I-99 to fully open Nov. 25, 2008.

Just saw on the Center Daily Time's website that I-99 will fully open on Nov. 25, 2008.

Here's the article so you guys can read it.

http://www.centredaily.com/news/local/story/948539.html

I-99 NB @ Skytop now open

Well, at 11:15AM Thursday Morning 10/30/08, the NB lanes at Skytop opened.

Here's the link to the article from centredaily.com with pictures of the new configuration:
http://www.centredaily.com/news/local/story/935167.html

However, I have no idea if I-99 shields are posted yet. If they aren't, I bet the will be by the time the SB lanes are opened @ Skytop.

I-99 NB @ Skytop to open Thursday 10/30/08

Just saw the PR on PennDOT's website.

If you want to read it, check it out here.

1.4 Miles of I-99 @ Skytop to open soon

Well folks, I know a lot of you have been wondering when I-99 in the Skytop area might open. Well, we now have some dates.

As of right now, the NB lanes @ Skytop from the current temporary end @ US-220/322 (soon to be former US-220/322 since they will go fully onto I-99) to Exit #68 will open on Thursday, October 30th, 2008. However, in this area you'll still be forced into one lane because they need to remove the "temporary" ramp onto the old road. Also, this could be pushed back because of weather.

The SB lanes should open around Thanksgiving.

I'll keep ya guys up to date on the info when I get it.

Centre Daily Times articles:
http://www.centredaily.com/news/local/story/922316.html
http://www.centredaily.com/news/i99/story/922608.html

PennDOT website on the project:
http://i99.dickinfolink.com/index.asp

Roadtrip 07/31/08

Well, to start out on this blog, I'm going to be talking about my most recent trip. It was up to Pocono to see NASCAR Nextel Cup Qualifying. But this day was all about the new segment of Future I-99 and US-220/322 up near State College, PA.

First off, let's pick up the trip on US-22 just outside of Altoona, PA. On US-22, several examples of Buttoncopy signs are still along the freeway segment of it. As far as I know, they are still the original signage along this segment and seem to be holding up to the test of time.

Coming up onto the I-99/US-220 intersection with US-22, I find out that I-99 is under construction, again... They were making people stop at end of the "makeshift" ramp for the construction zone.

Driving Northbound on I-99/US-220, we come upon I-99's last NB shield just after exit #48.

Here's the 1 Mile advance sign for the end of current I-99 @ Exit #52. I-99 can't be extended any farther North of this interchange unless a bill passes in Congress. Till then, the freeway North of Exit #52 will be known as US-220 only.

Here's a view of the I-99 Exit #52 interchange. You can see the new highway off in the distance because it concrete was used to pave it.

Here's the first sign assembly after Exit #52. Note, you can see the blue banner at the top waiting for it's I-99 shield once PennDOT can legally post them.

Here's an advance warning of US-22o/US-322 (Future I-99) Expressway temporary end in 6-miles.

Here at Exit #61 (To US-322 West), US-322 West is still using this interchange till the rest of the highway is opened, hopefully at the end of 2008. It's also where SB traffic can finally enter the highway, as they currently can't access the highway from Skytop.

Just after Exit #62 (SB off; NB on only) from US-322, you can see the SB lanes already completed minus the paint. Now, if you where to look @ the other side of that BGS you see on the SB side of the highway, you would currently see the only I-99 shield on this segment of highway. Unforcently, there was no way I could get a shot of the sign.

And here's a few shots of the current end of the highway before you are funneled back onto the old road.

And finally, after you travel the old road about a mile, when you get back on to the highway, you're greeted by one of only a few signs in the State College area that have I-99 shields on them already but are covered over by a piece of wood.

Anyways, that ends the photos for my trip up to Pocono on 07/31/08. Hopefully soon I'll be able to post some pictures I took on 08/01/08 from the track and on the way home.

You can also see some more pictures from US-220/322 and Future I-99 at my Flickr account at this link.

Enjoy!

Welcome

Hey guys. Thought I might as well start up my first ever blog. Here I'll detail stuff I'm working on and stuff about the Interstate/US Highway system among other stuff. Hope you enjoy your stay here. Hopefully I'll have my first post about a recent trip posted here sometime during this weekend. News about I-99 anybody?