Pennsylvania Route 51 (PA 51) is a major state highway that is located in Western Pennsylvania in the United States. It runs for 89 miles (143 km) from Uniontown to the Ohio state line near Darlington, where it connects with Ohio State Route 14.

Pennsylvania Route 51 marker
Pennsylvania Route 51
Map
Route information
Maintained by PennDOT
Length89.227 mi[1] (143.597 km)
Existed1929–present
Major junctions
South end
Major intersections
North end SR 14 northwest of Darlington
Location
CountryUnited States
StatePennsylvania
CountiesAllegheny, Fayette, Westmoreland, Beaver
Highway system
PA 50 PA 52

PA 51 is the termination point for Pennsylvania Route 43, Pennsylvania Route 48 and Pennsylvania Route 88. The route is a major connection from Uniontown and the rest of Fayette County to Pittsburgh.

The highway is four-lane highway that is located south of Pittsburgh; it passes through Pittsburgh's South Hills before narrowing to a two-lane road through several boroughs along the Ohio River. It then becomes four lanes again after passing Chippewa Township in Beaver County and continues to the Ohio border.

In the South Hills, PA 51 (Saw Mill Run Boulevard), along with US 19, is one of the major routes in and out of Pittsburgh, as it provides access to several bridges and tunnels. PA 51 is one of the highways that enters the West End Circle, an intersection in the West End.

Route description

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PA 51 northbound in Bridgewater

Fayette and Westmoreland counties

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PA 51 begins as Pittsburgh Street in downtown Uniontown at an intersection with U.S. Route 40 Business. As PA 51 heads north, it exits Uniontown and intersects with U.S. Route 119, Uniontown's bypass. North of US 119, PA 51 is a rural, multi-lane divided highway that is also known as Pittsburgh Road. In North Union Township, PA 51 divides for 0.7 miles (1.1 km); the road has a large median that is home to several businesses. It then shifts towards the northwest, continuing as a multi-lane divided highway. In Perry Township, PA 51 intersects Pennsylvania Route 201 at a cloverleaf interchange. North of PA 201, it enters the borough of Perryopolis as Fuller Drive; after leaving the city to the north, PA 51 begins to parallel the Youghiogheny River.[2]

Upon entering Westmoreland County, PA 51 intersects the southern terminus of Pennsylvania Route 981. About 2,000 feet (610 m) northwest of PA 981, it also intersects Interstate 70 at exits 46 A-B to form a full cloverleaf interchange. To the northwest in Sweeneys Crossroads, the road intersects Pennsylvania Route 201 again. PA 51 divides before reaching the county border and also passes by Rostraver Airport. Route 51 only spends seven miles (11 km) in Westmoreland County, all in Rostraver Township.[3]

Allegheny and Beaver counties

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Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania along the Ohio river early depiction of PA 51 headed toward McKees Rocks early 1800s (What is now PA 51 along the Ohio River in the early 1800s looking toward the Point)

Upon entering Allegheny County, PA 51 is called Hayden Boulevard, and it meets with Pennsylvania Route 136 at a diamond interchange. PA 51 intersects the southern terminus of Pennsylvania Route 48 in Forward Township before entering the boroughs of Elizabeth and West Elizabeth. In West Elizabeth, after crossing the Monongahela River via the Regis R. Malady Bridge, PA 51 immediately intersects with Pennsylvania Route 837. It then continues towards Jefferson Hills in the northwest, where it meets the northern terminus of Pennsylvania Route 43 (Mon-Fayette Expressway) at exit 54. PA 43 is expected to extend further north of PA 51.[4] Northwest of PA 43, PA 51 becomes Clairton Boulevard. In Pleasant Hills and West Mifflin, PA 51 passes by the former Century III Mall, which was formerly one of the largest malls in the area. The stretch of PA 51/Clairton Blvd. continues through Baldwin Borough, Whitehall, and Brentwood. At the border of Brentwood and Overbrook, PA 51 becomes Saw Mill Run Boulevard.[5]

