PA 944 was designated in 1928 between Wertzville and PA 5 (now US 11/US 15) in Enola. In 1937, the route was extended west and southwest to US 30 in western Franklin County, following its present route to PA 233 before heading southwest through Roxbury and Upper Strasburg to US 30. In the 1940s, the west end of PA 944 was cut back to PA 433/PA 641 in Roxbury; the former alignment southwest of there became unnumbered with a portion south of Upper Strasburg removed for the Letterkenny Army Depot. The western terminus of the route was truncated to its current location at PA 233 in the 1960s, with the road between Roxbury and PA 233 becoming a northern extension of PA 997.
Route description
PA 944 eastbound past PA 114 in Wertzville
PA 944 begins at an intersection with PA 233 in Lower Mifflin Township, heading northeast on two-lane undivided Enola Road. The road heads through agricultural areas with some woods a short distance to the south of Blue Mountain, turning east and entering Upper Frankford Township. The route heads through more rural areas before coming to the residential community of Bloserville, where it turns north before curving back to the east. The road passes more farms before heading into Lower Frankford Township and running through a mix of woods and fields. Entering more agricultural areas, PA 944 curves northeast before heading east into North Middleton Township and intersecting PA 74. From this junction, the route continues east, heading through forests before passing more farms as it enters Middlesex Township. In this area, PA 944 comes to a junction with PA 34, at which point the route turns northeast to form a concurrency with that route on Spring Road, passing through the community of Carlisle Springs.[2][3]
PA 944 splits from PA 34 by heading east onto Wertzville Road, passing through more farmland with occasional homes. The road curves north and then east again as it runs through a mix of farms and woods with some homes, passing through Donnellytown. The route crosses the Appalachian Trail and enters Silver Spring Township, continuing to an intersection with the western terminus of PA 114. From here, PA 944 heads into residential development, passing through Wertzville. The road heads through a mix of farms and development prior to entering Hampden Township. Here, the route passes through suburban residential subdivisions prior to widening into a four-lane divided highway and reaching a diamond interchange with I-81 (Capital Beltway). Following this, PA 944 narrows back into a two-lane undivided road and passes through woods before heading near more residential neighborhoods, crossing into East Pennsboro Township. In this area, the road passes more inhabited subdivisions along with some commercial development, running through West Enola. The route heads through woodland, coming into Enola where it turns south onto South Enola Drive, passing homes. PA 944 curves to the southeast and bears left onto State Street, reaching its eastern terminus at US 11/US 15 in West Fairview; this intersection has no access from PA 944 to northbound US 11/US 15.[2][3]
History
PA 944 westbound in Enola
When routes were legislated in Pennsylvania in 1911, what is now PA 944 was not assigned a number. By this time, Wertzville Road was an unpaved road.[4] The road between Wertzville and Enola later became Legislative Route 569.[5] PA 944 was designated in 1928 to run from Wertzville east to PA 5 (now US 11/US 15) in Enola. At this time the entire length of the route was unpaved except for the easternmost portion.[6] Upon designation, plans were made to improve this stretch of road.[5] On February 25, 1929, a bill passed that would extend PA 944 west from Wertzville to Carlisle Springs as well another bill that authorized the state to take over the road between Newburg and McCrea.[7] By 1930, the unpaved portion of the route was under construction.[8] PA 944 was extended from Wertzville southwest to US 30 between Fort Loudon and St. Thomas in Franklin County in 1937, following its current alignment west to PA 233 before it continued southwest through Roxbury and Upper Strasburg to US 30.[9][10] The entire length of PA 944 was paved in the 1930s except between south of Maple Grove and PA 316 south of Upper Strasburg and for a distance to the south of Roxbury.[10] In the 1940s, the western terminus of PA 944 was cut back to PA 433/PA 641 in Roxbury. The section of the former route between Roxbury and US 30 became unnumbered, with a portion of road to the south of Upper Strasburg removed to make way for the Letterkenny Army Depot.[11][12] In the 1960s, the western terminus of PA 944 was truncated to its current location at PA 233, with the former alignment between Roxbury and PA 233 becoming a northern extension of PA 997.[13]
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