In his landmark 1993 book on turnpike corruption, when the levee. The pennsylvania turnpike local and regional history books. See more ideas about pennsylvania turnpike, pennsylvania and pennsylvania history. Pennsylvania turnpike, one of the earliest major limitedaccess express highways in the united states, opened in 1940 as a staterun toll road running through the allegheny mountains and connecting. Pennsylvania turnpike commission not a minute too soon either, as the new york thruway began to slice into the turnpikes profit. A history of the pennsylvania turnpike with pictures of the turnpike tunnels and. Abandoned pa turnpike tunnels history some do not realize that there is a 3rd abandoned tunnel and the allegheny tunnel is not the original. It ends at the new jersey border at the delaware river turnpike toll. Sideline hill tunnel is one of three turnpike tunnels that were abandoned after sections of the highway were rerouted. A controlledaccess highway, it runs for 360 miles 580 km across the state. The allegheny tunnel is located in allegheny and stonycreek townships, somerset county along the pennsylvania turnpike i7076, a limited access highway, approximately miles east of exist. The interchange project will directly connect the pa turnpike and interstate 95, thus making interstate.
The abandoned pennsylvania turnpike is the common name of a mile 21 km stretch of the pennsylvania turnpike that was bypassed in 1968 when a modern stretch opened to ease traffic congestion in the tunnels. Turnpike tunnels and history tunnels are a rich part of turnpike history. Uncoveringpa l the best things to do in pennsylvania. In 1968 the pennsylvania turnpike commission tpc bypassed the rays and sidling hill tunnels and 11 miles of pike. Most pennsylvania turnpike travelers are unaware that its construction was inspired by the route of the never completed south pennsylvania railroad. Sideling hill tunnel is one of three original pennsylvania turnpike tunnels abandoned this one in 1968 after two massive realignment projects. Unfollow pa turnpike to stop getting updates on your ebay feed. Pennsylvania turnpikepennsylvania turnpike tunnels. Built using the rightofway and unfinished tunnels of the never completed south pennsylvania railroad, it was a. No light at the end of this abandoned pennsylvania turnpike tunnel. The building of the great pennsylvania turnpike pennsylvania. He is the author or coauthor of seven books on york county history and holds a masters in american studies.
Currently, the pennsylvania turnpike commission no longer requires commercial carriers to obtain a permit in order to transport hazardous materials on. The glory years of the pennsylvania turnpike by mitchell e. By 1956,the pa turnpike stretched for 360 miles from new jersey to ohio. Currently, the pennsylvania turnpike commission guidelines on transporting hazardous materials through its five tunnels are as followed. The original planning called for the turnpike retiring its debt in 1954 and becoming part of penndot, according to the pennsylvania turnpike. Today the tunnels remain for curious visitors to explore and for. See more ideas about pennsylvania turnpike, pennsylvania and keystone state. Fhwas bicentennial history, americas highways 17761976, says of the turnpike. The pennsylvania turnpike is a toll highway operated by the pennsylvania turnpike commission ptc in the u. This is a nice concise history of the pennsylvania turnpike.
Im jim cheney, the creator and primary writer and photographer of. Pennsylvania turnpike abandoned tunnels running trail. The others are nearby rays hill tunnel, and farther west. When the pa turnpike opened on october 1 1940, it had seven tunnels. It included twolane tunnels at laurel hill, allegheny, rays hill, sideling hill. The highway was built back in the 1940s and played a crucial role in connecting breezewood to smaller towns like hustontown that were located further east. However, few realize that just a few hundred yards away from them is one of the states oddest attractions. In sept of 2016, the pa secretary of transportation and secretary of the department of conservation and natural resources held a press. Whether it is the roadways numerous tunnels or stone faced service plazas, the. The turnpike laid the groundwork for the interstate highway system by proving that largescale construction projects supported by the government could be effectively implemented and useful. Ross siebers request to the pennsylvania turnpike commission regarding the righttoknow laws and the current usage of the laurel hill tunnel. Some of the interesting information that this book mentions is the following. The pa turnpike, opened in 1940, adapted the tunnels as part of its original highway in 1968 a two mile stretch of the highway, including two original tunnels, was bypassed and abandoned. The abandoned pa turnpike the abandoned pa turnpike was created by the rerouting of the highway in 1968.
