By the way, as of this year, Quemehoning tunnel is no more, it was dug up to widen the roadway to 3 lanes so if you are in the right lane about mm 106 you are driving where this tunnel used to be.
They really need to pay you to drive it instead of the other way around. It’s in horrible condition and they raise the tolls 3 times a year. Even though they got rid of all the toll collectors and half the maintenance workers.
I do agree. I drive from Erie to the west side of Philadelphia a few times a year to visit family. We used to always take the Turnpike. However with the cost and I-80 being 70mph, we just cut across the state in I-80 and then drop down the north east extension of the Turnpike. The time is the same for travel and it's a far less twisty route.
Been here, awesome place to explore! But the ceiling/floor of the ventilation system are crumbling and it can be a bit dangerous. Also, some of the water drainage gratings are removed so watch your step!
@@bdub215 Ik. As a massive motorsport fan maybe I’m not in the majority but I feel like that bit of info is absolutely integral to the history of this highway.
For the record, Allegheny Mountain Tunnel is still in use today. That was given a second portal in the 1960s. However, the Turnpike Commission is actively looking to build a bypass route sometime in the near future, but its still very early in the planning stages and facing some local opposition from at least one group of outdoors enthusiasts. (Ref ~7:00 mark)
You beat me. This video is full of some errors. I spent four summers working on the Turnpike at the tunnels and for maintenance. Been all through the Allegheny, Blue Mountain and Kittaninny tunnels. Biked and drove through the Sideling Hill and Rays Hill Tunnel before you were really allowed to. I’m a bit of a Turnpike buff.
I came to say the same thing. I’ve been traveling the length of the turn pike for over 40 years now. I hadn’t heard about a bypass route, but given the age of the tunnels, I’m not terribly surprised.
@@rickeuler5792 I'm guessing that might have been the source of confusion over the statement. The one you're referring to was never actually in use by the Turnpike though--it was deemed unsafe and never completed, so a replacement bore (current WB) was made that was later twinned with the EB portal in the '60s.
My Dad was a little boy when his father took the family to see the turnpike before it opened. At that point, the speed limit signs read 100 mph. They were replaced with lower speed limits before the road actually opened. I've always thought that it would be pretty cool to cruise the PA Turnpike at 100 mph.
I have been on many many road trips, the Pennsylvania Turnpike is one of the most enjoyable drives, well that and Skyline Drive & Blue Ridge Parkways. The Penn Turnpike is worth the time. If you're on the western side of the country the "Coast Highway" / "Highway 101" is also a great drive between Ventura CA and Port Angles WA. Thanks to Ryan for his time and work..........................
love your series.... I have a suggestion. Living in eastern Massachusetts a great deal of my life, I never heard of the Hingham Naval Ordinance Center. I did a little digging and found it to be fascinating and worthy of your consideration of a series.... if not enough for a full episode, you could also link in the Watertown Arsenal. Just a thought.
Fifteen now and I was always awestruck by “just a road.” Now knowing pennsylvanias history, I understand why it was necessary to have such a major highway. It’s incredible to think that many times more man hours were put into this road than I’ll ever live in my life
No mention of Laurel Hill tunnel being leased by Chip Ganassi Racing to use as a coast down tunnel (basically a cheap wind tunnel) to gain an advantage with both their Nascar and Indy Car programs. Big let down on this story...
All very good, but as of the publishing date of this video, the Allegheny Mountain tunnel is alive and well. There is plans being developed to bypass the tunnel, but its going to be about a decade before that is completed. The "abandoned" tunnel through Allegheny mountain lies just to the right of the westbound lanes on the east side of the mountain.
Alive, but not well. The buildings on both ends look terrible, the walls of both of the tubes have missing/broken tile, it leaks everywhere, and the poor condition of the facility is one of the reasons for the bypass.
You used to actually be able to go up into the top of them. They have giant blowers that they use for the ventilation shaft that runs the entire way across the top of a tunnel. You could walk up there as well and look down through the holes where the lights dropped. down
The Blue Mountain and Kittatinny Mountain Tunnels are very close to each other. As a teen, I rode trail motorcycle on the Blue Mountain and through the valley between them. I recall walking downslope to near the top of one of the tunnels and having an interesting point of view into the mouth of the other tunnel.
Ahhh, the Penna Turnpike. Pretty narrow compared to most interstate highways today. I hate toll roads in general. They never seem to pay for themselves
I’m a trucker and I remember driving thru 5 tunnels on the East-West section and now it’s only thru 4. I think a story I heard was that at Sideling Hill when they wanted to drill a second tube they hit a huge section of sand which collapsed which in turn forced them to build the bypass Drive thru the Lehigh tunnel just about every night North and South for over 5 years on a dedicated run and remember all the traffic backups on Friday nights going north and Sunday nights going south with all the Poconos weekend traffic before the second tube was bored
Very true 88M, I've run Lehigh Tunnel many, many times (18 wheelers). The only time there was any real backup was when they had us all using, I believe it was the west tunnel as doing maintenance in the east tunnel. Prob was 2 or 3 years back. But mostly a pretty decent run through there. I'm retired now too. Congrats on that!!
@@twobrotherskayaking4736 how about in the wee hours of the morning in the dead of winter when it would be single digits and they would divert all the traffic into the newer bore to knock the icicles from the ceiling in the old bore? I’m still driving but as a semi retired semi driver and it’s so nice to be able to call the boss on Saturday and tell him what days I’m available to help out
During the 1950's our vacation consisted of two weeks visiting relatives near the Jersey shore. Traveling from Ohio we traveled over the Pa pike and through these many tunnels over the years. They were always the highlight of the trip. I never remember a traffic backlog at any tunnel, the traffic always seemed to move smoothly. Thankyou for this great video.
One summer in the mid-1950's, our family took its only road trip--from NYC across Pennsylvania on the Pennsylvania Turnpike, through Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois, to my father's brother in Columbia, Missouri. From there we drove back through Illinois to Chicago, where we met the rest of my father's siblings. After a few days in Chicago, we drove back to NYC; whatever the reason, we never went on another family road trip.
In the '60s we did the reverse. We lived in NJ and our extended families were all in OH, and we visited them every year. The Tunnels were our highlights too. We claimed them. Sideling was my brother's. Mine was, and still is Tuscarora. Dad's name was Ray... Another thing I miss is the roadside picnic tables I still love the PA turnpike.
2015-2016 I was a truck driver and drove the Northeast Extension from the Wyoming Valley to Allentown and back twice a day Mon-Fri. They really kept it up well. I used the interstates, too. Ugh! All potholes and construction, and they allowed the lanes to merge at the last minute just before the construction zones, tying up traffic. 😢
Nice article, but I wish you had put in maps of the original and updated turnpike so those of us who are not familiar with the area could al least picture what had been done.
