 77 miles in Pennsylvania, from the western terminus at Interstate 81 to New Jersey state line; I-78 continues into New...
.
Route description
State Route 343 begins at an intersection with State Route 72, near the Northwest Elementary School in LebanonLebanon, Pennsylvania
Lebanon, formerly known as Steitztown, is a city in and the county seat of Lebanon County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 25,477 at the 2010 census, a 4.2% increase from the 2000 count of 24,461...
. State Route 343 heads eastward along Maple Street, a highly urbanized city street. The route intersects with North 8th Street and North 7th Street, where it turns northward from Maple Street. The highway also passed the Mount Lebanon Cemetery, but there is no direct access to it. At the intersection with Cherry Street, State Route 343 enters the community of Reindeldville, located northeast of downtown Lebanon. The stretch in Reindeldville is not long, with the highway entering Sunset at an intersection with Kimmerlings Road and Kochenderfer Road. At the intersection with Mount Lebanon Road in Eustontown, State Route 343 left the urbanized region and into a more rural region of east-central Pennsylvania.
Fredericksburg, Lebanon County, Pennsylvania
Fredericksburg is a census-designated place in Lebanon County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 987 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Fredericksburg is located at ....
. Passing the "firemen's park", State Route 343 passes through Sharksville, a local community. Just north of Sharksville, the highway intersects with U.S. Route 22
U.S. Route 22 in Pennsylvania
U.S. Route 22 is an east–west route stretching from Cincinnati, Ohio in the west to Newark, New Jersey in the east. In Pennsylvania, the route runs for between the West Virginia state line at Washington County, where it is a limited-access expressway-grade route through the western suburbs...
(the William Penn Highway
William Penn Highway
The William Penn Highway was an auto trail in the United States, generally running from Pittsburgh east to New York City. It served as the eastern end of the Pikes Peak Ocean-to-Ocean Highway. The William Penn Highway Association of Pennsylvania was organized March 27, 1916 to promote a road...
). The two highways become concurrent, and follow a trek to the northeast. South Pine Grove Road continues ahead of the intersection, without the state designation.
State Routes 22 and 343 head to the northeast, passing to the south of Fredericksburg. The highways work as a bypass around the city, entering Bethel Township at an intersection with East Main Street, a major thoroughfare in Fredericksburg. At a nearby park, State Route 343 turns off U.S. Route 22 and heads to the northeast. The final intersection along 343 is with Sherwin Williams Drive near the Cedar Hill Cemetery. After that intersection, State Route 343 approaches the interchange with Interstate 78
Interstate 78 in Pennsylvania
Interstate 78 is an east–west route stretching from Union Township, Lebanon County, Pennsylvania to New York City. In the U.S. state of Pennsylvania, I-78 runs for about 77 miles in Pennsylvania, from the western terminus at Interstate 81 to New Jersey state line; I-78 continues into New...
, intersecting with the eastbound off-ramp. After crossing over the interstate, State Route 343 terminates at an intersection with the westbound on-ramp. From there, the highway continues north as a locally-maintained road.
History
State Route 343 was assigned in the mass numbering of state legislative routes in Pennsylvania during 1928. The highway then ran from the southern terminus in Lebanon, which was at the time, an intersection with U.S. Route 22. At Fredericksburg, the intersection with US 22 was then an intersection with State Route 43. There was no concurrency, and instead, the highway turned to the northeast and into Lickdale. There it terminated at an intersection with State Route 443Pennsylvania Route 443
Pennsylvania Route 443 is a long east–west state highway in the US state of Pennsylvania. Unlike other state highways, PA 443 terminates at not a traffic route at its west end, but at Front Street, formerly U.S. Route 22 and U.S. Route 322 and presently Quadrant Route 3009, in the...
. The highway stayed intact for two years, until 1930, when the highway was extended a few miles to the community of Bordnersville, where it ended without another state highway. The highway then continued as a local highway.
The highway was paved from Fredericksburg to an intersection with Lancaster Street and from Lickdale to Bordnersville in 1932. In 1936, the Pennsylvania Department of Highways extended State Route 343 past Bordnersville and Lickdale, along the local road. This changed the northern terminus to an intersection with U.S. Route 22 (formerly the alignment of State Route 43) in Harper Tavern. This alignment remained intact for more than two decades. In 1963, even with the construction of Interstate 78 six years prior, State Route 343 was realigned once again by the Department of Highways. This time, Route 22 went from Harper Tavern back to Lickdale and the State Route 443 intersection. The highway remained intact for another seven years, and in 1970, State Route 343 was realigned for the final time, this time using its current alignment. The northern terminus is now at an eastbound interchange with Interstate 78.