Times Observer file photo A sign for PA Route 6 is pictured in Starbrick.

A four-county section of Route 6 that includes Warren County has been designated as a scenic byway.

A ceremony will be held at 1:30 p.m. Thursday at the Courthouse Square in Coudersport.

Spanning 211 miles, PA Route 6 Scenic Byway is the commonwealth’s 24th and longest byway. The designation applies to the main roadway as well as extensions and offsets of Route 6 in Warren, McKean, Potter, and Tioga counties.

Byway designation has been a long-term goal of the Route 6 Alliance, a non-profit formed in 2003 to manage the PA Route 6 Heritage Corridor. One of the key components of the alliance’s work is scenic conservation. The recent byway designation helps protect Route 6. Route 6 Alliance officials said Warren, McKean, Potter and Tioga counties, located within the PA Wilds region, include some of the most scenic views along the Route 6 corridor in Pennsylvania. Route 6 passes through 34 municipalities within the four counties, all of which have passed resolutions in support of the byway designation.

“We are extremely grateful for the support and collaboration from communities along the corridor, including PennDOT, local municipalities, and regional leaders,” said Candace Hillyard, executive director of the PA Route 6 Alliance. “This designation is the result of years of dedicated work by the Alliance and our partners, and it marks a significant step toward our long-term goal of seeing the entire length of PA Route 6 designated as a scenic byway. We want PA Route 6 to be recognized as a Scenic Byway because it offers travelers the opportunity to experience breathtaking landscapes and the natural beauty that define this region. It is not just about protecting the beauty of the landscape; it is also about creating lasting opportunities for the communities that call this corridor home.”

Byway designation will also offer new marketing opportunities and potential economic benefits for townships and boroughs located within the corridor., which includes the Allegheny National Forest, Pennsylvania Grand Canyon, the Kinzua Bridge, numerous state parks, and countless hiking and biking trails.

This year, a multi-year initiative to enhance a four-mile stretch of Route 6 in Warren County entered its final phase, focusing on the rehabilitation of three key bridges. The project, which began in 2023, has encompassed paving operations, traffic signal upgrades, drainage improvements, and the installation of ADA-compliant curb ramps.

Work this year focused on the bridge that carries Route 6 over the Allegheny & Eastern Railroads in Conewango Township. Additional work included paving on each side of the bridge, updating durable pavement markings, line painting, and other minor tasks.

Beyond the bridge over the railroad, the project has involved traffic signal updates at the intersections with Yankee Bush Road and Preston Road, paving four miles of Route 6 from west of Yankee Bush Road to Main Avenue, drainage enhancements, guide rail and sign upgrades, ADA-compliant curb ramp installations, and repairs to the bridges over the Allegheny River and Morse Run.