They now have a north south extension that is not connected to original turnpike. It now starts at US 51 and goes down to W. Va. border. It has very little traffic but it sure is a great way to go from the south side of Pittsburgh through all the towns along the Monongahela area.
This video sent me on a memory trip. My family is from Southwest Ohio and my aunt, uncle and cousins lived just outside of Philadelphia in the late 1960's. I remember our trip to see them so well even though I was in 5th or 6th grade. Driving on the Pennsylvania Turnpike was a real adventure. We drove all night and occasionally stopped at the "rest area's" with the restaurants. I remember the restrooms had vending machines that sold combs, plastic rain hat's like my mom and grandma used to wear, and lot's of other items a woman might need. I remember the Blue Mountain and Kittateny (I know I misspelled that) Tunnels. Part of the turnpike was under construction. We went through there after dark and it was pouring down rain. My mom was driving and my dad was asleep. She was scared to death so on our way home she made sure my dad was driving so he could see what she dealt with. There were places where the road was narrow and had steep dropoff's. My mom was grateful it had been dark so she couldn't see past the road itself!
I was a kid in the 50s when my parents moved from NJ to St Louis. But I remember quite a few trips “back east”. To get there we (my dad) drove the length of the Pennsylvania Turnpike. I remember counting the tunnels (all seven) and looking at the trucks hauling gas and freight. Made a big impression on this youngster! Great to see the pictures!
Same here. I was a kid in the 50s and we traveled between Philadelphia and Detroit often. Seven tunnels is the count I remember as well. I don’t remember the names but, when I hear them, they do ring a bell. Surprisingly!!
As a trucker, I hate the turnpike. It costs me $240 to run the entire turnpike, and that's the ezpass rate. Without ezpass, it's friggin $485. Ridiculous. I always take 68 through Maryland and wv
My great grandfather was a PA coal miner. Mine closed and he had to work on the turnpike. My great grandmother died around this time and my grandmother was farmed out at 9. She’s now going on 97 years old. Interesting you capture this story.
My first and only lengthy PA turnpike trip was about 1963. We traveled west from suburban Philadelphia to Pittsburg for a family vacation to visit relatives. I was fascinated with the landscape and tunnels and I believe that’s when I saw my first oil well. Years later, in the 1990s, my dad mentioned that this trip reminded him of the depression as it reeked of poverty. Pittsburg was an especially dirty city. I was too young to recognize or understand what he was talking about.
@@piratepete842 I remember Pittsburg being very run down. I’ve heard it’s beautiful now. I’ve always lived in Philadelphia and the city has been totally remade. It’s nothing like it was in the 1969s.
Good video. I've always had a eye for old grades and have found many interesting old places and many andentures . That's why I take my time going places. It's better when I'm the passenger because I can put my full attention on looking for them while some one else drives. I find bits of old Rail and Highway buildings mine's. It baffles my Freinds but they love going. I say you drive I buy lunch we split the gasoline. 😁
Nice summary with lots of great old photos!!! I remember traveling through all 7 tunnels on the East-West turnpike when I was a kid. However, the FIRST section of the turnpike to be abandoned was not the section around Breezewood. It was the section that took out the Laurel Hill tunnel in 1964. It necessitated the deepest rock cut ever accomplished at that point where a whole section of the Laurel Hill adjacent to the old tunnel was simply cut away. The Breezewood bypass of the Sideling Hill and Rays Hill tunnnels wan’t completed until 1968.
When I was a boy my father told me about the Pennsylvania Turnpike. We drove on the western section between the Ohio line and Breezewood when we moved east in 1962. Since moving to the Philadelphia area in 1985 and working as a field service tech, I have driven the road many times. I had heard about the abandoned tunnels. The portion of the Turnpike east of US 1 in Bucks County to the Delaware River is now part of I-95 and it connects to the New Jersey Turnpike filling in the gap in I-95. That road used to cross the Delaware River on the Scudder Falls Bridge and was originally planned to continue north in New Jersey. That road was never built hence the gap.
I went to graduate school in Ohio between 1994-1999. To put ramen noodles in the dinner bowl, I drove motor coach (yes, the huge Greyhound type buses). I haven't driven on the PA Turnpike since I graduated and moved back west. But back when I drove it (and often drove it), you would collect a ticket upon entry then pay upon exit. They were timestamped. I never got a speeding ticket, but several of our company drivers did, because the timestamp didn't match up from beginning to end.
Very slick of them to make money I drive semi use to run threw NYC a lot on I 95 heading north bound there is 2 signs stating that toll controlled speed limit which means it knows how long it takes from the GW bridge to the Rochelle toll booths before Connecticut state line then they just bill extra on their expass 😂
Cool and all. But good god. Being a local to the turnpike, it’s VERY pricey to use. Some cases costs more money than taking side routes with fuel costs cracking 4 bucks a gallon again. Just waiting for 6-7 a gallon 🤣 we are so fracked.
What a cool place to explore. I love abandoned stuff surrounded by basically untouched nature. And the tunnels and those gigantic tunnel exits are wonderful too. I often use tunnels and bridges and concrete podiums in general when i design huge dystopian sci-fi suburbs (usually brutalist) that are built on top of mountains and surrounded by nature (abandoned or not lol). Can't get enough of that. Both colorized sketches and AI generated stuff (later VR/CGI too i hope)
I grew up in Pennsylvania, and I spent MANY hours stuck in weekend backup at the Lehigh tunnel when it was one lane in each direction. It could take three hours to get through that tunnel at peak times. It is amazing that it took so many years to put in the second tunnel.
Hello from Allentown! I’ve had those kind of delays from NY via Holland or Lincoln tunnels. It always involved strategic planning for exiting (mainly food and toilet functions)
The second tube of the Lehigh was completed in 1991, delayed due to Turnpike treating the NE Extension as a stepchild of the system until Philly wanted to connect I-476 to it and the requirement of separate tubes needed to declare it an Interstate. The surprising thing is that the second tube was completed before I-476 was finally completed west of Philly.
@@Goobnav476 AKA blue route was the forever highway. They worked on it forever. For years it did not seem like they would ever finish it. Too many lawyer's houses in the way.
I have hiked and camped on the Abandoned Turnpike numerous times. Last year, I even ran a half marathon on the Abandoned Turnpike. Running through the tunnels with only a headlamp for light was a neat experience. There was another tunnel planed for the turnpike. Named the Clearview Tunnel it was near Bedford. Rather than bypass the tunnel, the builders simply cut through the mountain where the old railroad tunnel had been. Original 1940 PA Turnpike maps show the Clearview Tunnel. Now this area is referred to as the "Clearview Cut."
Don't worry folks, you're precious uncle fester will have those roads opened up in no time! Just stay home until he gets back from the mental hospital and then he'll get right on it!🤣😂🤣
More democrat foreign and domestic policy! Thank you woody for the federal reserve system, which was specifically designed to prevent this from happening, and it caused the worst depression in the countries history
Not limited travel now I drive semi you know how many people run the turnpike with a bicycle rack on the back of their vehicles to cover up their license plate even on pickup trucks free turnpike ride for them cause most don't have ezpass
The first section opened was actually Irwin to Carlisle. Harrisburg to Philly was next, after that was Irwin to the Ohio Line. Allegheny Mountain is still in use (for now).
