Pennsylvania Route 546
Encyclopedia
Pennsylvania Route 546 is an 3.51 miles (5.6 km) long state highway
in the northernmost regions of McKean County, Pennsylvania
. The route, known locally as Oil Valley Road, begins at an intersection with Pennsylvania Route 346
in the community of Duke Center (located in Otto Township
). The highway heads northward, through mountainous regions before crossing the state line and into New York
, where it continues as Cattaraugus County
Route 45 to New York State Route 16
.
PA 546 was designated in the 1928 numbering of state highways in the commonwealth. The route was under construction and unpaved for two years afterward, and by 1930, the route was complete and has remained virtually intact since.
in the community of Duke Center. The highway, known locally as Oil Valley Road, progresses to the northeast, intersecting with a short connector back to PA 346 (Quadrant Route 9112). Duke Center is small and PA 546 runs along the center of the community. The community and PA 546 run along the base of the 2000 feet (609.6 m) mountain. PA 546 parallels the Knapp Creek, and after an intersecting with Galespie Hollow Road, the highway leaves Duke Center.
Continuing northward, the highway enters the community of Oil Valley, which the road is named for. At an intersection with Bootleg Hollow, Knapp Creek turns off PA 546. A short distance later, the highway passes through several taller mountains, some reaching as high as 2200 feet (670.6 m) tall. The route crosses the state line and continues northward as Cattaraugus County Route 45, which heads northward to an intersection with New York State Route 16
in Knapp Creek, New York.
The lone bridge constructed along PA 546 was a concrete slab
bridge over Knapp Creek. The community of Duke Center is the location of the bridge, which was constructed in 1970. The bridge is 27.887 feet (8.5 m) long, and holds up to 84 tons (77 metric tons). The bridge averages an annual average daily traffic
count of 804 vehicles in a 2004 rating.
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...
in the northernmost regions of McKean County, Pennsylvania
McKean County, Pennsylvania
As of the census of 2000, there were 45,936 people, 18,024 households, and 12,094 families residing in the county. The population density was 47 people per square mile . There were 21,644 housing units at an average density of 22 per square mile...
. The route, known locally as Oil Valley Road, begins at an intersection with Pennsylvania Route 346
Pennsylvania Route 346
Pennsylvania Route 346 is a state highway located in Warren and McKean counties in Pennsylvania, United States The western terminus is at the New York state line in the Allegheny National Forest, where it becomes New York State Route 280...
in the community of Duke Center (located in Otto Township
Otto Township, Pennsylvania
Otto Township is a township in McKean County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 1,738 at the 2000 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the township has a total area of 34.8 square miles , all of it land.-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were...
). The highway heads northward, through mountainous regions before crossing the state line and into New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
, where it continues as Cattaraugus County
Cattaraugus County, New York
Cattaraugus County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. As of the 2010 census, the population was 80,317. The county seat is Little Valley.-History:...
Route 45 to New York State Route 16
New York State Route 16
New York State Route 16 is a state highway in western New York, United States. It runs from the Pennsylvania state line, where it is one of the highest highways in the state in elevation, to downtown Buffalo. NY 16 is a major route through Erie County, despite the construction of the...
.
PA 546 was designated in the 1928 numbering of state highways in the commonwealth. The route was under construction and unpaved for two years afterward, and by 1930, the route was complete and has remained virtually intact since.
Route description
PA 546 begins at an intersection with Pennsylvania Route 346Pennsylvania Route 346
Pennsylvania Route 346 is a state highway located in Warren and McKean counties in Pennsylvania, United States The western terminus is at the New York state line in the Allegheny National Forest, where it becomes New York State Route 280...
in the community of Duke Center. The highway, known locally as Oil Valley Road, progresses to the northeast, intersecting with a short connector back to PA 346 (Quadrant Route 9112). Duke Center is small and PA 546 runs along the center of the community. The community and PA 546 run along the base of the 2000 feet (609.6 m) mountain. PA 546 parallels the Knapp Creek, and after an intersecting with Galespie Hollow Road, the highway leaves Duke Center.
Continuing northward, the highway enters the community of Oil Valley, which the road is named for. At an intersection with Bootleg Hollow, Knapp Creek turns off PA 546. A short distance later, the highway passes through several taller mountains, some reaching as high as 2200 feet (670.6 m) tall. The route crosses the state line and continues northward as Cattaraugus County Route 45, which heads northward to an intersection with New York State Route 16
New York State Route 16
New York State Route 16 is a state highway in western New York, United States. It runs from the Pennsylvania state line, where it is one of the highest highways in the state in elevation, to downtown Buffalo. NY 16 is a major route through Erie County, despite the construction of the...
in Knapp Creek, New York.
History
Pennsylvania Route 546 began in the 1928 numbering of state highways in the commonwealth of Pennsylvania. The route was assigned at the time on its current alignment, but the highway was not completely constructed. At the time, the sections of PA 546 from the community of Duke Center to a location 2 miles (3.2 km) north were incomplete. By 1929, this missing piece was completed, and was paved. However, the road was not complete, as there was an unpaved piece of PA 546 from that point This unpaved area was finished by the next year. PA 546, although, has remained intact in terms of alignment since its assignment in 1928.The lone bridge constructed along PA 546 was a concrete slab
Concrete slab
A concrete slab is a common structural element of modern buildings. Horizontal slabs of steel reinforced concrete, typically between 10 and 50 centimeters thick, are most often used to construct floors and ceilings, while thinner slabs are also used for exterior paving.In many domestic and...
bridge over Knapp Creek. The community of Duke Center is the location of the bridge, which was constructed in 1970. The bridge is 27.887 feet (8.5 m) long, and holds up to 84 tons (77 metric tons). The bridge averages an annual average daily traffic
Annual average daily traffic
Average Annual daily traffic, abbreviated AADT, is a measure used primarily in transportation planning and transportation engineering. It is the total volume of vehicle traffic of a highway or road for a year divided by 365 days. AADT is a useful and simple measurement of how busy the road is...
count of 804 vehicles in a 2004 rating.