Pennsylvania Route 562

Pennsylvania Route 562, often called PA 562, is a state highway located in Berks County, Pennsylvania. This road stretches for about 13.92 miles (22.40 kilometers) from U.S. Route 422 Business in the town of St. Lawrence all the way to PA 73 in Boyertown. Along its entire length, PA 562 is a two-lane road that winds through peaceful countryside areas in the eastern part of Berks County, linking Boyertown with the larger Reading region.

As it travels, PA 562 passes by several small communities and connects with other roads, including PA 662 near a place called Yellow House. The history of this route is quite interesting. It was first established by 1930, originally running between a town named Stonersville and another road, PA 62, which later became PA 100, southwest of Boyertown. Back then, the road went through places like Amityville and Yellow House.

In the 1930s, the route was extended further west to meet US 422, now known as US 422 Bus., in St. Lawrence, and its path was changed to match how it looks today. Then, in 1964, PA 562 was stretched to the east to reach PA 73 after PA 100 was moved to a new path east of Boyertown. This highway remains an important connection for people traveling in eastern Berks County.

Route description

PA 562 is a state highway in Berks County. It runs for about 14 miles from US 422 Bus. in St. Lawrence to PA 73 in Boyertown. The road starts in St. Lawrence, heading east through business areas and crossing Antietam Creek. It then moves through residential neighborhoods and farmland, passing several small communities.

The route continues east, shifting between different townships and crossing creeks like Manatawny Creek and Ironstone Creek. It ends in the downtown area 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 planned road. By 1926, the road between Yellow House and Boyertown was paved. In 1927, another road (Route 62, later Route 100) was set to follow Reading Avenue 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 Route 62 near Boyertown. It followed Weavertown Road east to Amityville, then turned north to Yellow House before continuing east along its current path. In the 1930s, Route 562 was extended west to U.S. Route 422 in St. Lawrence and changed to its current path between Stonersville and Yellow House. 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 entire route of Pennsylvania Route 562 is located in Berks County.

Location	mi	km	Destinations
St. Lawrence	0.000	0.000	US 422 Bus. (Perkiomen Avenue) – Pottstown, Mount Penn, Reading
Amity–Oley township line	7.148	11.504	PA 662 (Memorial Highway/Old Swede Road) – Fleetwood, Douglassville
Boyertown	13.920	22.402	PA 73 (Philadelphia Avenue) – Oley, Philadelphia
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi