Pennsylvania Route 309


Pennsylvania Route 309 is a major highway which runs for 134 miles through Pennsylvania in the United States. The route runs from the interchange between PA 611 and Cheltenham Avenue on the border of Philadelphia and Cheltenham Township north to an intersection with PA 29 in Bowman Creek, a village in Monroe Township, Wyoming County. It connects Philadelphia and its northern suburbs to Allentown, Hazleton, and Wilkes-Barre. A limited-access highway portion of PA 309 in the Wilkes-Barre area is known as the North Cross Valley Expressway. A limited-access highway portion of PA 309 in Montgomery County is known as the Fort Washington Expressway. PA 309 parallels the newer Interstates 476 and 81 for much of its length.

Route description

Philadelphia and Montgomery counties

PA 309 begins at an interchange between PA 611 and Cheltenham Avenue on the border between Cheltenham Township in Montgomery County to the north and the East Oak Lane section of the city of Philadelphia in Philadelphia County to the south. From this interchange, the route heads northwest on four-lane divided Cheltenham Avenue along the border between Cheltenham Township and Philadelphia. A short distance past the PA 611 interchange, the road comes to an intersection with the northern terminus of Broad Street. PA 309 continues northwest as a four-lane undivided road through residential and business areas, running between suburban areas to the northeast and urban areas to the southwest. The road crosses Washington Lane and passes to the south of the Greenleaf at Cheltenham shopping center before it comes to an intersection with Ogontz Avenue north of the West Oak Lane neighborhood of Philadelphia, with SEPTA's Cheltenham-Ogontz Bus Loop located on the northwest corner of the intersection. At this point, PA 309 turns north-northwest onto four-lane divided Ogontz Avenue and fully enters Cheltenham Township in Montgomery County, passing businesses as it heads to the west of the shopping center. The route intersects Limekiln Pike and assumes that name, passing near residential development in the community of Cedarbrook.
PA 309 becomes a four-lane freeway called the Fort Washington Expressway and passes west of Cheltenham High School before it comes to a diamond interchange with the southern terminus of PA 152 at Easton Road. From there, the route heads northwest and passes to the southwest of Arcadia University and to the northeast of Holy Sepulchre Cemetery before it runs near wooded areas and suburban residential development, crossing into Springfield Township. The freeway curves west and comes to an interchange at Paper Mill Road, where it makes a turn to the northwest as it passes northeast of Springfield Township High School. PA 309 reaches a diamond interchange with PA 73 and continues through suburban areas, crossing into Whitemarsh Township and heading north as it passes near business parks, crossing Sandy Run. The route heads north-northeast and comes to a bridge over SEPTA's Lansdale/Doylestown Line before it bends north and passes under Norfolk Southern's Morrisville Line. PA 309 enters Upper Dublin Township and comes to an interchange with the Pennsylvania Turnpike and Pennsylvania Avenue in Fort Washington. From here, the freeway passes near business parks before heading north-northwest through wooded residential areas to an interchange with Highland Avenue. The route heads north through more suburban development to the east of the borough of Ambler, passing west of Upper Dublin High School, and comes to a northbound exit and southbound entrance at Susquehanna Road. PA 309 curves northwest and comes to a southbound exit and northbound entrance at Butler Pike a short distance later. The freeway runs through woodland and residential development, crossing into Lower Gwynedd Township and turning north to reach a diamond interchange serving Norristown Road to the east of Spring House. The route runs near business parks and curves northwest, heading near residential development before it reaches the north end of the Fort Washington Expressway and merges onto Bethlehem Pike, with a southbound exit and northbound entrance for Bethlehem Pike.
PA 309 continues north on Bethlehem Pike, a six-lane divided highway with a Jersey barrier and several intersections controlled by jughandles. The route comes to a junction with PA 63, at which point it enters Horsham Township. There, the road narrows to four lanes and passes shopping centers, crossing into Montgomery Township and heading into the North Penn Valley region. The route bends to the northwest and continues through commercial areas, passing to the west of a quarry past the Hartman Road intersection. PA 309 passes more businesses as it continues along the four-lane divided highway and comes to an interchange with the US 202 parkway, where it also crosses under the US 202 Parkway Trail that follows US 202. The road intersects US 202 Bus. and Upper State Road in the community of Montgomery Square. At this point, US 202 Bus. becomes concurrent with PA 309 and the road passes between the Montgomery Mall to the west and shopping centers to the east. The two routes heads north past more businesses and become a five-lane road with a center left-turn lane past the North Wales Road intersection. PA 309/US 202 Bus. becomes a four-lane divided highway again and heads into the community of Montgomeryville. Here, the highway comes to the Five Points intersection, where PA 463 crosses and US 202 Bus. splits from PA 309 by heading northeast onto Doylestown Road.
Past this intersection, the route transitions into a five-lane road with a center left-turn lane and runs north past more businesses with some wooded residential development, bending northwest. The road enters Hatfield Township and reaches the community of Colmar, where it crosses SEPTA's Lansdale/Doylestown Line at-grade to the west of Colmar station. PA 309 continues past commercial development, crossing the West Branch Neshaminy Creek and passing through the community of Trewigtown. The route becomes a four-lane divided highway and comes to an intersection with County Line Road in the community of Line Lexington, at which point it turns northwest and forms the border between New Britain Township in Bucks County to the northeast and Hatfield Township in Montgomery County to the southwest. After intersecting Hilltown Pike, the road runs along the border between Hilltown Township, Bucks County to the northeast and Hatfield Township, Montgomery County to the southwest and heads northwest through commercial development and some farmland as a five-lane road with a center left-turn lane. In the community of Unionville, the route intersects Unionville Pike.

