The old Breezewood interchange. When you exit at the current Breezewood interchange and head into town, that stretch of four-lane highway you're driving on is part of the original, bypassed Turnpike. As you approach Route 30, you'll see this mystery ramp to nowhere on your right. This is the former Breezewood exit, now accessible but disused.
Now disused, this used to be the eastbound on-ramp. The pickup truck is traveling on the current ramp.
Looking down the median of the former Breezewood interchange. Exiting westbound traffic on the right, entering eastbound traffic on the left.
The former interchange was partially demolished when the new interchange was built in the mid-1960s. That bridge is now disused, but is clearly visible just after the huge "Route 30" sign while traveling east on the current ramp.
To access the abandoned turnpike, take Route 30 to Oregon Road (full directions are on floor9.com). There is at least one "official" parking area along Oregon Road. Just after Oregon Road turns and goes under the abandoned turnpike, you'll come across this clearing. We parked here; the turnpike is about a tenth of a mile straight uphill.
Standing in the eastbound lane, looking west.
This was taken in nearly the same spot as the last photo. Standing in the shoulder of the eastbound lane, looking west.
I've said it before, but it bears repeating: For going over 40 years with zero maintenance, the road is in remarkably good condition. This is the eastbound lane, looking east, just before the Sideling Hill tunnel.
The abandoned turnpike has been used on numerous occasions to test then-new paints, marking patterns, SNAP rumble strips, and even embedded reflectors.
Standing in the eastbound lane, looking east. I believe this is the final curve before the western portal of the Sideling Hill tunnel.
One of my favorite shots from the trip. This is just west of the western portal of the Sideling Hill tunnel, looking west.
Why hello there, old friend! It's the western portal of the Sideling Hill tunnel.
Peering into the darkness (western portal, Sideling Hill tunnel). It is difficult to convey the awesomeness of being here. The gaping mouth is easily 20' tall at its peak, and the interior of the tunnel is near pitch black. Sounds of dripping water echo from within, and natural convection pushes a steady breeze of chilly air out.
The graffiti seems to change annually. It's a shame that it even exists. Believe it or not, this is the best graffiti this place has seen in years.
The office at the western portal of the Sideling Hill tunnel greets you with several inches of stagnant, oily water. Former explorers have built a pathway out of disused pieces of metal.
Door to the outside (office in the western portal, Sideling Hill tunnel)
Maybe it's just an element of brutalism, but the tunnel complexes are rife with ceiling protuberances. You'll see what I mean. Ceiling of ground floor, western portal, Sideling Hill tunnel.
Interior of the office at the western portal of the Sideling Hill tunnel. That door leads to a storage area (former utility room, from the looks of it).
Door to the second floor. Ground floor office, western portal, Sideling Hill tunnel.
Rusty stairs to the second and third floors. I have no way of gauging the condition or safety of these stairs. It may just be my imagination, but they seem to have warped somewhat since my last visit.
Looking out the second-floor "window" of the office at the western portal of the Sideling Hill tunnel.
Someone has made a home here. Note the empty bottles, the firewood stacked on the left, and the blankets. Not pictured: Fire pit.
Why no, I can NOT pass up a picture of rusty electrical conduit goodness.
Someone did not realize that you can buy replacement batteries.
Protuberances.
I see Metro Bank was already here.
Giant, rusty air handlers (easily 15' tall) forced clean air through the tunnels. These are in the western portal of the Sideling Hill tunnel.
Another perspective of the air handlers.
What is it that makes 1930s-era machinery so fascinating?
The air handler from the opposite side. For perspective, that railing is about 4' higher than me.
Between the twin air handlers is the access door to the maintenance shaft, one of the most dangerous parts of the tunnels. Do not go in there. You will die if you don't know what you're doing.
Gear for driving said air handlers. Safety was not a major factor in the 1930s.
Detail of the drive assembly for the air handlers.
It is not possible for me to not take a picture of rusted, disused electrical miscellany.
Detail on another identical electrical box. The sticker reads in part, "Instructions for Mounting of Arc Extinguisher".
A 15-second exposure from well within the tunnel. From here we could barely see without flashlights. Only ambient natural light was used.
Water has penetrated the tunnel in many places. Again, taken only using ambient natural light on a 15-second exposure. I refrained from lightening or otherwise retouching this photo.
Midway through the Sideling Hill tunnel, heading east. Rambo Jim walked east, manually triggering his flash every 3 seconds.
Midway through the Sideling Hill tunnel, looking east. No flash, 15-second exposure, 1600 ISO, and wide-open f-stop. It is really, truly, frigging dark in there.
A group of bikers rode through the tunnel while we were in there. I used their light to illuminate a shot.
Eastern portal of the Sideling Hill tunnel. Note the green paint; that was used to cover graffiti (since replaced) for the filming of the movie The Road. Rambo Jim was taking a picture of a bat.
Retaining wall on the westbound travel side (eastern portal, Sideling Hill tunnel)
The barrier has seen better days.
Eastern portal of the Sideling Hill tunnel, from a distance.
The old Southern Pennsylvania Railroad bed. Also known as Vanderbilt's Folly, tunnels for this railroad were built in the 1850s. The railroad was never completed, but the tunnels (and much of the right-of-way) were used for the Pennsylvania Turnpike.
Looking eastbound, just east of the eastern portal of the Sideling Hill tunnel.
Standing in the eastbound lane, looking east, just east of the eastern portal of the Sideling Hill tunnel. East.
The mother lode of protuberances. Honestly, what could they have used all those conduits for?
This stairway has clearly seen better days. This is in the eastern portal of the Sideling Hill tunnel.
Another perspective of the eastern portal of the Sideling Hill tunnel. The current PA turnpike is about 500 feet above this point.
Ventilation building, eastern portal, Sideling Hill tunnel.
Okay, one more tunnel interior shot, now in color! This was from the eastern portal of the Sideling Hill tunnel, looking west, using only natural ambient light. Note that we were much, much closer to the entrance.
One final look down Pennsylvania's best-kept secret.
