The Capital Beltway is a beltway surrounding Harrisburg, Pennsylvania

Harrisburg, Pennsylvania

Harrisburg is the capital of Pennsylvania. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 49,528, making it the ninth largest city in Pennsylvania...

, in the United States

United States

The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...

. It is co-designated

Concurrency (road)

A concurrency, overlap, or coincidence in a road network is an instance of one physical road bearing two or more different highway, motorway, or other route numbers...

 as Interstate 81

Interstate 81 in Pennsylvania

Interstate 81 is an long north–south Interstate Highway, stretching from Dandridge, Tennessee to Fisher's Landing, New York at the US/Canadian border...

 (I-81), I-83, U.S. Route 11

U.S. Route 11 in Pennsylvania

U.S. Route 11 roughly parallels Interstate 81 in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. It serves Harrisburg and Scranton. Between those two cities, US 11 follows the Susquehanna River, while I-81 follows a shorter route over the mountains.-Route description:...

 (US 11), US 322

U.S. Route 322 in Pennsylvania

U.S. Route 322 is a U.S. highway running from Cleveland, Ohio east to Atlantic City, New Jersey. In the U.S. state of Pennsylvania, the route runs from the Ohio border in West Shenango Township southeast to the Commodore Barry Bridge over the Delaware River in Chester, at which point the route...

, and Pennsylvania Route 581 (PA 581) at various locations along the route. The beltway is primarily located in the suburbs of Harrisburg; however, part of its southern leg passes along the southern edge of downtown

Downtown Harrisburg, Pennsylvania

Downtown Harrisburg, is the central core business and government center which surrounds the focal point of Market Square, and serves a the regional center for the greater metropolitan area of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, USA....

. The southwestern section of the highway is named the Harrisburg Expressway. All of the beltway was complete by 1995; however, it was not designated as the Capital Beltway until 1997.

Route description

The Capital Beltway begins at the interchange of the eastern terminus of PA 581 and I-83 2 miles (3.2 km) west of Harrisburg

Harrisburg, Pennsylvania

Harrisburg is the capital of Pennsylvania. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 49,528, making it the ninth largest city in Pennsylvania...

 in Lemoyne

Lemoyne, Pennsylvania

Lemoyne is a borough in Cumberland County, Pennsylvania, United States. Lemoyne was incorporated as a borough on May 23, 1905. As of the 2000 census, the borough population was 3,995. It was formerly named Bridgeport. Lemoyne lies across the Susquehanna River from Harrisburg, Pennsylvania's capital...

. This junction is colloquially known as the "York split". From the split, the beltway crosses the Susquehanna River

Susquehanna River

The Susquehanna River is a river located in the northeastern United States. At long, it is the longest river on the American east coast that drains into the Atlantic Ocean, and with its watershed it is the 16th largest river in the United States, and the longest river in the continental United...

 on the John Harris Bridge

John Harris Bridge

The John Harris Bridge, also known locally as the South Bridge, carries Interstate 83 across the Susquehanna River connecting downtown Harrisburg, Pennsylvania and its western suburbs in Cumberland County, Pennsylvania. The South Bridge officially opened on January 22, 1960 and was later widened...

, connecting Harrisburg to its west shore (a colloquialism of the western bank of the Susquehanna across from Harrisburg) suburbs of the city.

Continuing on I-83, the beltway parallels Paxton Street (formerly US 322

U.S. Route 322 in Pennsylvania

U.S. Route 322 is a U.S. highway running from Cleveland, Ohio east to Atlantic City, New Jersey. In the U.S. state of Pennsylvania, the route runs from the Ohio border in West Shenango Township southeast to the Commodore Barry Bridge over the Delaware River in Chester, at which point the route...

), passing the Harrisburg Mall as the road approaches the Eisenhower Interchange. At the junction, the Capital Beltway continues on I-83 as it turns north, while beginning a concurrency with US 322. Continuing for three miles (5 km), I-83 ends at I-81

Interstate 81 in Pennsylvania

Interstate 81 is an long north–south Interstate Highway, stretching from Dandridge, Tennessee to Fisher's Landing, New York at the US/Canadian border...

 at an interchange locally known as the "81/83 split". US 322 and the Capital Beltway continue on I-81 south.

On I-81, US 322 exits off I-81 at exit 67B, heading in a northerly direction to State College

State College, Pennsylvania

State College is the largest borough in Centre County in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. It is the principal city of the State College, Pennsylvania Metropolitan Statistical Area which encompasses all of Centre County. As of the 2010 census, the borough population was 42,034, and roughly double...

