Pennsylvania Route 29
Pennsylvania Route 29 is a north-south state highway that runs through most of eastern Pennsylvania.
The route currently has a southern and northern segment. The southern segment runs from U.S. Route 30 near Malvern north to Interstate 78 /PA 309 near Allentown. The northern segment runs from I-81 in Ashley north to the New York state line near Brookdale, Pennsylvania, where the road becomes New York State Route 7. The southernmost of PA 29's northern segment is a freeway known as the South Cross Valley Expressway. The route was continuous until May 9, 1966, when PA 29 was split into the two segments that exist today.
Route description
Southern section
Chester County
The southern section of PA 29 begins at an intersection with US 30 near Malvern in East Whiteland Township, Chester County, heading north on six-lane divided South Morehall Road. The road passes businesses, office parks, and a shopping center, curving northwest and crossing the Chester Valley Trail as it narrows to four lanes. The road comes to an intersection with Matthews Road, which provides access to and from US 202 northbound. Just before the road crosses a bridge over the US 202 freeway, an entrance ramp from US 202 south intersects with PA 29 south. The route passes to the west of the Penn State Great Valley university campus as it reaches the Swedesford Road intersection, which provides access to remaining movements to and from US 202. Following the intersection, the route becomes North Morehall Road, heading to the west of Great Valley Corporate Center. PA 29 runs through wooded areas, crossing Valley Creek before curving north and passing through more of the Great Valley Corporate Center. The road runs between a quarry to the west and a lake and residential development to the east before it comes to a ramp providing access to the Pennsylvania Turnpike. Past here, the route becomes undivided near more commercial development, crossing into Charlestown Township and then curving northwest, passing under the Pennsylvania Turnpike, and crossing an abandoned railroad line before entering Devault.At this point, PA 29 turns north onto a two-lane undivided State Road and runs through wooded areas with the abandoned railroad parallel to the east. The road curves northwest and passes to the west of a quarry before continuing through forests. The route turns north and passes through Aldham before it makes a curve to the northeast and crosses Pickering Creek. PA 29 passes under the abandoned railroad line and enters Schuylkill Township, heading through a mix of woods and fields with some homes parallel to the creek. The road turns east and then northeast, heading away from Pickering Creek and continuing into suburban residential development. The route becomes the border between Phoenixville to the northwest and Schuylkill Township to the southeast before fully entering Phoenixville as Main Street, passing homes. PA 29 heads to the east of Phoenixville Hospital before it comes to an intersection with PA 23, at which point Main Street splits to the north and PA 29 continues northeast along Manavon Street. The route continues through residential areas, turning north onto Starr Street. PA 29 heads north into the commercial downtown of Phoenixville, where it turns east onto Bridge Street. The route continues east and is joined by the Schuylkill River Trail from the west, passing under Norfolk Southern's Harrisburg Line north of the former Phoenixville station before it comes to the Mont Clare Bridge over the Schuylkill River.
Montgomery County
Upon crossing the Schuylkill River, PA 29 enters Upper Providence Township in Montgomery County and heads northeast as Phoenixville-Collegeville Road, crossing the Schuylkill River Trail, which splits to the east, and heading into Mont Clare. The road runs past a mix of homes and businesses, passing under an abandoned railroad line. The route continues through residential areas before heading into a mix of fields and woods with some homes. PA 29 passes a golf course and residential developments as it becomes South Collegeville Road, heading near business parks and widening to four lanes. The road becomes a divided highway and comes to an interchange with the US 422 freeway. Past this interchange, the route becomes a six-lane divided highway and runs between the Providence Town Center shopping center to the northwest and office parks to the southeast. PA 29 narrows to a two-lane undivided road and passes to the southeast of residential development, heading through Yerkes. The road runs through wooded areas before it heads near businesses and enters Collegeville, where it gains a second northbound lane and becomes 2nd Avenue. The route curves east and crosses the Perkiomen Trail before heading past a shopping center to the north and homes to the south. The road narrows to two lanes and turns north, heading past more businesses and widening to a four-lane divided highway as it comes to an intersection with East Main Street. Here, PA 29 crosses East Main Street and curves northeast before it heads north along two-lane undivided 1st Avenue, running along the west bank of the Perkiomen Creek. The road runs near some commercial development before it continues through wooded areas between the Perkiomen Trail to the west and the creek to the east, crossing the trail again.The route leaves Collegeville for Perkiomen Township and becomes Gravel Pike, running through wooded areas with some residential development to the west of the Perkiomen Trail and the Perkiomen Creek. In Rahns, PA 29 comes to an intersection with PA 113. Past this junction, the road runs through more woodland with some residential and commercial development west of the creek, passing east of Perkiomen Valley High School and heading through Graterford. The route continues north alongside Perkiomen Creek and bends northwest, coming to an intersection with PA 73. At this point, PA 29 begins a concurrency with PA 73 and the two routes head into Schwenskville on Main Street, heading past homes and businesses and curving to the north. Farther north, the road becomes the border between Schwenksville to the west and Lower Frederick Township to the east, running between wooded neighborhoods to the west and the Perkiomen Creek and Perkiomen Trail to the east. The two routes cross Swamp Creek to fully enter Lower Frederick Township and become Gravel Pike, running through wooded areas with some homes. In Zieglerville, PA 73 splits from PA 29 at a roundabout by heading west.
