Pennsylvania Route 52
Encyclopedia
Pennsylvania Route 52 is a 12 miles (19.3 km) long state highway
located in southeast Pennsylvania
. The southern terminus of the route is at the Pennsylvania-Delaware
state line near Kennett Square
, where PA 52 continues as Delaware Route 52
. The northern terminus is at U.S. Route 322 Business
in West Chester
. Near the Kennett Township
community of Longwood, it has about a 1 miles (1.6 km) wrong-way concurrency
with U.S. 1
before it turns southeast on its way to becoming DE 52.
border in Pennsbury Township
, Chester County
, at which point the road continues south into Delaware as DE 52
. From the state line, the road heads north-northwest on two-lane undivided Kennett Pike through wooded residential areas. The road crosses into Kennett Township
and heads northwest to the community of Mendenhall, where it crosses an East Penn Railroad
line. Farther northwest, PA 52 comes to an intersection with US 1
(Baltimore Pike
) and turns west to form a concurrency
with that route, which is a four-lane divided highway
that passes fields. Near Longwood Gardens
, PA 52 splits from US 1 by heading north on Lenape Road. The road enters East Marlborough Township
as it passes through a mix of woods and fields, intersecting PA 926
.
Past this intersection, the road passes through forested residential areas, crossing into Pocopson Township
as it winds more to the northeast. In the community of Lenape, PA 52 crosses another East Penn Railroad line prior to crossing the Brandywine Creek into Birmingham Township
. Here, the road turns northwest onto Creek Road (the old alignment of PA 100
) prior to continuing northeast along Lenape Road into East Bradford Township
. The route passes through areas of woods, fields, and housing developments prior to intersecting West Rosedale Avenue. At this point, PA 52 heads northwest on Bradford Avenue, forming the border between East Bradford Township to the west and West Chester
to the east, passing homes. The route makes a turn northeast onto Price Street, fully entering West Chester, where it continues through residential areas. The route comes to its northern terminus at US 322 Business
(South High Street) a short distance north of the West Chester University campus. At this intersection, the old alignment of PA 100 turned left onto High Street.
while the rest of the road will be torn up. This will shorten but not eliminate the wrong-way currency of US 1 and PA 52.
State highway
State highway, state road or state route can refer to one of three related concepts, two of them related to a state or provincial government in a country that is divided into states or provinces :#A...
located in southeast Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
. The southern terminus of the route is at the Pennsylvania-Delaware
Delaware
Delaware is a U.S. state located on the Atlantic Coast in the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States. It is bordered to the south and west by Maryland, and to the north by Pennsylvania...
state line near Kennett Square
Kennett Square, Pennsylvania
Kennett Square is a borough in Chester County, Pennsylvania, United States. It is known as the Mushroom Capital of the World because mushroom farming in the region produces over a million pounds of mushrooms a year...
, where PA 52 continues as Delaware Route 52
Delaware Route 52
Delaware Route 52 is a state highway in New Castle County, Delaware. The route runs from U.S. Route 13 Business in Wilmington, Delaware north to Pennsylvania Route 52 at the Pennsylvania border near Centerville, Delaware. Even though the southern terminus is at US 13 Business, DelDOT has DE 52...
. The northern terminus is at U.S. Route 322 Business
U.S. Route 322 Business (West Chester, Pennsylvania)
U.S. Route 322 Business is a business route of U.S. Route 322 in the borough of West Chester in Chester County, Pennsylvania. The route runs along the former alignment of U.S. Route 322 before it was rerouted to bypass West Chester to the north and east on the West Chester Bypass.-Route...
in West Chester
West Chester, Pennsylvania
The Borough of West Chester is the county seat of Chester County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 18,461 at the 2010 census.Valley Forge, the Brandywine Battlefield, Longwood Gardens, Marsh Creek State Park, and other historical attractions are near West Chester...
. Near the Kennett Township
Kennett Township, Pennsylvania
Kennett Township is a township in Chester County, Pennsylvania, United States. It is the location of the famed Longwood Gardens conservatory and was the birthplace of Louise Brewer Shepard, the wife of the first American in space, Alan Shepard...
community of Longwood, it has about a 1 miles (1.6 km) wrong-way concurrency
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...
with U.S. 1
U.S. Route 1 in Pennsylvania
U.S. Route 1 is a major north–south U.S. Highway, extending from the Florida Keys in the south to the Canadian border in the north. In the U.S. state of Pennsylvania, US 1 runs for from the Maryland state line near Oxford to the New Jersey state line near Trenton.-Maryland to Interstate...
before it turns southeast on its way to becoming DE 52.
Route description
PA 52 begins at the DelawareDelaware
Delaware is a U.S. state located on the Atlantic Coast in the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States. It is bordered to the south and west by Maryland, and to the north by Pennsylvania...
border in Pennsbury Township
Pennsbury Township, Pennsylvania
Pennsbury Township is a township in Chester County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 3,604 at the 2010 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the township has a total area of , of which is land and , or 1.10%, is water.-Demographics:As of the census of...
, Chester County
Chester County, Pennsylvania
-State parks:*French Creek State Park*Marsh Creek State Park*White Clay Creek Preserve-Demographics:As of the 2010 census, the county was 85.5% White, 6.1% Black or African American, 0.2% Native American or Alaskan Native, 3.9% Asian, 0.0% Native Hawaiian, 1.8% were two or more races, and 2.4% were...
, at which point the road continues south into Delaware as DE 52
Delaware Route 52
Delaware Route 52 is a state highway in New Castle County, Delaware. The route runs from U.S. Route 13 Business in Wilmington, Delaware north to Pennsylvania Route 52 at the Pennsylvania border near Centerville, Delaware. Even though the southern terminus is at US 13 Business, DelDOT has DE 52...
