My father remembered seeing, "Reasonable and prudent speed" signs on the Turnpike in the early 50s. He said it was common to see older cars whose engines would catch on fire after trying to do 80 mph. His own '50 Chevy started to burn oil after he pushed it to 80. Splash-lubed Stovebolt six with a 4.11 rear end - screaming engine at that speed.
My family and I drove on the Pennsylvania Turnpike many times over my life. We entered at Pittsburgh and got off at the US 30 entrance to drive to Atlantic City, New Jersey. We took this vacation every two years, with a vacation to Miami Beach, Florida every third year, as my Father could not take a three week holiday but every third year. When we were at Atlantic City, wee stayed for two weeks. Of course, this was long ago, in the 1950's and '60's, long before gambling was legal there. I remember renting bicycles to ride on the boardwalk. I wonder if they still have the Steel Pier?
Abandoned portion by Breezewood is quite interesting, and bike-able to go through the old tunnels. The vandals are killing it at a steady pace, so if you want to go, time is of the essence.
0:44- Frank Bebout was a businessman who was a member of the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission. He never lived to see the Turnpike's official opening, as he died of a heart attack on August 22, 1940, at the age of 74. Ironically, he had his heart attack while driving on the as yet unopened Turnpike, towards home.
Barry I. Grauman...I was thinking he ended up encased in one of the overpasses because he didn't follow the "receive 2 loads of cement, pay for three" rule.
@@jagboy69 Sadly, that original Turnpike fell apart within 12 years and was repaved so in 1962 all 160 miles of original turnpike was repaved. Over the last 25 years a good deal of Turnpike has reconstructed, with new overpasses with full restoration of several of the originals. Read my Turnpike books
That's no joke. Just look at all the issues faced when extending Route 220 (new I-99) from Bald Eagle to I-80 north of State College. Tree cutting shut down by environmentalists over a bat population that had never been found within 20 miles of the construction area. Excavated bedrock from the Skytop cut between Port Matilda and State College that had to be treated as and disposed of as hazardous waste (including requiring construction of a water treatment plant to process the runoff) and so on. Surprised even that section was finished (30-40 years and counting and it's still incomplete @ I-80).
And we have a healthier more beautiful and safer state. If we abuse the environment we abuse ourselves our children and their children. God bless the protectors of the environment we depend on for life.
Fascinating to watch. I remember reading not long ago that Pennsylvania's roads are some of the worst in the country. Not hard to believe as I guess they are some of the oldest.
in 1964 the first tunnel [ laurel hill tunnel was bypassed ]..in 1968 2 more tunnels and a stretch of road were bypassed..[ sideling hill and rays hill tunnels] ...ironically the longest [ sidelinghill ] and shortest tunnel [ rays hill tunnel ] are about 5 miles apart from each other and both bypassed by 1968 ...google or youtube [ abandoned p,a turnpike ] for cool pictures and video
Was on it westbound between Philadelphia and Harrisburg. It's so bad in spots, my feet actually bounce off the accelerator! They should pay the cars to drive on it.
The oddest thing about the PA Turnpike is that the road construction never ends. There’s always some section of the road under construction. Even when all those construction spreads are completed, they start all over again. I think the Commission justifies the toll increases by doing rework all the time. There’s even a stretch of the Pike near Norristown where the Commission experimented with a new pavement material, just to rip it up and replace it two years later.
Of course that’s how it works when you have to maintain a road system. If your aren’t continuously maintaining it then it’s going to fall into disrepair.
I go from NJ to Pittsburgh 4nights a week, there is definitely some kind of scam going on with construction zones,there are several of them with nothing going on and they repave sections of the road that don’t need repaving probably to justify labor jobs and the high tolls. I drive a T/T for a large company and don’t have to worry about tolls,but something crooked going on and they will always get away with it because no one is watching the trnpke commission and they no it,just my opinion 😗
At 5:53, that dump driver must have some serious body pain after 4 hours on the job. Getting bounced around like that while loading that oversized ass rock.
@@smartyjones7459 I don't know about that. There's always lots of ex cons coming home from prison who can't get any other kind of work. They tend to do a lot of those kinds of jobs and I wouldn't be surprised if that was true back then too.
I think it’s funny all the people complaining about the PA turnpike. You can see from the video it was built quickly and cheaply. Concrete laid directly in soil without any compacted sub base, no rebar, nothing. I grew up in Pittsburgh and drove countless miles on that road in the 70s and 80s and it was a piece of shit at that time. It’s only in the last 15 years that they have finally gotten it in decent shape by completely removing all of the original pavement, preparing a proper roadbed and laying thicker concrete. Everybody likes to complain about the state of our infrastructure but heaven forbid you ask to increase the gas tax to pay for it which hasn’t been done at the federal level for nearly 30 years.