Bucks County

PA 309 leaves the North Penn Valley region and becomes a four-lane freeway called the Sellersville Bypass, coming to a northbound exit and southbound entrance with Bethlehem Pike. At this point, the route curves northwest to fully enter Hilltown Township in Bucks County. The freeway runs through wooded areas with nearby residential and commercial development and comes to a diamond interchange with PA 113 northeast of the borough of Souderton. PA 309 turns north and runs through woodland and farmland with some nearby development, curving northwest and crossing into West Rockhill Township. The route passes over the Bethlehem Line railroad line that is owned by SEPTA and operated by the East Penn Railroad and comes to an interchange with the northern terminus of PA 152 that provides access to the borough of Sellersville to the northeast and the borough of Telford to the southwest. Past this interchange, the freeway heads through wooded areas and crosses the East Branch Perkiomen Creek before it passes near farmland and curves north. PA 309 runs through woodland with some farm fields and comes to a diamond interchange at Lawn Avenue, which heads west to provide access to PA 563 near the borough of Perksaie. From here, the route heads near more farms and woods and curves northwest, running through dense forests and bending north. PA 309 comes to a southbound exit and northbound entrance with Bethlehem Pike, at which point the Sellersville Bypass freeway ends.
From this point, the route heads north-northwest through the community of Rich Hill and crosses into Richland Township, where it becomes four-lane undivided South West End Boulevard and passes through a mix of farm fields and woodland with some commercial development, soon gaining a center left-turn lane and crossing Morgan Creek. The road briefly becomes a divided highway at the Tollgate Road intersection before it continues past businesses as a five-lane road with a center left-turn lane, with another divided highway stretch at the entrance to a shopping center. PA 309 enters the borough of Quakertown upon crossing Beaver Run and runs past more businesses as a five-lane road containing a center turn lane. The route becomes a four-lane divided highway and comes to a junction with the western terminus of PA 313 and the northern terminus of PA 663. From this intersection, the road becomes North West End Boulevard and runs past shopping centers, becoming the border between Richland Township to the west and Quakertown to the east. PA 309 fully enters Richland Township again and becomes a five-lane road with a center left-turn lane, passing commercial development and woodland. The route briefly turns into a divided highway again as it crosses West Pumping Station Road and heads to the east of a shopping center. PA 309 continues north past wooded areas and businesses as a five-lane road with a center turn lane, passing to the west of the community of Shelly. The road crosses into Springfield Township and becomes Bethlehem Pike, running north-northwest through more forested areas with some commercial development.