. From the state line, the road heads north-northwest on two-lane undivided Kennett Pike through wooded residential areas. The road crosses into Kennett Township
Kennett Township, Pennsylvania
Kennett Township is a township in Chester County, Pennsylvania, United States. It is the location of the famed Longwood Gardens conservatory and was the birthplace of Louise Brewer Shepard, the wife of the first American in space, Alan Shepard...
and heads northwest to the community of Mendenhall, where it crosses an East Penn Railroad
East Penn Railroad
The East Penn Railroad is a short-line railroad that operates a number of mostly-unconnected lines in the U.S. states of Pennsylvania and Delaware...
line. Farther northwest, PA 52 comes to an intersection with US 1
U.S. Route 1 in Pennsylvania
U.S. Route 1 is a major north–south U.S. Highway, extending from the Florida Keys in the south to the Canadian border in the north. In the U.S. state of Pennsylvania, US 1 runs for from the Maryland state line near Oxford to the New Jersey state line near Trenton.-Maryland to Interstate...
(Baltimore Pike
Baltimore Pike
thumb|[[SEPTA]]'s [[SEPTA Route 34|Route 34]] streetcar line runs through the 4500 block of Baltimore Avenue in [[West Philadelphia]]The Baltimore Pike was an auto trail in the United States, connecting Baltimore, Maryland with Philadelphia, Pennsylvania....
) and turns west to form a concurrency
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...
with that route, which is a four-lane divided highway
Divided Highway
Divided Highway is a compilation album by American rock band The Doobie Brothers, released in 2003. . All tracks are taken from the albums Cycles and Brotherhood .-Track listing:...
that passes fields. Near Longwood Gardens
Longwood Gardens
Longwood Gardens consists of over 1,077 acres of gardens, woodlands, and meadows in Kennett Square, Pennsylvania, United States in the Brandywine Creek Valley...
, PA 52 splits from US 1 by heading north on Lenape Road. The road enters East Marlborough Township
East Marlborough Township, Pennsylvania
East Marlborough Township is a township in Chester County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 7,026 at the 2010 census. East Marlborough and West Marlborough townships were carved out of the larger Marlborough Township in 1729...
as it passes through a mix of woods and fields, intersecting PA 926
Pennsylvania Route 926
Pennsylvania Route 926 is a long state route located west of Philadelphia in Chester County, Pennsylvania. The western terminus of the route is at Pennsylvania Route 10 in Upper Oxford Township. The eastern terminus is at the West Chester Pike in the Philadelphia suburb of Willistown Township,...
.
Past this intersection, the road passes through forested residential areas, crossing into Pocopson Township
Pocopson Township, Pennsylvania
Pocopson Township is a township in Chester County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 4,582 at the 2010 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the township has a total area of , of which is land and , or 1.43%, is water.-Demographics:As of the census of 2000,...
as it winds more to the northeast. In the community of Lenape, PA 52 crosses another East Penn Railroad line prior to crossing the Brandywine Creek into Birmingham Township
Birmingham Township, Pennsylvania
Birmingham Township is a township in Chester County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 4,208 at the 2010 census.-History:Birmingham Township was the site of the Battle of Brandywine, September 11, 1777, during the American Revolutionary War. Over 18,000 men were engaged. It was,...
. Here, the road turns northwest onto Creek Road (the old alignment of PA 100
Pennsylvania Route 100
Pennsylvania Route 100 is a state highway in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania that runs from U.S. Route 202 in West Chester, Pennsylvania to Pennsylvania Route 309 in Pleasant Corners, Pennsylvania....
) prior to continuing northeast along Lenape Road into East Bradford Township
East Bradford Township, Pennsylvania
East Bradford Township is a township in Chester County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 9,942 at the 2010 census.-Geography:...
. The route passes through areas of woods, fields, and housing developments prior to intersecting West Rosedale Avenue. At this point, PA 52 heads northwest on Bradford Avenue, forming the border between East Bradford Township to the west and West Chester
West Chester, Pennsylvania
The Borough of West Chester is the county seat of Chester County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 18,461 at the 2010 census.Valley Forge, the Brandywine Battlefield, Longwood Gardens, Marsh Creek State Park, and other historical attractions are near West Chester...
to the east, passing homes. The route makes a turn northeast onto Price Street, fully entering West Chester, where it continues through residential areas. The route comes to its northern terminus at US 322 Business
U.S. Route 322 Business (West Chester, Pennsylvania)
U.S. Route 322 Business is a business route of U.S. Route 322 in the borough of West Chester in Chester County, Pennsylvania. The route runs along the former alignment of U.S. Route 322 before it was rerouted to bypass West Chester to the north and east on the West Chester Bypass.-Route...
(South High Street) a short distance north of the West Chester University campus. At this intersection, the old alignment of PA 100 turned left onto High Street.
Future
In August 2010, construction will begin to relocate PA 52 onto a new alignment between US 1 and PA 926 in order to improve traffic flow. This project is expected to be completed in 2012 and will cost $15.4 million. Once the new alignment is completed, the current PA 52 south of Webb Barn Lane will become an access road to Longwood GardensLongwood Gardens
Longwood Gardens consists of over 1,077 acres of gardens, woodlands, and meadows in Kennett Square, Pennsylvania, United States in the Brandywine Creek Valley...
while the rest of the road will be torn up. This will shorten but not eliminate the wrong-way currency of US 1 and PA 52.