Growing up in the 50's n 60's the family would take the PA Turnpike from NJ, the Ohio Turnpike, the Indiana Tollroad, the TriState Tollway around Chicago all the way to Bayfield, WI for summer vacation. The last time I drove the PA Turnpike was in 2007. That was the last time on a tollroad for me, plus I don't travel any Interstates anymore. You see more if u travel US highways, state highways, n county highways. This Great Country of ours is beautiful, n u see more if u slow down n see the sights. Plus I don't live in the Communist state of NJ anymore having moved to N. E. Alabama 28 years ago.
Ahh, one of my two favorite (and interesting) turnpikes! I remember riding on this when I was young, and eventually driving it a few times as an adult before I moved down south. The "Granddaddy" indeed! Oh yeah, I rode along the entire way. Was the last song a reference to Breezewood itself? (lol)
I grew up in Western Pa and I now live in NJ so yes, this trip is familiar with me. I love my heritage and it defines me as a person but that drive from NJ to Greensburg is BORING. Especially on the pike. Take 30 if you want to test your car's brakes out I guess but they will take a beating like mine. Love my family and the city's sports teams FOREVER, but that place is depressing as ever today.
During quick visits to Western PA, I just notice the beauty of the area. I am not aware of how depressing the economy is because I don't spend enough time there. I have not driven the Trpnk enough to find it boring yet. I'm sure that I would if I had driven it as many times as you have. Thanks for watching !!!
I don't like exit 57 being labeled "Pittsburgh". I think they should rename it "Monroeville". I always refer to it as "Monroeville" when I'm talking about where I'm entering or exiting the turnpike.
Discrepancy: map near video start has our route start on the Turnpike (okay) but at route 28. But you list the route as starting at exit 57 (old exit 6), at US 22 / I-376. I've been in Pittsburgh area many times.
I don't know how to explain it, but I have had a fascination for the Pennsylvania Turnpike since I first went on it, age 8, in 1961! I have collected pictures, artifacts, movies and co-authored two books and assisted the PTC on their book project.
@@jmvfrva "Images of America - The Pennsylvania Turnpike" -Arcadia Publishing. Available on the publisher's website. Lots of period photos as well as excellent narrative. I bought a copy around 20 years ago iirc.
When I was small, the PT from Westpoint to Breezewood was along the route to Grandma's. Interesting as it was & still is quite a different road from modern interstates, and it has Pennsylvania's scenic countryside. Dad explained at the time that it was the 1st. Was a nationwide sensation in 1940 & the years afterward.
@@boggy7665 Neal and I did a second book: The Glory Years of the Pa Turnpike, by Arcadia. Unlike the first, its a bigger size book, and focuses on the original Turnpike only. I have enough vintage color photos that I may do an all color book. Morning Sun was interested in this project many years ago, but the owner has retired.
Yes, I made it through the entire ride and enjoyed every minute. I have taken that trip many times from Northeast Ohio to Virginia over the years and your video brought back many pleasant memories. (I am also one of those who is not excited to go through Breezewood!) Thanks for a nostalgic trip on the PA Turnpike!
Haha, yes. My thoughts approaching Breezewood. "Here we are on I-70 passing over/under I-70. Except, it will cost 10 minutes of lost time to get there."
@@jmvfrva I have been to Breezewood exactly once - and that was on a bus (Greyhound) on the tail end of a cross-half-the-nation ride from western Kansas back home to Washington DC (via Interstate 70 - including the duplex with the Pennsylvania Turnpike).
Why does the Chesapeake Bay Watershed start so far to the west of Pennsylvania. I dont recognize any major waterways that feed down to it. Unless it's a bunch of small streams and rivets coming off the mountains. Everytime I travel the Turnpike to Somerset I wonder this. I live in Hellam township York pa andvim very close to the Susquahana River that does feed down to the Chesapeake Bay.
Some of that water flows to the Potomac river to the south it actually is not that far from Somerset. Its also the mountains as well as one side flows into the Ohio river and the other flows into the Chesapeake.
Great Video. I was born in Greensburg (as referenced by Exits 67 and 75) and grew up in Jeannette (4 miles away and accessible by Toll 66- Exit 75). You did a great job of capturing a stretch of road that I have traveled MANY times growing up. I almost have the road memorized in my head as I have fond memories of each exit. A few other notes: Someone referenced the Pittsburgh Exit in another comment. Exit 57 (Pittsburgh) has always been called the PIttsburgh exit by the Turnpike (as it connects to Pgh. via I-376).. even though those of us that grew up there NEVER call it that. It is always referred to as "Monroeville" by locals. Monroeville is a very congested area... Exit 67 (Irwin) and Exit 141 (Bedford) both intersect US 30 (AKA - The Lincoln Highway). US 30 is a scenic road that will test your driving skills. It also runs close to the Flight 93 memorial outside Shanksville. It also offers a scenic view from what used to be "The Ship Hotel". US 30 runs about 15-20 miles north of the Pike at its widest points. Exit 91 and 110 are popular exits for the outdoors attractions (7 Springs, Hidden Valley) Mile Marker 129 (Just past the Chesapeake Bay Watershed sign) is the home of St. Johns Church in New Baltimore. At one time there were steps on either side where you could pull over and attend services. This was part of an arrangement that the PA Turnpike had to gain access to land the church owned.. back in the 30s. (Those steps were obviously gone by the time you filmed this video as a result of upgrades and USDOT regulations). There are other youtube videos detailing this. Breezewood. I love Breezewood! One of the rare places in the US where you have a major interstate (I-70) at an "at grade intersection". There are reasons behind this as well related to highway funding in the 50's. This obviously was filmed during winter.. but the view is amazing in the fall! Great video. Glad you filmed it.