I love your channel but wish you would do some stories on history of Boston man as I’m from Massachusetts and not once seen you do any videos on Boston that I can recall
My parents are from Altoona and my grandfather worked on a couple of those tunnels back when they were building the turnpike. There's a lot of great history in that area.
Thanks for the video. I hope to be able to bike the Pike 2 Bike section in the not to distant future. I have fond memories of riding the Turnpike as a child first with my grandparents and then at the start on my first cross country trip. Sadly, it is a PA state boondoggle now.
Our family did this with our bikes in August of 2018 when our kids ranged from 11 to 21. It was a tougher bike ride than we thought it would be. Could have used better headlamps and more water, but it still goes down as the coolest thing our family ever did together. There were a lot of people that ranged from young families to kids who were smoking weed in the woods, and even two guys who were testing their motor bikes in the tunnels (illegal).
Been through all of the original tunnels as a kid riding in the backseat. I still remember the rough cut walls and red lanterns along them. There was no interior lighting back then. There were signs as you approached the tunnels stating "turn on lights and remove sunglasses". There were also the ubiquitous "road work ahead" signs.
The original design did not have any center barriers, and because of the closeness of opposing traffic, led to some horrific and deadly crashes. By the 1960's, the Commission added center guard rails and concrete dividers, thus eliminating most of that problem.
And so it earned its nickname of 'the death pike' back in the 50's. Another issue was the long straight sections that could lull an already tired driver to loose attention. While I never drove it until the 60's and a lot of the improvements you mention were completed I can to this day recall my folks using that nickname.
I haven't been on the PA Turnpike in over 30 years. My first trip on it was in 1986 when we took a trip to see relatives in Pittsburgh. I attended a trade school in Cleveland in the early 90s and although I'm from south Jersey, my roommate was from the central part (north Jersey to me), Cliffwood Beach. We usually took rt 80 back and forth. Better road and it was free. I would be doing 90 mph in the middle of the night often, in western PA and the truckers would often pass me!
I never knew. Even though i live in Southern Maryland i frequented the turnpike alot. Growing up my stepmoms family had a huge farm/stable outside of Pittsburgh (her dad was a chairman for PPG) Then later in life i started building old honda oddysey/pilot buggies and there happened to be a farmer in West Sunbury Pa that had a shortcourse offroad track on his property called Rolling W. Ranch. So many stops at breezewood in my lifetime.😂
A few years ago an urban explorer friend (Hi Pete!) and I walked through one of the abandoned tunnels. (don't remember which one) The electrical boxes that lined both tunnel walls had been removed, leaving an open shelf-like space in their place...someone left a mannequin head in one of them! When you're exploring a pitch dark place with flashlights, coming across it was a fun surprise 😀
@@inconnu4961 What can I tell you, I'm weird and appreciate the weirdness of others. (Besides it was very obviously a mannequin head and not a God forbid real one!)
My family drove the Pennsylvania Turnpike many times in the 1960’s when we traveled between our house in Chicago and my grandparents in NYC. The tunnels were always a big highlight of the trip.
I was one of those who was there for military training prior to deploying to Iraq. It would have been late 03 or early 04. It was pretty creepy driving through the tunnels. Even with lights on, it was extremely dark inside the tunnels.
Linking this to the Depression and the new deal is a little bit of a stretch from a historic standpoint. The New Deal was between 1932 and 1938. It was almost 1941 before the turnpike was opened and it only took 23 months to build it. Original funding did come from the Feds, but the turnpike was designed to be self funding with tolls, it's not really related at all to the Depression of 1929 11 years earlier.
Thank You for sharing an excellent perspective. You may have already covered this but if not, have you ever considered covering the part of Route 66 just outside Chicago that was abandoned because the road deteriorated from excavation by the Vulcan quarry? Best Wishes and Take Care, Tom
The Turnpike was supposed to be FREE after 50 years of tolls to pay for its construction. Yeah, at 50 years old the Turnpike Commission decided they still wanted to charge tolls because…money!
It’s also the most expensive toll road in the country! It’s way overpriced considering PA gas Taxes are also some of the highest in the country. I can see why PA politically has changed so much. They are getting ripped off!
Very interesting! I remember going through the tunnels on the Pike in the 70s, but never knew there were several abandoned ones, too. Maybe you can do a series on abandoned airports in the US. I know there's one in Reed City, MI that has always fascinated me as I pass it on my way up north. Also, in Grand Rapids, MI, there was one located where Roger B. Chaffee Blvd is located now. The blvd was created when the airport was moved to its present location and eventually renamed following the death of the Apollo 1 astronaut (he was a Grand Rapids resident). The current blvd roads are actually where some of the runways and taxiways were.
I'm not surprised of the old tunnels and roads. My great respect for the engineers and workers of the PA Turnpike! I've travelled this road many times.
🐶 good afternoon all 🔆 as a child go to Ohio went through three tunnels the last tunnel had to put sunglasses on because it was long when you came out the sun would blind you Last time we use the Pa turnpike was go to Johnstown and Altantoo to see Horseshoe 🧲 curve my nephew and cousin stand the day watching the trains 🚂🚂
In the early 80's I rode the turnpike twice a year from south of Pittsburgh to Carlisle on my way out to visit family in New Jersey. I was very young but I'll never forget the family trips. I never knew about the abandoned tunnels either.
That would be cool. You probably already know this, but if you search online, there is a color image of a West Penn interurban car crossing the Pennsylvania Turnpike. It may on the site “Dave’s Electric Railways”.
As a youngster, I made a few trips westward on the Pennsylvania Turnpike, from Harrisburg. Edutainment included learning and naming all 7 tunnels, in order: Blue Mountain, Kittatinny Mountain Tuscarora Mountain, Ray's Hill, Sideling Hill, Allegheny Mountain, and Laurel Hill. (At a time when most people born or living in Pennsylvania abbreviated their state as Penna., not Pa., we often referred to it as the "Pee A Turnpike" or merely "The Turnpike" it was our only major turnpike.)
