Pennsylvania Route 973
Encyclopedia
Pennsylvania Route 973 is a highway
which runs for 26 miles (42 kilometers) generally east–west in Lycoming County
in north central Pennsylvania
in the United States
. Its western terminus is on the east bank of Pine Creek
at Pennsylvania Route 44
in the unincorporated
village
of Tomb (or Tombs Run) in Watson Township
, and its eastern terminus is at the hamlet
of Loyalsockville in Eldred Township
at Pennsylvania Route 87
.
, following Mud Run and the First Fork of Larrys Creek before crossing Larrys Creek
and Pennsylvania Route 287
, and turning north into the borough
of Salladasburg. It follows Larrys Creek northeast into Anthony Township
, where it leaves Larrys Creek and follows Stoney Gap Run into Lycoming Township
.
There Route 973 follows Hoaglands Run east through the village of Quiggleville and hamlet of Perryville, passing under U.S. Route 15
before crossing Lycoming Creek
into Hepburn Township
. Following Lycoming Creek southeast, Route 973 passes through the villages of Cogan Station and Hepburnville, then turns northeast to follow Mill Creek to the hamlet of Balls Mills, and on into Eldred Township. There it passes through the village of Warrensville, then the Loyalsock State Game Farm, and crosses Loyalsock Creek
just before it meets PA 87 at Loyalsockville and its eastern end.
raised the creek "higher than anything we've seen in recorded history", according to a Lycoming County official. The western portion of the bridge collapsed.
Highway
A highway is any public road. In American English, the term is common and almost always designates major roads. In British English, the term designates any road open to the public. Any interconnected set of highways can be variously referred to as a "highway system", a "highway network", or a...
which runs for 26 miles (42 kilometers) generally east–west in Lycoming County
Lycoming County, Pennsylvania
-Appalachian Mountains and Allegheny Plateau:Lycoming County is divided between the Appalachian Mountains in the south, the dissected Allegheny Plateau in the north and east, and the valley of the West Branch Susquehanna River between these.-West Branch Susquehanna River:The West Branch of the...
in north central 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...
in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. Its western terminus is on the east bank of Pine Creek
Pine Creek (Pennsylvania)
Pine Creek is a tributary of the West Branch Susquehanna River in Potter, Tioga, Lycoming, and Clinton counties in Pennsylvania in the United States. The creek is long...
at Pennsylvania Route 44
Pennsylvania Route 44
Pennsylvania Route 44 is a -long state highway in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. The route is designated from Interstate 80 and Pennsylvania Route 42 in Buckhorn to the New York state line near New York State Route 417 in Ceres Township....
in the unincorporated
Unincorporated area
In law, an unincorporated area is a region of land that is not a part of any municipality.To "incorporate" in this context means to form a municipal corporation, a city, town, or village with its own government. An unincorporated community is usually not subject to or taxed by a municipal government...
village
Village
A village is a clustered human settlement or community, larger than a hamlet with the population ranging from a few hundred to a few thousand , Though often located in rural areas, the term urban village is also applied to certain urban neighbourhoods, such as the West Village in Manhattan, New...
of Tomb (or Tombs Run) in Watson Township
Watson Township, Lycoming County, Pennsylvania
Watson Township is a township in Lycoming County, Pennsylvania, in the United States. The population was 550 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Williamsport, Pennsylvania Metropolitan Statistical Area.-History:...
, and its eastern terminus is at the hamlet
Hamlet (place)
A hamlet is usually a rural settlement which is too small to be considered a village, though sometimes the word is used for a different sort of community. Historically, when a hamlet became large enough to justify building a church, it was then classified as a village...
of Loyalsockville in Eldred Township
Eldred Township, Lycoming County, Pennsylvania
Eldred Township is a township in Lycoming County, Pennsylvania, in the United States. The population was 2,178 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Williamsport, Pennsylvania Metropolitan Statistical Area. The unincorporated village of Warrensville is located in Eldred Township.-Formation and...
at Pennsylvania Route 87
Pennsylvania Route 87
Pennsylvania Route 87 is a long north–south state highway located in northern Pennsylvania. The southern terminus of the route is at exit 21 of Interstate 180 and U.S. Route 220 in Montoursville. The northern terminus is at U.S. Route 6 in Washington Township.The road is called Loyalsock...