Lehigh County

PA 309 enters Lehigh County, which is in the Lehigh Valley, and becomes the border between the borough of Coopersburg to the west and Upper Saucon Township to the east, heading north and fully entering Coopersburg. The route becomes South 3rd Street and passes commercial establishments. before it turns into a four-lane divided highway and passes a mix of homes and businesses. Upon crossing State Street, the road becomes North 3rd Street, running past more development. PA 309 becomes the border between Upper Saucon Township to the west and Coopersburg to the east and passes a couple shopping centers before fully entering Upper Saucon Township and passing between woodland and commercial development to the west and farmland to the east as an unnamed road. The route curves to the northwest and heads through wooded areas, splitting into a one-way pair carrying two lanes in each direction and reaching an intersection with the southern terminus of PA 378 in the community of Center Valley. Past this intersection, the northbound direction of PA 309 passes homes as Main Street, heading south of Southern Lehigh High School, while the southbound direction runs through wooded areas with nearby residential subdivisions. Both directions of the route rejoin and continue northwest through residential and commercial development and some woods as a four-lane unnamed divided highway. The road runs through farmland and residential subdivisions before it crosses Saucon Creek and reaches an intersection with jughandles at West Saucon Valley Road/Center Valley Parkway.
Past this intersection, PA 309 becomes a four-lane freeway and comes to an interchange with I-78 and the southern terminus of PA 145. At this point, PA 309 heads west concurrent with I-78 westbound on a six-lane freeway, while PA 309’s former lanes become PA-145 northbound, providing access to Allentown. The highway comes to a southbound exit and northbound entrance with Rock Road that provides a connection to PA 145 in Summit Lawn, at which point it crosses into Salisbury Township. Following this, I-78/PA 309 heads down forested South Mountain. After crossing the mountain, the freeway heads into the city of Allentown and passes near neighborhoods, coming to a northbound exit ramp serving Emaus Avenue. The highway runs near industrial areas and passes over Norfolk Southern's Reading Line before it comes to the Lehigh Street exit. I-78/PA 309 heads south of Allentown Queen City Municipal Airport and runs near residential areas before running through woodland, passing through a small section of Salisbury Township before heading back into Allentown and crossing Little Lehigh Creek. The freeway heads back into Salisbury Township and runs between residential areas to the north and office buildings to the south before reaching an interchange with the northern terminus of the southern section of PA 29 at Cedar Crest Boulevard. Past this interchange, the highway heads north of Lehigh Valley Hospital-Cedar Crest and crosses into South Whitehall Township, passing between residential areas to the north and farm fields to the south and curving northwest to reach an interchange with the northern terminus of US 222 and the southern terminus of PA 222 at Hamilton Boulevard, which provides access to Allentown and Reading. From here, the freeway enters Lower Macungie Township and runs past commercial development to the southwest of Dorney Park & Wildwater Kingdom. PA 309 splits from I-78 at a partial interchange and continues north along a four-lane freeway, passing through a small corner of Upper Macungie Township before entering South Whitehall Township again. The route continues north past farmland with some residential and commercial development and comes to a cloverleaf interchange at Tilghman Street. The freeway runs northwest near more homes and commercial establishments and reaches a cloverleaf interchange with the US 22 freeway a short distance east of that route's interchange with the Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension.
Past the US 22 interchange, the freeway ends and PA 309 continues northwest as an unnamed four-lane at-grade divided highway, passing near commercial development. The road curves to the west-northwest and passes through the community of Walbert, where it crosses Norfolk Southern's C&F Secondary at-grade and narrows to two lanes. The route becomes a two-lane undivided road and runs near businesses, crossing under I-476. PA 309 curves north and runs through a mix of farm fields, woodland, and homes and businesses, passing through the communities of Guthsville, where it crosses Jordan Creek, and Orefield. The road bends to the north-northwest and continues into North Whitehall Township, where it passes more residences and a few businesses along with some rural land. The route briefly widens into a four-lane divided highway and runs through more developed areas as a three lane road with a center left-turn lane, passing to the east of Lehigh Carbon Community College. PA 309 becomes two lanes again and runs past homes and businesses in the community of Schnecksville, where it curves northwest and comes to an intersection with the southern terminus of PA 873. Here, PA 309 turns to the west and heads northwest near residential developments. The road bends west and winds through a mix of farmland and woodland, heading into Heidelberg Township. The route runs through more rural land with occasional development and reaches the community of Pleasant Corners, where it crosses Jordan Creek and comes to an intersection with the northern terminus of PA 100. PA 309 continues west through agricultural areas with some woods and homes and passes south of Northwestern Lehigh High School as it enters Lynn Township. The road heads to the north of a golf course before it comes to a junction with the northern terminus of PA 143 near New Tripoli, where it briefly becomes a divided highway. At this point, the route turns to the northwest and passes through farmland with some trees, homes, and businesses, crossing Ontelaunee Creek. The road gains a second northbound lane further to the north. PA 309 curves to the west-southwest and ascends forested Blue Mountain.

