Pennsylvania Turnpike......... (Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Scranton: real estate, cost, law)

[ckhthankgod]

Are people generally comfortable driving on it in the area that is between Scranton and Philly? I don't know why, but it seems like an uncomfortable road to drive on, in certain parts of that stretch of the Turnpike.

Also, why is there a way for a person to bypass tolls in the Philadelphia area? Ther eis a confusing section where I believe 76 or 476 becomes the Turnpike, but there is a way you can get on without going through tolls. Why is that?

[Ohiogirl81]

Originally Posted by ckhthankgod

Are people generally comfortable driving on it in the area that is between Scranton and Philly? I don't know why, but it seems like an uncomfortable road to drive on, in certain parts of that stretch of the Turnpike.

The Northeast Extension is an unsafe and antiquated piece of crap. I grit my teeth every time I'm on it.

[thecoalman]

I think a lot of people are intimidated by the close shoulders particularly in the passing lane. It could certainly use some wider shoulders and better exits but the road itself is one of the flattest, straightest pieces of real estate in the country considering the terrain it goes through. Roads out west going through flat terrain aside it probably has one the highest possibilities for speed in the country. I can only think of one place between here and Philly where you might have to drop it below 100 if you were traveling that fast. They don't plan new interstates like that because it's more expensive and the long straightaways common on the turnpike have been linked to driver fatigue. The gist of it is the turnpikes success has been it's worse enemy as well. There's lots of development surrounding it built up since it was first started and expanding it would be an astronomical cost with the property that would have to be taken alone.

[pcity]

Originally Posted by ckhthankgod

Also, why is there a way for a person to bypass tolls in the Philadelphia area? Ther eis a confusing section where I believe 76 or 476 becomes the Turnpike, but there is a way you can get on without going through tolls. Why is that?

There's no way to get off the Pennsylvania Turnpike without paying a toll.

76 east of King of Prussia and 476 south of Plymouth Meeting are not part of the PA Turnpike. They are free highways just like I-80, I-78, etc.

[wanneroo]

It's funny the turnpike is tolled because it is the worse road I know of in the USA. It's an embarrassment really. All the money must go to welfare or something.

[PeterRabbit]

I was driving along one day and found myself on a turnpike extension of some sort and there was no way off without paying. This is in the Pittsburgh vicinity. It's a very dangerous road around here (and possibly all the way to Philly as I recall) with lanes too narrow in places and no shoulders. It's too winding to go fast for very long. There are spots here where the speed limit is only 55 and I think it's like that when you near the tunnels toward central PA. I agree that it's the worst toll road I've ever been on. It's like day and night when you get into Ohio... wide lanes, flat and smooth.

[stillkit]

Originally Posted by wanneroo

It's funny the turnpike is tolled because it is the worse road I know of in the USA. It's an embarrassment really. All the money must go to welfare or something.

What are you talking about? The PA turnpike is one of the best engineered roads in the country, considering the terrain it crosses. For most of it's distance, you can run just about as fast as you want to (barring the presence of state police.) Yeah, the NE Extension seems a little crowded, but the travel lanes are as wide as any Interstate.

If you think the PA pike is bad, take Rt. 22 from Harrisburg to Pittsburgh and I'll bet your opinion changes immediately.

[North Beach Person]

Originally Posted by stillkit

What are you talking about? The PA turnpike is one of the best engineered roads in the country, considering the terrain it crosses. For most of it's distance, you can run just about as fast as you want to (barring the presence of state police.) Yeah, the NE Extension seems a little crowded, but the travel lanes are as wide as any Interstate.

If you think the PA pike is bad, take Rt. 22 from Harrisburg to Pittsburgh and I'll bet your opinion changes immediately.

And don't forget the Turnpike was designed and built back in the 1930s to then current standards with a little bit of "what if" for the future.

[thecoalman]

Originally Posted by wanneroo

It's funny the turnpike is tolled because it is the worse road I know of in the USA. It's an embarrassment really. All the money must go to welfare or something.

I'd have to agree with Stillkit, it's been a while since I've been on it which is actually kind of strange but I always found the Turnpike to be in exceptional shape, It's entirely funded through the tolls and has been since it's existence as far as I know.

You are correct though about the money is going somewhere:

http://www.paturnpike.com/toll/2009_Tolls_Press_Kit/Toll%20Increase.pdf (broken link)

Under Act 44, passed by the General Assembly and signed into law by Gov. Ed Rendell in July,
2007, the Turnpike will provide a total of $2.5 billion in supplemental transportation funding
from August 2007 to May 2010. In order to meet this obligation, most Pennsylvania Turnpike
tolls will increase by 25 percent effective Jan. 4, 2009 — a year earlier than anticipated before
the enactment of Act 44.

[stillkit]

Originally Posted by North Beach Person

And don't forget the Turnpike was designed and built back in the 1930s to then current standards with a little bit of "what if" for the future.

Well, yes and no.

The original turnpike was laid out as a two-lane highway on top of an abandoned railroad bed. The current turnpike isn't where it originally was, so far as I know.