I'm reminded of a road I discovered near my house in West Point, PA. It's only a couple blocks long but everything is there. Road Signs, painted lines, etc. But it's all broken and over grown with no way to access it at either end
I too have run these highways many times and of course used the tunnels doing OTR trucking runs. I never knew about the abandon parts either. But it makes sense as they are constantly updating interstate highways all over the US. Just open the new bridge over the Susquehanna a few miles south of the I80 and north of Northumberland on Rt147S. You can now bypass Northumberland and that right turn and somewhat tight RR underpass just before the river on 11S. Now you go over the river on the Central Susquehanna Valley Transportation (CSVT) Bridge. Drops you onto 15S, a 55mph highway (mostly) but at least it's a 4 lane. Decent run till you get to Shamokin Dam. Can be congested there, 40mph, (and no trucks left lane) but only about 4 miles then the 11/15 S cut off to the Susquehanna Trail is a nice (scenic by day) run down to Harrisburg and I81. Done that many times at 65mph (10 over) and never a problem or a ticket! Love to drive!!
everytime i go to anthrocon, i always go through the tunnels to get out to pittsburgh. i have a few friends who want to take me to the abandoned tunnel, but never find time to do so. oh well, always Centralia to visit
I read about the early days of the Turnpike. Local residents of nearby rural towns would dress up and get on the pike and stop at the service plaza. They would chow down at the restaurant. They were all Howard Johnson's and there was nothing like these for miles around off the turnpike . After their meals they'd get off the next exit and return home.
Went through 4 tunnels from Pittsburgh to Philadelphia when I was a kid in the 60s ..I remember 2 single tunnels then a back to back double tunnel . Howard Johnson owned the restaurant convenience stops . The food wasn't great but, did the trick . We usually just packed sandwiches tho
The railroad right-of-way was laid out with no grade exceeding 3% because the locomotives of the time were not capable of long pulls exceeding 3% grades. One of the contributing factors to not building new tunnels at each location was cost. The PTC found it less expensive to build a bypass over the mountain as opposed to drilling new tunnels. The old tunnels have been used for storage and experimenting on new concept. The Laurel Mountain tunnel (I think) has rumble strips along the edges of the roadway as one of the experiments. It is also the most expensive toll road in America. Also, the State Police on the Turnpike are over and above Pennsylvania compliment of State Troopers, but they are still Troopers will full authority.
Between mile markers 106.2 and 106.4 was a tunnel on the north side that they just covered over for the current widening project going on. I always wanted to stop and explore it but never got the chance. I cannot find any information about it but about 6 to 10 years ago I saw people in caving gear that looked like they were doing a survey, probably for bats and other stuff. If anyone knows about it I would like to hear about it.
Honda does ALL of their coast down testing in tunnels just like this one. NOT quite legal, but hey, it's Honda! One of their biggest secrets. Until now. Yes, they fired me because I didn't go along with the program.
😅 i was caught on this turnpike in the 06 blizzard i think it was. Hell! Never again! We fully entered the twilight zone that night. In a bloody PT Cruiser aka the coffin on wheels. You know youre in trouble when semis are turned over on their sides and there is no road shoulder and large rocks are falling down on the road. Id argue its closer to a death trap than innovation...and tolls! Ew...
So much unemployment from the Great Depression ~ not just The Dust Bowl ~ Miners of Pennsylvania must have been hit hard ~ of course this Tunnel Turnpike ceased and hundreds of men were out of work ~ pray we get a better president or we will be facing a new 1929 ~
The Turnpike is indeed a lovely, well-maintained, very safe road; however, the aggravation of paying to use it, especially as an occasional user (for an annual beach trip, for example) has gotten out of hand. 😕
The abandoned roadway at Breezwood I have stopped there many times over the years and always wonder about and after watching this video I now know what became of it, so I thank you for story now when I pass the area I can tell my children and grandchildren all about it. Again thank you for this amazing story.
Does anyone remember the rest stop where there was a restaurant on each side of the roadway? I think it was Midway. When I was a young kid, my father and I walked through the pedestrian tunnel that joined them. I returned there as an adult. Although I think I located the doorway at one end, it was unmarked and locked; I don't know if staff even had access.
I used to travel the turnpike a good bit back in the day, i ised the Ft. Littleton exit when i was coming up to the mountains, and the Lionville/West Chester exit when i was going back home and it would cost about $4.25, but who can afford to even travel the turnpike nowadays, the prices keep going up every year it seems, im good on all that, i can get to where i need to go on 322, i may hit a few lights on the way, but its better then spending that money just to drive on a road, especially what it cost these days.
The Pennsylvania turnpike is a complete rip off. You pay a premium price to drive on one of the worst roads in the country Pennsylvania government graft swallows all the rest of the money. I refused to drive on it I will take Route 30 and 31 instead.
I drive the turn pike everyday from on ramp 242 harrisburg west to exit 75 new stanton all the new construction happening to make it 6 lanes is amazing. everyday you can see something new as the trees turn and lose their leaves. i grew up going to ohio every july 2nd or 3rd to get fireworks for july 4th im 40 now and all the changes to it are awesome to see.
The Laurel hill tunnel is now a wind tunnel used for motorsports testing
AKA the Area 51 of Racing thanks to Chip Ganassi
By the way, as of this year, Quemehoning tunnel is no more, it was dug up to widen the roadway to 3 lanes so if you are in the right lane about mm 106 you are driving where this tunnel used to be.
They really need to pay you to drive it instead of the other way around. It’s in horrible condition and they raise the tolls 3 times a year. Even though they got rid of all the toll collectors and half the maintenance workers.
It's one of the most expensive roads in the world to drive on.
I do agree. I drive from Erie to the west side of Philadelphia a few times a year to visit family. We used to always take the Turnpike. However with the cost and I-80 being 70mph, we just cut across the state in I-80 and then drop down the north east extension of the Turnpike. The time is the same for travel and it's a far less twisty route.
Been here, awesome place to explore! But the ceiling/floor of the ventilation system are crumbling and it can be a bit dangerous. Also, some of the water drainage gratings are removed so watch your step!
I never used the Turnpike since I never wanted to pay a fee. So when I went to Harrisburg from Erie in 1990 I used 322 instead.
I used the pike from Ohio to Va Beach & back and my fare was $54!!
The northeast extension feels left out…..
Maybe I missed this important bit of information but Chip Ganassi racing used the Laurel Hill tunnel for testing ALOT of their vehicles for years.
Was waiting to find this comment. Wish he mentioned this
@@troytheboy9144 it’s a pretty major oversight tbh.
@@bdub215 Ik. As a massive motorsport fan maybe I’m not in the majority but I feel like that bit of info is absolutely integral to the history of this highway.
He missed this story alright. This creator doesn't always get all the story
Ganassi or Penske? Penske used to have his indy car team bases out of the reading pa area
For the record, Allegheny Mountain Tunnel is still in use today. That was given a second portal in the 1960s. However, the Turnpike Commission is actively looking to build a bypass route sometime in the near future, but its still very early in the planning stages and facing some local opposition from at least one group of outdoors enthusiasts. (Ref ~7:00 mark)
You beat me. This video is full of some errors. I spent four summers working on the Turnpike at the tunnels and for maintenance. Been all through the Allegheny, Blue Mountain and Kittaninny tunnels. Biked and drove through the Sideling Hill and Rays Hill Tunnel before you were really allowed to. I’m a bit of a Turnpike buff.
