Pennsylvania Route 415 is a state highway located in Luzerne and Wyoming counties in Pennsylvania. The southern terminus is at Route 309 in Dallas while the northern terminus is at Route 29 near Harveys Lake in the community of Ruggles. A rare feature of this road is that the right-of-way splits in Harveys Lake, where the State Route 0415 alignment heads along the western side of Harveys Lake, while State Route 1415 heads along the eastern side. The two routes merge several miles north. Originally, Route 415 was designated from Route 92 in Dallas along its current alignment until the current Route 29 intersection, where it turned southward to an intersection with Route 115 in the community of Kyttles, where the designation terminated. The route around the eastern side of Harveys Lake was designated as Pennsylvania Route 515 in 1928 along with Route 415. In 1946, Route 515 was decommissioned entirely and Route 415 was truncated back to the new Route 29 in Ruggles. At that point, Route 415 was signed in both directions, with the State Route 1415 designation coming along by 1990.
Route description
Dallas to State Route 1415
Route 415 begins at an intersection with Pennsylvania Route 309 in the community of Dallas Township. The route heads westward through the community as Memorial Highway, passing to the north of residential homes and to the south of commercial businesses. The route bends along a large curve, passing several hotels and entering a five-pronged intersection with Lake, Church and Main Street in Dallas Township. After that intersection, Route 415 continues on its northwest progression, running through the highly populous area, including farms and the Dallas Township Department of Public Works. After passing a large factory, Route 415 enters a less populated section of farmland and industrial buildings. A distance later into Dallas Township, Route 415 becomes a divided highway, intersecting with Pennsylvania Route 118 near the Chapel Hill Memorial Park. Paralleling the southern side of the park, the highway continues through a wealthy community, passing along power lines and a large recreational vehicle dealership. At an intersection with Briar Crest Road, Route 415 enters the small community of Idetown. The highway leaves Idetown shortly after entering, beginning a short northward progression into the community of Shawanese, a wealthy community on the side of Harveys Lake. In Shawanese, Route 415 reaches an interchange with State Route 1415, where the right-of-way of Route 415 splits into two bi-directional highways.
Harveys Lake split
State Route 0415 (western side)
The alignment of Route 415 splits at Harveys Lake, with signage heading around both directions. The alignment of State Route 0415 heads along the western side of the lake, passing through the small lakeside community. The route crosses over a short portion of Harveys Lake, turning to the north a short distance later. The lakeside community passes several lakeside homes for a distance, also winding its way through the forestry on the eastern side of the lake. The forestry continues until approaching a hairpin turn along the lake. At an intersection with Outlet Road, Route 415 makes the hairpin turn, crossing over an outlet from Harveys Lake, and continuing to the northeast along the shoreline of Harveys Lake once again. Route 415 continues northward, intersecting with the local roads and passing through several local lakeside communities. The two-lane highway gains the moniker of Berbal Road and continues along the shoreline. The population along the shore remains consistent for several miles while the landlocked side begins to dissipate along the western side. After an intersection with Anderson Road, Route 415 makes a large lakeside curve, heading to the southeast along lakeside homes. After crossing on another gradual hairpin turn, the route passes a large beach and park, entering the community of Laketon. Route 415 continues along the northern side of Harveys Lake, serving the populated lakeside community until entering the community of Harveys Lake, where Route 415 intersects with the northern terminus of State Route 1415 and the mainline turns northward along Noxen Road. At the intersection with SR 1415, the mainline of Route 415 turns northward onto Noxen Road. There, the route continues through a less populated area of Harveys Lake, passing through major fields and tree fields. The route continues northward, passing through a rural area and crossing into Wyoming County from Luzerne County. After emerging from the tree patches, Route 415 reaches an intersection with Pennsylvania Route 29 in the community of Ruggles, where the designation terminates and the right-of-way continues along Route 29.
State Route 1415 (eastern side)
In the community of Shawanaese, where Route 415 darts to the south along the western lakeside, State Route 1415 heads along the eastern side of the lake. The route heads northward along Lakeside Drive, passing through the wealthy communities. Paralleling its sister route across shores, SR 1415 heads through a large populous area, serving several access roads to and from the lake. Compared to its sister route, which went straight for most of its distance, the eastern roadway curves along the lake more often. The route continues, turning eastward along the hammer-shaped shoreline of Harveys Lake. After an intersection with Carrie Street, SR 1415 reaches a large hairpin turn along the easternmost portion of Harveys Lake, passing several local tennis courts and intersecting with local roads. The route heads westward along Lakeside Drive, entering the community of Harveys Lake, which is populous at the northern side of the lake. After passing a plethora of lakeside homes, SR 1415 intersects with the Route 415 mainline and ends in Harveys Lake. SR 1415 is long.
History
Route 415 was originally designated in the 1928 mass state highway numbering throughout Pennsylvania. When designated, Route 415 went from Pennsylvania Route 115 in the community of Kyttle. At that point, Route 415 went through Harveys Lake and Ruggles onto current Route 29 to Kyttle. The southern terminus was also designated as Pennsylvania Route 92. The eastbound side of the lake was designated as Traffic Route 515 in the 1928 numbering. In 1932, construction of Route 415 was completed from Mooretown Road to the Luzerne/Wyoming County line, with the portion now Route 29 finishing in 1934. This alignment remained intact for only twelve years, when the Pennsylvania Department of Highways decommissioned Route 515 and truncated Route 415 back to an intersection with Route 29 in Ruggles. At that point, Route 415 was designated on both sides of Harveys Lake, with the eastbound side by 1990 being designated as State Route 1415.
