A view of Interstate 81 heading north as seen from the Lockwillow Avenue overpass in Pennsylvania.
Interstate 81 is a major highway that runs north and south. In Pennsylvania, it is called the American Legion Memorial Highway and stretches for about 232 miles. It starts at the border with Maryland near a town called Greencastle and ends near the border with New York close to a place called Hallstead.
The highway passes through several important towns and cities. It goes by Chambersburg and Carlisle before reaching Harrisburg, the capital of Pennsylvania. After Harrisburg, the road goes up into the Pocono Mountains and through a place called the Wyoming Valley before leaving the state.
This highway is very important because it is the longest north-south highway in Pennsylvania. It helps people travel between many different places in the state and beyond. For the whole route of Interstate 81, you can read more here. You might also be interested in the Capital Beltway around Harrisburg here.
Route description
I-81 northbound in Paxtonia northeast of Harrisburg
I-81 enters Pennsylvania at the Maryland state line, about 13 miles south of Chambersburg. It meets U.S. Route 30 in Chambersburg and connects to the Pennsylvania Turnpike near Carlisle through a stretch called the "Miracle Mile," which has many services like restaurants and gas stations. I-81 continues east, passing near Harrisburg, the state capital, and through areas such as Hershey and Fort Indiantown Gap.
I-81 northbound approaching Central Scranton Expressway (now President Biden Expressway) in Scranton
A toll highway along the path of today’s I-81 in Pennsylvania was planned in the 1950s. The part from Scranton to the New York border was meant to continue the Northeast Extension of the Pennsylvania Turnpike. A new turnpike stretch between Harrisburg and Scranton was also suggested. But after the Federal-Aid Highway Act of 1956, plans changed to build a free Interstate Highway instead of a toll road. The first part built went from PA 347 in Dunmore to US 11 in northern Scranton, opening in 1960. All of I-81 in Pennsylvania was finished by the 1970s. It cost about $443 million, which is like $2.75 billion today.
In 2013, a tanker crashed and caught fire near where I-81 meets US 22/US 322 in Harrisburg. The fire hurt some bridges and forced about 10 miles of I-81 to close in both directions. Traffic had to use the southern part of the Capital Beltway instead. The highway fully reopened a few days later.
Future
Scranton Beltway
I-81 northbound at western terminus of I-78 in Union Township, Lebanon County
In 2016, plans were shared for a new road called the Scranton Beltway. This road would use another highway to go around a busy part of I-81 near Scranton. The new road would have two connections to I-81, one in Dupont and another in South Abington Township. Drivers would pay to use these connections with E-ZPass or a special toll system called toll by plate. The project would cost about $160 million. Work on the plans started again in 2021, and building might begin in 2025.
New interchange in Chambersburg
In 2018, plans were shared for a new exit on I-81 near Chambersburg. This exit would help trucks reach big stores and warehouses, including Target. The road to the exit would be made wider. Work to get permission for the project started in 2020, and construction might begin after 2023.
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