I came to say the same thing. I’ve been traveling the length of the turn pike for over 40 years now.
I hadn’t heard about a bypass route, but given the age of the tunnels, I’m not terribly surprised.
The Allegheny tunnel in use today is not the original tunnel. The original tunnel sits a bit south of the one in use today.
@@rickeuler5792
I was thinking it was up behind the westbound entrance of the tunnel. I was there, but it was 35 years ago.
@@rickeuler5792 I'm guessing that might have been the source of confusion over the statement. The one you're referring to was never actually in use by the Turnpike though--it was deemed unsafe and never completed, so a replacement bore (current WB) was made that was later twinned with the EB portal in the '60s.
My Dad was a little boy when his father took the family to see the turnpike before it opened. At that point, the speed limit signs read 100 mph. They were replaced with lower speed limits before the road actually opened. I've always thought that it would be pretty cool to cruise the PA Turnpike at 100 mph.
The majority of cars didn't go that fast at that time.
I have cruised the pike at 100 mph many times. Just don't get caught, and when busy, if you're not going 80, you would get run over.
@@str8alphamale I asked him about that and he agreed that few cars could have done that speed at that time.
@@TheJstewart2010 The Buick Century was supposed to be able to go 100 mph, hence its name.
Can you imagine the accidents on the turnpike at 100 mph speed limit signs people can't drive now it would be a backup mess from fatalities
I have been on many many road trips, the Pennsylvania Turnpike is one of the most enjoyable drives, well that and Skyline Drive & Blue Ridge Parkways. The Penn Turnpike is worth the time. If you're on the western side of the country the "Coast Highway" / "Highway 101" is also a great drive between Ventura CA and Port Angles WA. Thanks to Ryan for his time and work..........................
And I do believe a nascar team used it as a wind tunnel Chip Ganassi racing
love your series.... I have a suggestion. Living in eastern Massachusetts a great deal of my life, I never heard of the Hingham Naval Ordinance Center. I did a little digging and found it to be fascinating and worthy of your consideration of a series.... if not enough for a full episode, you could also link in the Watertown Arsenal. Just a thought.
Growing up in PA I remember being fascinated by everything about the PA Turnpike. And 30 some years later its still a pet interest of mine.
Fifteen now and I was always awestruck by “just a road.” Now knowing pennsylvanias history, I understand why it was necessary to have such a major highway. It’s incredible to think that many times more man hours were put into this road than I’ll ever live in my life
No mention of Laurel Hill tunnel being leased by Chip Ganassi Racing to use as a coast down tunnel (basically a cheap wind tunnel) to gain an advantage with both their Nascar and Indy Car programs. Big let down on this story...
👍 Chip Ganassi Racing
I don't know If I would label 230 as coasting... but yeah lots of testing by ganassi
All very good, but as of the publishing date of this video, the Allegheny Mountain tunnel is alive and well. There is plans being developed to bypass the tunnel, but its going to be about a decade before that is completed. The "abandoned" tunnel through Allegheny mountain lies just to the right of the westbound lanes on the east side of the mountain.
Alive, but not well. The buildings on both ends look terrible, the walls of both of the tubes have missing/broken tile, it leaks everywhere, and the poor condition of the facility is one of the reasons for the bypass.
Hi Mr socash can you do one on the Allegheny mental asylum when was built by who
You used to actually be able to go up into the top of them. They have giant blowers that they use for the ventilation shaft that runs the entire way across the top of a tunnel. You could walk up there as well and look down through the holes where the lights dropped. down
Yeah you're still able to do that
You still can…I’ve been there 5 years ago
The ventilation shaft I was in got shorter and shorter as it went, eventually becoming a pain in the neck
The Blue Mountain and Kittatinny Mountain Tunnels are very close to each other. As a teen, I rode trail motorcycle on the Blue Mountain and through the valley between them. I recall walking downslope to near the top of one of the tunnels and having an interesting point of view into the mouth of the other tunnel.
Ahhh, the Penna Turnpike. Pretty narrow compared to most interstate highways today. I hate toll roads in general. They never seem to pay for themselves
Unfortunately not. The turnpike commission also has to find the State Police they patrol the highway. So it takes a lot of the budget.
I’m a trucker and I remember driving thru 5 tunnels on the East-West section and now it’s only thru 4. I think a story I heard was that at Sideling Hill when they wanted to drill a second tube they hit a huge section of sand which collapsed which in turn forced them to build the bypass
Drive thru the Lehigh tunnel just about every night North and South for over 5 years on a dedicated run and remember all the traffic backups on Friday nights going north and Sunday nights going south with all the Poconos weekend traffic before the second tube was bored
It still backs up.
@@scurfie2343
Not like back then. What difference it made when they added the second hole in the wall.
Very true 88M, I've run Lehigh Tunnel many, many times (18 wheelers). The only time there was any real backup was when they had us all using, I believe it was the west tunnel as doing maintenance in the east tunnel. Prob was 2 or 3 years back. But mostly a pretty decent run through there. I'm retired now too. Congrats on that!!
@@twobrotherskayaking4736 how about in the wee hours of the morning in the dead of winter when it would be single digits and they would divert all the traffic into the newer bore to knock the icicles from the ceiling in the old bore? I’m still driving but as a semi retired semi driver and it’s so nice to be able to call the boss on Saturday and tell him what days I’m available to help out
During the 1950's our vacation consisted of two weeks visiting relatives near the Jersey shore. Traveling from Ohio we traveled over the Pa pike and through these many tunnels over the years. They were always the highlight of the trip.
I never remember a traffic backlog at any tunnel, the traffic always seemed to move smoothly.
Thankyou for this great video.
One summer in the mid-1950's, our family took its only road trip--from NYC across Pennsylvania on the Pennsylvania Turnpike, through Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois, to my father's brother in Columbia, Missouri. From there we drove back through Illinois to Chicago, where we met the rest of my father's siblings. After a few days in Chicago, we drove back to NYC; whatever the reason, we never went on another family road trip.
In the '60s we did the reverse. We lived in NJ and our extended families were all in OH, and we visited them every year. The Tunnels were our highlights too. We claimed them. Sideling was my brother's. Mine was, and still is Tuscarora. Dad's name was Ray... Another thing I miss is the roadside picnic tables I still love the PA turnpike.
2015-2016 I was a truck driver and drove the Northeast Extension from the Wyoming Valley to Allentown and back twice a day Mon-Fri. They really kept it up well. I used the interstates, too. Ugh! All potholes and construction, and they allowed the lanes to merge at the last minute just before the construction zones, tying up traffic. 😢
Nice article, but I wish you had put in maps of the original and updated turnpike so those of us who are not familiar with the area could al least picture what had been done.
They now have a north south extension that is not connected to original turnpike. It now starts at US 51 and goes down to W. Va. border. It has very little traffic but it sure is a great way to go from the south side of Pittsburgh through all the towns along the Monongahela area.
