History:
Originally proposed during post-war Pittsburgh, the "New 48" was a lot of talk; however, it really never saw much work done. Most of the discussion, planning, land acquisitions, and right-of-way clearing occurred in the 1960s. The "New 48" would also have gone by the term "North-South Parkway". This was the term for the highway used in White Oak: A Master Plan completed by the Pittsburgh Regional Planning Commission in 1960. (1)
The early 60s would see much of the logistical and planning work take place for the new highway. On May 24, 1963, a public hearing was held to discuss plans for the new highway; however, there were not any follow-up articles published about the hearing. Throughout 1964 tensions between Southwestern Pennsylvania Planners and the State Department of Highways escalated as political and business leaders in Southwestern PA began to doubt the state's commitment. On May 22, 1964, Mr. William Proudfit of the Route 48 Association spoke at 9:00 am at a super-conference of State Highways Officials and local leaders held in Monroeville (2). Leaders and backers of various other highways also spoke at this conference. Unfortunately, it is not known what was discussed.
The New 48 was one of the top regional priorities throughout the 1960s. The county considered the highway from Boston to US 22 as a top priority of construction between 1964-1970. The projected cost was $28 million. From Boston south to PA 51 was planned for construction between 1970-1976 for $15 million. Both segments would be based on deficit financing and were ranked sixth in importance. (3) An Allegheny County status report of the highway in September 1964 said that "Route 48 - PA 51 to Peterman's Corner [The intersection of Saltsburg and Frankstown Road in Penn Hills] is under preliminary design; some parts further along than others." (4) A June 1966 status checklist compiled by Allegheny County listed PA 48 from Boston to US 22 as planned for construction in 1968 with completion by the fall of 1969. However, final design and property acquisition were never completed. (5)
In the late '60s, land was acquired in White Oak Borough. Much of this land was at or near the current intersection of Route 48 and Lincoln Way. The state purchased the land containing the Rainbow Gardens Amusement Park via eminent domain. The park closed and was torn down in 1968. The park was home to a drive-in movie theater, swimming pool, roller rink, and a few rides.
PAHighways.com webmaster, Jeff Kitsko, has a personal story about the NEW 48:
Right of way was cleared including the amusement park that my mother used to go to as a child, Rainbow Gardens in White Oak. Now it is a shopping center called Oak Park Mall and nearly every time we drive past she says, "That used to be my amusement park. They tore down my park to build a road!"According to Matt Boyko, there was once a proposal for an "East-West Expressway" that would have begun at US 30 at either the PA Turnpike Irwin Interchange or at the western end of the current-day US 30 Greensburg Bypass and would run from those points West to current day Interstate 79 in the Heidelberg area. The New 48 and the proposed East-West Expressway would have shared a brief alignment in White Oak near the current PA 48 and Lincoln Way Intersection. I was also told by family that the Rainbow Gardens area was to have a large cloverleaf interchange with Lincoln Way.
The few remnants of right-of-way clearing for the New 48 were located in White Oak and South Versailles. For decades, the former site of Rainbow Gardens sat empty. It wasn't until the early 1990s that the state finally sold the land reserved for the highway, and the Oak Park Mall was constructed. Also, directly across from the old Rainbow Gardens were a few residential streets and businesses, these were also removed, and for many years you could tell where the old homes once were. Along Center Street in South Versailles, several homes were claimed with the only remnants being staircases from the road. (1)
Little is known about what officially killed this project - or if any definitive plans for the route of this highway were made. However, it is safe to assume that like many of the regions and the state's highway projects of that era, PennDot's financial struggles killed any chance for the highway to be built.
When the Mon Valley/Mon-Fayette project was resurrected in the 1980s, leaders of Eastern Allegheny County communities had hoped that the revived highway would follow the path of the New 48. However, this routing was quickly removed from consideration as the state chose a route that will run closer to Pittsburgh. In the early 1990s, PennDOT finally sold off the remaining right-of-way in White Oak thus ending any chances of the "New 48" ever being built.
