Pennsylvania Route 663

PA Route 663
290x172px Map of northern Montgomery County and western Bucks County with PA 663 highlighted in red
Route information
Maintained by PennDOT
Length:	22.134 mi (35.621 km)
Existed:	by 1930 – present
Major junctions
South end:	PA 100 in Pottstown
	PA 73 in New Hanover Township PA 29 in Pennsburg I-476 / Penna Turnpike NE Extension near Quakertown
North end:	PA 309 / PA 313 in Quakertown
Location
Counties:	Bucks, Montgomery
Highway system
Pennsylvania State Route System Interstate US State Scenic Byways Legislative ← PA 662 PA 664 →

Pennsylvania Route 663 (PA 663) is a 22.98-mile-long (36.98 km) state highway in Bucks and Montgomery counties in southeast Pennsylvania. Its northern terminus is at PA 309 and PA 313 in Quakertown, where it continues eastward as PA 313, and its southern terminus is at PA 100 in Pottstown. Along the way, PA 663 also passes through the town of Pennsburg. It is called John Fries Highway between Pennsburg and Quakertown. It has an interchange with Interstate 476 (I-476, the Northeast Extension of the Pennsylvania Turnpike) at exit 44 west of Quakertown. The route was assigned in 1930, and it has had several realignments since its commissioning, including two major ones.

Route description

File:PA 663 SB approaching PA 100 2.JPG

PA 663 approaching its southern terminus at PA 100 in Pottstown.

PA 663 begins at an intersection with PA 100 in Pottstown, Montgomery County, heading east on four-lane undivided West King Street. The road passes through commercial areas and crosses the Colebrookdale Railroad and Manatawny Creek. The route becomes two-lane undivided King Street and is lined with residences. PA 663 turns north onto Charlotte Street and continues past homes, curving to the northeast. The road crosses into Upper Pottsgrove Township and runs through a mix of residential and commercial areas as North Charlotte Street. The route turns east before it curves back to the northeast. PA 663 continues through wooded areas with a few homes and enters New Hanover Township. The road runs through more rural areas with some development and passes to the east of New Hanover Airport at the Swamp Pike intersection.

Farther northeast, PA 663 intersects PA 73 and turns east to form a concurrency with that route on Big Road. The road crosses Swamp Creek before PA 663 splits from PA 73 by heading northeast on Layfield Road. The route runs through farmland and woodland with some development. Farther northeast, the road heads into Upper Hanover Township and crosses the Green Lane Reservoir along the Perkiomen Creek. PA 663 heads into Pennsburg, where it becomes Pottstown Avenue and runs past homes and a few businesses. In the center of town, the route intersects PA 29. Past this intersection, the road becomes Quakertown Avenue and passes more development before leaving Pennsburg for Upper Hanover Township again. At this point, the route becomes John Fries Highway and heads through farm fields and woods.

File:PA 663 and Geryville Pike.JPG

Geryville Pike intersection locates in rural area.

Two mile sign for Exit 44 on Interstate 476 (Northeast Extension) leading to PA 663

Past the Geryville Pike intersection, PA 663 enters Milford Township in Bucks County and continues through more rural areas. The road passes to the southeast of Spinnerstown and widens into a four-lane divided highway at the Spinnerstown Road/Krammes Road intersection, where it curves to the east. The route becomes undivided and comes to an interchange with I-476 (Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension). PA 663 becomes a divided highway again and passes businesses. The route becomes a two-lane undivided road again and continues back into rural areas, where it crosses Allentown Road. The road passes to the north of Milford Square and passes near some development. The route enters Richland Township at the Portzer Road intersection and passes homes, becoming the border between Richland Township to the north and Quakertown to the south at the Milford Square Pike intersection. PA 663 heads into commercial areas and fully enters Quakertown, where it widens back into a four-lane divided highway and comes to its northern terminus at an intersection with PA 309. Past this intersection, the road continues east as PA 313.

History

PA 663 was once part of the Steinsburg and Milford Square Turnpike. The turnpike was chartered in March 1858. The PA 663 designation first appeared on maps in 1930. At that time, the northern terminus of PA 663 was at the PA 73 intersection with New Hanover Township, although that was changed in 1936. In 1936, PA 663 was extended to an intersection with PA 309 and PA 313 in Quakertown. In 1950, the segment of PA 663 from Spinnerstown to Milford Square was paved. After construction began in 1973, a new alignment of PA 663 from Pennsburg to the Northeast Extension opened a year later.

Major intersections

County	Location	mi	km	Destinations	Notes
Montgomery	Pottstown	0.000	0.000	PA 100 (Pottstown Pike)
	New Hanover Township	7.037	11.325	PA 73 west (Big Road) – Gilbertsville	Southern terminus of concurrency.
		7.273	11.705	PA 73 east (Big Road)	Northern terminus of concurrency.
	Pennsburg	13.936	22.428	PA 29 (Main Street)
Bucks	Milford Township	18.760	30.191	I-476 / Penna Turnpike NE Extension – Philadelphia, Allentown	Exit 44 (I-476/PA Turnpike); Quakertown
	Quakertown	22.134	35.621	PA 309 (West End Boulevard) – Allentown, Sellersville PA 313 east (West Broad Street) – Quakertown	Western terminus of PA 313.
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi

PA 663 Alternate Truck

PA Route 663 Alternate Truck
Location:	Montgomery County, Pennsylvania
Length:	9.1 mi (14.6 km)
Existed:	2013–present

Pennsylvania Route 663 Alternate Truck is a truck route around a weight-restricted bridge over the Manatawny Creek in Pottstown, on which trucks over 25 tons and combination loads over 28 tons are prohibited. It follows PA 100 and PA 73 and was signed in 2013.

See also

• U.S. Roads portal
• Pennsylvania portal

External links

• Pictures of each terminus of Route 663