Schuylkill and Carbon counties

At the summit of Blue Mountain, PA 309 becomes a two-lane road and enters West Penn Township in Schuylkill County, crossing the Appalachian Trail. The route heads west and descends the mountain as West Penn Pike, a three-lane road with one northbound lane and two southbound lanes. At the base of Blue Mountain, the road heads northwest through wooded areas with some farm fields. PA 309 narrows to two lanes and comes to an intersection with PA 895 in the community of Snyders. The road continues northwest through forested areas with some fields and residential and commercial development, passing through the community of Leibeyville. The route curves to the west and widens to four lanes before it comes to an intersection with PA 443, at which point that route heads west for a concurrency with PA 309. The two routes pass through wooded areas with some homes and reach the community of South Tamaqua, where PA 443 splits to the southwest. PA 309 heads northwest near some coal fields before curving north into forested areas and running along the east bank of the Little Schuylkill River, passing between Second Mountain to the west and Mauch Chunk Ridge to the east. The road passes near a few commercial establishments and enters the borough of Tamaqua, continuing through forests and running between Sharp Mountain to the west and Pisgah Mountain to the east. The route becomes two-lane Center Street and runs past businesses, crossing the Little Schuylkill River and a Reading Blue Mountain and Northern Railroad line at-grade. PA 309 runs past homes and businesses and comes to an intersection with US 209 in the center of Tamaqua. Past this intersection, the route splits into a one-way pair along Mauch Chunk Street northbound and North Railroad Street southbound, running to the east of the Reading Blue Mountain and Northern Railroad's Reading Division line. The one-way pair carries one lane in each direction. Northbound PA 309 shifts to Pine Street and the route continues to follow the one-way streets past residences and a few businesses. Both directions of PA 309 rejoin along an unnamed three-lane road with a center left-turn lane and crosses the Little Schuylkill River, heading into forested areas to the east of the river and to the west of Nesquehoning Mountain and curving northwest.
The route leaves Tamaqua for Rush Township and the name changes to Claremont Avenue, becoming a three-lane road with two northbound lanes and one southbound lane and curving to the north away from the Little Schuylkill River. The road heads into the community of Hometown and runs near homes and a few businesses, curving northwest and coming to an intersection with PA 54. From here, PA 309 widens into a four-lane divided highway and heads past businesses. The route comes to a bridge over the Reading Blue Mountain and Northern Railroad's Reading Division line and runs through wooded areas and commercial development. The road runs through forests and curves north, passing to the west of Broad Mountain. PA 309 bends to the north-northwest and passes through the communities of Still Creek and Ginther. The route heads back into forested areas and crosses into Kline Township, curving to the northeast and north along Mile Hill Road. The road runs north-northeast and passes to the west of a large coal mine before it comes to a trumpet interchange providing access to I-81 to the west. Past this interchange, PA 309 runs through forests with some development before passing under a Reading Blue Mountain and Northern Railroad line and entering the borough of McAdoo. Here, the route becomes South Kennedy Drive and narrows to a two-lane undivided road, running past homes and a few businesses. The road crosses Blaine Street in the center of McAdoo and becomes North Kennedy Drive, passing more residences. PA 309 leaves McAdoo and heads through a small section of Kline Township. The route enters Banks Township in Carbon County and becomes unnamed, heading to the east of a coal mine before running past homes in the community of Audenried.

