Up the westbound lanes, with their lane stripes exactly as the PTC intended (I expand that abbreviation on other pages in this set, and I'll expand it again later on in this one, so sit tight), right on up to the Ray's Hill Tunnel lane merge.


See, unlike at the Sideling Hill Tunnel, no concrete curb median at the tunnel mouth. Like at the other tunnel, though, not a trace of the original tunnel name above the mouth of the tunnel.


The center stripe, some side drainage, and one of the only reflectors to be found anywhere on the abandoned Turnpike (even including those installed further down this page in the striping test). You can see that the tunnel is not just dark, it's perennially damp from being an unlit, unventilated cave. Start the fan up!


Out of the western portal, onto the home stretch now, and choosing the westbound lanes to cross underneath the utility lines and over Mountain Chapel Road. Just up ahead you can see the striping test section start, where the right lane is (relatively) newly paved while the left lane and right shoulder rot.


Past the overpass with its single warning stripe (if it ever had a warning diamond or other yellow sign, it's been gone for many years), onto the striping test section with a well-formed rumble strip and helpful warning grooves along the lane line. Two things to note are that these lanes are approximately half-width (now being perfect for two-way bike traffic), and that the pavement is old enough to still crack along the lines of the original concrete pavement underlying the entire abandoned Turnpike, despite its smooth surface. (Obviously, the westbound lane was paved after traffic was no longer driving on this part of the Turnpike, so there has been nothing but time to wear it down, and time has, well, all the time it wants.)


Up to the end of the stripe test, and its accompanying guide rail. I didn't notice any dents in the rail (in fact, I didn't notice the rail at all until writing this caption), so I don't know what the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission were testing with it.


Past a couple of people enjoying a leisurely Sunday stroll, right on up to the gate that's supposed to keep vehicles out, all those vehicles that now can't even get up here. Let's unlock the gate, mmkay?


Over the gravel mound, the pavement has been removed, as has the US 30 overpass. A dirt trail takes you to the edge of the former eastern abutment of the overpass, and then heads straight down to the crook of Tannery Road, where other explorers have parked for the day but I have not. Next time, I would, but the next time is probably when the Pike2Bike trail is refurbished, so watch this space in 2012!

Continue west of US 30 by the old Breezewood interchange
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