, beginning a concurrency with US 22 west. Exit 67A is for US 22 east, Cameron Street, which is where the Farm Show Arena Complex is located (a half mile south of the beltway). The Capital Beltway crosses the Susquehanna the second time on the George N. Wade Memorial Bridge

George N. Wade Memorial Bridge

The George N. Wade Memorial Bridge, also known as the North Bridge, carries Interstate 81 and the Capital Beltway across the Susquehanna River in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. Bridge construction began in the late 1960s and was completed in the early 1970s. The bridge is long and varies in width from ...

. The beltway makes a southerly turn just beyond the bridge, near the western end of the Susquehanna Water Gap of Blue Mountain

Blue Mountain (Pennsylvania)

Blue Mountain is a ridge that forms the eastern edge of the Appalachian mountain range in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. It cuts across the eastern half of the state from New Jersey to Maryland, providing a distinct boundary between a number of Pennsylvania's geographical and cultural regions...

.

Continuing on I-81 until exit 59, the Capital Beltway exits onto PA 581, also known as the Harrisburg Expressway. US 11 begins a concurrency with PA 581 starting at exit 3, and then exits off and starts a concurrency with US 15

U.S. Route 15

U.S. Route 15 is a -long United States highway, designated along South Carolina, North Carolina, Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, and New York. The route is signed north–south, from U.S. Route 17 Alternate in Walterboro, South Carolina to Interstate 86 and NY 17 in Painted Post, New York.US...

 in Camp Hill

Camp Hill, Pennsylvania

Camp Hill is a borough in Cumberland County, Pennsylvania, 2 miles southwest of Harrisburg. It is part of the Harrisburg–Carlisle Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 7,636 at the 2000 census...

, at the Camp Hill Shopping Center (formerly Camp Hill Mall). The beltway continues for two miles (3 km) until it completes the loop by reaching I-83 at the York split.

History

The I-81 and I-83 sections of the beltway were both fully completed by the 1970s. A expressway connecting I-81 to I-83 had been planned, and the portion of the highway from the York split to US 11 and US 15 in Camp Hill was completed in 1992. It became known as the Harrisburg Expressway, and it was given the PA 581 designation. The section from Camp Hill to I-81 remained incomplete until 1995 when construction began on the segment. It was finally completed and opened for public use in 1997. The PA 581 designation was extended northwestward to the interchange with I-81 when it opened. The Capital Beltway designation was assigned to its current alignment at this time. Engineering for the project was provided by Gannett Fleming of Camp Hill.