The lancaster turnpike route was later replaced by a canal after 1800 and then the beginnings of a railroad in the 1880s. Pennsylvania turnpike highway, pennsylvania, united. When the pa turnpike first opened in the 1940s it had many tunnels. From opening night, the pennsylvania turnpike has been one of the most photographed and storied superhighways. Taking pictures of the active tunnel entrances will garner state police. The book gives a detailed history of the pa turnpike in only 2 pages. History and information on the pennsylvania turnpike.
The pennsylvania turnpike is one of the bestknown highways in the. However, few realize that just a few hundred yards away from them is one of the. I know the pa turnpike has tunnels, but im not sure if there are any between 70 and 79, but i would avoid the middle just to be sure. Many of the tunnels were twinned, but the two tunnels in this. As a retirement gift he was allowed to bring his family to this section of tp to take a tour. Tunnel on pennsylvania turnpikei70i76 location somerset county, pennsylvania status open to traffic history westbound tunnel completed 1940. Negro mountain tunnel, initial construction done for the south pennsylvania railroad, but later omitted from the pennsylvania turnpike. Man killed by falling debris in pa turnpike tunnel. This book tells about the history of the pa turnpike. All table 1 materials and all explosives are prohibited. Relive some of the many iconic moments in motion past and present on this historic toll highway through the captivating photographs on the pages of the new book, the pennsylvania turnpike. My friends father wrote history books of pa travel and the turnpikes. The abandoned pa turnpike tunnels circa 198182 with the widespread popularity of abandoned turnpike exploration, what is unique about these photos from 20 years ago is that many of the. Allegheny tunnel transportation improvement project.
The abandoned tunnel at sideling hill, the longest of the original tunnels on the pennsylvania turnpike, is more than a mile and a quarter long. The bypass is located just east of the heavily congested breezewood. Built according to the new interstate standards, it was a. An early publicity map showing the highway with nine tunnels. History the ghost highwaythe abandoned pennsylvania turnpike. But there is a mile stretch of the turnpike, with three tunnels and a travel plaza, east of the breezewood area, that was bypassed in 1968 and dubbed the abandoned pennsylvania. While there are sites out there that try to tell you the best places to visit in.
This section of the highway was completely abandoned by traffic and occasionally used by the tpc to train snow plow drivers, prototype rumble strips, road reflectors, reflective road pant, do vehicle crash, roll over, truck brake distance, road sign distance visibility tests. By the 60s, traffic congestion entering the tunnels was increasing. The eastern portal of sideling hill tunnel, longest of the tunnels at 6,782 feet. However, before the motorists could head down into the history books, local officials congratulated them and reporters. A history of the pennsylvania turnpike with pictures of the turnpike tunnels and abandoned tunnels. The allegheny mountains posed a barrier to william vanderbilt and andrew. The pennsylvania turnpike, a history paperback january 1, 1990 by dan cupper author. Abandoned pa turnpikethere are a total of three tunnels no longer used by the pa turnpike authoritylaurel hill, rays hill and sideling hill. The allegheny mountains posed a barrier to william vanderbilt and andrew carnegie, who at the time were building a railroad from harrisburg west to pittsburgh to compete with a more northerly route provided by the booming pennsylvania railroad.
In this case, the sideling hill tunnel and rays hill tunnel were bypassed, as was one of the turnpike s travel plazas. Avoiding tunnels at all costs directions pennsylvania. It focuses mainly on the competition between the railroads which led the vanderbilts to select a route for a new railroad across southern pennsylvania and partially complete several tunnels before abandoning the project. Their plan involved using the abandoned south pennsylvania railroad tunnels and roadbeds. Millions of people travel along the pennsylvania turnpike through bedford and fulton counties each year. The allegheny mountain tunnel is a vehicular tunnel carrying the pennsylvania turnpike through the allegheny mountains. So what could possibly cause miles of turnpike to be left completely abandoned. At this point, the turnpike carries interstates 70 and 76. In this case, the sideling hill tunnel and rays hill tunnel were bypassed. The lehigh tunnel is a pair of road tunnels that carries the pennsylvania turnpike northeast extension interstate 476 under kittatinny mountain north from interstate 78 to the scrantonwilkesbarre. The pennsylvania turnpike was opened to traffic on october 1, 1940.
The pennsylvania turnpike commission operates the road system that launched the. Pennsylvania turnpike moving ahead with new road to bypass. It focuses mainly on the competition between the railroads which led the vanderbilts to select a route for a new railroad across. The pennsylvania turnpike was the prototype of the modern highspeed heavyduty interstate highway. Henry in late 1934 as america struggled with the great depression, victor lecoq, a pennsylvania planning.