From here, PA 29 continues north along Gravel Pike through a mix of farmland and woodland with a few homes and businesses. Farther north, the road enters Upper Frederick Township and runs through wooded areas with some fields and homes. The route curves northeast and crosses the Perkiomen Creek into Marlborough Township, where it passes through Perkiomenville and crosses the Perkiomen Trail again. PA 29 curves northwest and heads through forests along the east bank of the creek. The road makes a turn to the east and passes to the south of Knight Lake within Upper Perkiomen Valley County Park, heading into Green Lane. Here, the route turns north and runs past a mix of homes and businesses, coming to an intersection with the western terminus of PA 63. Past this intersection, PA 29 bends to the northwest past more development before it turns west and runs through wooded areas on the border between Marlborough Township to the north and Green Lane to the south. The road turns north and fully enters Marlborough Township, heading through wooded areas with some homes to the east of Green Lane Reservoir Park.
The route heads into a mix of farmland and woodland with some homes and enters Upper Hanover Township. Farther north, PA 29 crosses into Red Hill and becomes Main Street, lined with homes. The road continues past residences with a few businesses and bends to the north-northwest. The route enters Pennsburg and runs past more homes and commercial development. PA 29 reaches the commercial center of Pennsburg, where it comes to an intersection with PA 663. Past this intersection, the road runs past homes and a few businesses, continuing into East Greenville. In East Greenville, the route continues through residential areas. PA 29 leaves East Greenville for Upper Hanover Township and becomes Gravel Pike, passing between a shopping center to the southwest and farmland to the northeast. The road continues northwest through a mix of farm fields and residences, with industrial areas to the southwest. The route heads into forested areas with some development and passes under an East Penn Railroad line. PA 29 runs to the north of Perkiomen Creek before it runs past homes and a few businesses in Palm. The road continues northwest into farmland with some homes.
Berks and Lehigh counties
PA 29 enters Hereford Township in Berks County and runs past homes with some farms and woods in Chapel, curving to the north. The road runs through agricultural areas with some development and turns northwest, coming to an intersection with PA 100 in Hereford Township. At this point, PA 29 turns north for a concurrency with PA 100 on Chestnut Street, and the two routes head north into woodland with some fields and residences.PA 29/PA 100 crosses into Upper Milford Township in Lehigh County, which is in the Lehigh Valley, curving northeast through wooded areas with some farmland and development in the South Mountain range. The road turns north near Old Zionsville before it passes through Shimerville. PA 100 splits from PA 29 by turning northwest onto North Kings Highway, with PA 100 Truck heading north along PA 29.
Past PA 100, PA 29/PA 100 Truck continue along Chestnut Street through wooded areas with some residential and commercial development. The road curves northeast and heads near homes, with PA 100 Truck splitting to the west to follow Buckeye Road. PA 29 continues past commercial development before it comes to a bridge over Norfolk Southern's Reading Line and curves to the east-northeast near homes and businesses. The road passes under the Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension, also known as I-476, and passes into Emmaus, where the highway is lined with businesses. PA 29 veers northwest onto Cedar Crest Boulevard, where its passes through residential areas southwest of Emmaus High School, and then heads through a section of Upper Milford Township prior to becoming the border between Lower Macungie Township to the west and Emmaus to the east and curving to the north.
The road then fully enters Lower Macungie Township and crosses Little Lehigh Creek, passing through a mix of fields, woods, and homes and running to the west of Lehigh Country Club. PA 29 crosses into Salisbury Township and widens into a four-lane road that passes between Lehigh Valley Hospital–Cedar Crest to the west and an office park to the east. The route becomes a divided highway and comes to an interchange with I-78/PA 309, where the southern section of PA 29 ends and Cedar Crest Boulevard becomes SR 1019, continuing north toward Allentown.