Exit list

County	Location	Mile	Exit	Destinations	Notes
Cumberland Cumberland County, Pennsylvania Cumberland County is a county located in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania and is one of three counties comprising the Harrisburg–Carlisle Metropolitan Statistical Area. As of 2010, the population was 235,406.-History:...	Lemoyne Lemoyne, Pennsylvania Lemoyne is a borough in Cumberland County, Pennsylvania, United States. Lemoyne was incorporated as a borough on May 23, 1905. As of the 2000 census, the borough population was 3,995. It was formerly named Bridgeport. Lemoyne lies across the Susquehanna River from Harrisburg, Pennsylvania's capital...	41.41	41A		Inner loop exit and outer loop entrance; east end of concurrency with PA 581; south end of concurrency with I-83
		41.31	41B	Highland Park Highland Park, Pennsylvania Highland Park is a census-designated place in Mifflin County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 1,446 at the 2000 census.-General information:*ZIP Code: 17044*Area Code: 717*Local Phone Exchanges: 242, 247, 248...	Outer loop exit and entrance
		41.63	42	South 3rd Street	Outer loop exit and inner loop entrance
		42.01		Lowther Street	Inner loop exit and outer loop entrance
Dauphin Dauphin County, Pennsylvania Dauphin County is a county in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania and is one of the three counties comprising the Harrisburg–Carlisle Metropolitan Statistical Area. As of 2010 census, the population was 268,100. The county includes the city of Harrisburg, which has served as the state capital...	Harrisburg Harrisburg, Pennsylvania Harrisburg is the capital of Pennsylvania. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 49,528, making it the ninth largest city in Pennsylvania...	42.70	43	2nd Street
		43.13	44A	13th Street
		43.54	44B	17th Street / 19th Street
	Swatara Township Swatara Township, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania Swatara Township is a township in Dauphin County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 22,611 at the 2000 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the township has a total area of 15.8 square miles , of which, 13.2 square miles of it is land and...	45.11	45	32nd Street	Outer loop exit
				Paxton Street	Inner loop exit
		45.92	46
		45.96	47		Outer loop exit and inner loop entrance; south end of concurrency with US 322
		46.76	47		Inner loop exit and outer loop entrance; south end of concurrency with US 322
	Lower Paxton Township Lower Paxton Township, Pennsylvania Lower Paxton Township is a township in Dauphin County, Pennsylvania, United States. The township was incorporated in 1767 from Paxton Township...	47.92	48	Union Deposit Road, Penbrook Penbrook, Pennsylvania Penbrook is a borough in Dauphin County, Pennsylvania, founded in 1861 and incorporated July 10, 1894. Penbrook was once named East Harrisburg and still maintains a Harrisburg postal ZIP code...
		49.23	50		Split into exits 50A (east) and 50B (west) on outer loop
		50.21	51		Split into exits 51A (west / south) and 51B (north) on inner loop; east end foe concurrency with I-81; north end of concurrency with I-83
		69.70	70		Inner loop exit; east end of I-81 overlap; north end of I-83 overlap
	Susquehanna Township Susquehanna Township, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania Susquehanna Township is a township in Dauphin County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 24,036 at the 2010 census. This represents a 9.8% increase from the 2000 census count of 21,895. Susquehanna Township has the postal ZIP codes 17109 and 17110, which maintain the Harrisburg place...	68.70	69	Progress Avenue	Serves Widener University Widener University Widener University is a private, coeducational university located in Chester, Pennsylvania.Its main campus sits on 108 acres , just southwest of Philadelphia...
		67.13	67B		North end of US 322 overlap; left exit on inner loop
			67A		Serves Harrisburg Area Community College Harrisburg Area Community College HACC, Central Pennsylvania's Community College is a community college in the United States serving the greater Harrisburg, Pennsylvania metropolitan area. HACC is accredited by the Commission on Higher Education of the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools... ; left exit on outer loop
		65.97	66	Front Street – Downtown Harrisburg	Serves Amtrak Amtrak The National Railroad Passenger Corporation, doing business as Amtrak , is a government-owned corporation that was organized on May 1, 1971, to provide intercity passenger train service in the United States. "Amtrak" is a portmanteau of the words "America" and "track". It is headquartered at Union...  Terminal
Cumberland Cumberland County, Pennsylvania Cumberland County is a county located in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania and is one of three counties comprising the Harrisburg–Carlisle Metropolitan Statistical Area. As of 2010, the population was 235,406.-History:...	East Pennsboro Township East Pennsboro Township, Pennsylvania East Pennsboro Township is a township in Cumberland County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 18,254 at the 2000 census. In 1990 the township had a population of 16,588. East Pennsboro is the second largest municipality in Cumberland County. The township is located along the...	64.78	65		Serves Central Pennsylvania College Central Pennsylvania College Central Penn College, formerly known as "Central Pennsylvania College", is America's largest career-oriented college located in the suburban Harrisburg, Pennsylvania neighborhood of Summerdale, Pennsylvania.... ; split into exits 65A (south) and 65B (north)
	Hampden Township Hampden Township, Pennsylvania Hampden Township is the largest municipality in Cumberland County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 24,135 at the 2000 census.-Geography:...	60.85	61
		59.13	59		Outer loop exit; west end of concurrency with PA 581 and I-81
		0.00	1		Split into exits 1A (north) and 1B (south loop exit; west end of concurrency with PA 581 and I-81
		1.00	2	Creekview Road
		2.10	3		West end of concurrency with US 11
	Camp Hill Camp Hill, Pennsylvania Camp Hill is a borough in Cumberland County, Pennsylvania, 2 miles southwest of Harrisburg. It is part of the Harrisburg–Carlisle Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 7,636 at the 2000 census...	4.09	4
		5.07	5B
			5A		Cloverleaf interchange Cloverleaf interchange A cloverleaf interchange is a two-level interchange in which left turns, reverse direction in left-driving regions, are handled by ramp roads... ; east end of concurrency with US 11
	Highland Park Area	7.36	6		Split into exits 6A (north) and 6B (south) on outer loop; east end of PA 581 overlap; south end of concurrency with I-83 overlap

See also

• Capital Beltway
  Interstate 495 (Capital Beltway)
  Interstate 495 is a Interstate Highway that surrounds the United States' capital of Washington, D.C., and its inner suburbs in adjacent Maryland and Virginia. I-495 is widely known as the Capital Beltway or simply the Beltway, especially when the context of Washington, D.C., is clear...
  
  , in the Washington, D.C.
  Washington, D.C.
  Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
  
  metropolitan area