At the southern tip of Pittsburgh, PA 51 intersects the northern terminus of Pennsylvania Route 88 before continuing towards the north as Saw Mill Run Blvd. It meets with the Liberty Tunnel connector, which leads towards the Liberty Bridge and Interstate 579; PA 51 also begins a concurrency with U.S. Route 19 Truck at this junction. The US 19 Truck/PA 51 concurrency ends when US 19 TRK joins Interstate 376, U.S. Route 22, and U.S. Route 30 at exit 5. At this point, PA 51 begins a brief concurrency with U.S. Route 19 through the West End Bypass, a short expressway in Pittsburgh's West End section. The concurrency ends as US 19 crosses the Ohio River on the West End Bridge while PA 51 turns left, heading toward McKees Rocks to the northwest as West Carson Street, paralleling the Ohio River. Entering McKees Rocks, it makes a 90 degree turn to become Locust Street, then makes another turn to become Charties Avenue, and makes a final turn towards the northwest to become Island Avenue. In Stowe Township, PA 51 becomes Robinson Boulevard (formerly Fleming Park Rd.) and passes south of Neville Island on the Ohio River. After a couple of S-curves, PA 51 becomes Coraopolis Road and intersects Interstate 79 at exit 64. It becomes State Avenue in Coraopolis before dividing into two one-way streets called 4th and 5th Avenues. North of Coraopolis, PA 51 continues to parallel the Ohio River as University Boulevard in Moon Township. It then becomes Stoops Ferry Road and passes through Crescent Township on McGovern Boulevard before entering Beaver County. The route spends 36 miles in Allegheny County.[6]

 
PA 51 in northwestern Beaver County

At the Beaver County line, PA 51 intersects the eastern terminus of Pennsylvania Route 151. North of PA 151, PA 51 enters South Heights as Jordan Street. The route extends past the Ambridge-Aliquippa bridge, through the city of Aliquippa and West Aliquippa. Farther to the north, the highway heads towards the north as Constitution Boulevard entering Monaca as Beaver and Pennsylvania Avenues before making a 90-degree turn towards the north. PA 51 crosses the Ohio River on the Monaca-East Rochester Bridge, entering the borough of East Rochester. It makes a 90-degree turn to the west to begin a concurrency with Pennsylvania Route 65. In Rochester, PA 51/PA 65 meet with Pennsylvania Route 18; the concurrency ends in downtown Rochester, when PA 51 begins a concurrency with Pennsylvania Route 68. PA 51/PA 68 cross the Beaver River on the Beaver Bridge. In Bridgewater, the PA 51/PA 68 concurrency ends when PA 51 makes a 45-degree turn towards the northwest and continues towards the northwest as Constitution Boulevard. In Chippewa Township, it intersects Interstate 376 (James E. Ross Highway) at exit 31. Northwest of I-376, Route 51 intersects the western terminus of Pennsylvania Route 588 and Pennsylvania Route 251. In South Beaver Township, PA 51 intersects Pennsylvania Route 168 and continues towards the northwest as Constitution Boulevard. PA 51 terminates (ends) at the Ohio state line; in Ohio, it continues as Ohio State Route 14.[7]

History

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Route 51 was first signed in 1927. The north section was signed first, followed by the section between Pittsburgh and Uniontown. Major construction projects included a bypass of Perryopolis built in 1950, the West End Bypass in Pittsburgh that was completed in 1953, and the interchange at the southern portal of the Liberty Tunnels in Pittsburgh.[8] Unlike PA 88 and PA 28, Route 51 wasn't truncated in 1961 to reduce concurrencies, making it the only major state route (not including U.S. routes or Interstate routes) to still pass through Pittsburgh following the separation of PA 65 and PA 50 from PA 88 & PA 28, respectively; PA 51 serves as a link between PA 88 & PA 65 and, via PA 60, I-376, & I-279, a link between PA 28 & PA 50.

Before the turnpikes were built, Route 51, alongside Ohio State Route 14, served as the main corridor connecting Pittsburgh and Cleveland.

The Saw Mill Run Boulevard section of the highway was the first direct connection between Pittsburgh and the South Hills once the Liberty Tunnel was completed. It significantly decreased the driving time to Pittsburgh from the cities of Clairton, Duquesne, McKeesport.[9]

Improvements are planned at the intersection with PA 88 south of Pittsburgh, where bottlenecks occur regularly. Other improvements planned include new interchanges at the Liberty Tunnel and West End Bridge (West End Circle), a center median for the rest of Saw Mill Run Boulevard, and an improved intersection with Woodruff Street.[9]

Saw Mill Run Expressway (canceled)

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The Saw Mill Run Expressway was a highway proposed for the South Hills. It would have been built on the same right-of-way as Saw Mill Run Boulevard. In 1964, while designated as "the worst bottleneck in Western Pennsylvania," a plan was made to turn the crowded highway into an expressway. The plan was proposed to the Department of Highways and included a renovation of the Liberty Tunnel, several widening projects, new turning lanes, and a central median. The plan would have required cooperation from the surrounding communities.