And it’s usually almost empty of traffic.
This video sent me on a memory trip. My family is from Southwest Ohio and my aunt, uncle and cousins lived just outside of Philadelphia in the late 1960's. I remember our trip to see them so well even though I was in 5th or 6th grade. Driving on the Pennsylvania Turnpike was a real adventure. We drove all night and occasionally stopped at the "rest area's" with the restaurants. I remember the restrooms had vending machines that sold combs, plastic rain hat's like my mom and grandma used to wear, and lot's of other items a woman might need. I remember the Blue Mountain and Kittateny (I know I misspelled that) Tunnels. Part of the turnpike was under construction. We went through there after dark and it was pouring down rain. My mom was driving and my dad was asleep. She was scared to death so on our way home she made sure my dad was driving so he could see what she dealt with. There were places where the road was narrow and had steep dropoff's. My mom was grateful it had been dark so she couldn't see past the road itself!
I was a kid in the 50s when my parents moved from NJ to St Louis. But I remember quite a few trips “back east”. To get there we (my dad) drove the length of the Pennsylvania Turnpike. I remember counting the tunnels (all seven) and looking at the trucks hauling gas and freight. Made a big impression on this youngster! Great to see the pictures!
Same here. I was a kid in the 50s and we traveled between Philadelphia and Detroit often. Seven tunnels is the count I remember as well. I don’t remember the names but, when I hear them, they do ring a bell. Surprisingly!!
As a trucker, I hate the turnpike. It costs me $240 to run the entire turnpike, and that's the ezpass rate. Without ezpass, it's friggin $485. Ridiculous. I always take 68 through Maryland and wv
My great grandfather was a PA coal miner. Mine closed and he had to work on the turnpike. My great grandmother died around this time and my grandmother was farmed out at 9. She’s now going on 97 years old. Interesting you capture this story.
I do not believe many individuals understand the term " farmed out"
My first and only lengthy PA turnpike trip was about 1963. We traveled west from suburban Philadelphia to Pittsburg for a family vacation to visit relatives. I was fascinated with the landscape and tunnels and I believe that’s when I saw my first oil well. Years later, in the 1990s, my dad mentioned that this trip reminded him of the depression as it reeked of poverty. Pittsburg was an especially dirty city. I was too young to recognize or understand what he was talking about.
Greyhound bus..Hagerstown MD..squirrel hill tunnel into pburg..be sunny in Hagerstown..dreary in pburg..all changed now
@@piratepete842 I remember Pittsburg being very run down. I’ve heard it’s beautiful now. I’ve always lived in Philadelphia and the city has been totally remade. It’s nothing like it was in the 1969s.
Socash is STILL an amazing name. If Ryan put out a mixtape id listen ngl
I asked if Ryan is a singer or an actor and never heard.
Yoo if he dropped a rap album under the artist name of SOCASH or SoCa$h would go hard!!
@@markusgeimer3099 facts. Someone right that down 😂
Good video. I've always had a eye for old grades and have found many interesting old places and many andentures . That's why I take my time going places. It's better when I'm the passenger because I can put my full attention on looking for them while some one else drives. I find bits of old Rail and Highway buildings mine's. It baffles my Freinds but they love going. I say you drive I buy lunch we split the gasoline. 😁
The New Deal actually exacerbated the Great Depression
Nice summary with lots of great old photos!!! I remember traveling through all 7 tunnels on the East-West turnpike when I was a kid. However, the FIRST section of the turnpike to be abandoned was not the section around Breezewood. It was the section that took out the Laurel Hill tunnel in 1964. It necessitated the deepest rock cut ever accomplished at that point where a whole section of the Laurel Hill adjacent to the old tunnel was simply cut away. The Breezewood bypass of the Sideling Hill and Rays Hill tunnnels wan’t completed until 1968.
9:21 That a very beautiful building. That’s one thing I like about PA, it’s stone buildings
Much better looking than the Sidleing hill plaza that replaced it.
When I was a boy my father told me about the Pennsylvania Turnpike. We drove on the western section between the Ohio line and Breezewood when we moved east in 1962.
Since moving to the Philadelphia area in 1985 and working as a field service tech, I have driven the road many times. I had heard about the abandoned tunnels.
The portion of the Turnpike east of US 1 in Bucks County to the Delaware River is now part of I-95 and it connects to the New Jersey Turnpike filling in the gap in I-95. That road used to cross the Delaware River on the Scudder Falls Bridge and was originally planned to continue north in New Jersey. That road was never built hence the gap.
I went to graduate school in Ohio between 1994-1999. To put ramen noodles in the dinner bowl, I drove motor coach (yes, the huge Greyhound type buses). I haven't driven on the PA Turnpike since I graduated and moved back west. But back when I drove it (and often drove it), you would collect a ticket upon entry then pay upon exit. They were timestamped. I never got a speeding ticket, but several of our company drivers did, because the timestamp didn't match up from beginning to end.
The NJ Turnpike was the same!
Very slick of them to make money I drive semi use to run threw NYC a lot on I 95 heading north bound there is 2 signs stating that toll controlled speed limit which means it knows how long it takes from the GW bridge to the Rochelle toll booths before Connecticut state line then they just bill extra on their expass 😂
Cool and all. But good god. Being a local to the turnpike, it’s VERY pricey to use. Some cases costs more money than taking side routes with fuel costs cracking 4 bucks a gallon again. Just waiting for 6-7 a gallon 🤣 we are so fracked.
What a cool place to explore. I love abandoned stuff surrounded by basically untouched nature. And the tunnels and those gigantic tunnel exits are wonderful too. I often use tunnels and bridges and concrete podiums in general when i design huge dystopian sci-fi suburbs (usually brutalist) that are built on top of mountains and surrounded by nature (abandoned or not lol). Can't get enough of that. Both colorized sketches and AI generated stuff (later VR/CGI too i hope)
I grew up in Pennsylvania, and I spent MANY hours stuck in weekend backup at the Lehigh tunnel when it was one lane in each direction. It could take three hours to get through that tunnel at peak times. It is amazing that it took so many years to put in the second tunnel.
Hello from Allentown! I’ve had those kind of delays from NY via Holland or Lincoln tunnels. It always involved strategic planning for exiting (mainly food and toilet functions)
The second tube of the Lehigh was completed in 1991, delayed due to Turnpike treating the NE Extension as a stepchild of the system until Philly wanted to connect I-476 to it and the requirement of separate tubes needed to declare it an Interstate. The surprising thing is that the second tube was completed before I-476 was finally completed west of Philly.
@@Goobnav476 AKA blue route was the forever highway. They worked on it forever. For years it did not seem like they would ever finish it. Too many lawyer's houses in the way.
I have hiked and camped on the Abandoned Turnpike numerous times. Last year, I even ran a half marathon on the Abandoned Turnpike. Running through the tunnels with only a headlamp for light was a neat experience.
