Pennsylvania Route 501

Pennsylvania Route 501 marker
Pennsylvania Route 501
Map
PA 501 highlighted in red
Route information
Maintained by PennDOT
Length38.695 mi[1] (62.274 km)
Existed1928–present
Major junctions
South end US 222 / PA 272 in Lancaster
Major intersections US 30 / US 222 in Lancaster
PA 722 in Neffsville
PA 772 in Lititz
US 322 in Brickerville
PA 419 / PA 897 in Schaefferstown
US 422 in Myerstown
I-78 / US 22 in Bethel
North end PA 895 near Pine Grove
Location
CountryUnited States
StatePennsylvania
CountiesLancaster, Lebanon, Berks, Schuylkill
Highway system
I-495 PA 502
PA 242PA 243 PA 244

Pennsylvania Route 501 (PA 501) is a north–south state highway in south central Pennsylvania that runs for 38.7 miles (62.3 km). Its southern terminus is at U.S. Route 222 (US 222) and PA 272 north of Lancaster, and its northern terminus is PA 895 southeast of Pine Grove. The route heads north from Lancaster and runs through suburban and rural areas in northern Lancaster County, passing through Lititz and crossing US 322 in Brickerville. PA 501 continues into Lebanon County and heads into the Lebanon Valley, where it passes through Schaefferstown and intersects US 422 in Myerstown. The route passes through western Berks County, where it has an interchange with Interstate 78 (I-78)/US 22 near the community of Bethel. PA 501 crosses Blue Mountain into Schuylkill County and continues to its northern terminus.

The portion of the road in northern Lancaster County was originally established as two private turnpikes in the 19th century, becoming a public road in 1926. PA 501 was designated in 1928 to run from PA 72 in Lancaster north to PA 5 (now US 322) in Brickerville while PA 243 was designated onto the road running between US 22/PA 3 (now US 422) in Myerstown and PA 43 in Bethel. PA 501 was extended north to US 422 in Myerstown during the 1930s. By 1946, the route replaced PA 243 and continued north to US 22 in Bethel. PA 501 was extended to a new alignment of US 22 north of Bethel by 1953. The southern terminus was cut back to its current location by 1960 to eliminate a concurrency with US 222. By 1966, PA 501 was extended north to PA 895. In 2013, the route was realigned to bypass the center of Schaefferstown to the west.

  1. ^ Bureau of Maintenance and Operations (January 2015). Roadway Management System Straight Line Diagrams (Report) (2015 ed.). Pennsylvania Department of Transportation. Retrieved June 30, 2015.