If one would like to investigate some old tunnels in Pennsylvania that have been abandoned for decades (or even more than a century), then there's plenty to discover at the abandoned Pennsylvania Turnpike. While the original Abandoned Pennsylvania Turnpike only typically referred to the Ray's Hill Tunnel and the Sidelining Hill Tunnel, this article is concerned with all abandoned tunnels built for the railroad and later Turnpike.

One of these tunnels - the Laurel Hill Tunnel is even used for high-speed race car aerodynamic testing today. There are many abandoned tunnels around the nation, but this southern part of Pennsylvania is particularly well known and historic. There is a sizable cluster of tunnels lying abandoned here.

The South Pennsylvania Railroad & Later Turnpike

The tunneling began in the 1800s with the construction of the South Pennsylvania Railroad. It was an ambitious route cutting through the spine of the Appalachians in southern Pennsylvania. It crossed six mountain ridges and required nine tunnels.

But while most of the tunneling and infrastructure for this railroad was built, it was never completed. Construction eventually ceased in 1885 and the tunnels were abandoned.

  • Construction: Construction of the South Pennsylvania Railroad Began in the 1880s

In the 1940s, many of the tunnels of the abandoned and half-built South Pennsylvania Railroad were repurposed for the Pennsylvania Turnpike highway. But not all of the tunnels were reused. While some of the tunnels were reused for the Pennsylvania Turnpike others were later bypassed and abandoned. The end result being today there are plenty of old abandoned tunnels here.

Related: There's A Massive Underground Tunnel System Right In Florida, And This Is What It Looks Like

The Abandoned Pennsylvania Turnpike Today

Today the abandoned Pennsylvania Turnpike refers to a 13 mile or 21 kilometer-long stretch of the Pennsylvania Turnpike that was bypassed in 1968 as the highway was upgraded.

  • Pennsylvania Turnpike: Became Known As "America’s first superhighway"
  • Tunnel Highway: The Name For The Pennsylvania Turnpike When It Opened In 1940 For Its Seven Tunnels
  • Open: The Pennsylvania Turnpike Opened in 1940
  • Original Abandoned Turnpike: A 13 Mile Stretch Bypassed In 1968
  • Orginal Abandoned Turnpike Tunnels: Ray's Hill, Laurel, and Sideling Hill Tunnels

The three original Pennsylvania Turnpike tunnels were Ray's Hill Tunnel, Laurel Hill Tunnel, and Sideling Hill Tunnel. The Ray's Hill Tunnel and the Sidelining Hill Tunnel formed what is called the Abandoned Pennsylvania Turnpike. They were bypassed by a 13-mile (21 km) new highway, as was the Cove Valley Travel Plaza. These two tunnels are now part of the Pike2Bike Trail.

The tunnels were even featured prominently in the 2009 apocalyptic movie, “The Road”, starring Viggo Mortensen because it looked so post-apocalyptic.

Related: What You Need To Know About Seeing The Sealed Up Freight Tunnels Under Chicago

Abandoned Tunnels In The Area and Visiting

Abandoned Tunnels:

  • Negro Mountain Tunnel: Built For The South Pennsylvania Railroad But Bypassed By The Turnpike
  • Quemahoning Tunnel: Built For The South Pennsylvania Railroad But Bypassed By The Turnpike - From 2019 Plans to Daylight The Tunnel To Expand The Turnpike Into 6 Lanes
  • Memorial Tunnel: 2,802 feet (854 m) Two-lane Vehicular Tunnel Built For The Turnpike, Later Abandoned
  • Laurel Hill Tunnel: Repurposed for High-Speed Racecar Aerodynamic Testing
  • Rays Hill Tunnel: Abandoned In 1968, One of the Three Original Pennsylvania Turnpike Tunnels To Be Abandoned 3,532 feet (1,077 m) long
  • Sideling Hill Tunnel: Abandoned In 1968, One of the Three Original Pennsylvania Turnpike Tunnels To Be Abandoned 6,782 feet (2,067 m) long

There are contradicting reports online as to whether the Abandoned Pennsylvania Turnpike is officially closed to visitors or not. Some interpret it more as proceeding at one's own risk. It's around 1.5 miles to the Rays Hill tunnel from the parking area in Breezewood.

Today the Abandoned Turnpike is a popular tourist attraction. While they are closed to motor traffic, bicycle riders routinely cycle through the tunnels at their own risk.

If one is going to London, be sure to check out their abandoned Tube stations.

Laurel Hill Tunnel - The Secret Race Test Tunnel

The Laurel Hill Tunnel is a 4,541-foot-long (1,384 m) tunnel on the Pennsylvania Turnpike. But it was bypassed and abandoned in 1964 and remained largely unused until 2003. And thus Laurel Hill Tunnel lay abandoned for years. During this time it was sporadically for storage and even as a firing range.

  • Where To See: The Western Portal Can Be Seen From The Eastbound Side of The Turnpike - Milepost 99.3
  • Length: 4,541 Feet (1,384 meters)
  • Abandoned: 1964

Unlike the other tunnels (like the Sideling Hill and Rays Hill tunnels) the Laurel Hill Tunnel is not open to the public and it is reported to be routinely patrolled by the police for trespassers.

Today it is now known that the abandoned highway tunnel is being used by Chip Ganassi Racing for high-speed race car aerodynamic testing.

The tunnel has been repaved, equipped with climate control, safety equipment, and data collection systems. The tunnel was even used to develop the G-Force Indycar in 2004.

Next: It's Rumored That London Is Home To The Largest Secret Tunnel System In The World, So Here's What We Know