Routing:
If you had a Pittsburgh area map in the 1960s and well into the 1980s, the New 48 was shown as proposed and under construction even if the reality was nothing was being done. I have a few maps that show different routes and plans for the New 48.
The 1963 Pittsburgh Area Transportation Plan (shown above) shows a general plan of the New 48. The highway works almost as a southeastern leg of a Pittsburgh Beltway. The map was the proposed Pittsburgh Highway network in 1980 of course much of it never happened. The New 48 would have interchanges with Route 51, Lovedale Hollow Road, Center Avenue/Ripple Road, Lincoln Way, US 30, PA 130, and end in Monroeville at either the PA Turnpike or the Parkway East (I-376). It is also possible that the highway may have had additional interchanges that weren't shown.
Another map that I own shows a more detailed routing. This is from a Rand McNally Map (Gulf Oil Company) map of Pittsburgh from 1968.
Another old map of Allegheny County shows a different routing of the New 48. This map from the Allegheny County Highway Division shows a four-lane 48 with a few more bends to it.
One item is that this route avoids both county parks - Round Hill and White Oak - and runs west of today's Route 48 in Monroeville. In Elizabeth Township, the highway runs to the west of 48 and the northwest of Elizabeth Forward High School. Interestingly, the new highway crosses Route 48 for the first time basically through the middle of the neighborhood I grew up in.
I really don't know how close the New 48 came to being built. By the looks of things, it may have been on the planning books but never got further than that. Like nearly all Western Pennsylvania proposals of the day, the plans for the New 48 fizzled out, were shelved, and eventually canceled. However, you can't help but wonder what the area would be like today if the New 48 was built. Elizabeth Township would have been much different as would many other communities in Eastern Allegheny County.
As always, if you have any additional details about this project, leave a comment or drop me an e-mail.
Sources & Links:
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| 1963 Pittsburgh Area Transportation Map (courtesy Mike Natale) |
The 1963 Pittsburgh Area Transportation Plan (shown above) shows a general plan of the New 48. The highway works almost as a southeastern leg of a Pittsburgh Beltway. The map was the proposed Pittsburgh Highway network in 1980 of course much of it never happened. The New 48 would have interchanges with Route 51, Lovedale Hollow Road, Center Avenue/Ripple Road, Lincoln Way, US 30, PA 130, and end in Monroeville at either the PA Turnpike or the Parkway East (I-376). It is also possible that the highway may have had additional interchanges that weren't shown.
Another map that I own shows a more detailed routing. This is from a Rand McNally Map (Gulf Oil Company) map of Pittsburgh from 1968.
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| The northern route of the New 48. |
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| The southern segment of the New 48 through Elizabeth Township. |
The general routing of the New 48 would be as follows.
The map doesn't show the connection with PA Route 51 However, there is a clearing along with PA 51 between PA 48 and Round Hill Road Extension that suggests that New 48 would begin here.
It crosses PA 48 for the first time just South of Elizabeth Forward High School - most likely at the former NIKE missile site. It would have followed the clearing in the valley that separates the houses along Route 48 on top of the hill and the northern border of Round Hill Park. This would be the valley clearing that shoots away from the Elizabeth Forward High School Stadium and former school district bus depot which sits below Tiganelli Farm. Current PA 48 climbs the hill and then heads right along the ridge overlooking the valley. The valley was marked and surveyed well into the 1970s. (6)
The new highway would have then crossed over Pearis Road between PA 48 and Dillon Road. You may recall this as the 90-degree turn on Route 48 where there used to be an old caboose. This would be about 1/2 mile from my childhood home on 48. There would have been about 5-6 homes cleared for this crossing.
The expressway would have then traversed between Simpson Howell Drive and 48 crossing Route 48 near Circle Drive. This would have been not the Mill Hill/ Circle Drive Crossing but the Circle Drive Crossing at the S curve on the hill. The New 48 would have climbed or cleared a hill to that point. Keep in mind that this area of Elizabeth Township began to see residential development during this time, and the new highway, if built, would have greatly changed the area.