There was another tunnel planed for the turnpike. Named the Clearview Tunnel it was near Bedford. Rather than bypass the tunnel, the builders simply cut through the mountain where the old railroad tunnel had been.
Original 1940 PA Turnpike maps show the Clearview Tunnel. Now this area is referred to as the "Clearview Cut."
Don't worry folks, you're precious uncle fester will have those roads opened up in no time!
Just stay home until he gets back from the mental hospital and then he'll get right on it!🤣😂🤣
More democrat foreign and domestic policy! Thank you woody for the federal reserve system, which was specifically designed to prevent this from happening, and it caused the worst depression in the countries history
Not limited travel now I drive semi you know how many people run the turnpike with a bicycle rack on the back of their vehicles to cover up their license plate even on pickup trucks free turnpike ride for them cause most don't have ezpass
Pennsylvania has always been the biggest waste of taxpayer dollars with Zero 0 Accountability, Let that sink in !
Most expensive toll road IN THE WORLD...
Always wanted to visit. But so many videos, it’s satiated this interest. In a good way. Thx
Expensive tolls
The first section opened was actually Irwin to Carlisle. Harrisburg to Philly was next, after that was Irwin to the Ohio Line. Allegheny Mountain is still in use (for now).
I like history. Thank you for the video
The Allgheny Mountain Tunnel is still in operation. Why do you say it was bypassed??
The most expensive toll road in the world, what a joke.
This inspired me to watch "The Road", can see in it several scenes showing the abandoned turnpike.
I love your channel but wish you would do some stories on history of Boston man as I’m from Massachusetts and not once seen you do any videos on Boston that I can recall
My parents are from Altoona and my grandfather worked on a couple of those tunnels back when they were building the turnpike.
There's a lot of great history in that area.
Thanks for the video. I hope to be able to bike the Pike 2 Bike section in the not to distant future. I have fond memories of riding the Turnpike as a child first with my grandparents and then at the start on my first cross country trip. Sadly, it is a PA state boondoggle now.
Our family did this with our bikes in August of 2018 when our kids ranged from 11 to 21. It was a tougher bike ride than we thought it would be. Could have used better headlamps and more water, but it still goes down as the coolest thing our family ever did together. There were a lot of people that ranged from young families to kids who were smoking weed in the woods, and even two guys who were testing their motor bikes in the tunnels (illegal).
The Sideling Hill tunnel is rapidly deteriorating. I was there 3 weeks ago and the concrete is really starting to collapse inside.
Very cool! I wonder if the abandon sections can be seen on Google earth??? Something to do! Thanks Ryan for another great episode!
You can see it on Google maps. It actually shows it as abandoned or shut down or something like that.
Off course also on g earth.
It's also the most expensive turnpike in the country today.
Been through all of the original tunnels as a kid riding in the backseat. I still remember the rough cut walls and red lanterns along them. There was no interior lighting back then. There were signs as you approached the tunnels stating "turn on lights and remove sunglasses". There were also the ubiquitous "road work ahead" signs.
The original design did not have any center barriers, and because of the closeness of opposing traffic, led to some horrific and deadly crashes. By the 1960's, the Commission added center guard rails and concrete dividers, thus eliminating most of that problem.
And so it earned its nickname of 'the death pike' back in the 50's. Another issue was the long straight sections that could lull an already tired driver to loose attention. While I never drove it until the 60's and a lot of the improvements you mention were completed I can to this day recall my folks using that nickname.
I haven't been on the PA Turnpike in over 30 years. My first trip on it was in 1986 when we took a trip to see relatives in Pittsburgh. I attended a trade school in Cleveland in the early 90s and although I'm from south Jersey, my roommate was from the central part (north Jersey to me), Cliffwood Beach. We usually took rt 80 back and forth. Better road and it was free. I would be doing 90 mph in the middle of the night often, in western PA and the truckers would often pass me!
I never knew. Even though i live in Southern Maryland i frequented the turnpike alot. Growing up my stepmoms family had a huge farm/stable outside of Pittsburgh (her dad was a chairman for PPG) Then later in life i started building old honda oddysey/pilot buggies and there happened to be a farmer in West Sunbury Pa that had a shortcourse offroad track on his property called Rolling W. Ranch. So many stops at breezewood in my lifetime.😂
Maybe do a video on the Massachusetts State Turnpike or the Maine State Turnpike?
A few years ago an urban explorer friend (Hi Pete!) and I walked through one of the abandoned tunnels. (don't remember which one) The electrical boxes that lined both tunnel walls had been removed, leaving an open shelf-like space in their place...someone left a mannequin head in one of them! When you're exploring a pitch dark place with flashlights, coming across it was a fun surprise 😀
It was fun, eh? I doubt 'fun' would be my first reaction, but hey, good for you! LOL
@@inconnu4961 What can I tell you, I'm weird and appreciate the weirdness of others. (Besides it was very obviously a mannequin head and not a God forbid real one!)
My family drove the Pennsylvania Turnpike many times in the 1960’s when we traveled between our house in Chicago and my grandparents in NYC. The tunnels were always a big highlight of the trip.
I was one of those who was there for military training prior to deploying to Iraq. It would have been late 03 or early 04. It was pretty creepy driving through the tunnels. Even with lights on, it was extremely dark inside the tunnels.
Linking this to the Depression and the new deal is a little bit of a stretch from a historic standpoint. The New Deal was between 1932 and 1938. It was almost 1941 before the turnpike was opened and it only took 23 months to build it. Original funding did come from the Feds, but the turnpike was designed to be self funding with tolls, it's not really related at all to the Depression of 1929 11 years earlier.
Thank You for sharing an excellent perspective. You may have already covered this but if not, have you ever considered covering the part of Route 66 just outside Chicago that was abandoned because the road deteriorated from excavation by the Vulcan quarry?
Best Wishes and Take Care,
Tom
The Turnpike was supposed to be FREE after 50 years of tolls to pay for its construction. Yeah, at 50 years old the Turnpike Commission decided they still wanted to charge tolls because…money!
It’s also the most expensive toll road in the country! It’s way overpriced considering PA gas Taxes are also some of the highest in the country. I can see why PA politically has changed so much. They are getting ripped off!
Very interesting! I remember going through the tunnels on the Pike in the 70s, but never knew there were several abandoned ones, too.
Maybe you can do a series on abandoned airports in the US. I know there's one in Reed City, MI that has always fascinated me as I pass it on my way up north.
Also, in Grand Rapids, MI, there was one located where Roger B. Chaffee Blvd is located now. The blvd was created when the airport was moved to its present location and eventually renamed following the death of the Apollo 1 astronaut (he was a Grand Rapids resident). The current blvd roads are actually where some of the runways and taxiways were.
I'm not surprised of the old tunnels and roads. My great respect for the engineers and workers of the PA Turnpike!
I've travelled this road many times.
