Breezewood

[Bobby5280]

What about access from I-76?  The current turnpike "interchange" (really the original alignment and part of the old Breezewood interchange mashed together into a Frankenstein road) is planned for removal once the direct connection is built.

I think the planners would be getting way ahead of themselves if they say they would remove the existing Breezewood trumpet interchange with I-70 & I-76, including the I-70 "stub" coming from Breezewood. Why make such an announcement if they don't have a new interchange idea finalized? Also, why remove the road if there isn't anything terribly wrong with it?

The Y interchange idea I drew would not involve removing any of the existing roads/ramps going in/out of Breezewood. They could simply remove the manned toll booth in the existing Breezewood interchange. The existing trumpet interchange with I-76 could be re-built into a standard diamond interchange or DDI. That might allow new access/frontage roads to be built alongside I-76 from that interchange to Breezewood Road, which might improve chances for new business development. Or the existing trumpet could be left intact as is. The original interchange would still be there, partly as a curiosity for road geeks.

[vdeane]

Also, the interchange concept does not remove access to Breezewood. As I stated earlier, the existing I-70 lanes running North-South into/from Breezewood remain intact. New I-70 lanes would be built in between the existing lanes, turning the old lanes into exit ramps leading to/from Breezewood.

What about access from I-76?  The current turnpike "interchange" (really the original alignment and part of the old Breezewood interchange mashed together into a Frankenstein road) is planned for removal once the direct connection is built.

If they just leave it, they could provide all access and remove the current I-70 lanes that go to the traffic light.

What about access from I-76?  The current turnpike "interchange" (really the original alignment and part of the old Breezewood interchange mashed together into a Frankenstein road) is planned for removal once the direct connection is built.

I think the planners would be getting way ahead of themselves if they say they would remove the existing Breezewood trumpet interchange with I-70 & I-76, including the I-70 "stub" coming from Breezewood. Why make such an announcement if they don't have a new interchange idea finalized? Also, why remove the road if there isn't anything terribly wrong with it?

The Y interchange idea I drew would not involve removing any of the existing roads/ramps going in/out of Breezewood. They could simply remove the manned toll booth in the existing Breezewood interchange. The existing trumpet interchange with I-76 could be re-built into a standard diamond interchange or DDI. That might allow new access/frontage roads to be built alongside I-76 from that interchange to Breezewood Road, which might improve chances for new business development. Or the existing trumpet could be left intact as is. The original interchange would still be there, partly as a curiosity for road geeks.

Evidently neither of you read the article.  The reason they are doing this is because it costs the same to build a proper interchange as it does to rehabilitate the existing roadway.  They aren't going to want to do both.

[1995hoo]

... The original interchange would still be there, partly as a curiosity for road geeks.

I have to think that is one of the least likely things I'd expect them to consider.

[Gnutella]

You know what Breezewood really needs?

[Max Rockatansky]

When did this turn into BuceesJim?  No thanks, I'm more of a Buk-ii's Super Mercado guy.  They are way too high class for Breezewood. 

[Bobby5280]

I don't know if the Buc-ee's company has a specific rule or policy in place, but as far as I can tell there are no Buc-ee's locations built alongside toll roads. I wouldn't bet on a Breezewood Buc-ee's happening any time soon. The company is looking at building a couple locations in Virginia though.

You might be able to find one or more older, smaller Buc-ee's stores in the Houston metro built on a surface street not far from a toll road, such as Loop 8, but those are neighborhood stores. They're not the big super-stores built on the outskirts of major cities or between major cities. The big locations are typically built next to super highways that have at least some free lanes, if not all free lanes. Freeways with additional tolled express lanes seem to be the only exception.

[bmitchelf]

Evidently neither of you read the article.  The reason they are doing this is because it costs the same to build a proper interchange as it does to rehabilitate the existing roadway.  They aren't going to want to do both.

Yes, they said it would cost the same amount. That doesn't mean they cant use the ROW of the current exit off of the turnpike and completely rebuild it without the width of the toll plaza.

[vdeane]

Evidently neither of you read the article.  The reason they are doing this is because it costs the same to build a proper interchange as it does to rehabilitate the existing roadway.  They aren't going to want to do both.

Yes, they said it would cost the same amount. That doesn't mean they cant use the ROW of the current exit off of the turnpike and completely rebuild it without the width of the toll plaza.

They would be doing that even if they were going to rehabilitate the current "interchange" and not build a new one.  That's not the money-saver you think it is.  It's a whole mile between the toll booths and the beginning of the former Breezewood interchange.  Roadgeeks might want to keep this because it's an interesting anomaly, but I can see why they want to get rid of it.

