THE NORTHERN END OF US 13: Stretching less than four miles through Bucks County, the US 13 Expressway serves as the northern terminus of US 13. (US 13 continues south for more than 525 miles to Fayetteville, North Carolina.) The four-lane US 13 Expressway was constructed in the mid-1950's as a spur from the US 1 Expressway through Morrisville, terminating at the Bristol Pike (which continues the route of US 13 south) in Levittown.

Interchanges were built at the following locations:

  • US 1 Expressway-Bucks County Section (Dr. Martin L. King, Jr. Expressway)
  • Fallsington (Historic District)
  • Penn Valley Road
  • Mill Creek Road
  • Bristol Pike (existing US 13)

The first section of the US 13 Expressway, from US 1 south to Fallsington, opened to traffic in 1955. One year later, the expressway was extended south to connect to the existing Bristol Pike. At the southern terminus of the expressway, the Pennsylvania Department of Highways upgraded the existing two-lane US 13 to a four-lane divided arterial highway. The upgrade, which continued south to PA 413 in Levittown, was completed in 1958.

Like most expressways built in the 1950's, the US 13 Expressway, with its limited acceleration-deceleration lanes and (until recently) a raised-curb median, does not conform to contemporary Interstate standards. During the mid-2000's, the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) undertook a reconstruction project to rectify some of the safety and operational shortfalls on the expressway.

AN EARLY ALIGNMENT FOR I-95: In the late 1950's, the Pennsylvania Department of Highways initially sought to route I-95 across the Delaware River along the Trenton Toll Bridge, then north through Trenton along the Trenton Freeway (current US 1). The original alignment of I-95 in Bucks County was to continue from the current EXIT 40 (PA 413) in Bristol, and proceed north along the US 13 corridor to the vicinity of Morrisville. It was to have interchanges at PA 413, the Pennsylvania Turnpike-Delaware River Extension (I-276) in Bristol, and Levittown Parkway in Levittown.

However, New Jersey officials opposed this routing on the basis of the physical and capacity constraints on the four-lane bridge and freeway. The two states jointly investigated three alternative river crossings: Scudder Falls (west of Trenton), existing Trenton Toll Bridge-Trenton Freeway (through downtown), and Biles Island (east of Trenton). After further study, the two states approved the Scudder Falls alignment in 1960. The new western alignment was approved by the BPR in 1964. Ultimately, the rerouting of I-95 would prove to be a primary reason why a direct interchange between the Delaware Expressway and the Pennsylvania Turnpike-Philadelphia Extension was never built.

Some maps from the early 1960's showed an I-95 designation along the US 13 Expressway. However, it is unlikely that I-95 was ever signed along this section.

AN UNBUILT CONNECTION TO I-95 AND I-276: In 1969, the Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission (DVRPC) announced plans to connect the existing southern terminus of US 13 in Levittown with I-95 (Delaware Expressway) at EXIT 40 (PA 413) in Bristol. At the southern end, the expressway was to utilize the existing high-speed ramps connecting I-95 to PA 413. Scheduled for completion by 1975, the 6.9-mile-long section of the US 13 Expressway was estimated to cost $12.5 million.

PennDOT initiated studies on the US 13 Expressway extension in 1977. The "LR 1000 Spur F Study" was an early proposal to provide a direct expressway connection between I-95 and I-276. It was to also provide relief to the existing US 13 (Bristol Pike) and I-95 through Bucks County. However, PennDOT ultimately abandoned this proposal due to the potential environmental impacts to Delhaas Woods and the use of Section 4(f) land in Silver Lake Park.

SOURCES: 1985 Regional Transportation Plan, Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission (1969); "Interstate 95," Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission (1979); "I-95 Corridor in the Tri-State Region," Tri-State Regional Planning Commission (1979); "Pennsylvania Turnpike / Interstate 95 Interchange Project: Draft Environmental Impact and Section 4(f) Statement," Federal Highway Administration, Pennsylvania Department of Transportation and Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission (2001); Robert V. Droz; Jeff Kitsko; Dan Moraseski; Len Pundt.

  • US 13 shield by Ralph Herman.
  • Lightpost by Millerbernd Manufacturing Company.

US 13 EXPRESSWAY LINKS:

CURRENT SMART TRAVELER ROAD CONDITIONS:

OFF-SITE EXIT LISTINGS:

  • US 13 (Pennsylvania) exit list by Jeff Kitsko.

VIEW OR SUBMIT YOUR RATING TO RATETHEROADS.COM:

  • US 13 Expressway (Pennsylvania)

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