OKRoads -- Interstate 279 Pennsylvania

Interstate 279 provides the main connection between Interstate 79 and the city of Pittsburgh. The entrance into downtown Pittsburgh from the south on Interstate 279 is stunning, as one enters the Fort Pitt Tunnel not knowing that a major city's downtown is just on the other side. After leaving the tunnel, motorists must move over two lanes to the left in a short time to continue on Interstate 279, then must stay to the right after the interstate crosses the Allegheny River.

If coming from the north, the entrance into Pittsburgh is not nearly as scenic, but still, downtown is not visible until about two miles to the north of it. Paying a lot of attention to signage in the Pittsburgh area is key to maneuvering the city's interstate system. We hope that the Interstate 279 pages show what lanes to stay in for wherever your destination may be.

Interstate 279 North and U.S. 22 and U.S. 30 East
	Interstate 279 North and U.S. 22 and U.S. 30 East approaching Exit 2 - Pennsylvania 50 West - 1 mile. The triplex of federal highways is well signed. (Photo taken 7/8/05)
	Mileage sign on Interstate 279 North and U.S. 22 and U.S. 30 East. The freeway is known as the Penn-Lincoln Parkway. Downtown Pittsburgh is six miles ahead. (Photo taken 7/8/05)
	Continue on Interstate 279 North to Pittsburgh destinations including Mellon Arena (home of the National Hockey League's Pittsburgh Panthers), the David Lawrence Convention Center, and various North Shore destinations. The North Shore is the district located along, what else, the north shore of the Ohio River. (Photo taken 7/8/05)
	A buses only exit is provided on northbound Interstate 279 between Interstate 79 and Pennsylvania 50. The interstate will cross Chartiers Creek ahead prior to Exit 2. (Photo taken 7/8/05)
	Interstate 279 North and U.S. 22 and U.S. 30 East approaching Exit 2 - Pennsylvania 50 West - 1/4 mile. (Photo taken 7/8/05)
	Interstate 279 North and U.S. 22 and U.S. 30 East at Exit 2 - Pennsylvania 50 West - Carnegie. The exit ramp turns into Lydia Street which leads to the state highway in less than one-half mile. (Photo taken 7/8/05)
	Interstate 279 North and U.S. 22 and U.S. 30 East approaching Exit 4A - Pennsylvania 121 - 1 3/4 miles. The state highway connects U.S. 19 to Pennsylvania 50, a distance of 4.0 miles. (Photo taken 7/8/05)
	The Penn-Lincoln Parkway passes underneath the Norfolk and Western Railway between Pennsylvania 50 and Pennsylvania 121. Remember, we are just minutes from downtown Pittsburgh. (Photo taken 7/8/05)
	For PNC Park and Heinz Field parking along the North Shore, use Exits 5C and 7A. For downtown parking, use Exits 6B and 6C. (Photo taken 7/8/05)
	Interstate 279 North and U.S. 22 and U.S. 30 East approaching Exit 4A - Pennsylvania 121 - 1 mile. (Photo taken 7/8/05)
	Interstate 279 North and U.S. 22 and U.S. 30 East approaching Exit 4A - Pennsylvania 121 - 1/4 mile. Northbound narrows to two lanes after this interchange. (Photo taken 7/8/05)
	Interstate 279 North and U.S. 22 and U.S. 30 East at Exit 4A - Pennsylvania 121 - Green Tree/Mount Lebanon. Traffic began to back up here for the approach to the Fort Pitt Tunnel. (Photo taken 7/8/05)
	Trucks are advised to reduce their speed for the next 1 1/2 miles as the Penn-Lincoln Parkway goes through several sharp curves as it heads downhill. (Photo taken 7/8/05)
