The Abandoned Pennsylvania Turnpike — Brief History
by Brian Troutman on Nov.01, 2004, under Abandoned Turnpike
Original 1940s-era two-lane Turnpike tunnel. (Source: PA Turnpike Commission)
Anyone reading this probably knows the all about the history of the abandoned Turnpike, so I don’t really know why I’m even writing this, but anyway….
When the Pennsylvania Turnpike first opened from Carlisle to Irwin in 1940, the new toll road was truly “America’s Tunnel Highway.” A trip from one end to the other would take a motorist through seven different tunnels: (from east to west) Blue Mountain, Kittatinny, Tuscarora, Sideling Hill, Ray’s Hill, Allegheny, and Laurel Hill.
While the length of the Turnpike was built to unheard of (at the time) construction standards—two travel lanes in each direction, a grass median dividing traffic, complete control of access—the tunnels could accommodate only one lane of traffic in each direction. For early Turnpike travelers, these seven tunnels were the motoring equivalent of commas, brief slowdowns to 35 punctuating countless miles of unfettered cruising. Turnpike planners were not concerned with potential bottlenecks; these merge points could easily handle the ’40s modest traffic volumes.
The Abandoned Pennsylvania Turnpike — See the Pictures
by Brian Troutman on Nov.01, 2004, under Abandoned Turnpike, Highways
Eastbound between Breezewood and Ray's Hill.
Of course, there really is no substitute for making an actual pilgrimage to Breezewood, but if you aren’t really inclined to make the trip or are trying to give yourself more excuses to go, take a photo tour of the Abandoned Pennsylvania Turnpike.
