• Home
  • Advertise
  • Circulation
  • About Us
  • FAQ
  • Contact Us

The Loafer Online

  • In This Issue
  • Featured
    • Events
      • Adult Prom is Back!
    • Arts
      • The Popular 1940s USO Christmas Show Returns to the JRT
    • Music
      • Songs From The Road Band at Bloom Cafe & Listening Room
      • Redefining the Rules
      • Tennessee Songwriters’ Week Open Mic
      • Four Hands Two Feet
      • 7th Annual Bristol, TN Marathon Jam
      • Band Booking
    • Free & Fun
      • 7th Annual Bristol, TN Marathon Jam
  • Columns
    • Anthony Wayve
      • Do It Anyway.
    • Appalachian Wanderers
      • Busch Gardens Williamsburg Part II
    • *batteries not included
      • The Best Albums You’ve Never Heard
    • Pop Life
      • CHER
    • Stargazer
      • Farewell, Mars Rover Until We Meet Again
    • Tea Time with Appalachian Barbie
      • Living Life Fearlessly
    • The Nerd’s Corner
      • An Interview with Ross Marquand
  • Archives
    • 2018 Article Archives
    • 2017 Article Archives
    • 2016 Article Archives
    • Archived Articles By Month
  • Progress Businesses
    • Automotive
    • Event Venue
    • Home Services
    • Marketing
    • Medical
    • Restaurants
    • Schools / Colleges
    • Services
    • Stores
    • Theatre
    • Travel
  • Spotlight
  • Full Issues

The Ultimate Limited Access Road

Urban exploration seems to be a pretty big thing these days.

You probably know the drill – break into some abandoned factory, hospital, etc. and see what types of archaic technology have been left behind from olden times.  Or maybe just look for copper.  Of course, I can’t condone this hobby.  Meandering through dilapidated structures isn’t particularly safe, it’s generally considered trespassing, and endorsing flagrant disregard for the law and personal safety is just not how I roll.

Fortunately, the Abandoned Pennsylvania Turnpike is quite safe and legal, though not the easiest place to get to.  Abandoned turnpike – sounds intriguing, doesn’t it?  Well it’s exactly what it sounds like.  In southern Pennsylvania, there is a section of unused highway that’s gone unmaintained for the past fifty years, just begging to be explored.  Oh, and did I mention that there are tunnels?

Ok, so a little background here:  The Pennsylvania Turnpike was originally opened to vehicular traffic in 1940 as a means to significantly decrease travel time between the populous metropolitan areas of Pittsburgh and Philadelphia.  Per the original plan, seven tunnels were built (or repurposed) to guide traffic through the rugged Appalachian Mountains running through the middle of the state.  However, as automobile usage continued to increase, the turnpike soon began to see more traffic than was ever expected, and by the late 50’s was a congested mess – especially around those tunnels, which only accommodated one lane in each direction.

Something had to be done, but with three of the tunnels deemed too impractical to widen, the powers that be in Harrisburg decided to simply construct a new route through the trouble spot.  So, in 1968, 13 miles of the original highway were bypassed and left to decay.

Nowadays, you can walk, bike, roller skate or Segway along the majority of that section, though cars are prohibited.  It’s not easy to get to though, and cars are absolutely prohibited.  Still, if you’re ever near the popular stopover / mini-Gatlinburg of Breezewood, PA, and know where to look, there is an unmarked point of access with very limited parking.  A few words of caution from the No Shit Sherlock Files:  The surface is bad.  It’s overgrown and full of as many potholes as you can imagine fifty Pennsylvania winters might make.  Also, those tunnels are dark.  One is over a mile in length, so you’ll want to bring a very good flashlight.

Oh, and there’s no copper to be harvested, so if that’s your game, stick to the old auto plant.  But you didn’t hear that from me.

Jan 24, 2017The Trivial Traveler
Share this:
The Breakfast Club returns to Capone'sA Glimpse into the Past: LeStrange Viols to bring early music revival to city, campus
You Might Also Like
 
Zoo Knoxville
 
National Night Out
The Trivial Traveler
The Trivial Traveler

Brian McManus
brian@theloaferonline.com

2 years ago Archives
Spotlight
  • Tuesday, February 19, 2019 Stemwinder in Johnson City, TN at Rock’s Wood Fired Pizza & Grill
  • Tuesday, February 19, 2019 Downtown Country in Elizabethton, TN at Jiggy Ray’s Pizzeria
  • Tuesday, February 19, 2019 Justin Mychals in Kingsport, TN at Beef O’Brady’s

See all upcoming events

Subscribe: RSS iCal

Tennessee Songwriters’ Week Open Mic
The Best Albums You’ve Never Heard
7th Annual Bristol, TN Marathon Jam
About

Dedicated to local arts and entertainment around the Tri-Cities region since 1986.

Recent Posts
Tennessee Songwriters’ Week Open Mic
The Best Albums You’ve Never Heard
7th Annual Bristol, TN Marathon Jam
Archives

Sign Up to receive area news, events, and more via our e-newsletter.

2018 © The Loafer Online | Published by Market Innovations

All advertisements are accepted and published by the publisher upon the representation that the agency and/or advertiser is authorized to publish the entire contents and subject matter thereof. The agency and/or advertiser will indemnify and save the publisher harmless from any loss of expense resulting from claims or suits based upon contents of any advertisement, including claims or suits for defamation, libel, right of privacy, plagiarism, and copyright infringement.

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.