Terra Server Pictures
Here are some links to the MSN Terra Server showing the abandoned turnpike areas. They were shot from a satellite several years ago.
This link shows the western part of the Ray's Hill/Sideling Hill tunnel area. In the lower left, you'll see a cloverleaf interchange. That's the Breezewood exit, where the turnpike makes the transition from old to new right-of-way. The new ROW goes east and slightly south, while the old ROW is used for part of the Breezewood exit ramp. When the exit ramp makes that final jog north, the old ROW continues northeast. Follow along it and you will see where it disappears into Ray's Hill tunnel, before getting to the lake (man-made I'm told). Follow along again and when the ROW goes almost due east you'll see it disappear into Sideling Hill tunnel.
This is the eastern part of the Ray's/Sideling area. You can see the old ROW emerge from Sideling Hill Tunnel in this picture, just east of the new roadbed. Follow along and you will see the old Cove Valley Service Plaza (the whitish part that juts north of the roadbed.
This last link is the Laurel Hill Tunnel area. You can see the roadbed come of of the tunnel on the far left (the lower road is the old ROW). I don't know what the whitish area is jutting north about the middle of the old ROW. It looks like a service plaza, but there were none on this stretch that I'm aware of. I also don't know what the building is halfway down the new ROW. It might be a maintenance garage, I don't think it's a service plaza.
Hello John and thanks for this discussion site. Are you in Ohio? Just a guess that your handle is your zip code - ? I just moved to NW Pa after living in Ohio all my 40 years.
I visited the abandoned road and Ray's Hill Tunnel in the mid-90s, but did not have time to get to Sideling Hill. I want to go back soon. I just kinda figured out how to get there by myself back then - no web sites that I knew of.
Regarding the Terra Server Pics... does anyone have the coordinates for the Quemahoning and Negro Mountain Tunnels? I would like to visit them soon - wintertime is probably the best time.
quemahoning tunnel
If you go to topozone.com, type in ALLENVALE PA and you'll clearly see the ROW of the old South Penn. You might have to change the resolution to 25,000:1 in oder to see the ROW path. Although I never saw the tunnel (yet), I plan on getting there someday in the near future. From what I hear, only the eastern portal is visable as the western side is under an abandoned strip mine. The 12x12 timbers are said to still be visable as that's what they used to keep the ceiling from caving in. I would think the best way to get there is via route 30 in Jennerstown. I believe you'd take rte 985 south out of Jennerstown to a little village called Edie. from there, I'd ask "locals" - I'm sure they'd point you in the right direction. If you want to email me ( as I'm very rarely on this board) send it to triumphbru@aol.com.
Sideling Hill / Ray's Hill
In the near future, probably within a month, access to the office area and fan rooms at Sideling and Ray's Hill will be sealed off. The garage area, first floor, will be turned into a picnic shelter.
I strongly advise against anyone attempting to use the stairs at these tunnels, especially at the eastern portal of Sideling. The staris have rusted through in areas and are not safe. As a result, as I said, these areas are going to be bricked up.
Personally, I would love to see these tunnels restored to 1940 conditions, and turned into a museum. To do so takes money. It's cheaper just to seal these areas off. If you have any ideas as to where to get the money, please contact SAC.
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