Interstate 76 is the designation for two different Interstate highways in different parts of the United States, and the easterly of these designations runs from northeastern Ohio to the Philadelphia metropolitan area. The western terminus is at Interstate 71, splitting from the highway's northeastern journey from Columbus, Ohio to head east through Akron. The westernmost segment is concurrent with US Route 224, and US Route 224 continues west past the interchange with Interstate 71 where Interstate 76 ends. Interstate 76 heads east through Akron to a point just shy of Youngstown, where it and Interstate 80 trade places. Interstate 76 joins the tolled Ohio Turnpike southeast, whereas Interstate 80 leaves the Ohio Turnpike to join a freeway due east. The tolled Ohio Turnpike becomes the tolled Pennsylvania Turnpike as it crosses the state line, and it heads southeast through the Pittsburgh area. In New Stanton, Interstate 70 joins Interstate 76 east, as Interstate 76 straightens out to head east across the rest of southern Pennsylvania. At Breezewood, Pennsylvania, Interstate 76 spits Interstate 70 out onto a surface road, eliminating that other route's continuity and creating the most infamous grotesque disgusting egregious heinous folly known to Roadgeeks. Thankfully, Interstate 76 doesn't have to worry about gaps in its continuity, continuing east past Harrisburg into the Philadelphia area. At King of Prussia, Pennsylvania, Interstate 76 dives southeasterly onto the non-tolled Schuylkill Expressway, but it spawns the Interstate 276 designation for people who want to continue east along the Pennsylvania Turnpike. Interstate 76 follows the Schuylkill Expressway into downtown Philadelphia, continuing across the Delaware River to a slight foray New Jersey. It pokes a little into New Jersey to access Interstate 295, where Interstate 76 reaches its eastern end. The freeway continues southeasterly past the end of the Interstate designation, as New Jersey Route 42 and the Atlantic City Expressway (I'm not sure why the Atlantic City Expressway doesn't continue the Interstate 76 designation.)
My photo of a route marker for the eastern Interstate 76 comes from Wadsworth, Ohio. The photo shows a pair of junction markers sitting on Ohio Route 261, alerting northeast-bound travelers of the upcoming interchange with Interstate 76 and US Route 224 (the two routes are concurrent in this area). I took this photo along an early part of the October, 2015 trip to the northeastern United States. Back to the nationwide main page. Back to the home page.