The finished product was to include a 5.5-mile (8.9 km) limited access expressway from Overbrook to the West End. It would have been twice the width of the current highway and had a total cost of nearly $150 million. Interest in the expressway declined once the Southwestern Pennsylvania Regional Planning Commission expressed concerns about business along the corridor, and the project was dropped in 1973.[10]

Major intersections

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CountyLocationmi[1]kmDestinationsNotes
FayetteUniontown0.0000.000 
 
 
US 40 Bus. east (West Fayette Street) / SR 3019 (Morgantown Street)
Southern terminus of PA 51; US 40 Bus. on a one-way pair
0.1480.238 
 
 
US 40 Bus. west (West Main Street)
US 40 Bus. on a one-way pair
North Union Township1.188–
1.303
1.912–
2.097
  
 
 
 
  US 119 / PA 43 south to US 40 – Connellsville, Hopwood
Interchange
1.7042.742 
 
 
 
 
 
Northgate Highway to US 40 west / PA Turnpike 43 north – Brownsville, Pittsburgh
Perry Township11.368–
11.712
18.295–
18.849
  PA 201 (Fayette City Boulevard) – Fayette City, ConnellsvilleInterchange
WestmorelandRostraver Township18.90430.423 
 
PA 981 north – Smithton
Southern terminus of PA 981
19.031–
19.332
30.627–
31.112
  I-70 – Washington, New StantonExit 46 (I-70)
21.264–
21.757
34.221–
35.014
  PA 201 (Rostraver Road) – West Newton, Belle VernonInterchange
AlleghenyElizabeth Township24.879–
25.076
40.039–
40.356
  PA 136 (West Newton Road) – Monongahela, Donora, West NewtonInterchange
Forward Township26.36642.432 
 
  PA 48 north / Orange Belt (Scenery Drive) / Payday Drive
 
 
 
PA 48 Truck begins
Southern terminus of PA 48; southern end of PA 48 Truck concurrency; southeastern terminus of Orange Belt
Elizabeth29.623–
29.716
47.674–
47.823
 
 
 
 
 
 
PA 48 Truck north / PA 51 Truck north (North 2nd Avenue / North 3rd Avenue) – Elizabeth, Glassport, Bunola
Interchange; northern end of PA 48 Truck concurrency; southern terminus of PA 51 Truck
Monongahela River29.747–
30.031
47.873–
48.330
Regis R. Malady Bridge
West Elizabeth30.068–
30.323
48.390–
48.800
  
 
 
PA 837 / PA 51 Truck south – Clairton, West Elizabeth
Interchange; northern terminus of PA 51 Truck
Jefferson Hills31.101–
31.161
50.052–
50.149
Ridge Road – ClairtonInterchange
32.685–
32.776
52.601–
52.748
 
 
 
 
PA Turnpike 43 south / Payne Hill Road to PA 885 – California
Temporary northern terminus and exit 54 on PA 43; access via Jefferson Boulevard
West Mifflin36.953–
37.084
59.470–
59.681
  
 
Yellow Belt (Curry Hollow Road / Lebanon Church Road) to PA 885 – McKeesport, West Mifflin, South Park, Bethel Park
Interchange
Pittsburgh40.64965.418 
 
  PA 88 south / Blue Belt (Library Road) – South Park
Northern terminus of PA 88, southern terminus of Blue Belt concurrency
40.82565.701  Blue Belt (Maytide Street)Northern terminus of Blue Belt concurrency
42.942–
43.228
69.108–
69.569
 
 
 
 
 
 
US 19 Truck south (Liberty Avenue) / Liberty Tunnel to I-579 north – Downtown, South Side, Dormont
Interchange; southern terminus of US 19 Truck concurrency
98.163–
98.106
157.978–
157.886
 
 
 