	Interstate 279 North and U.S. 22 and U.S. 30 East approaching the Fort Pitt Tunnel - 1 1/2 miles. Vehicles carrying flammable liquids and explosives are prohibited from using the tunnel, and must use U.S. 19 North to Pennsylvania 65 South to bypass the tunnel and continue on Interstate 279. (Photo taken 7/8/05)
	Interstate 279 North and U.S. 22 and U.S. 30 East approaching Exits 5B-C - U.S. 19/Pennsylvania 51 - 1 mile. U.S. 19 joins the Penn-Lincoln Parkway for a short duplex before leaving at Exit 5C. U.S. 19 and Pennsylvania 51 share a 1.4 mile duplex. (Photo taken 7/8/05)
	Interstate 279 North and U.S. 22 and U.S. 30 East approaching Exit 5B - Truck U.S. 19/Pennsylvania 51 South - 3/4 mile. Truck U.S. 19 uses Washington Road, Liberty Avenue, and Saw Mill Run Boulevard to bypass mainline U.S. 19, which takes a curvier route between Mount Lebanon and west Pittsburgh. The Penn-Lincoln Parkway officially enters the city of Pittsburgh just after Pennsylvania 121. (Photo taken 7/8/05)
	Three exits in a one-half mile span follow immediately after crossing the Fort Pitt bridge into downtown Pittsburgh. Liberty Avenue, Fort Duquesne Boulevard, and Pennsylvania 65 North (Ohio River Boulevard) are 2, 2 1/4, and 2 1/2 miles away, respectively. (Photo taken 7/8/05)
	As we continue down the hill to the Fort Pitt Tunnel, the speed limit falls to 50. Obviously, we are not quite going the speed limit here, but this is a common occurrence on the Penn-Lincoln Parkway. (Photo taken 7/8/05)
	As traffic from U.S. 19 merges onto the Penn-Lincoln Parkway, a sign informs motorists that they should keep to the left to continue on Interstate 279 North or to head east on Interstate 376. The Penn-Lincoln Parkway continues on Interstate 376 on the other side of the Monongahela River. (Photo taken 7/8/05)
	Interstate 279 North and U.S. 22 and U.S. 30 East approaching Exit 5B - Truck U.S. 19/Pennsylvania 51 South - 1/8 mile, Exit 5C - U.S. 19/Pennsylvania 51 North - 1/4 mile, and Exit 6A - Interstate 376 East - 1 1/4 miles. (Photo taken 7/8/05)
	Use U.S. 19 and Pennsylvania 51 North to Station Square, a converted train station that now hosts offices, restaurants, clubs, and shops. Continue to Exit 7A (Pennsylvania 65 North) to the Carnegie Science Center. (Photo taken 7/8/05)
	Interstate 279 and U.S. 19 North and U.S. 22 and U.S. 30 East at Exit 5B - Truck U.S. 19 and Pennsylvania 51 South - Uniontown. The city is home to 12,065 and is 46 miles to the south on Pennsylvania 51. Truck U.S. 19 merges onto Interstate 279 here and silently duplexes with the interstate until Exit 11. Mainline U.S. 19 through Pittsburgh is a curvy drive along several streets through neighborhoods and is not recommended for through traffic. (Photo taken 7/8/05)
	Interstate 279 and U.S. 19 North and U.S. 22 and U.S. 30 East at Exit 5C - U.S. 19 and Pennsylvania 51 North - West End. The Fort Pitt Tunnel comes into view here and is 700 feet away. (Photo taken 7/8/05)
	Two views of the Penn-Lincoln Parkway eastbound as it enters the Fort Pitt Tunnel. The tunnel is 3,614 feet long (just over 2/3 mile) and goes through Mount Washington. A neighborhood is on top of the mountain. Just on the other side is downtown Pittsburgh. (Photo taken 7/8/05)

