Northern Entrance: New York State Line, north of Great Bend

Length: 233 miles

Counties: Franklin, Cumberland, Dauphin, Lebanon, Schuylkill, Luzerne, Lackawanna, Susquehanna

Routing: I-81 crosses the Mason-Dixon Line from Maryland into Pennsylvania near the hamlet of State Line, at the PA 163 interchange.  The Interstate heads northeasterly through Franklin County, passing Chambersburg and entering into Cumberland County.  Near Carlisle, I-81 connects with I-76/Pennsylvania Turnpike via US 11, then passes into the western suburbs of Harrisburg.  Following the US 11/15 interchange, I-81 crosses the Susquehanna River, and passes into Dauphin County.  Now traveling eastward, I-81 passes just to the north of the Harrisburg City Limits, intersecting US 22, duplexing briefly with US 322 and passing I-83's Northern Terminus in the process.  Now trending east-northeasterly into Lebanon County, I-81 intersects I-78 at its Western Terminus, then becomes a curvy route that generally trends northeasterly through Schuylkill County.  Into Luzerne County, I-81 turns northerly, passing by Hazelton to the west prior to intersecting I-80.  The Interstate then turns northeasterly as it enters into the Wilkes-Barre area, after which it straddles I-476 briefly before crossing over it upon entering Lackawanna County and the Scranton vicinity.  There, I-81 intersects the common terminus of I-84 and I-380, after which it turns northwesterly, ultimately hitting the Northern Terminus of I-476.  From here, I-81 heads due north, passing through Susquehanna County for its final few miles in the Keystone State, before entering into New York to Binghamton, Syracuse and points north.

Links:

• I-81 @ Pennsylvania Highways -- Jeff Kitsko

• I-81 @ Interstate-Guide.com -- Andy Field/Alex Nitzman

1 mile advance exit sign for PA 163 (Exit 1) on I-81 South, in place prior to the Hykes Rd. overpass.  The upcoming parclo B-2 interchange with PA 163 is situated virtually on the Mason-Dixon Line.

Photographer: Dan Garnell

Date: 8/04/2009

        High Res        

Sign truss featuring diagrammatical sign for the upcoming PA 581 interchange (Exit 59) on I-81 South, 0.5 mile ahead.  The right two lanes remain through lanes for I-81 South, while the left lane will default onto PA 581 East.  A second lane for PA 581 opens up on the left side just around the curve.

Photographer: Dan Garnell

Date: 8/03/2009

        High Res        

Sign gantry with 1.75 mile advance diagrammatical exit sign for PA 581 (Exit 59) and exit sign for PA 944/Wertzville Rd. (Exit 61) on I-81 South at the PA 944 exit, a diamond interchange.

Photographer: Dan Garnell

Date: 8/03/2009

        High Res        

Electronic variable message sign (VMS), affixed to sign gantry over the three I-81 South lanes between the US 11/15 and PA 944 interchanges.  While not in operation at the time this photo was taken, a VMS such as this one will often provide information such as travel times and a heads up about any accidents or construction on the freeway ahead.

Photographer: Dan Garnell

Date: 8/03/2009

        High Res        

Sign truss spanning the full cross-section of I-81 with exit sign for US 11/15 (Exit 65) on I-81 South, situated on the western end of the bridge that carries I-81 over the Susquehanna River.

Photographer: Dan Garnell

Date: 8/03/2009

        High Res