Thanks for the comments. My wife was also born in Greensburg. I hope to get back up in your area sometime soon. I always enjoy visiting PA. And, I find Breezewood to be an interesting place too.
Yes, I made it through the entire ride and enjoyed every minute. I have taken that trip many times from Northeast Ohio to Virginia over the years and your video brought back many pleasant memories. (I am also one of those who is not excited to go through Breezewood!) Thanks for a nostalgic trip on the PA Turnpike!
Thx for the nostalgic trip. From Pittsburgh but my mom and I moved to the Baltimore area years ago. My mom used to drive this all the time even in the snow. Thank goodness Southwest has a flight from Baltimore to Pittsburgh now
From someone who drives on the PA Turnpike every day to work, it's one of the best multi-lane highway/freeway/expressway on the USA east coast. But the tolls are expensive; as of this date March 2020, the rate from Exit 57 Pittsburgh to Exit 146 Bedford for a 2-axel Class 1 vehicle is $15.30 cash ($10.80 with Pennsylvania E-Z Pass) for driving 89 miles (143 km).
This is because the Pennsylvania Legislature mandates that the Turnpike fund other transportation projects throughout the state as well as upgrade the TPK itself. The rates on the TPK have gone up annually for several years now. They tried to toll I-80 but that has not happened.
Really like your video here John and if you look at the tunnels the original 1940 construction is Pittsburgh bound but 1960s construction is towards Philadelphia via Harrisburg. They should have actually modified them in the 1990s just like the southbound 476 Lehigh tunnel which has the Jet fans to blow the exhaust. Since you're from Virginia there are tunnels that back from 1987-2016 that have the jet fans on the ceiling. Your E-Z Pass Virginia bill would look like this Entry Gantry PIT Exit 57 Exit Gantry Bedford 146 or 161 Breezewood because in June Pennsylvania Turnpike system went all electronic tolling. The only way you can be charged with video toll is a Broken E-Z Pass Tag. happened to my family once NJ Turnpike East Rutherford to Newark. Had PTC Duplicated Laurel Hill Tunnel in the 1960s would have been the same for the Blue Mountain Kitattiny tunnels Philadelphia via Harrisburg takes the new construction 1964-1965 but Pittsburgh bound takes the original 1940 tunnel.
@@jmvfrva One thing that I thank much that Maryland Governor Hogan did - he axed the transponder fees! (You simply put your deposit in when picking up your transponder - that's it.)
As already noted, you don't need a ticket for this turnpike if you use EZpass. There was an interim case where not all of this turnpike had EZpass, and if your entrance did have EZpass available, a sign told you that a ticket was needed if your exit is outside the (EZpass) valid area.
Just drove the PA Turnpike last night in the wee hours of the morning. The ride from Pitt to Harrisburg is a big pain in the butt with the amount of curves lack of road reflectors. Daytime is a different story its a great drive 🚗
This is a great video and the effort to show the scene in that area is much appreciated. One suggestion is that it would be nice to have these at normal speed (i.e. the speed the vehicle is traveling) rather than sped up.
The high points on this trip Michigan to Virgina was the Allegheny Mountain Tunnel and the Breezewood stop. The low point was the horrendous traffic around the Washington DC area.
Thanks for watching. Google PA Trnpk tunnels for complete history on them. Lots of videos can be found about the abandoned Rays Hill and Sideling Hill tunnels.
@@jmvfrva Thank you. I've been to the Abandoned Turnpike 5 times now and just uploaded a video featuring all 5 trips. I've just always been curious out of the tunnels that were doubled. Which side was the original. I've googled and have read much about the Turnpike history. But never found out about which tubes were the original. I'll try a more specific search on just the tunnels.
To continue on I-70 to Washington or Baltimore, we (and a good number of other Virginians and Marylanders) take 30 from Bedford to I-70 just west of Breezewood.
@@carlmoore3215 I've been to Breezewood exactly once - and that was eastbound coming from Pittsburgh on a Greyhound bus (at night). The only other time I was in that area (during the day) I avoided both the Turnpike and Interstate 70; instead, I took US 15 from Frederick to Gettysburg - and US 30 - stopping at the Perkins in Gettysburg on US 30. (Perkins is a regional pancake house; they are along US 30 throughout Pennsylvania - my first Perkins was much further east - also along US 30 - in Paoli.
Born and raised in Greensburg PA. I know what it's like living in that area. It's a depressed area today. But not without it's advantages...............of which I will show to you in a timely fashion..............................OK snap! There's the pie shop on RT 30 and the micro brewery called All Saints.....................so there's that! Oh yeah and the Steelersl!!!!!!!
My wife was also born in Greensburg but left in the early 1960s. I've been there - certainly did have some nice things about it. Thanks for watching and commenting.
