Pennsylvania Route 42
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| Route information | ||||
| Maintained by PennDOT | ||||
| Length: | 58.6 mi (94.3 km) | |||
| Existed: | 1928 – present | |||
| Major junctions | ||||
| South end: |
 PA 61 in Centralia
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  I-80 / PA 44 in Buckhorn
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| North end: |
 US 220 in Laporte
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| Location | ||||
| Counties: | Columbia, Lycoming, Sullivan | |||
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| Location: | Sullivan County, Pennsylvania |
| Existed: | 1980–present |
Pennsylvania Route 42 (PA 42) is a 58.6-mile-long (94.3 km) state route located in central Pennsylvania. The southern terminus of the route is at Pennsylvania Route 61 in Centralia. The northern terminus is at U.S. Route 220 in Laporte. In Beech Glen, Sullivan County, it concurs with U.S. 220, loops through Eagles Mere and meets U.S. 220 farther north in Laporte at its northern terminus.
Until 1999, Pennsylvania Route 54 was also present at the southern terminus of PA 42.
PA 42 begins at an intersection with PA 61 in the near ghost town of Centralia in Columbia County, which has been largely abandoned because of a mine fire. From PA 61, the route heads north on two-lane undivided Locust Avenue. The road passes through abandoned areas of the town which have been overgrown with trees. The route turns east and crosses into Conyngham Township, becoming South Main Street and heading into forested areas. PA 42 becomes a four-lane road and heads to the northwest, passing through the residential community of Aristes, where it narrows back to two lanes. The road curves to the northeast and becomes Numidia Drive, heading into the Weiser State Forest and turning to the northwest as it crosses Big Mountain. The route turns west and northwest through more dense forests, passing to the east of Shamokin Reservoir. Continuing to the west-northwest, PA 42 enters Locust Township as it crosses Little Mountain, leaving the state forest and turning to the north. The road heads into open agricultural areas with some woods and residences. The route briefly turns northwest before heading north again and passing through the community of Numidia. PA 42 curves to the northwest as it heads through more rural areas, crossing the Roaring Creek and continuing into Catawissa Township. The road runs through a mix of farmland and woodland with some homes, gaining a second northbound lane. The route becomes a four-lane road in a wooded area before turning into a three-lane road with one northbound lane and two southbound lanes. PA 42 comes to an intersection with PA 487, at which point that route joins PA 42 for a concurrency, with the two routes heading north through more woodland as a two-lane road. The road crosses the Catawissa Creek into Catawissa and becomes Mill Street, heading northwest into residential areas. PA 42 splits from PA 487 by heading west-northwest on Main Street, heading through the commercial downtown of Catawissa. The road crosses Norfolk Southern's Sunbury Line before heading across the Susquehanna River, at which point the road becomes Rupert Drive and heads into Montour Township. Here, the route turns north and crosses the North Shore Railroad. PA 42 runs through wooded areas immediately to the west of the railroad tracks with the Susquehanna River a short distance to the east. The road turns north-northwest away from the railroad tracks and heads through the residential community of Rupert. The route passes through more woodland with some homes before reaching an interchange with US 11.
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