Pennsylvania Route 562

Pennsylvania Route 562

Pennsylvania Route 562, often called PA 562, is a state highway in Berks County, Pennsylvania. The road is about 13.92 miles (22.40 kilometers) long. It starts at U.S. Route 422 Business in St. Lawrence and ends at PA 73 in Boyertown. The whole route is a two-lane road that goes through quiet countryside in eastern Berks County. It links Boyertown with the bigger Reading area.

PA 562 passes small communities and connects to other roads. One of these is PA 662 near a place called Yellow House.

The history of PA 562 is interesting. It was first made in 1930, going between a town named Stonersville and a road called PA 62. That road later became PA 100, southwest of Boyertown. At that time, the road went through places like Amityville and Yellow House.

In the 1930s, the route was extended west to meet US 422, now called US 422 Bus., in St. Lawrence. Its path was changed to look like it does today. Then, in 1964, PA 562 was extended east to reach PA 73 after PA 100 was moved to a new path east of Boyertown. The highway is still an important connection for people traveling in eastern Berks County.

Route description

PA 562 is a state highway in Berks County. It is about 14 miles long and runs from US 422 Bus. in St. Lawrence to PA 73 in Boyertown. The road begins in St. Lawrence and heads east through business areas, crossing Antietam Creek. It then goes through homes and farms, passing small towns.

The road keeps going east, moving through different areas and crossing creeks such as Manatawny Creek and Ironstone Creek. It ends in the downtown part of Boyertown where it meets PA 73.

History

When roads were first planned in Pennsylvania in 1911, what is now Route 562 wasn’t part of any plans. By 1926, the road between Yellow House and Boyertown was paved. In 1927, another road was planned to go through Boyertown. The road between St. Lawrence and Yellow House was paved by 1928.

Route 562 was officially designated by 1930, running from Stonersville east to a road near Boyertown. It followed Weavertown Road east to Amityville, then turned north to Yellow House before continuing east. In the 1930s, Route 562 was extended west to U.S. Route 422 in St. Lawrence and changed to its current path. In 1964, Route 562 was extended to its current endpoint at Route 73 in Boyertown.

On June 28, 2018, part of Route 562 was named the General Carl A. Spaatz Memorial Highway to honor Carl Spaatz, a general from World War II. A special ceremony was held with State Representative David Maloney.

Major intersections

The whole route of Pennsylvania Route 562 is in Berks County.