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However, visitors should note that parking is not allowed on the roadside. Part of this website is going to be dedicated to allowing visitors to the
complete with explanations, rumors, theories and facts
Sideling
It’s the model that all other highway systems have followed, both in the United States and in other countries. as well as the ability to post stories anonymously. And those cities could not be more different. ... and light the tunnels. abandoned, never used or never built tunnels); I received some Laurel Hill
You’ll need a good flashlight for going through the Rays Hill Tunnel or any of the other PA Abandoned Turnpike tunnels. There is a plan to turn the highway into a trail called the Pike 2 Bike. thanks to everyone who has sent in stories to the webmaster, as well as
My "Turnpike Stories"
Proceed to Exit 161 in Breezewood. Turnpike
When the PA Turnpike first opened in the 1940's it had many tunnels. Week of July 24, 2005 ... Sideling
Part of this website is going to be dedicated to allowing visitors to the site to share their stories about visiting the abandoned PA Turnpike, including both abandoned sections, the tunnels (Laurel Hill, Ray's Hill and Sideling Hill), both recently and before they were open to public visits. Passing through farmland and under mountains, it was a modern marvel when it was constructed in 1930s. document.write('">Add our site to your favorites!');
www.southpennrailroad.com. I use FrontPage extensions on the server, so Microsoft
You'll wonder if you missed it - just keep going. here to share your stories with us! The South Penn Railroad project also created the nearby tunnels that were used by the PA Turnpike before being abandoned in 1970. Laurel Hill Statistics page has been updated. On October 31, 1989, the turnpike saw its two billionth traveler. We had to carefully dodge their fecal bombs. Christmas or whichever holiday you may celebrate at this time of year. In 2005, the PTC restricted access to the abandoned turnpike by demolishing an overpass over U.S. Route 30 (US 30) in Breezewood and an overpass on Pump Station Road near the site of the old Cove Valley Travel Plaza. that I will be posting. Yes it was â the Pennsylvania Turnpike was built on top of the started-but-never-completed South Pennsylvania Railroad, which was a joint partnership between famous businessmen of the day William Vanderbilt, Andrew Carnegie (pictured below in front of the Rays Hill Tunnel in 1884), Henry Clay Frick, and J.P. ⦠Hill. bridge removals *
Also, the tunnel interiors can be quite cool, so a lightweight jacket is a good idea, even in summer. Month of November 2005 ...
have been sharing their stories and information with me for both this website
book, as well as the two visitors who have sent pictures and facts for Laurel
The tunnel face is riddled with graffiti, some of it quite good, although lots of it is pretty sophomoric. following an email from an Internet user, I believe this will be the month I
Laurel Hill Tunnel *
Other Notable Tunnels
facts about LHT have been updated and included on the statistics page. [ By the 2000âs the Pennsylvania Turnpike spanned 514 miles & averaged 156.2 million vehicles per year. ] My sister website: www.sideling-hill.com
When he’s not traveling (or writing about travel), you’ll find him reading a good book. all of the tunnels related to the PA Turnpike (including current, remodeled,
You'll be surprised at how different
It was probably some kind of air duct above the main tunnel shaft. maintain and fund both sites. The abandoned part of the Turnpike is now a walking, hiking, and biking trail, although it is not maintained. It’s unlikely there will be more vehicles than that.
For the first time the PA Turnpike was now a four-lane highway for the entire 506-mile length. will be posting a new Laurel Hill Tunnel page, including the apparent usage of
site to share their stories about visiting the abandoned PA Turnpike, including
The abandoned turnpike is a few miles down the road. Month of December 2005 ... Wishing you and your families a Merry
"Bike The Pike"
Currently
The Keystone State has its own monuments to change. website; guest book works correctly now; off-site links (WikiMedia) added for
page uploaded; Laurel Hill picture page uploaded (I need your help, pictures
After the project failed, the tunnels lay dormant until they were included in plans to build what became known as âAmericaâs first superhighwayâ â the Pennsylvania Turnpike â a motorway-style road running east to west across the northern state.
Thank you much!
creating and using HTML frames and the programming associated with them. Location of the Laurel Hill Tunnel. The Mattress Factory is located in Pittsburgh, and was originally just a ⦠var title="The JavaScript Source";
pages are in the works. Back in 1968, for whatever reason, the turnpike was 4 lanes, but with only 1 lane tunnels⦠Unfortunately, there was a section that was unable to be widened due to issues at the Rays Hill Tunnel and Sideling Hill Tunnel. The Pennsylvania Turnpike has revived plans to replace the Allegheny Tunnels in Somerset County, a project that has been talked about for nearly two decades.
A section of this turnpike ⦠else {
any of the tunnels or exploring the old roadway, please email our site at:
the Laurel Hill Tunnel. Stay tuned for additional details. working on the "statistics" pages for each tunnel (I have a lot of
The PA Turnpike winds its way for over five hundred miles around and through much of southern PA. In 1968, the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission decided to abandon approximately 13-miles of the original turnpike near Waterfall, Pennsylvania in Fulton County. document.write('. Originally finished in 1940 and extending just 160 miles, the road made use of several abandoned railroad tunnels to get through the Pennsylvania mountains. domain name. Please Note: the tunnels are completely preserved, but NO electricity. update the resolution on this website to 1024x768, so if your resolution is set
E-mail webmaster for details. recent questions that have surfaced; the Turnpike "in print" page
or P.T.C. Week of July 17, 2005 ...
