page_title: Pennsylvania Route 73
section_title: Berks County
hierarchical_section_title: Pennsylvania Route 73 / Route description / Berks County
caption_attribution_description: Westbound Pennsylvania Route 73 (Lake Shore Drive) approaching the intersection with Maidencreek Road in Maidencreek Township, Pennsylvania
context_page_description: Pennsylvania Route 73 is a 62.32-mile long east–west state highway in southeastern Pennsylvania. It runs from PA 61 in Leesport southeast to the New Jersey state line on the Tacony–Palmyra Bridge over the Delaware River in Philadelphia, where it continues as New Jersey Route 73. The route passes through rural areas of Berks County, crossing U.S. Route 222 in Maiden Creek before heading southeast through Oley and Boyertown. PA 73 continues into Montgomery County and intersects PA 100 in Gilbertsville and PA 29 in Schwenksville before it heads into the northwest suburbs of Philadelphia. The route passes through Skippack and intersects US 202 in Center Square, PA 309 in Springfield Township, and PA 611 near Jenkintown. PA 73 continues through Northeast Philadelphia on Cottman Avenue, crossing US 1 and US 13 before coming to an interchange with Interstate 95 near the Tacony–Palmyra Bridge.
  Predating the Interstate and U.S. Highway Systems, the Skippack Pike, a modern section of the route, served as the primary connector between Philadelphia and the northwest suburbs. The Skippack Pike dates back to 1713 and was completed as a turnpike in 1855.
context_section_description: PA 73 begins at an intersection with PA 61 in Ontelaunee Township, Berks County to the north of the city of Reading and to the southeast of the borough of Leesport. From this intersection, the route heads northeast on two-lane undivided Lake Shore Drive past a mix of farm fields and development, passing south of Schuylkill Valley High School. The road continues east into wooded areas and runs along the south shore of Lake Ontelaunee, where it crosses Maiden Creek at the dam that forms the lake. Past the lake, PA 73 crosses into Maidencreek Township and comes to a bridge over Norfolk Southern's Evansville Industrial Track as it enters agricultural areas with some homes. The route heads east-southeast and intersects US 222 in the community of Maiden Creek. PA 73 continues along Main Street and runs through residential areas in the community of Blandon, where it crosses Norfolk Southern's Reading Line at-grade. Past Blandon, the road curves south into forested areas in the South Mountain range and enters Ruscombmanor Township as Blandon Road. The route turns southeast through wooded areas with some residential and commercial development and intersects PA 12 in Breezy Corner. PA 73 continues east through rural land in the Oley Valley region, where it reaches a roundabout with PA 662.
  At this point, PA 662 joins PA 73 for a concurrency, and the two routes follow Memorial Highway into Oley Township. The road heads through farms and woods before running past a few businesses in the community of Oley, bypassing the residential center of the community to the southwest. At the east end of Oley, PA 662 splits to the southeast at a roundabout and PA 73 continues east on West Philadelphia Avenue past residential development. The route heads into a mix of farmland and woodland with some homes, crossing the Manatawny Creek before curving southeast and passing through the community of Pleasantville. The road leaves the Oley Valley region and enters Earl Township, running through forested areas with some fields and residences and passing through Shanesville. Past this, the route crosses Ironstone Creek twice and begins to run parallel to the creek, which is located southwest of the road. PA 73 heads east and crosses into Colebrookdale Township, where it makes a turn to the south. The route runs through more rural areas with some homes and curves southeast near Gablesville. The road continues east into the borough of Boyertown, where it splits from Ironstone Creek, and becomes lined with homes. PA 73 heads southeast into the commercial downtown and intersects the eastern terminus of PA 562, at which point it becomes East Philadelphia Avenue. The route crosses the Colebrookdale Railroad at-grade north of the Boyertown station and continues past more residences in the eastern part of Boyertown.
caption: PA 73 westbound in Maidencreek Township
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