 
I-376 west / US 19 south (US 22 west / US 30 west / US 19 Truck north) – Carnegie, Airport, West End
Exit 69B (I-376/US 22/US 30); northern terminus of US 19 Truck concurrency; southern terminus of US 19 concurrency
97.841–
97.443
157.460–
156.819
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
US 19 north / PA 60 north (South Main Street) / PA 837 south (Carson Street) to I-279 north / I-376 east / PA 65 – Downtown, West End Bridge, North Shore, Crafton
Northern terminus of US 19 concurrency; southern terminus of PA 60; northern terminus of PA 837
McKees Rocks96.080154.626   Blue Belt (Chartiers Ave)Southern terminus of Blue Belt concurrency; to Ohio Valley Hospital
94.908152.740  Blue Belt (McKees Rocks Bridge (SR 3104))Northern terminus of Blue Belt concurrency
Robinson Township94.678–
94.602
152.369–
152.247
  I-79 – Washington, ErieExit 64 (I-79)
94.337151.821  Yellow Belt (North Forest Grove Road) – Forest GroveEastern terminus of Yellow Belt concurrency
Coraopolis91.735147.633  
 
 
Yellow Belt (Ferree Street / Coraopolis Bridge) to I-79 north
Western terminus of Yellow Belt concurrency
Moon Township90.928146.334  
 
Orange Belt (Sewickley Bridge) to PA 65 – Sewickley
Southern terminus of Orange Belt concurrency
89.242143.621  
 
Orange Belt (University Boulevard) to I-376 BL
Northern terminus of Orange Belt concurrency
BeaverSouth Heights86.970139.965 
 
 
 
PA 151 west (Laurel Road) to I-376
Eastern terminus of PA 151
Aliquippa85.706–
85.455
137.930–
137.526
Sheffield Avenue / Kiehl Street – AliquippaInterchange
Ohio River70.729–
71.115
113.827–
114.448
Monaca–East Rochester Bridge
East Rochester82.404132.616 
 
PA 65 south – Ambridge, Pittsburgh
Southern terminus of PA 65 concurrency
Rochester80.530129.600 
 
 
 
PA 18 south (Rochester–Monaca Bridge) / PA 68 east – Rochester
Interchange
78.925–
78.807
127.017–
126.828
  
 
 
 
PA 18 / PA 65 north / PA 68 east – New Brighton, Beaver Falls, Rochester
Northern terminus of PA 65 concurrency; southern terminus of PA 68 concurrency
Bridgewater78.129125.736 
 
PA 68 west – Beaver
Northern terminus of PA 68 concurrency; northbound exit and southbound entrance
Chippewa Township77.506–
77.121
124.734–
124.114
  
 
 
 
I-376 to I-76 / Penna Turnpike – Pittsburgh, New Castle
Exit 31 (I-376)
76.723123.474 
 
PA 588 east (Darlington Road) – Beaver Falls, Eastvale
Western terminus of PA 588
76.332122.844  PA 251 (Shenango Road) – Negley, OH, Beaver Falls
South Beaver Township75.936122.207  PA 168 (Salem Church Road) – Ohioville, Darlington
Darlington75.758121.921 
 
SR 14 west
Continuation beyond Ohio state line
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi
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Pittsburgh truck route

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Pennsylvania Route 51 Truck
LocationPittsburgh

Pennsylvania Route 51 Truck (PA 51 Truck) is a truck route along major roads in downtown Pittsburgh, such as I-376, I-279, and I-579, in an effort to bypass PA 51, which features some unsafe S-Curves and falling rocks that could be deleterious for trucks. Motorists traveling on PA 51 should use PA 51 Truck to travel downtown and avoid these dangers.

Elizabeth truck route

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Pennsylvania Route 51 Truck
LocationElizabeth
Existed2013–present

Pennsylvania Route 51 Truck (PA 51 Truck) is a truck route of PA 51 that bypassed the weight-restricted Regis R. Malady Bridge over the Monongahela River between Elizabeth and West Elizabeth, on which trucks over 32 tons and combination loads over 40 tons are prohibited. The route follows McKeesport Road, Lincoln Boulevard, Glassport-Elizabeth Road, the Clairton-Glassport Bridge over the Monongahela River, and PA 837. The route was formed in 2013; however, as of 2021, there were no weight restrictions listed on the bridge by PennDOT,.[11] As of 2022, the route is still signed.[12][2]

