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The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) announced in a news release that a 62-mile section of U.S. 15 in Lycoming and Tioga counties will officially become Interstate 99 (I-99) between Williamsport and the New York state line on Thursday, July 30.
The Federal Highway Administration granted the designation after determining that the corridor meets all federal standards for interstate design, safety, and performance. The newly designated stretch runs from the I-180 interchange in the City of Williamsport, to the New York/Pennsylvania state line, the news release said.
"This designation from U.S. 15 to I‑99 reflects decades of planning and hard work to make a significant investment in our future. I‑99 strengthens the region's transportation network by enhancing long-term safety, mobility, and economic opportunity throughout the region," said Mike Carroll, secretary of PennDOT.
Since 1984, PennDOT has been modernizing U.S. 15 into a continuous, limited-access highway. These improvements were delivered through 34 projects totaling an investment of $480 million, including new alignments, upgrades to shoulders, pavement, access points, and roadway geometry. Updated signage is currently being installed along the 62‑mile corridor and will remain covered until July 30, the news release added.
The designation of I-99 will also include changes for companies that hold annual over-dimension hauling permits. Currently on U.S. 15, hauling permits can be issued for divisible loads of certain commodities up to 95,000 pounds. After designation as an interstate, according to federal law, the maximum weight will be reduced to 80,000 pounds for divisible loads if there is no federal exemption for the commodity.