	This is the first view immediately after leaving the Fort Pitt Tunnel. The Fort Pitt Bridge over the Monongahela River is just ahead. Just off to the left is where the Ohio, Allegheny, and Monongahela rivers meet. (Photo taken 7/8/05)
	Traffic from Pennsylvania 837 merges onto the Penn-Lincoln Parkway as we begin crossing the Monongahela River. Move over to the far left lane to continue on Interstate 279 North. Exit 6A for Interstate 376, U.S. 22, and U.S. 30 East departs from the far right lane, then Exit 6B for the Boulevard of Allies and Liberty Avenue departs from the 3rd lane. (Photo taken 7/8/05)
	As we continue to merge over to the far left lane, we draw closer to downtown Pittsburgh. The straightest ramps in this area are those going to downtown, as the ramps carrying both interstates here involve sharp turns. (Photo taken 7/8/05)
	Interstate 279 North and U.S. 22 and U.S. 30 East at Exit 6A - Interstate 376/U.S. 22/U.S. 30 East - Monroeville, and Exit 6B - Boulevard of Allies/Liberty Avenue/Mellon Arena. Monroeville is 14 miles to the east near the eastern terminus of Interstate 376 at the Pennsylvania Turnpike (Interstate 76). (Photo taken 7/8/05)
Interstate 279 North
	Interstate 279 North at Exit 6C - Fort Duquesne Boulevard/Convention Center/Strip District. Fort Duquesne Boulevard runs along the southern banks of the Allegheny River. Stay to the left to continue on Interstate 279. (Photo taken 7/8/05)
	Interstate 279 North crosses the Allegheny River on the Fort Duquesne Bridge as ramps from Fort Duquesne Boulevard merge onto the interstate. Now we must move over to the right to stay on Interstate 279. If unfamiliar with the area, it can be very easy to become confused in Pittsburgh! Try taking road sign pictures in the Steel City for an adventure. (Photo taken 7/8/05)
	The mainline becomes Exits 7A-B to the North Shore and Pennsylvania 65 North as Interstate 279 exits to the right. Pennsylvania 65 begins here and goes northwest along the Ohio River. U.S. 19 is one mile to the west. (Photo taken 7/8/05)
	Interstate 279 North approaching Exit 7C - To Pennsylvania 28 North - 1/4 mile. Pennsylvania 28 connects downtown Pittsburgh, Etna, Natrona Heights, Kittanning, New Bethlehem, and Brookville. Much of the route is freeway between Pittsburgh and Kittanning. (Photo taken 7/8/05)
	Interstate 279 passes by PNC Park, home of the Pittsburgh Pirates, between Pennsylvania 65 and Pennsylvania 28. The 2001-opened park seats 38,496 and provides a scenic view of downtown Pittsburgh and the Roberto Clemente Bridge, named after the Hall-of-Famer who passed away in 1972 in a plane crash. (Photo taken 7/8/05)
	Interstate 279 North at Exit 7C - To Pennsylvania 28 North - Etna. The exit ramp also accesses Chestnut Street and East Ohio Street. The state highway runs along East Ohio Street between Pittsburgh and Etna. (Photo taken 7/8/05)
	To the right, we see the Exit 7C ramp as it splits into three separate ramps. The left ramp goes to East Ohio Street, the center ramp leads to Pennsylvania 28, and the rightmost ramp accesses Chestnut Street. Interstate 579 also comes into play at this interchange. The interstate is a spur from Interstate 279 south to the Liberty Bridge. (Photo taken 7/8/05)
	Interstate 279 North as it heads underneath East Ohio Street. The taller bridge on the left carries high occupancy vehicle lanes from Interstate 279 to Interstate 579. The viaduct on the right carries Interstate 579 northbound traffic. (Photo taken 7/8/05)
	Further northward we see the Tripoli Street overpass of Interstate 279. Interstate 579 traffic merges onto Interstate 279 to the right of mile marker 8. (Photo taken 7/8/05)
	Interstate 279 North approaching Exit 9 - Hazlett Street - 1 mile. The bottom picture shows the view from someone coming from Interstate 579. The lane preparing to merge onto the freeway comes from the Ohio Street interchange. (Photo taken 7/8/05)

