Pennsylvania Route 901

PA Route 901
Route information
Maintained by PennDOT
Length:	26.4 mi[1] (42 km)
Existed:	1933 – present
Major junctions
West end:	PA 61 in Coal Township
	US 209 in Pottsville I-81 in Foster Township
East end:	PA 183 in Cressona
Location
Counties:	Northumberland, Schuylkill
Highway system
Roads in Pennsylvania Interstate • US • State • Legislative ← PA 900 PA 902 →

Pennsylvania Route 901 (PA 901) is a 26.4-mile (42.5 km) long state route located in eastern Pennsylvania. The western terminus of the route is at Pennsylvania Route 61 in the Coal Township hamlet of Ranshaw. Its eastern terminus is at Pennsylvania Route 183 in Cressona.

The route runs concurrent with U.S. Route 209 in Pottsville and Pennsylvania Route 54 between Locust Gap and Merrian in Mount Carmel Township.

Route description

Northumberland County

PA 901 begins at an interchange with PA 61 in Coal Township, Northumberland County, heading south on a two-lane undivided road. The route passes some development and curves southeast into forested areas, running to the east of the Shamokin Valley Railroad and following Shamokin Creek. The road passes over the railroad line and continues east, running to the south of the tracks and passing through Excelsior. PA 901 crosses into Mount Carmel Township, running through more forests and reaching an intersection with PA 54. At this point, PA 901 turns south to form a concurrency with PA 54 on Locust Gap Highway, passing through a forested gap in Mahanoy Mountain and running to the west of a Reading Blue Mountain and Northern Railroad line. The road curves southeast and passes through the residential community of Locust Gap, heading east through more forests at this point. PA 901 splits from PA 54 by turning southeast to remain along Locust Gap Highway, a three-lane road with two eastbound lanes and one westbound lane.^[1][2]

Schuylkill County

PA 901 crosses into Butler Township in Schuylkill County and becomes Fairgrounds Road, which has two westbound lanes and one eastbound lane, and continues through more forested mountain areas. The route turns to the east as a two-lane road before curving south into the community of Lavelle, where it passes homes and businesses. The road heads into a mix of farms and woods with some residences, becoming a three-lane road with two westbound lanes and one eastbound lane. PA 901 becomes two lanes again as it crosses the Mahanoy Creek into Barry Township and becoming Sunbury Road, passing through more rural areas. The route gains a second eastbound lane and curves east into more forested areas, ascending Broad Mountain. The road turns southeast into Foster Township and narrows back to two total lanes as it reaches an interchange with I-81 near the Schuylkill County/Joe Zerbey Airport. PA 901 winds through more wooded areas with some fields and development, passing through Mount Pleasant and Buck Run. The road turns east and runs through mpre forested areas of Broad Mountain, entering Cass Township. The route turns south into wooded residential areas and passes through Primrose.^[1][3]

PA 901 curves east again through more woods and heads into Minersville and becomes Sunbury Street, passing several homes. The route runs through the commercial downtown before turning south onto Pottsville Minersville Highway, a four-lane divided highway. The road heads through business areas, running to the west of a Reading Blue Mountain and Northern Railroad line. The route continues into Branch Township and continues southeast, reaching an intersection with US 209. At this point, US 209 joins PA 901 and the two routes continue through forested areas with some development, curving to the east. The road becomes West Market Street and crosses over the Reading Blue Mountain and Northern Railroad line before crossing the West Branch Schuylkill River into Pottsville. At this point, PA 901 splits from US 209 by turning south onto two-lane undivided Gordon Nagle Trail. The route heads along the east bank of the river through forested areas, crossing into North Manheim Township and curving to the east. The road passes through an area of fields prior to running through more forests and heading through Glenworth. PA 901 turns southeast and crosses forested Second Mountain. The road heads into areas of residential and commercial development, crossing into Cressona. PA 901 reaches its eastern terminus at an intersection with PA 183, where the road continues south as part of that route.^[1][3]

Major intersections

County	Location	Mile	Destinations	Notes
Northumberland	Ranshaw		PA 61	Western terminus of PA 901, east of Shamokin
	Mount Carmel		PA 54 west (Locust Gap Highway)	West end of PA 54 concurrency
			PA 54 east	East end of PA 54 concurrency
Schuylkill	Schuylkill County/Joe Zerbey Airport		I-81	Interchange
	Pottsville		US 209 south (Bunting Street)	West end of US 209 concurrency
			US 209 north (Market Street)	East end of US 209 concurrency
	Cressona		PA 183 (Sillyman Street, Pottsville Street)	Eastern terminus of PA 901
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi

References

1. ^ ^{a b c d} Google, Inc. Google Maps – overview of Pennsylvania Route 901 (Map). Cartography by Google, Inc. http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=Pennsylvania+61+%26+Pennsylvania+901,+Coal,+Northumberland,+Pennsylvania+17866&daddr=PA+183+and+PA+901&geocode=FYllbgIdzFtw-ym_7OJsP17PiTGHik-lbbl1uA%3BFXsHbAId8191-ymrHK1jOe_FiTEpHiPO9sb9TQ&hl=en&mra=pd&sll=40.71181,-76.358181&sspn=0.233693,0.676346&ie=UTF8&t=h&z=11. Retrieved June 14, 2011. 
2. ^ PennDOT (2011). Montour County and Northumberland County, Pennsylvania Highway Map (Map). ftp://ftp.dot.state.pa.us/public/pdf/BPR_pdf_files/Maps/GHS/Roadnames/northumberland_montour_GHSN.PDF. Retrieved March 4, 2011. 
3. ^ ^{a b} PennDOT (2011). Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania Highway Map (Map). ftp://ftp.dot.state.pa.us/public/pdf/BPR_pdf_files/Maps/GHS/Roadnames/schuylkill_GHSN.PDF. Retrieved June 12, 2011.