Pennsylvania Route 147

PA 147 south in Upper Paxton Township, near the Dauphin County/Northumberland County line

PA 147 begins an interchange with the US 22/US 322 freeway south of the Clarks Ferry Bridge over the Susquehanna River in Reed Township, Dauphin County. Within this interchange, the highway crosses the Appalachian Trail, which uses Clarks Ferry Bridge across the river. From this interchange, the route heads northeast on two-lane undivided South River Road between the Susquehanna River to the northwest and Norfolk Southern's Buffalo Line and forested Peters Mountain to the southeast. The road passes through the community of Inglenook and heads north away from the mountain, passing over the railroad tracks. PA 147 continues north through wooded areas to the east of the Susquehanna River and the Norfolk Southern line, turning east away from the river and railroad tracks and curving northeast into a mix of farm fields and woodland with some homes. The route crosses into Halifax Township and continues through rural land with some development, curving east and coming to an intersection with PA 225. At this point, PA 147 turns northeast to become concurrent with PA 225 on Peters Mountain Road. The road gains a center left-turn lane and heads north through rural areas of homes and businesses. The two routes continue into the borough of Halifax and become South 4th Street, losing the center left-turn lane and passing several homes. PA 147 splits from PA 225 by heading west on Market Street through residential areas. The route turns north onto North 2nd Street and leaves Halifax for Halifax Township again, passing more development before becoming North River Road and running through fields to the east of the Susquehanna River and the Buffalo Line. The road bends northwest and continues through a mix of farmland and woods with some homes and commercial development to the east of the river and railroad tracks. PA 147 heads to the west of forested Berry Mountain and enters Upper Paxton Township, curving to the northeast.[3][4]

The route heads farther east from the Susquehanna River, continuing parallel to the Norfolk Southern tracks and heading between wooded areas to the west and the residential community of Lenkerville to the east, where the railroad tracks head further to the west. The road curves north and crosses the Wiconisco Creek into the borough of Millersburg. Here, PA 147 becomes Market Street and runs past homes before coming to a square in the center of town, where it becomes a divided highway and intersects the southern terminus of US 209, which is split into a one-way pair. From here, the route becomes undivided and runs through the commercial downtown of Millersburg before continuing into residential areas with a few businesses. The road leaves Millersburg for Upper Paxton Township again and becomes unnamed, heading through a mix of fields and woods with some development a short distance to the east of the Buffalo Line. PA 147 curves northwest and continues through rural areas, with the road and railroad tracks drawing closer to the Susquehanna River. The route heads to the southwest of forested Mahantango Mountain and makes a sharp bend to the northeast along with the river and railroad line, heading along the northwest side of the mountain. The road curves north away from Mahantango Mountain and passes through the community of Paxton, continuing through a mix of farmland and woodland immediately to the east of the Norfolk Southern tracks, with the Susquehanna River further to the west.[3][4]

PA 147 northbound entering Herndon

PA 147 crosses the Mahantango Creek into Lower Mahanoy Township in Northumberland County and continues through a mix of farm fields and woods with some residences, curving northeast and running further from the Susquehanna River and the Buffalo Line. The route bends to the north and runs through a patch of forest before heading northeast through the residential community of Dalmatia as George Street. The road becomes unnamed again and runs between the river and railroad tracks to the northwest and forested Hooflander Mountain to the northeast. PA 147 heads east-northeast further away from the Susquehanna River and the Norfolk Southern line and runs through forests with some fields to the north of the mountain. The route comes to an intersection with a connector road to PA 225 a short distance to the east, where it makes a sharp turn to the northwest and runs through more woodland, crossing Fidlers Run into Jackson Township. The road curves to the northeast, with the Susquehanna River and Buffalo Line a short distance to the west, and enters the borough of Herndon, where it becomes South Main Street and passes residences. PA 147 continues through more wooded areas of the borough before heading past more homes with a few businesses, passing through the center of Herndon and becoming North Main Street. The route leaves Herndon for Jackson Township, becoming unnamed, and runs north through woodland with some development, crossing Mahanoy Creek. The road runs to the east of the Susquehanna River and the Norfolk Southern tracks and passes farm fields before running to the west of forested Little Mountain and entering Lower Augusta Township. PA 147 continues north-northwest through wooded areas with some fields and development and passes through the community of Fishers Ferry. The route heads north through rural areas further east from the river and railroad tracks before coming to the community of Selinsgrove Junction and closely following them again. The road enters Upper Augusta Township and curves northeast further from the Susquehanna River and the Norfolk Southern line, heading through farmland with some residences. PA 147 turns to the northwest before it makes a bend to the northeast and closely follows the river and railroad tracks through forested areas.[3][5]