	Interstate 279 North approaching Exit 9 - Hazlett Street - 1/2 mile. The freeway carries three northbound lanes through Exit 12. (Photo taken 7/8/05)
	Interstate 279 North at Exit 9 - Hazlett Street. The overpass seen here is the Swindle Bridge, connecting Charles Street to the west with Essen Street on the east. Hazlett Street is a short east-west street that begins at East Street, which serves as a frontage road of sorts between Ohio Street and Venture Street. (Photo taken 7/8/05)
	Interstate 279 North approaching Exit 11 - Truck U.S. 19 North - 1 mile. The overpass in the distance is Milroy Street. (Photo taken 7/8/05)
	Interstate 279 North approaching Exit 11 - Truck U.S. 19 North - 1/2 mile. The truck route will merge with mainline U.S. 19 eight miles to the north in McCandless township. (Photo taken 7/8/05)
	Interstate 279 North approaching Exit 12 - U.S. 19 North - 1 3/4 miles. Perrysville Road goes through some sharp curves in West View, but otherwise is fairly straight between Exit 12 and Truck U.S. 19. (Photo taken 7/8/05)
	Interstate 279 North at Exit 11 - Truck U.S. 19 North - McKnight Road/Evergreen Road. Evergreen Road is a short connector between McKnight Road and Peoples Plank Road. (Photos taken 7/8/05)

	Interstate 279 North approaching Exit 12 - U.S. 19 North - 1 mile. To the left, the high occupancy vehicle lanes are given an exit to McKnight Road. (Photo taken 7/8/05)
	Interstate 279 North approaching Exit 12 - U.S. 19 North - Next Right. The HOV lane ends immediately after Exit 12. (Photo taken 7/8/05)
	Interstate 279 North at Exit 12 - U.S. 19 - Perrysville Avenue. Access to both directions of the federal highway is available via a short jog east on Cemetery Lane, which the Exit 12 ramps directly connect to. (Photo taken 7/8/05)
	Interstate 279 North becomes more of a rural freeway as Exit 14 for Union Avenue draws within 1 mile. Union Avenue connects Ohio River Boulevard near Bellevue to Highland Avenue in West View. (Photo taken 7/8/05)
	Interstate 279 North approaching Exit 14 - Union Avenue - 1/2 mile. (Photo taken 7/8/05)
	Interstate 279 North at Exit 14 - Union Avenue - Bellevue/West View. (Photo taken 7/8/05)
	Interstate 279 North approaching Exit 15 - Camp Horne Road - 1/2 mile. Camp Horne Road connects to Pennsylvania 65 2.2 miles to the south in Emsworth. (Photo taken 7/8/05)
	Interstate 279 North at Exit 15 - Camp Horne Road. The next exit is seven miles ahead on Interstate 79 at Pennsylvania 910. (Photo taken 7/8/05)
	Interstate 279 North approaching its northern terminus in two miles. The left lane ends as Interstate 279 merges onto Interstate 79. There is no direct access from Interstate 279 North to Interstate 79 South, or between Interstate 79 North and Interstate 279 South. (Photo taken 7/8/05)
	Interstate 279 North one mile from Interstate 79. (Photo taken 7/8/05)
	Interstate 279 North as the left lane prepares to end in 1,500 feet. (Photo taken 7/8/05)
	A two-mile advance sign for Exit 73 (Pennsylvania 910) is posted prior to the end of the left lane. Pennsylvania 910 has its western terminus at the upcoming interchange and goes east 19.3 miles to Old Pennsylvania 28 near the Pennsylvania Turnpike. (Photo taken 7/8/05)
	Interstate 279 North just before the left lane ends and along with it, Interstate 279. (Photo taken 7/8/05)
	An end sign is posted as Interstate 279 North merges onto Interstate 79. The overpass ahead is Rochester Road. (Photo taken 7/8/05)

Highway Information
Miles	19.52
Counties Traveled Through	Allegheny
Cities	Pittsburgh
Major Junctions	Interstate 79 (Exit 1A) Interstate 376 (Exit 6A) Interstate 579 (Exit 8A)
OKRoads Coverage
Miles Driven by OKRoads (Percentage)	20 (100%)
Southern End of Interstate Driven	Interstate 79
Northern End of Interstate Driven	Interstate 79