Abandoned Turnpike Ride - Pics!

[rover]

So, I'm rover. I usually hang out in or about the roadie forum. I figured that this wasn't really a road ride and also wasn't a mountain ride, so I thought I'd try out the recreational forum. You seem like a nice bunch. Anyway, My wife, brother-in-law, and I took a visit to the Abandoned Turnpike yesterday. It is an old section of the PA Turnpike that was abandoned in the mid-sixties because the tunnels on that portion were no longer large enough to handle the traffic volume. Over the years it has been used for traffic safety studies and military training, but mostly just sat empty. A few years ago a non-prof bought it and is planning on renovating it as a bike trail. As of yet not a whole lot of work has begun, but the Pike is open to riders "at your own risk." It stretches for about 10 miles between the Breezewood and Fort Littleton exits of the PA Turnpike and has two tunnels, Sideling Hill and Ray's Hill. Sideling Hill is over a mile long. Ray's is somewhere between 1/2 and 3/4 of a mile. Neither one has any lighting, so things get interesting. If you are interested in the history a simple google search for "abandoned turnpike" will turn up plenty of info. If you want to make a visit PM me. Do not trust directions you find online. Some are outdated, others are just innacurate. The pavement is obviously not in ideal condition, so hybrid or mountain bikes are required. Each tunnel also has maintenance areas at each end that can be explored with caution. Stairways are rusted to the point of collapse, broken glass is everywhere, etc. We had a blast. On to the pictures.

http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/3619/1039/1600/AT1.2.jpg
Approaching the Sideling Hill Tunnel

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Inside Sideling Hill Tunnel

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Graffiti abounds on the walls

http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/3619/1039/1600/AT6.jpg
An interior stairway

http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/3619/1039/1600/AT7.jpg
My bro-in-law showing why he can always fall back on a circus career

http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/3619/1039/1600/AT10.jpg
Headlamps/flash lights/glow sticks come in handy

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Midway through Sideling Hill

[withak]

You might want to try an different image host. I can see the pictures if I cut & past the urls myself but they don't appear on the page.

[rover]

Hmm, sorry. I'll try again.

[tbdean]

this sounds very cool, I'd love to see the pictures. I remember when they were finishing the 210 freeway out in Rancho Cucamonga, CA we went mountain biking on it. Part paved, part just graded dirt. The construction people really didn't care.

[scott L R]

[url]http://finance.groups.yahoo.com/group/Abandoned_PA_Turnpike/ Look here for pics, email me raygors@comcast.net for a few current pics. I have ridden it twice this summer, great ride on a hot day! If you do not enter the work rooms it is a safe place to visit. Rooms have lots of broken glass, rusted metal parts and junk evrywhere.