.
Route description
Starting at its western end in Tomb, PA 973 runs east along Tombs Run, then northeast along the North Fork of Tombs Run. It then heads east into Mifflin TownshipMifflin Township, Lycoming County, Pennsylvania
Mifflin Township is a township in Lycoming County, Pennsylvania, in the United States. The population was 1,145 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Williamsport, Pennsylvania Metropolitan Statistical Area.- History :...
, following Mud Run and the First Fork of Larrys Creek before crossing Larrys Creek
Larrys Creek
Larrys Creek is a tributary of the West Branch Susquehanna River in Lycoming County in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. A part of the Chesapeake Bay drainage basin, its watershed drains in six townships and a borough...
and Pennsylvania Route 287
Pennsylvania Route 287
Pennsylvania Route 287 is a long state highway in the Tioga Valley of Pennsylvania. Route 287 begins at an intersection with U.S. Route 220 in the community of Larrys Creek in Piatt Township, Lycoming County to an intersection with Pennsylvania Route 49 just south of the New York state line...
, and turning north into the borough
Borough
A borough is an administrative division in various countries. In principle, the term borough designates a self-governing township although, in practice, official use of the term varies widely....
of Salladasburg. It follows Larrys Creek northeast into Anthony Township
Anthony Township, Lycoming County, Pennsylvania
Anthony Township is a township in Lycoming County, Pennsylvania, in the United States. The population was 904 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Williamsport, Pennsylvania Metropolitan Statistical Area.-History:...
, where it leaves Larrys Creek and follows Stoney Gap Run into Lycoming Township
Lycoming Township, Pennsylvania
Lycoming Township is a township in Lycoming County, Pennsylvania, in the United States. The population was 1,606 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Williamsport, Pennsylvania Metropolitan Statistical Area.-History:...
.
There Route 973 follows Hoaglands Run east through the village of Quiggleville and hamlet of Perryville, passing under U.S. Route 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...
before crossing Lycoming Creek
Lycoming Creek
Lycoming Creek is a tributary of the West Branch Susquehanna River located in Tioga and Lycoming counties in Pennsylvania in the United States.-Geography:...
into Hepburn Township
Hepburn Township, Pennsylvania
Hepburn Township is a township in Lycoming County, Pennsylvania, in the United States. The population was 2,836 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Williamsport, Pennsylvania Metropolitan Statistical Area.-History:...
. Following Lycoming Creek southeast, Route 973 passes through the villages of Cogan Station and Hepburnville, then turns northeast to follow Mill Creek to the hamlet of Balls Mills, and on into Eldred Township. There it passes through the village of Warrensville, then the Loyalsock State Game Farm, and crosses Loyalsock Creek
Loyalsock Creek
Loyalsock Creek is a tributary of the West Branch Susquehanna River located chiefly in Sullivan and Lycoming counties in Pennsylvania in the United States...
just before it meets PA 87 at Loyalsockville and its eastern end.
Flood damage
On September 8, 2011 the bridge at the eastern end of the highway over Loyalsock Creek (known as the Slabtown Bridge) was destroyed by flooding. Heavy rain from the remnants of Tropical Storm LeeTropical Storm Lee (2011)
Tropical Storm Lee was the twelfth named storm and thirteenth system overall of the 2011 Atlantic hurricane season, developing from a broad tropical disturbance over the Gulf on September 1. It was designated as Tropical Storm Lee the next day...
raised the creek "higher than anything we've seen in recorded history", according to a Lycoming County official. The western portion of the bridge collapsed.
Major intersections
External links
- [ftp://ftp.dot.state.pa.us/public/pdf/BPR_pdf_files/Maps/GHS/Roadnames/lycoming_GHSN.PDF Official Pennsylvania Department of Transportation Map of Lycoming County, showing PA 973]
- Junction List for PA 973
- Photos of the ends of PA 973