Looking for "backroad" commute from Fort Washington to 422W (Reading: home, neighborhoods)

[veeve12]

I'm new to this area - I work in Royersford off 422 and live in Oreland off the Fort Washington exit off 276. I have to stay where I'm at for a few months, but my commute is lousy and after only 3 weeks I'm pretty frazzled from it! It takes me an hour to get to work in stop and go, not to mention I'm paying turnpike tolls. I'd rather travel some "back roads" - even if the commute is still an hour long, at least avoiding the tolls/traffic will bring me home at night in a better mood.

I know that travel time can vary greatly depending on day of the week, time of day, weather, construction, alignment of the planets... does anyone have any commuter secrets they would be willing to share with me? My boyfriend who gets the brunt of my commuting-induced bad mood every night will certainly thank you!

[berksco]

The turnpike is under contruction, as you know, right in your area. My wife uses Easy Pass and that has made things much better. We live in Berks County, between Pottstown and Reading, and frequently have to visit family and friends in the area. We always listen to traffic reports and use whatever roads aren't closed at the moment.

One alternate route she has used for years is to take Route 73 (Skippack Pike in your area) to Schwenksville (West of Skippack) and turn left at the light at the Mini-Mart. That is Game Farm Road. It will take you down to the Limerick
area and you can get to Royersford from there. It comes to a "T" at Swamp Pike, where you will turn left (South) and that will take you to Ridge Pike, where you are not far from Royersford.

(If you check Mapquest, you will see what I mean.)

Of course, all the road in SE PA are crowded at rush hour, which actually means crowded from 6AM to 9AM, but I hear lots of companies are using flex time to allow individuals to arrive early, or later and still work the sam hours.

GOOD LUCK with your commute!

[JDUB2002]

Dont know what 276 is like, but if that is fast moving for you, you can take it down to route 363 (Ridge Pike) and you can take that west all the way top Township Line road, make a left on that and your right in Royersford.

[JDUB2002]

Actually thinking about it, why dont you just take 276 down to 422 west instead of the turnpike. 422 east at that time is a nightmare but 422 west should pretty much be free flowing

[BPP1999]

How's about this...

Take Pennsylvania Avenue to Bethlehem Pike North. Take that to 63 West, make a left onto Forty Foot Road, take that as it curves around to 73 West, to 113 North, to Ridge Pike/Main Street west (make a right onto Ridge from 113) to a left on Township Line Road, which will cross over 422 and into Royersford.

Or, try PA Avenue to Bethlehem Pike North. Take that to a left on Butler Pike. Go through Ambler, then make a right onto Morris Road. Actually, if you mapquest this area, there's a shortcut from Bethlehem Pike in Fort Washington (near Rich's deli) to this intersection in Ambler. It could bypass some lights. Follow this all the way until it dead ends onto Bustard Road, then make a left. When Bustard dead ends onto 73, make a right. Follow directions from 73 West above.

You can also write your state rep, your state senator, Governor Rendell, PennDot, the Montgomery County Planning Commission, and the Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission to inform them that improvements to route 422 are long overdue. Be sure to point out that this region's lack of adequate expressways is forcing you (and many other motorists) to cut through people's neighborhoods in an attempt to ease your commute.