It's also the most expensive toll road
🐶 good afternoon all 🔆 as a child go to Ohio went through three tunnels the last tunnel had to put sunglasses on because it was long when you came out the sun would blind you Last time we use the Pa turnpike was go to Johnstown and Altantoo to see Horseshoe 🧲 curve my nephew and cousin stand the day watching the trains 🚂🚂
In the early 80's I rode the turnpike twice a year from south of Pittsburgh to Carlisle on my way out to visit family in New Jersey. I was very young but I'll never forget the family trips. I never knew about the abandoned tunnels either.
Thanks for the history lesson and the ride, I do love your subject matter.
So you show a classic picture of a dust bowl family?! 😮
@danielmartens156 big oversight for a history channel. It's easily the most well-known Dust Bowl photo.
The Road was also filmed at Mt St Helens WA in the blast zone from 1980 eruption
And to this very day constant construction on the Pa turnpike.
I’d like to see a story on the history of the West Penn railway system.
That would be cool. You probably already know this, but if you search online, there is a color image of a West Penn interurban car crossing the Pennsylvania Turnpike. It may on the site “Dave’s Electric Railways”.
As a youngster, I made a few trips westward on the Pennsylvania Turnpike, from Harrisburg. Edutainment included learning and naming all 7 tunnels, in order: Blue Mountain, Kittatinny Mountain Tuscarora Mountain, Ray's Hill, Sideling Hill, Allegheny Mountain, and Laurel Hill.
(At a time when most people born or living in Pennsylvania abbreviated their state as Penna., not Pa., we often referred to it as the "Pee A Turnpike" or merely "The Turnpike" it was our only major turnpike.)
Nice job Ryan!
I'm reminded of a road I discovered near my house in West Point, PA. It's only a couple blocks long but everything is there. Road Signs, painted lines, etc. But it's all broken and over grown with no way to access it at either end
I too have run these highways many times and of course used the tunnels doing OTR trucking runs. I never knew about the abandon parts either. But it makes sense as they are constantly updating interstate highways all over the US.
Just open the new bridge over the Susquehanna a few miles south of the I80 and north of Northumberland on Rt147S. You can now bypass Northumberland and that right turn and somewhat tight RR underpass just before the river on 11S. Now you go over the river on the Central Susquehanna Valley Transportation (CSVT) Bridge. Drops you onto 15S, a 55mph highway (mostly) but at least it's a 4 lane. Decent run till you get to Shamokin Dam. Can be congested there, 40mph, (and no trucks left lane) but only about 4 miles then the 11/15 S cut off to the Susquehanna Trail is a nice (scenic by day) run down to Harrisburg and I81. Done that many times at 65mph (10 over) and never a problem or a ticket!
Love to drive!!
everytime i go to anthrocon, i always go through the tunnels to get out to pittsburgh.
i have a few friends who want to take me to the abandoned tunnel, but never find time to do so.
oh well, always Centralia to visit
I read about the early days of the Turnpike. Local residents of nearby rural towns would dress up and get on the pike and stop at the service plaza. They would chow down at the restaurant. They were all Howard Johnson's and there was nothing like these for miles around off the turnpike . After their meals they'd get off the next exit and return home.
Went through 4 tunnels from Pittsburgh to Philadelphia when I was a kid in the 60s ..I remember 2 single tunnels then a back to back double tunnel . Howard Johnson owned the restaurant convenience stops . The food wasn't great but, did the trick . We usually just packed sandwiches tho
The railroad right-of-way was laid out with no grade exceeding 3% because the locomotives of the time were not capable of long pulls exceeding 3% grades.
One of the contributing factors to not building new tunnels at each location was cost. The PTC found it less expensive to build a bypass over the mountain as opposed to drilling new tunnels. The old tunnels have been used for storage and experimenting on new concept. The Laurel Mountain tunnel (I think) has rumble strips along the edges of the roadway as one of the experiments.
It is also the most expensive toll road in America.
Also, the State Police on the Turnpike are over and above Pennsylvania compliment of State Troopers, but they are still Troopers will full authority.
Actual Fact Connest the East Coast to the. DELAWARER RIVER THE SOUTHERN STATES. AND Midwest.
Between mile markers 106.2 and 106.4 was a tunnel on the north side that they just covered over for the current widening project going on. I always wanted to stop and explore it but never got the chance. I cannot find any information about it but about 6 to 10 years ago I saw people in caving gear that looked like they were doing a survey, probably for bats and other stuff. If anyone knows about it I would like to hear about it.
Honda does ALL of their coast down testing in tunnels just like this one. NOT quite legal, but hey, it's Honda! One of their biggest secrets. Until now. Yes, they fired me because I didn't go along with the program.
😅 i was caught on this turnpike in the 06 blizzard i think it was. Hell! Never again! We fully entered the twilight zone that night. In a bloody PT Cruiser aka the coffin on wheels. You know youre in trouble when semis are turned over on their sides and there is no road shoulder and large rocks are falling down on the road. Id argue its closer to a death trap than innovation...and tolls! Ew...
So much unemployment from the Great Depression ~ not just The Dust Bowl ~ Miners of Pennsylvania must have been hit hard ~ of course this Tunnel Turnpike ceased and hundreds of men were out of work ~ pray we get a better president or we will be facing a new 1929 ~
The Turnpike is indeed a lovely, well-maintained, very safe road; however, the aggravation of paying to use it, especially as an occasional user (for an annual beach trip, for example) has gotten out of hand. 😕
The abandoned roadway at Breezwood I have stopped there many times over the years and always wonder about and after watching this video I now know what became of it, so I thank you for story now when I pass the area I can tell my children and grandchildren all about it. Again thank you for this amazing story.
Does anyone remember the rest stop where there was a restaurant on each side of the roadway? I think it was Midway. When I was a young kid, my father and I walked through the pedestrian tunnel that joined them. I returned there as an adult. Although I think I located the doorway at one end, it was unmarked and locked; I don't know if staff even had access.
I used to travel the turnpike a good bit back in the day, i ised the Ft. Littleton exit when i was coming up to the mountains, and the Lionville/West Chester exit when i was going back home and it would cost about $4.25, but who can afford to even travel the turnpike nowadays, the prices keep going up every year it seems, im good on all that, i can get to where i need to go on 322, i may hit a few lights on the way, but its better then spending that money just to drive on a road, especially what it cost these days.
The Pennsylvania turnpike is a complete rip off. You pay a premium price to drive on one of the worst roads in the country Pennsylvania government graft swallows all the rest of the money. I refused to drive on it I will take Route 30 and 31 instead.
LMAO THE MILE MARKER jfc they have been doing mile markers since before America
I drive the turn pike everyday from on ramp 242 harrisburg west to exit 75 new stanton all the new construction happening to make it 6 lanes is amazing. everyday you can see something new as the trees turn and lose their leaves. i grew up going to ohio every july 2nd or 3rd to get fireworks for july 4th im 40 now and all the changes to it are awesome to see.