Pennsylvania has the highest gas tax in the nation And rebar in concrete rusts and is worse for road beds! So you are actually talking out of the side of your neck! People on here who think they know what they’re talking about and DON’T spreading false information is worse than people complaining! These roads lasted many years longer because of the way they were constructed and the materials they used. Today it’s done with cheaper materials and is why Pennsylvania roads are terrible! Education is neat !! 😎
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My father remembered seeing, "Reasonable and prudent speed" signs on the Turnpike in the early 50s. He said it was common to see older cars whose engines would catch on fire after trying to do 80 mph. His own '50 Chevy started to burn oil after he pushed it to 80. Splash-lubed Stovebolt six with a 4.11 rear end - screaming engine at that speed.
@Gman 2060 You really didn't want to do more than 50 mph on those Chevys.
Thank you for posting this. This was a real treat to watch
I drove TP many times in tractor trailer.. My favorite road. Always very interesting trips heading to the east coast.
Took less than 2 years but it takes longer than that to repair a 1000 foot section of interstate these days.
If speedy construction is need modern construction diesnt want to do it..
It's much easier to work on something without a half a million cars flying by at 60-90mph...but I agree with the sentiment nonetheless lol
Or in California, it just doesn't get repaired as another mystery 20 cent per gallon tax is put on gasoline.
Your state might not be that one would like to visit.
This is what I love about you tube. Thanks for your post
YT at its best.
My family and I drove on the Pennsylvania Turnpike many times over my life. We entered at Pittsburgh and got off at the US 30 entrance to drive to Atlantic City, New Jersey. We took this vacation every two years, with a vacation to Miami Beach, Florida every third year, as my Father could not take a three week holiday but every third year. When we were at Atlantic City, wee stayed for two weeks. Of course, this was long ago, in the 1950's and '60's, long before gambling was legal there. I remember renting bicycles to ride on the boardwalk. I wonder if they still have the Steel Pier?
It's still there. IIRC, they were in the middle of a rebuild of the pier.
Abandoned portion by Breezewood is quite interesting, and bike-able to go through the old tunnels. The vandals are killing it at a steady pace, so if you want to go, time is of the essence.
wow this is the first time i see the pennsylvania turnpike in its original configuration
It should be renamed the expensivania turnpike
0:44- Frank Bebout was a businessman who was a member of the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission. He never lived to see the Turnpike's official opening, as he died of a heart attack on August 22, 1940, at the age of 74. Ironically, he had his heart attack while driving on the as yet unopened Turnpike, towards home.
He'd have heart failure again today if he saw the state of this road.🍺
Barry I. Grauman...I was thinking he ended up encased in one of the overpasses because he didn't follow the "receive 2 loads of cement, pay for three" rule.
@@jagboy69 Sadly, that original Turnpike fell apart within 12 years and was repaved so in 1962 all 160 miles of original turnpike was repaved. Over the last 25 years a good deal of Turnpike has reconstructed, with new overpasses with full restoration of several of the originals. Read my Turnpike books
Barry I. Grauman I did not know that, thank you.
You're welcome!
And it's been "Under Construction" ever since.
Yes, the NE Extension is finally getting some love and the I-95 Interchange is partially open.
Today, it would take 2 years just to do the Environmental Impact Study.
Probably more like 3 or 4.
That's no joke. Just look at all the issues faced when extending Route 220 (new I-99) from Bald Eagle to I-80 north of State College. Tree cutting shut down by environmentalists over a bat population that had never been found within 20 miles of the construction area. Excavated bedrock from the Skytop cut between Port Matilda and State College that had to be treated as and disposed of as hazardous waste (including requiring construction of a water treatment plant to process the runoff) and so on. Surprised even that section was finished (30-40 years and counting and it's still incomplete @ I-80).
And we have a healthier more beautiful and safer state. If we abuse the environment we abuse ourselves our children and their children. God bless the protectors of the environment we depend on for life.
it was a different country then. liars didn't proclaim environmental protection at every turn.
My Grandfather's machine shop built the exhaust fans for these tunnels.
I love all of the videos you post! Thank you 😊
Fascinating to watch. I remember reading not long ago that Pennsylvania's roads are some of the worst in the country. Not hard to believe as I guess they are some of the oldest.