The highway would have then crossed Route 48 at the base of Lovedale Hollow just south of Broadlawn. It would then go along the ridge or through the hill across Mansfield Road (behind the former Puck Jones restaurant, now Cross Creek Inn) The map's route places the New 48 between Ridge Rd and the current PA 48.
It would then cross Renzie Road before the sharp downhill switchback curve along Renzie. The expressway would then cross Smithfield Street in Boston near Constitution Avenue. It appears that by the angle of the map's routing, the New 48 would have avoided many of the older homes along the Boston Slopes. The Youghiogheny River Bridge would most likely have been a high-level bridge coming from Renzie Hill in Elizabeth Township across the river to near the intersection of Center Street and Center Street Extension in South Versailles.
After the New 48 crossed the Youghiogheny River, the highway would then head downhill towards and then parallel current PA 48 to its east also remaining east of Long Run Creek. The expressway would then remain parallel to current Route 48's east to Monroeville. The routing would go over what was Rainbow Gardens and what is now the Oak Park Mall. New 48 would continue north through the western edges of White Oak County Park and then through the McKeesport Sportsman Association. The highway would have crossed US 30 to the east of the former K-Mart Shopping Center. It stays east of Wall before what are now the Conrail railroad tracks.
The map does not show the highway's routing in Monroeville; however, Bruce Cridlebaugh explains how the New 48 may have been routed through the municipality.
The map doesn't show the connection with PA Route 51 However, there is a clearing along with PA 51 between PA 48 and Round Hill Road Extension that suggests that New 48 would begin here.
It crosses PA 48 for the first time just South of Elizabeth Forward High School - most likely at the former NIKE missile site. It would have followed the clearing in the valley that separates the houses along Route 48 on top of the hill and the northern border of Round Hill Park. This would be the valley clearing that shoots away from the Elizabeth Forward High School Stadium and former school district bus depot which sits below Tiganelli Farm. Current PA 48 climbs the hill and then heads right along the ridge overlooking the valley. The valley was marked and surveyed well into the 1970s. (6)
The new highway would have then crossed over Pearis Road between PA 48 and Dillon Road. You may recall this as the 90-degree turn on Route 48 where there used to be an old caboose. This would be about 1/2 mile from my childhood home on 48. There would have been about 5-6 homes cleared for this crossing.
The expressway would have then traversed between Simpson Howell Drive and 48 crossing Route 48 near Circle Drive. This would have been not the Mill Hill/ Circle Drive Crossing but the Circle Drive Crossing at the S curve on the hill. The New 48 would have climbed or cleared a hill to that point. Keep in mind that this area of Elizabeth Township began to see residential development during this time, and the new highway, if built, would have greatly changed the area.
The highway would have then crossed Route 48 at the base of Lovedale Hollow just south of Broadlawn. It would then go along the ridge or through the hill across Mansfield Road (behind the former Puck Jones restaurant, now Cross Creek Inn) The map's route places the New 48 between Ridge Rd and the current PA 48.
It would then cross Renzie Road before the sharp downhill switchback curve along Renzie. The expressway would then cross Smithfield Street in Boston near Constitution Avenue. It appears that by the angle of the map's routing, the New 48 would have avoided many of the older homes along the Boston Slopes. The Youghiogheny River Bridge would most likely have been a high-level bridge coming from Renzie Hill in Elizabeth Township across the river to near the intersection of Center Street and Center Street Extension in South Versailles.
After the New 48 crossed the Youghiogheny River, the highway would then head downhill towards and then parallel current PA 48 to its east also remaining east of Long Run Creek. The expressway would then remain parallel to current Route 48's east to Monroeville. The routing would go over what was Rainbow Gardens and what is now the Oak Park Mall. New 48 would continue north through the western edges of White Oak County Park and then through the McKeesport Sportsman Association. The highway would have crossed US 30 to the east of the former K-Mart Shopping Center. It stays east of Wall before what are now the Conrail railroad tracks.
