Breezewood

[Max Rockatansky]

I'm not understanding what the beef is even about; I just keep seeing it pop up in several different threads.  There was even that whole weird accusation that Rothman was NE2.  I'm not sure what calculus was behind that thought.   

[hotdogPi]

There was even that whole weird accusation that Rothman was NE2.  I'm not sure what calculus was behind that thought.   

I would say both members frequently call out bad posts. There's definitely some similarity in posting style regarding short replies to other posts (as opposed to posts that focus on actual roadgeek knowledge).

[LilianaUwU]

There was even that whole weird accusation that Rothman was NE2.  I'm not sure what calculus was behind that thought.   

I would say both members frequently call out bad posts. There's definitely some similarity in posting style regarding short replies to other posts (as opposed to posts that focus on actual roadgeek knowledge).

And I do the same. I guess I'm also a sock of Rothman and NE2.

[Rothman]

There was even that whole weird accusation that Rothman was NE2.  I'm not sure what calculus was behind that thought.   

I would say both members frequently call out bad posts. There's definitely some similarity in posting style regarding short replies to other posts (as opposed to posts that focus on actual roadgeek knowledge).

And I do the same. I guess I'm also a sock of Rothman and NE2.

We're all socks in a dryer.

[Plutonic Panda]

If the surface jog in Breezewood disappears what will everyone complain about?

The control cities on I-80, I suppose.

Control city debate died with "other Desert Cities."

I love that sign.

[LilianaUwU]

If the surface jog in Breezewood disappears what will everyone complain about?

The control cities on I-80, I suppose.

Control city debate died with "other Desert Cities."

I love that sign.

It's so bad that it goes 180 degrees and becomes amazing.

[Max Rockatansky]

If the surface jog in Breezewood disappears what will everyone complain about?

The control cities on I-80, I suppose.

Control city debate died with "other Desert Cities."

I love that sign.

It's so bad that it goes 180 degrees and becomes amazing.

Too bad the real sign is dead...  The text is the same on the new sign, but it isn't the same with all the capital letters being correct. 

[Rothman]

Probably should get this thread back on track.

[Max Rockatansky]

Probably should get this thread back on track.

You mean we should bypass this figurative surface street we are on?

[LilianaUwU]

Anyways, it is absolutely insane that the PTC even mentioned the idea of a direct connection. This was so unexpected.

[GaryV]

Probably should get this thread back on track.

Wut?

[hwyfan]

To my surprise, apparently there is growing support from the powers that be in Breezewood to pursue this project.   

They acknowledge that there has been a decrease in the traffic volume and would like to have Breezewood reimagined as a destination for outdoor tourism. 

Article:  https://www.unionprogress.com/2024/09/25/breezewood-area-supports-pennsylvania-turnpike-push-for-direct-link-to-interstate-70/

I never thought I'd see the day when this would happen.  The status quo at Breezewood was viewed as a cash register for Bedford County.    A "drive" along the corridor with Google Maps Streetview reveals the decline of businesses in this strip.  A number of the parcels now sit abandoned or exist in a forlorn condition.   

[The Ghostbuster]

I really hope the Breezewood "Gap" is finally filled. It is a gap that hat should have been filled long ago, just like the in-state Interstate 95/Pennsylvania Turnpike gap should have been. I say to hell with that 1960s "no-Interstate-to-toll-road-connections" rule.

[wanderer2575]

To my surprise, apparently there is growing support from the powers that be in Breezewood to pursue this project. 

They acknowledge that there has been a decrease in the traffic volume and would like to have Breezewood reimagined as a destination for outdoor tourism. 

Article:  https://www.unionprogress.com/2024/09/25/breezewood-area-supports-pennsylvania-turnpike-push-for-direct-link-to-interstate-70/

I never thought I'd see the day when this would happen.  The status quo at Breezewood was viewed as a cash register for Bedford County.    A "drive" along the corridor with Google Maps Streetview reveals the decline of businesses in this strip.  A number of the parcels now sit abandoned or exist in a forlorn condition. 

This is me being a jerk by saying that's one reason I might oppose it.  TPTB wanted it this way and even got the state legislature to step in and put a halt to plans the PTC and PennDOT had decades ago for a direct connection.  Now the Powers want that connection, but not for the good of the motoring public -- they want it because now they think it's to their benefit.  F*ck 'em, I say.  What they've got now is what they wanted; they can continue living with it.  Let the businesses board up.  Heck, re-route I-70 along I-79 and I-68 (concurrent with the former and decommissioning the latter) and further dry up the town.

(Yes, I'm a little looped right now.)

[Plutonic Panda]

I am hoping most of that is facetious because why fuck thousands of motorists because the powers that be now want it? Just let go of ego and get the motherfucker built.