Previously there was a 12-mile-long (0.80 km) truck route in the Pittsburgh suburb of Elizabeth. The truck designation was not intended for vehicles already on PA 51, but for those entering the highway southbound. A cloverleaf has been established to direct traffic between Elizabeth's main street (known as Center Ave and McKeesport Road on different ends of town), but its narrow and winding design makes it difficult for trucks to access Route 51 southbound. As a result, they were directed to enter onto Route 51 northbound, cross the bridge over the Monongahela River, and use a special u-turn exit to reach southbound lanes of travel. This truck route was removed after a weight limit was imposed on the Regis R. Malady Bridge over the Monongahela River.[13]

The entire route was in Allegheny County.

LocationmikmDestinationsNotes
Elizabeth0.000.00  
 
 
 
 
  PA 51 / PA 48 Truck south to PA Turnpike 43 / 2nd Avenue – Uniontown, Pittsburgh, Bunola
Southern terminus of PA 51 Truck; southern end of concurrency with PA 48 Truck
Glassport3.826.15 
 
Ohio Avenue to PA 148 – Glassport, McKeesport
Monongahela River3.82–
4.26
6.15–
6.86
Clairton-Glassport Bridge
Clairton4.266.86 
 
 
 
 
PA 837 north / PA 48 Truck north (North State Street) / Carnegie Avenue – Dravosburg
Northern end of concurrency with PA 48 Truck; southern end of concurrency with PA 837
4.447.15 
 
PA 885 north (Walnut Avenue) – West Mifflin
Southern terminus of PA 885
West Elizabeth7.4211.94  
 
 
 
PA 51 / PA 837 south (5th Street) to PA Turnpike 43 – Elizabeth, Pittsburgh, West Elizabeth
Northern terminus of PA 51 Truck; northern end of concurrency with PA 837
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi

Beaver County truck route

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Pennsylvania Route 51 Truck
LocationBeaver County
Length0.2 mi[14] (320 m)

Pennsylvania Route 51 Truck is a connector truck route. PA 251 turns from Darlington Road onto Shenango Road for a tenth of a mile before intersecting PA 51, which is a narrow turn for trucks. The route follows Darlington Road from PA 251 to PA 51/PA 588 in Beaver County, Pennsylvania.[14]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b Bureau of Maintenance and Operations (January 2019). Roadway Management System Straight Line Diagrams (Report) (2019 ed.). Pennsylvania Department of Transportation. Retrieved April 12, 2019.
  2. ^ a b "PA 51 in Fayette County" (Map). Google Maps. Retrieved October 8, 2008.
  3. ^ "PA 51 in Westmoreland County" (Map). Google Maps. Retrieved October 8, 2008.
  4. ^ Kitsko, Jeffrey J. "Mon-Fayette Expressway". Pennsylvania Highways. Retrieved October 13, 2008.[self-published source]
  5. ^ "PA 51 in southern Allegheny County" (Map). Google Maps. Retrieved October 8, 2008.
  6. ^ "PA 51 in Pittsburgh and northern Allegheny County" (Map). Google Maps. Retrieved October 8, 2008.
  7. ^ "PA 51 in Beaver County" (Map). Google Maps. Retrieved October 8, 2008.
  8. ^ Kitsko, Jeffrey J. "Pennsylvania Route 51". Pennsylvania Highways. Retrieved October 7, 2008.[self-published source]
  9. ^ a b Prince, Adam. "Saw Mill Run Blvd--A History". GribbleNation. Retrieved October 15, 2008.
  10. ^ Kitsko, Jeffrey J. "Pittsburgh Highways: Saw Mill Run Expressway (Cancelled)". Pennsylvania Highways. Retrieved October 15, 2008.[self-published source]
  11. ^ "Bridge Condition Summary Report". gis.penndot.gov. Retrieved March 7, 2021.
  12. ^ "Overview of Pennsylvania Route 51 Truck" (Map). Google Maps. Retrieved March 22, 2016.
  13. ^ Schmitz, Jon (September 17, 2013). "Bridge weight limits instituted". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved November 24, 2019.
  14. ^ a b "Overview of Pennsylvania Route 51 Truck in Beaver County" (Map). Google Maps. Retrieved March 12, 2024.
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