Smarty Jones it’s not even close. What’re you talking about? Texas, followed by California, has the most roads BY FAR of any US state.
in 1964 the first tunnel [ laurel hill tunnel was bypassed ]..in 1968 2 more tunnels and a stretch of road were bypassed..[ sideling hill and rays hill tunnels] ...ironically the longest [ sidelinghill ] and shortest tunnel [ rays hill tunnel ] are about 5 miles apart from each other and both bypassed by 1968 ...google or youtube [ abandoned p,a turnpike ] for cool pictures and video
Tolls are automatically increased till the year of 2044- this to pay for mass transit in Philly
Was on it westbound between Philadelphia and Harrisburg. It's so bad in spots, my feet actually bounce off the accelerator! They should pay the cars to drive on it.
A wonderful road ruined by high tolls and corrupt politicians.
Democrats
A great video ruined by ads
Just watched the whole video, didn't see one ad lol
Still less than on television.
Awesome
The oddest thing about the PA Turnpike is that the road construction never ends. There’s always some section of the road under construction. Even when all those construction spreads are completed, they start all over again. I think the Commission justifies the toll increases by doing rework all the time. There’s even a stretch of the Pike near Norristown where the Commission experimented with a new pavement material, just to rip it up and replace it two years later.
That was my impression of the Ohio Turnpike. It seemed it was constantly being resurfaced.
Of course that’s how it works when you have to maintain a road system. If your aren’t continuously maintaining it then it’s going to fall into disrepair.
I go from NJ to Pittsburgh 4nights a week, there is definitely some kind of scam going on with construction zones,there are several of them with nothing going on and they repave sections of the road that don’t need repaving probably to justify labor jobs and the high tolls. I drive a T/T for a large company and don’t have to worry about tolls,but something crooked going on and they will always get away with it because no one is watching the trnpke commission and they no it,just my opinion 😗
That poor little old truck! omg! lol A new truck today would have been flattened lol
Looks like a ten hp Wisconsin there at 11:45, or was that a Honda? lol
A Honda motor in 1938-1940? Are you serious?
At 5:53, that dump driver must have some serious body pain after 4 hours on the job. Getting bounced around like that while loading that oversized ass rock.
I'm surprised how many of the jobs were done by hand.
Yes, that's why roads back then lasted as long as they did.
it would be almost impossible to find young men now a days to do that type work...
@@smartyjones7459 I don't know about that. There's always lots of ex cons coming home from prison who can't get any other kind of work. They tend to do a lot of those kinds of jobs and I wouldn't be surprised if that was true back then too.
I wonder if any original sections remain.
Feed the mixers!!!!! they're hungry!!! lol
When is it going to be finished?🤦🏻♂️
Vital military value.... there it is
Still working on it in 2021
And for all that hard work my grandpa said he got paid 2 peanuts a day!
18:28 "Farm Zone 25 MPH"
Apparently, these slabs only lasted 10 years. They were too long at 70 feet, and they started to lift at the ends.
For some very recent footage of a few of the tunnels check out a channel called Post10.
he is at the abandoned tunnels on the turnpike
I think it’s funny all the people complaining about the PA turnpike. You can see from the video it was built quickly and cheaply. Concrete laid directly in soil without any compacted sub base, no rebar, nothing. I grew up in Pittsburgh and drove countless miles on that road in the 70s and 80s and it was a piece of shit at that time. It’s only in the last 15 years that they have finally gotten it in decent shape by completely removing all of the original pavement, preparing a proper roadbed and laying thicker concrete. Everybody likes to complain about the state of our infrastructure but heaven forbid you ask to increase the gas tax to pay for it which hasn’t been done at the federal level for nearly 30 years.
Pennsylvania has the highest gas tax in the nation And rebar in concrete rusts and is worse for road beds! So you are actually talking out of the side of your neck! People on here who think they know what they’re talking about and DON’T spreading false information is worse than people complaining! These roads lasted many years longer because of the way they were constructed and the materials they used. Today it’s done with cheaper materials and is why Pennsylvania roads are terrible! Education is neat !! 😎
I remember driving the Turnpike when the signs said The speed limit is still 55 🙄
Here's my experience driving through the 4 active tunnels of the I-76 Pennsylvania Turnpike: th-cam.com/video/YbFQa5d1T80/w-d-xo.html
No grade exceeding 3% 😂🤣😅
Definitely not out west
This was the last time they paved this shitty highway!
Should have built that railroad instead...
The most expensive turnpike in America and also the most crappiest
Deere Power Depending on who you ask, lPennsylvania has a bad reputation for road maintenance.” Again depending on who ask.
The End
Too many damn ads!