The map does not show the highway's routing in Monroeville; however, Bruce Cridlebaugh explains how the New 48 may have been routed through the municipality.
The old Monroeville map that the real estate companies used to give out in the 70s showed a proposed PA 48. It looked like the new highway would've crossed Northern Pike at Deauville Apartments/LaVale Dr. This would've brought the road to meet US 22 nearly a mile east of the PA Turnpike -- east of Giant Eagle on Old Wm Penn Hwy -- in the area of the former Burke's Glen Pool (now a car dealer).
However, a 2023 find of an old pull-down wall map has given more clarity to the routing north of US 30 and through Monroeville. The routing south of US 30 is consistent with the Rand McNally Map above.
After crossing Route 30, the proposed highway would have headed toward Trafford and into the Turtle Creek Valley to the east of PA 48. It would cross the railroad tracks and then turn west paralleling the tracks and PA 130. It would most likely have taken out the Haymaker Village Shops on 130. It would cross Mosside Boulevard and 48 at the current PA 130 crossroads. It would then turn north to the west of Mosside Boulevard climbing towards Monroeville between Route 48 and Tilbrook Road. The four-lane highway would again cross over PA 48 at Northern Pike before tying into the US 22/Parkway West (I-376)/PA Turnpike Interchange complex.
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| An unknown date wall map of Southern Allegheny County showing the full New PA 48 corridor routing. It is the green dashed line that runs from the bottom-right up. |
How well this routing would have been - I am not sure. It would be interesting to see how the New 48 would have wedged around the Gateway High School complex. Gateway High School opened in 1958, well before most of the serious New 48 plans were published. In addition, I would expect an interchange near the current-day PA 48/130 intersection. Also, would considerations have been built for an eventual tie-in to the Tri-Boro Expressway? We may never know, as it looks like only corridor maps were made public.
Other Routings?Another old map of Allegheny County shows a different routing of the New 48. This map from the Allegheny County Highway Division shows a four-lane 48 with a few more bends to it.
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| 1973 Allegheny County Map showing a different routing of the New 48. |
One item is that this route avoids both county parks - Round Hill and White Oak - and runs west of today's Route 48 in Monroeville. In Elizabeth Township, the highway runs to the west of 48 and the northwest of Elizabeth Forward High School. Interestingly, the new highway crosses Route 48 for the first time basically through the middle of the neighborhood I grew up in.
I really don't know how close the New 48 came to being built. By the looks of things, it may have been on the planning books but never got further than that. Like nearly all Western Pennsylvania proposals of the day, the plans for the New 48 fizzled out, were shelved, and eventually canceled. However, you can't help but wonder what the area would be like today if the New 48 was built. Elizabeth Township would have been much different as would many other communities in Eastern Allegheny County.
As always, if you have any additional details about this project, leave a comment or drop me an e-mail.
Site Navigation:
Sources & Links:
- Jeff Kitsko
- Bruce Cridlebaugh
- (1) Matt Boyko, who provided information from "White Oak: A Master Plan"
- (2) Agenda - Pittsburgh Meeting of the State Highway Commission May 22, 1964.
- (3) State Highway Program in Allegheny County Status; 1963.
- (4) State Highway Program in Allegheny County Status; September 1964.
- (5) State Highway Program in Allegheny County Status; June 1966.
- (6) Smeak, Roma. "Interesting Study of the Undeveloped 48." Personal e-mail. Sept. 15, 2004.
- North-South Parkway @ Pittsburgh Highways ---Jeff Kitsko
- Page first published on gribblenation.com - August 18, 2000
- Last Gribblenation.com Update - January 6, 2005
- Moved to gribblenation.net - December 22, 2017
- Much-needed grammar/spelling corrections and minor updates - December 27, 2020.
- SWPA Roads Project Index Link added - January 15, 2023.
- Updated to include more detail on possible routing from US 30 to Monroeville - February 19, 2023.
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