That Road To New York Just Got An Interstate Upgrade This July

For those of you who travel into Pennsylvania, Interstate 81 is the fast route to get wherever you are going (except in those never-ending construction areas).

But another popular route is west of Broome County, taking U.S. Route 15  from the Corning -Painted Post area, heading into PA. PennDOT has been converting U.S. Route 15 to Interstate 99. Route 15 runs through several states including South Carolina, North Carolina, Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, and New York, beginning in Walterboro, South Carolina, and ending at Painted Post, New York. 

PennDOT continues to convert U.S. Route 15 to Interstate 99.

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On Monday, July 13, 2026, the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation announced that a 62-mile section of U.S. 15 in Lycoming and Tioga counties will officially become Interstate 99 between Williamsport and the New York state line at Lawrenceville, PA, on Thursday, July 30th, 2026.

 According to the announcement, the Federal Highway Administration granted the designation after determining that the corridor meets all federal standards for interstate design, safety, and performance.

PennDOT noted that this marks a major milestone for North Central Pennsylvania. Converting U.S. 15 into I‑99 strengthens the corridor’s infrastructure, supports freight movement, and ensures compliance with modern weight and design requirements.

This designation from U.S. 15 to I‑99 reflects decades of planning and hard work to make a significant investment in our future. I‑99 strengthens the region’s transportation network by enhancing long-term safety, mobility, and economic opportunity throughout the region. The Shapiro Administration will continue to make investments that strengthen our infrastructure, improve quality of life, and open the doors of opportunity for all Pennsylvanians. - PennDOT Secretary Mike Carroll

PennDOT reported that the designation of Interstate 99 will include changes for companies that hold annual over-dimension hauling permits. Currently on U.S. 15, hauling permits can be issued for divisible loads of certain commodities up to 95,000 pounds. After designation as an interstate, according to federal law, the maximum weight will be reduced to 80,000 pounds for divisible loads if there is no federal exemption for the commodity.

For more information, visit the PennDOT District 3 website. 

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