PA 147 running concurrently with PA 61 in Sunbury

The route curves north and comes to a bridge over the Buffalo Line and Shamokin Creek, at which point it enters the city of Sunbury and becomes South Front Street. PA 147 passes west of the Weis Markets corporate headquarters and splits into a one-way pair following South Front Street southbound and South 2nd Street northbound, both two-way, two-lane roads. The route comes to an interchange with PA 61 just east of the Veterans Memorial Bridge over the Susquehanna River. At this point, PA 147 becomes concurrent with PA 61 on two-lane undivided South Front Street, running north-northeast between the river to the west and residential areas to the east. Farther along, the road heads into a mix of homes and commercial areas and comes to an intersection with the beginning of southbound PA 61 Truck at Chestnut Street. At Market Street, PA 61 splits from PA 147 by heading to the east. At this point, PA 147 becomes North Front Street and continues between the Susquehanna River to the west and homes and businesses to the east, coming to the end of northbound PA 61 Truck at Arch Street. The route continues north along the east bank of the river through residential areas, passing the site of Fort Augusta. The road and the river curve northeast, with the road leaving Sunbury for Upper Augusta Township and passing under a bridge that carries Norfolk Southern's Buffalo Line over the Susquehanna River. A short distance later, PA 147 turns north and comes to a bridge over the Susquehanna River, heading onto Packer Island. Here, the route becomes a three-lane road with a center left-turn lane called Bridge Avenue and runs past homes and industrial areas to the east of Shikellamy State Park. The road narrows to two lanes and curves northwest, heading off the island and over the Susquehanna River into the borough of Northumberland. PA 147 becomes King Street and crosses the North Shore Railroad, running past homes and businesses and to an intersection with US 11. At this point, the route turns southwest for a concurrency with US 11 on Water Street, passing more development. PA 147 splits from US 11 by turning northwest onto Duke Street, heading through residential and commercial areas.[3][5]

The route leaves Northumberland for Point Township and splits from Duke Street, following Susquehanna Trail and running between wooded areas near the Buffalo Line to the southwest and the residential community of Kapp Heights to the northeast. The road continues between farmland with some trees and homes to the northeast and forests to the southwest, with the Norfolk Southern tracks a short distance from the road and the West Branch Susquehanna River further southwest. PA 147 continues through fields and woods with some development and curves to the north-northwest, passing to the west of Montour Ridge. The route crosses into West Chillisquaque Township and comes to an intersection with the southern terminus of PA 405, where Susquehanna Trail splits from PA 147 to follow that route. At this point, PA 147 becomes a two-lane expressway and runs through wooded areas with some nearby development, coming to a bridge over Chillisquaque Creek. The route curves north-northeast into farmland and becomes a four-lane divided freeway, reaching a diamond interchange with PA 45 to the east of the community of Montandon. PA 147 heads north through more agricultural areas before running through woods and coming to an interchange serving Industrial Park Road. The freeway runs north-northeast through a mix of fields and woods to the east of the borough of Milton and comes to a diamond interchange serving PA 642, at which point it crosses into Turbot Township. Following this interchange, the route passes north-northwest through rural areas to the east of residential development and reaches the PA 254 exit. Past here, the freeway continues through agricultural areas with some woods. PA 147 bends to the north-northeast and comes to its northern terminus at a cloverleaf interchange with I-80, at which point the freeway becomes I-180.[3][5]