Pennsylvania Route 252

PA 252 northbound in Wallingford

PA 252 begins at an intersection with PA 320 north of the city of Chester in Nether Providence Township, Delaware County, heading north-northwest on two-lane undivided Providence Road. The road passes through wooded suburban residential neighborhoods, running to the west of Springhaven Country Club. The route heads into the community of Wallingford, where it passes to the east of Strath Haven High School and comes to a bridge over SEPTA's Media/Elwyn Line west of Wallingford station. PA 252 continues north and enters the borough of Media, where it heads into commercial areas and intersects Baltimore Avenue. A block further north, the route intersects State Street at the point SEPTA's Route 101 trolley line crosses the road at-grade west of the Providence Road station. The road continues through residential areas in the eastern part of Media. PA 252 leaves Media for Upper Providence Township and continues past homes with some businesses. The route widens to a four-lane divided highway as it comes to an interchange with the US 1 freeway bypass of Media. Past this interchange, PA 252 becomes a four-lane undivided road with two northbound and southbound lanes, passing to the west of Rose Tree Park.[2][3]

The route splits from Providence Road by curving north onto two-lane Palmers Mill Road, running through wooded residential areas. The road crosses Crum Creek on the dam that forms Springton Reservoir to the west, at which point it enters Marple Township. Past the reservoir, Palmers Mill Road turns to the east and PA 252 continues north on Newtown Street Road, running past more homes. The road passes to the west of Delaware County Community College before it heads into Newtown Township at the Media Line Road intersection. The route continues north through wooded suburban development. PA 252 turns northwest and heads through commercial areas as it comes to an intersection with PA 3 in the community of Newtown Square. Past this intersection, the road widens into a four-lane divided highway and passes more businesses before heading between a business campus to the west and residential areas to the east. The route curves north before heading northwest past housing developments. PA 252 passes to the southwest of Aronimink Golf Club before coming to an interchange with St. Davids Road and Newtown Street Road. Here, the name of the route changes to Darby Paoli Road and it narrows into a two-lane undivided road as it passes between wooded residential neighborhoods to the northeast and the Episcopal Academy to the southwest.[2][3]

PA 252 northbound past Darby Road/Sugartown Road in Easttown Township

At the intersection with White Horse Road, PA 252 enters Easttown Township in Chester County and continues northwest through wooded areas of homes. The road passes to the east of Waynesborough Country Club before it comes to an intersection with Darby Road/Sugartown Road. At this intersection, the name of the route becomes Leopard Road and it passes more wooded development, crossing into Tredyffrin Township. PA 252 curves north and becomes a four-lane road, heading into commercial areas and coming to an intersection with US 30 in the community of Paoli. Past this intersection, the road becomes Bear Hill Road and immediately passes under Amtrak's Keystone Corridor. The route passes homes and narrows back to two lanes before heading into forested areas. PA 252 widens back into a four-lane divided highway and comes to a bridge over Norfolk Southern's Dale Secondary railroad line, curving northeast. The road passes southeast of a residential neighborhood before it comes to an intersection with Swedesford Road/Howellville Road.[2][4]

At this point, the name of the route becomes Swedesford Road and it heads past business parks as a four-lane undivided road. The lanes of PA 252 split as it passes over the Chester Valley Trail and comes to a partial interchange with the US 202 freeway to the north, with access between northbound PA 252 and northbound US 202 and southbound US 202 and southbound PA 252. Following this, the route heads east-northeast as a two-lane undivided road, passing between the US 202 freeway to the north and businesses to the south. PA 252 curves east and turns northwest onto Valley Forge Road, immediately interchanging with US 202. The route continues through suburban neighborhoods in Chesterbrook before coming to a bridge over the Pennsylvania Turnpike (Interstate 76, I-76). At this point, the road enters Valley Forge National Historical Park. PA 252 passes through fields within the park, turning west onto Valley Creek Road at the Baptist Road intersection.[2][4] Upon intersecting Yellow Springs Road just east of the Knox Covered Bridge over the Valley Creek, the route turns north and enters Upper Merion Township in Montgomery County and winds north through forested areas along the east bank of the creek. PA 252 comes to its northern terminus at an intersection with PA 23 near the community of Valley Forge.[2][5]