User Proposals for the Abandoned PA Turnpike

[cl94]

If you're a serious roadgeek, you know about the abandoned section of the Pennsylvania Turnpike and how nothing has been done to it. Let's make some proposals. Here are a few suggestions people have had:

- World's longest buffet
- Yard sale site
- Tunnel bar

Anybody else have some?

[Dougtone]

Put bouncy houses inside of the tunnels.

[Alps]

One roadway is a nudist colony, the other is a religious retreat.

[Alps]

One roadway is a nudist colony, the other is a religious retreat.

You put up fences. Duh.

[TravelingBethelite]

One roadway is a nudist colony, the other is a religious retreat.

You put up fences. Duh.

No, build a great, big, beautiful WALL. And make the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission pay for it... 

[Big John]

One roadway is a nudist colony, the other is a religious retreat.

You put up fences. Duh.

Yeah, the nudist colony does not want to see the religious retreat.

[cjk374]

I vote for buffet.

But in all seriousness:  rails-to-trails are set up in some cases to be reused as railroads should future business warrant it. Is this the case with the abandoned turnpike? Will it become a public road again if needed?

[Dougtone]

Here's another one: Use it for a music festival.
World's longest music festival (in distance, not time)

[cl94]

Here's another one: Use it for a music festival.

Just make sure it doesn't end up like Woodstock '99

[Dougtone]

Here's another one: Use it for a music festival.

Just make sure it doesn't end up like Woodstock '99

The PA Turnpike is closed, man!

[Alps]

I vote for buffet.

But in all seriousness:  rails-to-trails are set up in some cases to be reused as railroads should future business warrant it. Is this the case with the abandoned turnpike? Will it become a public road again if needed?

I-1776!

[pringle5095]

I vote making it a hiking trail


iPhone

[Scott5114]

National Strategic Pringles™ Reserve Storage Facility

[inkyatari]

I vote making it a hiking trail

Aren't there plans to make it a bicycle trail?

[hotdogPi]

I vote making it a hiking trail

Aren't there planes to make it a bicycle trail?

That would be a runway, not a bicycle trail. (Check what you said again.)

[CanesFan27]

I vote making it a hiking trail

Aren't there planes to make it a bicycle trail?

Yes, but for the past 16 years nothing has been done.

https://www.aaroads.com/forum/index.php?topic=419.msg2207076#msg2207076

Has more info why.

[Henry]

Two words: Drag Strip! 

[GCrites]

Appalachia does suffer a dearth of 1/4 mile strips. There's a few 1/8 miles, but...

[pumpkineater2]

Reopen the road to traffic
(as it is, no repairs, no improvements)

[hm insulators]

One roadway is a nudist colony, the other is a religious retreat.

[jeffandnicole]

Fill the tunnel with buttery caramel popcorn.   Have World's longest slip-and-slide lead into it.

[The Nature Boy]

Are there any negatives to fixing the road and reopening it to traffic? I assume that the cost would be high but you could have develop along the roadway since it no longer functions as the PA Turnpike.

Alternatively, a bike path seems like the most logical solution. It's a pre-cleared carriageway, it should be used for some form of transportation. It'd be a waste otherwise.

[formulanone]

There's a few 1/8 miles, but...

...we call those "on-ramps".

A hiking/walking/biking trail would be nice.

[cl94]

Are there any negatives to fixing the road and reopening it to traffic? I assume that the cost would be high but you could have develop along the roadway since it no longer functions as the PA Turnpike.

The fan plants are shot. Replacing those would cost a fortune. You wouldn't need them for a bike path because bicycles by definition don't produce pollution.

That being said, the Rays Hill tunnel is already a bit of a tourist attraction. A short drive and level hike from Breezewood. I was far from the only person stopping by on a humid 80 degree day. Parking lots and safer tunnel access (read: lights) could be great for the region. Heck, if they built a direct connection at Breezewood, an attraction such as a tunnel people can walk through might reduce business opposition to the project.

[jeffandnicole]

Are there any negatives to fixing the road and reopening it to traffic? I assume that the cost would be high but you could have develop along the roadway since it no longer functions as the PA Turnpike.

You would have to find other roads to connect the road with.  There are a few small roads that go over/under the original Turnpike.  But this area is extremely rural - the existing roads are narrow with very little traffic (such as this example: https://goo.gl/maps/rqiYjSBEn3p )  There's no reason for anyone to develop this area.  If Breezewood's top complaint is if they take the indirect connection away no one will visit the existing motels and fast food joints, that's not saying much for the possibility of further development in the area.