Luzerne and Wyoming counties

PA 309 heads into Hazle Township in Luzerne County and becomes South Church Street, running past coal mines and widening to four lanes, curving to the north. The road runs through wooded areas with some homes and businesses and comes to an intersection with PA 424, where it briefly becomes a divided highway. Past this intersection, the route becomes undivided again and crosses Norfolk Southern's Sheppton Industrial Track at-grade, heading past homes and commercial buildings and curving northeast into the city of Hazleton. PA 309 runs through commercial areas and woodland, narrowing to two lanes. The road passes under Norfolk Southern's Hazleton Running Track and runs through residential areas before passing businesses and becoming a three-lane road with a center turn lane. The route crosses the Hazleton Running Track at-grade and heads into the downtown area of Hazleton, where it reaches a junction with PA 93. Past this intersection, PA 309 becomes two-lane North Church Street and leaves the downtown to head past homes. The road curves to the north at the Diamond Avenue intersection and continues through residential areas, gaining a center left-turn lane coming to an intersection with the northern terminus of PA 924. The route runs through more of the city and heads past businesses as it reaches a junction with the western terminus of PA 940 on the northern border of Hazleton. At this point, PA 309 crosses back into Hazle Township and runs through commercial areas as an unnamed road, passing to the west of Church Hill Mall and widening to five lanes. The road passes to the east of Hazleton Municipal Airport and runs past residences and businesses in the community of Milnesville, becoming a four-lane divided highway at the Airport Road intersection. The route becomes undivided again and runs through wooded areas with some homes, passing to the west of a coal mine and curving northeast.
PA 309 enters Butler Township and becomes South Hunter Highway, heading through forested areas as it traverses Buck Mountain as a two-lane road, gaining a second southbound lane as it descends the mountain. The route turns to the north and runs through a mix of fields, woods, and development as a two-lane road briefly before becoming four lanes. The road heads northeast and runs through forests to the west of Green Mountain, narrowing to two lanes before becoming three lanes with two southbound lanes and one northbound lane. PA 309 bends to the north again and becomes four-lane undivided North Hunter Highway, running through wooded areas with some homes and businesses and passing through the communities of Honey Hole and Edgewood. The route becomes a divided highway and comes to an interchange with I-80. Past this interchange, PA 309 becomes a three-lane undivided road with two northbound lanes and one southbound lane and runs through wooded areas with some residences and commercial establishments, passing by the entrance of the community of Sand Springs. The road curves to the north-northeast and traverses forested Nescopeck Mountain, becoming four lanes as it comes to the summit in the community of Nescopeck Pass and bends north. The route heads into Dorrance Township and becomes South Mountain Boulevard, heading northeast to descend Nescopeck Mountain with one northbound lane and two southbound lanes. PA 309 switches to two northbound lanes and one southbound lane and heads into Wright Township, becoming a three-lane road with a center turn lane as it passes near wooded residential development and runs through the community of Konns Corners. The road runs through forests with some commercial development, crossing into Fairview Township. The route heads near homes and businesses in the community of Fairview Heights, becoming North Mountain Boulevard and widening to five lanes. PA 309 narrows back to three lanes and heads through the community of Mountain Top, curving to the northwest and coming to an intersection with the northern terminus of PA 437 in the community of Fairview. The road runs through forested areas as it traverses Penobscot Mountain, narrowing to two lanes before turning into a four-lane divided highway. The route curves north and enters Hanover Township, with the median widening as it continues to wind north across the mountain. The median narrows and PA 309 continues northwest, passing southwest of a section of the Pinchot State Forest.
PA 309 turns north and crosses into the borough of Ashley, where it comes to an interchange with I-81. At this point, PA 309 heads northeast concurrent with I-81 on a four-lane freeway while PA 309 Bus. continues north towards the city of Wilkes-Barre. Within the interchange, the highway crosses back into Hanover Township before entering Wilkes-Barre Township. I-81/PA 309 runs near residential and commercial development, with PA 309 Bus. closely parallel to the northwest. The freeway bends farther from the business route and passes through the community of Georgetown, running through wooded areas and coming to a trumpet interchange which provides access to Highland Park Boulevard, serving multiple shopping centers and the Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza, where the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins of the American Hockey League play. I-81/PA 309 heads through more woodland with some nearby development to the northwest, crossing into Plains Township and curving north.
PA 309 splits from I-81 at an interchange by heading northwest on the North Cross Valley Expressway, a six-lane freeway, while PA 115 heads east along the interchange's right-of-way. The route follows the North Cross Valley Expressway through wooded areas with adjacent development, coming to an interchange with the northern terminus of PA 309 Bus. and the southern terminus of PA 315. At this point, the freeway enters the city of Wilkes-Barre and narrows to four lanes, running near homes and businesses and curving northwest. PA 309 passes over a Luzerne and Susquehanna Railway line and comes to an interchange with North Wilkes-Barre Boulevard that provides access to downtown Wilkes-Barre. The route leaves Wilkes-Barre for Plains Township again and crosses over Norfolk Southern's Sunbury Line before heading near coal fields and reaching a diamond interchange serving South River Street to the southwest of Plains. Past here, the freeway passes over a Reading Blue Mountain and Northern Railroad line and the Susquehanna River, at which point it enters the borough of Forty Fort and comes to a northbound exit and southbound entrance at Rutter Avenue that provides indirect access to US 11. PA 309 continues into the borough of Kingston and runs near residential and commercial development, coming to a southbound exit and northbound entrance at US 11. The route widens to six lanes and runs near more development, passing over a Luzerne and Susquehanna Railway line and entering the borough of Luzerne. The freeway reaches a northbound exit and southbound entrance at Union Street, where it narrows to four lanes and crosses into the borough of Pringle. PA 309 continues northwest and passes through the borough of Courtdale before it comes to a southbound exit and northbound entrance with Main Street on the border between Courtdale to the west and Luzerne to the east.
At this interchange, the North Cross Valley Expressway ends and PA 309 becomes four-lane at-grade divided South Memorial Highway, running through Kingston Township before crossing Toby Creek back into Courtdale and curving west. The road crosses the creek back into Kingston Township and heads northwest through forested areas alongside the creek between Larksville Mountain to the west and Bunker Hill to the east. The route runs past residences and businesses in the community of Trucksville, becoming a five-lane road with a center left-turn lane. PA 309 continues north-northwest through wooded areas of development on North Memorial Highway, becoming a divided highway in the community of Shavertown and crossing Center Street. The route becomes a four-lane undivided road and heads into Dallas Township, passing under Overbrook Avenue. The road continues past commercial development as Memorial Highway and gains a center turn lane, heading into the borough of Dallas. PA 309 comes to an intersection with the southern terminus of PA 415 and turns northwest onto Tunkhannock Highway, a three-lane road with a center left-turn lane. The road runs through wooded residential areas and heads back into Dallas Township, curving to the north. The route bends northwest and passes near businesses. PA 309 curves north and narrows to two lanes, passing through wooded arras with some fields and development. The road turns northwest and continues through rural land, heading back to the north near the community of Kunkle. The route heads into Monroe Township in Wyoming County and continues through forests with some fields and homes as an unnamed road, bending northwest and passing through the community of Beaumont. PA 309 runs through more rural areas and comes to its northern terminus at an intersection with PA 29 near the community of Bowman Creek, where the road continues north as part of PA 29 towards the borough of Tunkhannock.

