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A Day of Entertainment and Exploration

On Saturday, September 23rd, an open house will be held at location of The Old PA Pike during the day. Here, outdoor enthusiasts, members of the community and the public in general will get to see a portion of the path as it exists now as well as the planned direction it will head in the near future. Here are highlights of the day’s events:

  • The event runs from 10:00 AM until 4:00 PM. Restroom Facilities and Free Parking provided at the host location (Ramada Inn at 16637 Lincoln Hwy (Rte. 30) in Breezewood, PA east of the Route 70/30 intersections )
  • There will be free Guided Bus Tours, leaving from the host location beginning at 10:00 AM and running every 30 minutes. Buses will take participants to the Sideling Hill Tunnel, drop them off and pick them up again at the tunnel site. The bus tour will include a brief lecture about the trail and the significant history related to the South Pennsylvania Railroad, Turnpike, etc.
  • Lighting Demonstrations will be held at the Sideling Hill tunnel throughout the day and access to that location will be provided via the bus tours.
  • An Open House Tent with the Master Plan and project boards for viewing, review and public comments, as well as public voting on options. Primary presentations will be given at 12:00 Noon and 2:00 PM, but there will be staff present throughout the day to review and answer questions
  • Live Music will be performed by local artists, Tom Fix (10:00-11:30 AM) and Free Donuts (Kenny Fetterman & Michal Wiles, 12:00 Noon until 3:00 PM).
  • A variety of Food Truck and Concessions, opening around 10:00 AM will be located at the host location in Breezewood and available until 4:00 PM.e

This event is made possible by volunteers who will help set-up, clean-up, serve as parking attendants, and staff the information desk, bus tours and tunnel lighting demonstrations.

When: Saturday, September 23, 2017
Time: 10:00 AM until 4:00 PM
Directions: Exit the (new) PA Turnpike at Breezewood and turn right onto Route 30 East; parking at 16637 US Route 30, Breezewood, PA (Former Ramada Inn location across from the Quality Inn).

Event Flyer (Downloadable PDF)

 

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Open House Event, September 23rd

Open House Event

Pennsylvania’s Abandoned Turnpike was a part of America’s first superhighway, and now starts a new life as a premier outdoor recreation destination!

Come and learn about the past and the future of The Old PA Pike Trail (TOPP) in the heart of the Lincoln Highway Heritage Corridor!

Event Activities

  • Master Plan Presentation Hourly
  • Live Music
  • Food Trucks
  • Guided Tours
  • Lighting Mock-up in Tunnels
  • Parking with Shuttle Service to and from the Trail Area

When: Saturday, September 23, 2017
Time: 10:00 AM until 4:00 PM
Directions: Exit the (new) PA Turnpike at Breezewood and turn right onto Route 30 East; parking at 16637 US Route 30, Breezewood, PA (Former Ramada Inn location across from the Quality Inn).

Event Flyer (Downloadable PDF)

 

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Plans Underway to Convert Abandoned PA Turnpike into a Multi-Use Trail & Destination

An eight and a half mile stretch of the original Pennsylvania turnpike, bypassed and abandoned since 1968, is being evaluated for a planned conversion into a recreational destination. This project, called “Pike 2 Bike” will be implemented by a team led by Navarro & Wright Consulting Engineers, Inc. of New Cumberland, PA.

Located in the Southwestern Pennsylvania counties of Bedford and Fulton, this trail is part of the original Pennsylvania Turnpike, which was built in 1940 as “America’s first super-highway” and was dedicated as a blue star highway in honor of American Veterans. The abandoned trail has been owned by the Southern Allegheny Conservancy since 2001 when it was purchased from the PA Turnpike Commission for $1 and has since been unofficially used as a biking and hiking trail on an at-your-own-risk basis.

A major, unique attraction of this trail is the inclusion of two abandoned tunnels which were built to accommodate two lanes of highway traffic and remain fully intact. Here, one gets the unique experience of traveling through cool, dark subterranean portals which connect distinct sections of the trail with differing natural landscapes.

Some of the planned improvements with this project include repairing and resurfacing the road, improving the structure of the tunnels, bridges and drainage systems, adding trail heads, parking areas and rest rooms at each end of the trail, providing lighting and other safety features, and otherwise preserving a nice balance between nature and modern amenities. The goal of the project is to make this a family friendly destination or travel stop for people of all ages.

To accomplish these tasks, Navarro & Wright with their expertise in civil engineer and resource evaluation is joined by a diverse team of consultants with specified expertise. Structural engineering will be provided by Raudenbush Engineering of Middletown while Carter van Dyke Associates of Doylestown will provide landscape architecture and planning, Harrisburg’s Brinjac Engineering will offer lighting analysis and design, DRL Consulting will provide economic analysis and 33 Dimensions LLC will provide website development, social media and online analytics.

In March, this group was selected unanimously by the Bedford County Commissioners and steering committee and they are excited to make this vision a reality in a timely and cost effective manner.

Stay tuned for much more info on the progress of this project and announcement of public events in the near future.