Hike To Abandoned Rays Hill Tunnel In Pennsylvania For A Unique Outdoor Adventure. I am on vacation for two weeks ... but not before posting the
Like the Highway to Hell in Centralia, Pennsylvania, the Abandoned PA Turnpike tunnels have that post-apocalyptic vibe. If you have a story to tell about visiting
The stoplights in Breezewood are terribly timed. You’ll go a little less than a mile to the first intersection and gravel parking lot (on your left). Pennsylvania Turnpike Laurel Hill bypass. the wrong page. Current
The last remaining two-lane tunnel on the Turnpike was the Lehigh Tunnel on the Northeastern Extension and it was widened. There is a small parking lot that can hold about eight cars at the trailhead. terminus
All
Internet Explorer is your best bet for viewing the page although others, including
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and my personal curiosity. At each side of the Rays Hill Tunnel entrance are the control rooms, which have long been sealed off with heavy steel doors. The 13-mile section of the Pennsylvania Turnpike was abandoned in November of 1968, when a bypass was built over the mountains and the road suddenly became obsolete. Please var name = "turnpike-stories";var domain = "rays-hill.com";document.write('');document.write("Turnpike Stories" + '');" target="_top">click
But the Pennsylvania Turnpike is the lifeline that literally holds the state together. My target date is January 15th ... to have my new "Laurel Hill Tunnel - Current
submitted stories that are posted will have proper credit given to the author(s),
Be sure to bring your patience. working on another update ... some mysteries solved. The result can be long traffic jams and gridlock on Route 30 at nearly any hour of the day. It chirped endlessly at our presence. Some of the tunnels became used for short line rail, and others sat abandoned, never having seen usage until the 1930s when the Turnpike was proposed and built. Lance Longwell is the co-founder of Travel Addicts. Welcome to
Please report broken/dead links to: var name = "broken-links";var domain = "rays-hill.com";document.write('');document.write("dead-links" + '');. Service Plaza and Pump Station Road aerial photos annotated; work
The tunnels west of the small town of Donegal were constructed as part of an abortive attempt to build a railway line in the 1890s. links to a family's bike trip down the old roadway posted -- great pictures and
There are no motorized vehicles. This page uses frames, but your browser doesn't support them. * Any recent photographs or accounts of visitors to the eastern portal of the
Also posted this week: Laurel
Getting off the Turnpike, the highway number will turn to I-70. You’ll notice several signs that explain the rules. Updates to the Sideling Hill pages, including statistics are in the works and
* Recent photographs or accounts of the U.S. 30 and Pumping Station Road
The abandoned road that connects these two tunnels lives on as an easy â but incredibly intriguing and historic â hiking trail. I am also currently obtaining permission to use
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If you are coming North on I-70, take it until the road dead-ends in Breezewood. Two of the nine tunnels that were created, including the Negro and Quemahoning Mountain tunnels, were omitted from the Turnpike routing thanks to routing around them. Stories page is now posted. Visitors to this website
The Pennsylvania Turnpike is a marvel of engineering and political achievement that traverses the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. only adds to the theory
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information has been sent to me. information. Don’t litter, don’t be stupid, and be respectful. The silence of a corporation added
See you in 2006! Improved guest book; Sideling Hill picture page uploaded; Ray's Hill picture
This is my first-ever attempt at
Lots of free parking available at 3005 Pump Station Rd, Waterfall, PA. Trips ... Laurel Ridge:
See the "Recent Pictures" section under
added, spotlights several books written about the Turnpike and it's history;
It's amazing that the tunnels look almost untouched after standing, unmaintained, for more than 40 years. use) -- thank you all for help; topographical maps posted -- more annotations
Enjoy! Visitors are not trespassing. coming; aerial photography of the tunnels, old roadways and local landmarks
A parking lot on Oregon Road is adjacent to the abandoned turnpike. S.A.C. More information on Laurel Hill tunnel has been received -
Northern Ireland and Ireland Driving Itinerary, Best Snorkel Gear for Your Next Underwater Adventure, The Apocalyptic Abandoned Pennsylvania Turnpike. I-76 (Pennsylvania Turnpike) 4,727 feet (1,441 m) Laurel Hill Tunnel: Cook and Jefferson Townships Pennsylvania Turnpike (abandoned) 4,541 feet (1,384 m) 1940 Lehigh Tunnel: Lehigh and Carbon counties I-476 (Northeast Extension of the Pennsylvania Turnpike) Blue Mountain: 4,400 feet (1,300 m) 1957, 1991 Liberty Tunnel: Pittsburgh the old tunnel. modifications to them as time goes by. will uploaded during the upcoming week. the Tunnel; near
NOTE: I have found it necessary to
HAPPY NEW YEAR! In Partnership with Information Logistics I will no doubt make
Week of August 25, 2005 ...
my local Christian band.
is now off-line. The system weighed all vehicles passing through toll lanes. }
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