History

Starting out as a Native American path now referred to as the "Minsi Trail", this route became part of the Bethlehem Pike. In 1926, the U.S. Route 309 designation was given to a route that consisted of Stenton Avenue in Philadelphia, Bethlehem Pike from the Philadelphia line to Spring House, modern-day PA 309 into Bucks County, Bethlehem Pike through Sellersville, modern-day PA 309 from Quakertown to Lanark, and modern-day PA 145 to Allentown; various city streets through Allentown, exiting northward on Walbert Avenue; modern-day PA 309 from Walbert to Schnecksville, modern-day PA 873 to Weiders Crossing near Lehigh Gap, modern-day PA 248 to Weissport, modern-day US 209 to Nesquehoning, modern-day PA 93 to Hazleton, and modern-day PA 309 to Wilkes-Barre.
In 1930 the highway was extended to the New York state line, following River Street to Pittston, modern-day PA 92 to Tunkhannock, modern-day US 6 to Towanda, and modern-day US 220 to South Waverly. In 1946 the route between Wilkes-Barre and Tunkhannock was changed to the modern-day PA 309 alignment from Wilkes-Barre to Bowman Creek and modern-day PA 29 to Tunkhannock.
In 1948, US 309 was dedicated as the Joseph W. Hunter Highway in honor of the first highway commissioner in Pennsylvania.
In 1954 the routing between Allentown and Hazleton was completely changed. US 309 was routed north on modern-day PA 145 to Fullerton, then west on the Lehigh Valley Thruway along with the rerouted US 22 to Fogelsville. US 309 then turned north on modern-day PA 100 up to Pleasant Corners, and then followed modern-day PA 309 to Hazleton.
The late 1950s saw the beginnings of bypasses on the route. North of Philadelphia, the Fort Washington Expressway from the PA 73 interchange to north of Spring House opened in 1959; the rest of that expressway from PA 73 south to PA 152 opened in 1961. A bypass west of Allentown from Lanark to US 22 north of Cetronia was completed in 1959, and extended to Walbert in 1962 when US 309 was placed on modern-day PA 309 from US 22 to Pleasant Corners. US 309 had now completely replaced the stretch of the 1920s-era Pennsylvania Route 22 between the former PA 3 in Allentown and the former PA 19 in Wilkes-Barre.
The north end of US 309 between Tunkhannock and Waverly, New York had always been shared with other U.S. highways. In 1964 the US 309 designation was removed from those shared sections, leaving the northern terminus at Tunkhannock. As a result of this, the route was entirely located in Pennsylvania and no longer met the U.S. Highway standards set forth by the American Association of State Highway Officials, which discourages routes within a single state. On October 14, 1967, AASHO approved the elimination of the US 309 designation. US 309 was decommissioned in February 1968 and was replaced by PA 309. Signs were changed by the end of the month. In 1967, work began on an expressway for US 309 to bypass Sellersville from just north of the Montgomery/Bucks County line to just south of Quakertown. This bypass opened in 1969 as part of PA 309.

