Published Tuesday, Nov. 16, 1999 As the years go by the story gets a little longer and stranger.
Here's an example:
At the end of Route 60 bear left and you'll find yourself on Broadway Avenue, which is commonly called Swamp Road. It was once named Victor Posner Boulevard, but was changed back to Broadway Avenue after Posner -- the Miami Beach financier local officials were sucking up to in an attempt to save a Farrell steel mill -- became one of the most hated men in the Shenango Valley.
Along the way, of course, you'll pass what's left of the steel mill, which has gone through nearly as many name changes as the road.
And, please, don't get confused when you see a sign along Broadway Avenue telling you it's the Nick Strimbu Jr. Industrial Corridor, which is named after a former Brookfield businessman whom people really liked because he was credited for trying to save the same mill and foster local development.
And please, please, don't get befuddled that Broadway loses the "Avenue" in Farrell before it then becomes Dock Street once you enter Sharon.
That kind of confusion led PennDOT on Monday to extend Route 60, which had ended at Route 18 in Shenango Township, all the way to East State Street in Sharon.
PennDOT will begin posting temporary signs on existing Route 60 and I-80 this week.
"We received concerns from business groups and municipalities that there are so many names for Swamp Road nobody knew how to get to downtown Sharon,'' said John Waitkus, traffic engineer for PennDOT. "I think it's a positive for the area.''
Action was taken after PennDOT met with representatives of local communities who supported the Route 60 designation, Waitkus said.
"This will help businesses along the road and in downtown Sharon be better identified and will help motorists not to get confused,'' he added.
The road will continue to go by its current address of Broadway Avenue or Dock Street in the respective communities. But from now on all PennDOT maps will show the road as Route 60.
PennDOT will erect permanent signs in 2001 when a signage overhaul is scheduled.