[hbelkins]

Tear the toll booth down and build a ramp from the Breezewood access ramp (old turnpike alignment) to I-70 east, and from I-70 west to the Breezewood access ramp. Leave the rest of the Breezewood access points the way they are. Problem solved. Why make things more complicated than they have to be?

[Gnutella]

I don't know if the Buc-ee's company has a specific rule or policy in place, but as far as I can tell there are no Buc-ee's locations built alongside toll roads.

I-70 is still a free Interstate past Breezewood, though.

[vdeane]

I don't know if the Buc-ee's company has a specific rule or policy in place, but as far as I can tell there are no Buc-ee's locations built alongside toll roads.

I-70 is still a free Interstate past Breezewood, though.

Is the toll road thing really a rule, or just a coincidence?  I took a look at their location list, and there aren't any anywhere near long-distance toll roads like the PA Turnpike.  In fact, there are only two (St. Augustine and Daytona Beach) that are even in a state that has such a road.

[jeffandnicole]

I don't know if the Buc-ee's company has a specific rule or policy in place, but as far as I can tell there are no Buc-ee's locations built alongside toll roads.

I-70 is still a free Interstate past Breezewood, though.

Is the toll road thing really a rule, or just a coincidence?  I took a look at their location list, and there aren't any anywhere near long-distance toll roads like the PA Turnpike.  In fact, there are only two (St. Augustine and Daytona Beach) that are even in a state that has such a road.

I'm thinking it's more coincidence. As much as they're talked about, there's only 50 Buc-ees locations, in a handful of states. There's numerous free highways in those states that don't have one nearby either.  It's not like Wawa or Sheetz where there's hundreds of locations and such a trend could be more pronounced if something existed.

[Bobby5280]

Is the toll road thing really a rule, or just a coincidence?  I took a look at their location list, and there aren't any anywhere near long-distance toll roads like the PA Turnpike.  In fact, there are only two (St. Augustine and Daytona Beach) that are even in a state that has such a road.

Out of currently open Buc-ee's locations the nearest thing any have at being located next to a toll road are super highways with tolled express lanes.

The one that opened a few months ago North of Denver is along a stretch of I-25 that has a single toll express lane in both directions. The same thing is true for Texas (in the Houston area). But none of the big Buc-ee's locations are built next to super highways that are toll-only roads.

Florida has multiple toll roads, but the proposed locations in Ocala and Fort Pierce are along free sections of I-75 and i-95 respectively. All of the other proposed locations are next to free super highways. Again, the only exceptions are free Interstates with tolled express lanes. Stafford, VA is another example (reversible toll express lanes on I-95).

[The Ghostbuster]

Since there aren't any Buc-ee's in Breezewood, or anywhere near Breezewood, perhaps Buc-ee's talk should be in another thread.

[vdeane]

Florida has multiple toll roads, but the proposed locations in Ocala and Fort Pierce are along free sections of I-75 and i-95 respectively. All of the other proposed locations are next to free super highways.

Given the modus operandi of Buc-ees to set up on long-distance corridors with lots of travelers, the only toll road Florida (or, indeed, any of the states that currently have a Buc-ees) has that's relevant to this side-bar discussion is Florida's Turnpike.

[Crown Victoria]

https://www.post-gazette.com/news/transportation/2024/11/17/breezewood-pennsylvania-turnpike-redesign/stories/202411060154

[epzik8]

https://www.post-gazette.com/news/transportation/2024/11/17/breezewood-pennsylvania-turnpike-redesign/stories/202411060154

I do wonder what happened with the Sky High Bar that left it burnt down.

[The Ghostbuster]

Where exactly is the Sky High Bar ruins? I am having difficulty finding it on Google Maps in Breezewood.

[CtrlAltDel]

https://www.post-gazette.com/news/transportation/2024/11/17/breezewood-pennsylvania-turnpike-redesign/stories/202411060154

I do wonder what happened with the Sky High Bar that left it burnt down.

According to this, an electrical fire.

Where exactly is the Sky High Bar ruins? I am having difficulty finding it on Google Maps in Breezewood.

I'm pretty sure the picture is of the old Econolodge just to the east of Crawford's Gift Shop. Those are clearly hotel rooms and not a bar, although judging from Street View, the Econolodge did have a bar at some point. Incidentally, the place that the article calls the Budget Inn isn't the Budget Inn, but as mentioned an Econolodge. It's just that the sign is now used to advertise the Budget Inn, which is a ways west on US-30.

