PA 380

West End: Pittsburgh

East End: Saltsburg

PA 380 because of its numbering conflict with Interstate 380 is known secretly as PA 400.

The Current Day Western Terminus of PA 380 is at I-579 in Pittsburgh. The first photo below from Barb and John Bee shows PA 380 (Bigelow Blvd.) as it descents into downtown Pittsburgh and I-579. This is the last PA 380 shield. However, it does look like that there was another shield there at some time.

The ramp that splits off to the left leads to I-579 South. The ramp to the right leads into downtown Pittsburgh. There is no direct access to I-579 North from PA 380 West. See Ghost Ramp: Bigelow Blvd. @ I-579 for some more history in regards to this interchange.

The below photo shows the view via I-579 North:

Bonus Coverage (Historical Terminus PA 380 West):

The Historical Terminus of PA 380 is at I-279 at the Point. In this photo from Pete Zapadka, The traffic heading toward him are exiting off I-279 and if they decided to continue straight would have been on PA 380. The traffic exiting the picture is coming from what was PA 380 onto I-279 South. The former alignment of PA 380 through downtown was Bigelow to 7th Avenue then a left hand turn onto Liberty Avenue. I-279 used to have PA 380 shields at the Point Interchange. It now reads Liberty Avenue/Mellon Arena. Pete when taking this photo walked the former alignment of PA 380 through downtown Pittsburgh, but he was not able to locate any signs.

The Eastern Terminus of PA 380 is at PA 286 near Saltsburg. I wonder if the young couple was trying to beat out Barb B. in taking this photo.

Alternate PA 380 Pittsburgh:

PA 380 seems to have a lot of controversy in Pittsburgh. "Does it continue to the Point?", is a commonly asked question. Also another frequently asked question is "Does Alternate PA 380 actually exist?" Well, I have yet to see a state map past or present to show this route as signed, but there are still signs left over to say that "Yes, it did exist once. Does it today, I don''t know."

Bruce Cridlebaugh passes along this 1996 New York Times photo. This was shot during the January 1996 flood. This shows the 10th Street Bypass underwater and an Alternate PA 380 shield. Alt. 380 seems to have been routes along the 10th Street Bypass, around 11th St. past the Convention Center, and along Grant Street to where it would have intersected PA 380 at 7th Avenue. The following photos from Sandor Gulyas can give an idea of the routing.

This photo shows a PA 380 Alt painted shield at the end of the 10th Street Bypass at 11th Street. It looks like the Pittsburgh Department of Public Works painted this designation.

This photo is of a PENNDOT shield on 11th Street near the David L. Lawrence Convention Center. This would have been for Alt PA 380 West. This is right before the road curves towards the 10th Street Bypass.

Barb Bee was able to get a close up of an installation tag from the shield above.

My guess is that the 'PDH' translates to "Pennsylvania Department of Highways" and that the '060-68' may mean the year of installation is 1968. This theory would make sense as PennDot was still know as the PDH in 68 and the state was phasing out cutout shields at the same time.

This shield, which is on the opposite side of the PDH installed shield, was placed by the Pittsburgh Department of Public Works.

Site Navigation & Links:

Return To PA State Highway Ends Index

Ghost Ramp: Bigelow Blvd. @ I-579 ---The SWPA Roads Project

PA 380 @ PAHighways.com ---Jeff Kitsko

PA 380 Junction List @ Central PA Roads ---Tim Reichard

Page Created: June 25, 2001
Last Updated: February 23, 2002