At its opening in 1979, I-476 was a , four-lane spur expressway connecting the Schuylkill Expressway with Ridge Pike in Plymouth Meeting. It significantly helped reduce congestion through King of Prussia and the Schuylkill Expressway as it provided a more direct link from the Main Line suburbs to the northern suburbs and New Jersey. The highway was initially planned to connect down to I-95 in Delaware County, but due to environmental and local opposition, this portion did not open until December 1991.