[vdeane]

I think it's noteworthy that the one business still stuck in the old ways (even though the old ways are the reason why so many other businesses have closed) is the gift shop.  Since they're not a traveler service company, they have no pull to attract traffic from the interstate without said traffic driving right by their front door (as opposed to the restaurants, gas stations, and hotels, which will be fine since Breezewood will still have more services than any other town east to Hagerstown, roughly 50 miles away), and their merchandise advertised doesn't appear to be the type of thing a traveler going to experience the abandoned PA Turnpike would be looking for as a souvenir, either.  Their entire business model is based on people who never knew they existed randomly deciding to buy sports team merchandise based on signs they drove by.  They're also on the south side, where that business model is still somewhat viable; it's quite telling that the businesses on the north side that would have problems with traffic turning out and then needing to cut over to make the left turn are abandoned.

[jeffandnicole]

From the article...

"Truck stops and motels keep this town alive," he said.

These days, abandoned motels and burnt-out structures line the stretch.

Usually, reporters keep such opposing comments separate.

[wanderer2575]

I think it's noteworthy that the one business still stuck in the old ways (even though the old ways are the reason why so many other businesses have closed) is the gift shop.  Since they're not a traveler service company, they have no pull to attract traffic from the interstate without said traffic driving right by their front door (as opposed to the restaurants, gas stations, and hotels, which will be fine since Breezewood will still have more services than any other town east to Hagerstown, roughly 50 miles away), and their merchandise advertised doesn't appear to be the type of thing a traveler going to experience the abandoned PA Turnpike would be looking for as a souvenir, either.  Their entire business model is based on people who never knew they existed randomly deciding to buy sports team merchandise based on signs they drove by.  They're also on the south side, where that business model is still somewhat viable; it's quite telling that the businesses on the north side that would have problems with traffic turning out and then needing to cut over to make the left turn are abandoned.

Charles Kuralt once said something along the lines of:  Gift shops are aptly named -- there's nothing in there you would buy for yourself.

[The Ghostbuster]

I remember Charles Kuralt (1934-1997): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Kuralt. My mother and stepfather used to watch him when he was the host of CBS's Sunday Morning over 30 years ago (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CBS_News_Sunday_Morning). I was also able to find the burnt-out ruin I was unable to locate before: https://www.google.com/maps/place/16550+Lincoln+Hwy,+Breezewood,+PA+15533/@39.998982,-78.2352667,218m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m6!3m5!1s0x89ca34f731c1facf:0x130c3537e6d14ba!8m2!3d39.9986194!4d-78.2341546!16s%2Fg%2F11bw4lbbfn?entry=ttu&g_ep=EgoyMDI0MTExMy4xIKXMDSoASAFQAw%3D%3D.

[Rothman]

I think it's noteworthy that the one business still stuck in the old ways (even though the old ways are the reason why so many other businesses have closed) is the gift shop.  Since they're not a traveler service company, they have no pull to attract traffic from the interstate without said traffic driving right by their front door (as opposed to the restaurants, gas stations, and hotels, which will be fine since Breezewood will still have more services than any other town east to Hagerstown, roughly 50 miles away), and their merchandise advertised doesn't appear to be the type of thing a traveler going to experience the abandoned PA Turnpike would be looking for as a souvenir, either.  Their entire business model is based on people who never knew they existed randomly deciding to buy sports team merchandise based on signs they drove by.  They're also on the south side, where that business model is still somewhat viable; it's quite telling that the businesses on the north side that would have problems with traffic turning out and then needing to cut over to make the left turn are abandoned.

Charles Kuralt once said something along the lines of:  Gift shops are aptly named -- there's nothing in there you would buy for yourself.

I loved Charles Kuralt as a kid, but later in life, when it was revealed that he somehow maintained two separate families simultaneously, definitely raised an eyebrow.

[pderocco]

I think it's noteworthy that the one business still stuck in the old ways (even though the old ways are the reason why so many other businesses have closed) is the gift shop.  Since they're not a traveler service company, they have no pull to attract traffic from the interstate without said traffic driving right by their front door (as opposed to the restaurants, gas stations, and hotels, which will be fine since Breezewood will still have more services than any other town east to Hagerstown, roughly 50 miles away), and their merchandise advertised doesn't appear to be the type of thing a traveler going to experience the abandoned PA Turnpike would be looking for as a souvenir, either.  Their entire business model is based on people who never knew they existed randomly deciding to buy sports team merchandise based on signs they drove by.  They're also on the south side, where that business model is still somewhat viable; it's quite telling that the businesses on the north side that would have problems with traffic turning out and then needing to cut over to make the left turn are abandoned.

Charles Kuralt once said something along the lines of:  Gift shops are aptly named -- there's nothing in there you would buy for yourself.

I loved Charles Kuralt as a kid, but later in life, when it was revealed that he somehow maintained two separate families simultaneously, definitely raised an eyebrow.

Probably at least two eyebrows.