[Bobby5280]

The Breezewood intersection needs to be fixed already. On top of that, a bunch of other outdated trumpet and double-trumpet interchanges need to be fixed as well.

[Plutonic Panda]

The Breezewood intersection needs to be fixed already. On top of that, a bunch of other outdated trumpet and double-trumpet interchanges need to be fixed as well.

I am hoping it is stacked Y interchange and not a trumpet. I hate trumpets and clovers. Direct connectors allow traffic to  continue to highway speeds. Maybe the powers that be just gave into the pressure that there obviously needs to be a connection here as opposed to just having a change of heart.

[jeffandnicole]

This helped, per the article: "Making the direct connection became an easy call, Compton said, when designers estimated it would cost about the same amount, $170 million at today's prices, to make a new direct connection or revitalize the existing alignment."

While the article claimed one of the reasons is different driving patterns since the pandemic, I don't really think that's a real reason.  This area has been looking kinda shabby for a while.  I'm sure the town and county reaches out to various restaurants, hotels and businesses to see what interest they have in the area, and they probably get responses that fit with this newer vision.

[vdeane]

This helped, per the article: "Making the direct connection became an easy call, Compton said, when designers estimated it would cost about the same amount, $170 million at today's prices, to make a new direct connection or revitalize the existing alignment."

Especially since, it's worth noting, that federal law NEVER banned direct connections between interstates and turnpikes.  What was banned was using federal money to build them without a commitment to remove tolls from the turnpike when the original bonds were paid off.  That's why every other state managed to solve these problems for the most part - they either spent their own money to do it or committed to removing the tolls (only to subsequently lobby Congress to remove that requirement, but I digress).  Only Pennsylvania threw a hissy fit and said "we're not removing the tolls and we won't build it unless you pay for it".

[Henry]

There actually may be light at the end of the tunnel - a direct I-70 interchange.  The PTC is looking for a design firm to reconstruct the interchange and the Turnpike in that section.  Think this is the biggest step we've seen towards an interchange yet?  Still a long way to go but it's positive news.

https://www.paturnpike.com/news/details/2024/09/24/pa-turnpike-to-redesign-breezewood-interchange-with-a-connection-to-interstate-70

I guess hell actually froze over, because this is my first time reading this breaking development. I hope the PTC is right, but I'm glad to see them finally bringing up a replacement for Breezewood. Talk about a pig getting his wings...

[Bobby5280]

I am hoping it is stacked Y interchange and not a trumpet. I hate trumpets and clovers.

I'm hoping the new interchange is a "Y" of some kind, but building such a thing is going to be tricky without demolishing a bunch of existing properties.

Especially since, it's worth noting, that federal law NEVER banned direct connections between interstates and turnpikes.  What was banned was using federal money to build them without a commitment to remove tolls from the turnpike when the original bonds were paid off.  That's why every other state managed to solve these problems for the most part - they either spent their own money to do it or committed to removing the tolls (only to subsequently lobby Congress to remove that requirement, but I digress).

In Oklahoma's case they set toll rates to relatively low levels compared to other states. And then OTA did the trick of cross-pledging their turnpike bonds. As long as they were spending money on existing turnpike maintenance and building some new ones none of the turnpikes would get "paid off."

[bmitchelf]

I am hoping it is stacked Y interchange and not a trumpet. I hate trumpets and clovers.

I'm hoping the new interchange is a "Y" of some kind, but building such a thing is going to be tricky without demolishing a bunch of existing properties.

I see there's a big hillside to worry about, but I wonder if they could re-align 70 slightly to the east to fit the Y over there.

[Bobby5280]

I think new cuts into the hillside will be unavoidable no matter what PennDOT and the turnpike agency chooses to do.

It's probably not going to be feasible to shift the main lanes of I-76 to a new alignment to make room for ramps. Doing so would take out multiple properties along Breezewood Road and possibly Lighthouse Road as well.

I think the least painful solution is using the vacant land to the right of I-70 and on the North side of I-76. It looks like there is enough room to curl I-70 over into a Y meeting with I-76 in that space.

[bmitchelf]

The easiest way would be to use that space to the north of 76 to curl 70 into the current interchange from 76 to the local roads, but that would not be the most ideal solution and lower speeds could still cause backups.

[1995hoo]

The easiest way would be to use that space to the north of 76 to curl 70 into the current interchange from 76 to the local roads, but that would not be the most ideal solution and lower speeds could still cause backups.

I had previously posted this admittedly poor drawing in another thread to suggest exactly that sort of thing. I suppose the same general design could work if it were moved south to where the Turnpike passes over, and the terrain looks like it might be slightly better there. Sorry about the poor drawing. I have trouble drawing lines with a mouse. In this picture, blue would be the I-70 mainline as relocated and green would be ramps. Red denotes the old I-70 that could be removed, although it could also be left in place as an exit.