A visit to the Abandoned Pennsylvania Turnpike

A visit to the Abandoned Pennsylvania Turnpike - October 2004

In October 2004, Pennsylvania Highways webmaster and friend of the blog, Jeff Kitsko, hosted a road meet centered on the abandoned Pennsylvania Turnpike in Breezewood. I was fortunate to attend. What is unique about this trip to the abandoned highway is that we actually were able to drive on the old turnpike 36 years after it was bypassed. We also were able to walk into the offices and ventilation areas of the tunnels for a unique perspective of the old highway. Co-blogger Doug Kerr also was at the meet and some of his photos are included below.

From the start of our trip in Breezewood and looking back towards the Breezewood Interchange and the start of the abandoned Turnpike. (Doug Kerr)

Entrance to the western portal of Ray's Hill Tunnel. At a length of only 2,532 feet, only one set of exhaust fans - at the eastern portal - was needed.

After exiting the tunnel, autumn traveling motorists journeyed through a chute of color towards the Sideling Hill Tunnel, then the longest in the system.

Near the western portal of Sideling Hill is this stone culvert built for the South Penn Railroad.

A look inside the Sideling Hill Tunnel. You can see why many bikers and walkers decide to turn around and not make it to the other side. (Doug Kerr)

A view from the upstairs offices located inside the western portal of the Sideling Hill Tunnel. The cars give a great demonstration of how two lanes of Turnpike traffic would merge into one entering the tunnel.

Inside the Sideling Hill Tunnel and doorway leading to upstairs. (Doug Kerr)

Graffiti is rampant inside the tunnel. (Doug Kerr)

Looking back towards the eastern portal of Sideling Hill Tunnel, which is over 6700 feet long!

A look at the abandoned pike from near the site of the former Cove Valley Travel Plaza.

Site Navigation:

Return to Pennsylvania Turnpike Collection Index

Sources & Links:

Doug Kerr
Abandoned Pennsylvania Turnpike ----Brian Troutman

Comments

Warren Taylor said…

I'm also visiting this site regularly, this web site is really nice and the users are genuinely sharing good thoughts.

2:24 AM

Former US Route 50 and the Pioneer Route Lincoln Highway on Johnson's Pass Road

Johnson's Pass Road is one of the oldest highway corridors in California. Johnson's Pass was part of the Lake Tahoe Wagon Road as it was completed during 1856 over the Sierra Nevada. The pass would later be incorporated into the Pioneer Branch of the Lincoln Highway in 1913 and US Route 50 in 1926. Johnson's Pass Road would be bypassed by a new alignment of US Route 50 over Echo Summit in 1938. A replacement of the Meyers Grade east of Johnson's Pass would be opened to traffic in 1947. Johnson's Pass Road remains accessible to traffic and is still signed by the Lincoln Highway Association. Pictured as the blog cover is the view from the top of Johnson's Pass Road overlooking modern US Route 50 and Lake Tahoe. Part 1; the history of Johnson's Pass Much of the history of what become the Lake Tahoe Wagon Road is discussed in the September 1950 California Highways & Public Works during its Centennial Edition. The or...

Abandoned US Route 40 in the Truckee River Canyon

Within the Truckee River Canyon in the Sierra Nevada range numerous abandoned portions of US Route 40 can be found alongside modern Interstate 80. This segment of highway was opened during 1926 as a bypass of the Dog Valley Grade which carried the early North Lincoln Highway and Victory Highway. The corridor of the Truckee River Canyon State Highway would be assigned as US Route 40 when the US Route System was commissioned during November 1926. During 1958 the segment of Interstate 80 between Boca, California and the Nevada state line was complete. When Interstate 80 opened east of Boca numerous obsolete portions of US Route 40 were abandoned. Some of these abandoned segments have been incorporated into the Tahoe-Pyramid Trail. Part 1; the history of US Route 40 in the Truckee River Canyon The Truckee River Canyon for centuries has been an established corridor of travel known to native tribes crossing the Sierra Nevada range. The first documented wagon crossi...

Former US Route 50 and the South Lincoln Highway from Folsom east to Placerville

The corridor of Folsom of Sacramento County east to Placerville of El Dorado County has been a long established corridor of overland travel dating back to the California Gold Rush. The Folsom-Placerville corridor was once part of the path of the Lake Tahoe Wagon Road which became the first California State Highway and later the South Lincoln Highway. In time the South Lincoln Highway's surface alignment was inherited by US Route 50. The Folsom-Placerville corridor also includes the communities of; Clarksville, Shingle Springs and El Dorado. Part 1; the history of the Lake Tahoe Wagon Road, South Lincoln Highway and US Route 50 through Folsom-Placerville Folsom is located on the American River/Lake Natoma of eastern Sacramento County. That lands now occupied by the City of Folsom were part of Rancho Rio de los Americanos prior to the finding of gold at Sutter's Mill during 1848. During the California Gold Rush the lands of Rancho Rio de los Americanos were p...

Gribblenation

Search This Blog