Major intersections

Special routes

PA 309 Truck

Pennsylvania Route 309 Truck is a truck route that provides access from PA 212 to PA 309, bypassing Quakertown to the north. The truck route follows East Pumping Station Road, California Road, and West Pumping Station Road.

PA 309 Business

Pennsylvania Route 309 Business is a business route of PA 309 that runs through the Wilkes-Barre area in Luzerne County. PA 309 Bus. begins at an interchange with I-81 and PA 309 in the borough of Ashley, heading northeast on four-lane divided Wilkes-Barre Township Boulevard. Within this interchange, the business route crosses into Hanover Township before heading into Wilkes-Barre Township. The road runs past businesses and transitions into a three-lane road with a center left-turn lane, with I-81/PA 309 parallel a short distance to the southeast. At the Casey Avenue intersection, the roadway passes northwest of a park and ride lot. PA 309 Bus. runs through woodland and development before it narrows to two lanes and comes to an interchange with East Northampton Street northwest of the community of Georgetown. At this point, the business route becomes the border between the city of Wilkes-Barre to the northwest and Wilkes-Barre Township to the southeast, widening into a four-lane divided highway and running past businesses. The road becomes undivided and bends to the north, fully entering Wilkes-Barre and narrowing to two lanes. PA 309 Bus. curves east and merges onto Spring Street, becoming lined with homes. The road heads northeast and widens to four lanes, running past commercial development. The business route becomes Scott Street before it turns east onto four-lane divided Kidder Street. The road runs past more businesses and briefly reenters Wilkes-Barre Township before heading back into Wilkes-Barre and passing to the north of the Wyoming Valley Mall. PA 309 Bus. comes to its northern terminus at an interchange with the PA 309 freeway, where the road continues northeast as PA 315. PA 309 Bus. is the original alignment of PA 309 before the road was realigned to run concurrent with I-81 between Exits 165 and 170.
Major intersections

Former US 309 Truck

U.S. Route 309 Truck was a truck bypass of the section of US 309 that ran along Lincoln Drive in Philadelphia. US 309 Truck began at US 1 Byp./US 13 Byp. and headed northwest on Germantown Avenue. The truck route ended at US 309, US 422, and US 611 Alt. at the intersection of Germantown Avenue, Mt. Airy Avenue, and Chew Avenue, at which point Germantown Avenue continued northwest as US 309/US 422. US 309 Truck was designated by 1950. The truck route was decommissioned in the 1950s, being replaced with US 422 Alt. north of Washington Lane.
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Former US 309 Bypass

U.S. Route 309 Bypass was a bypass of a portion of US 309 north of Allentown. The route began at US 22/US 309, heading north of 12th Street briefly before turning northwest onto Roth Avenue. US 309 Byp. ended at US 309 at the intersection of 19th Street and Main Boulevard. US 309 Byp. was designated by 1940. The bypass route was decommissioned in the 1950s.
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