1800s+1940+1968 Pennsylvania Turnpike Tuscarora Mountain Tunnel near Wilow Hill, PA

(Satellite)

West Portal:

Street View, May 2025

East Portal:

Street View, Nov 2025

This railroad tunnel became the original turnpike tunnel. In 1940, they added an eastbound tunnel south of this tunnel. Then in 1968 this original tunnel was replaced by a newer tunnel. The daily usage is 24,000. [gftinc]

Jackson-Township historical preservation posted

Photo from 1938 of a long tunnel bored through the mountain with Huntingdon County on the west side and Franklin County on the east and although completed, it was never used for the purpose for which it had been constructed many decades before. This was originally constructed for a railroad but tracks were never laid and the tunnel was converted to use as one of the original Tuscarora Tunnels for the Pennsylvania Turnpike which began construction in 1939. A surveyor in the photo is doing work for the proposed change of use from a rail tunnel to that of the Turnpike.

(Photo from Steve Kemp via https://www.facebook.com/groups/208623169187266/)

Robert Salinetro: I think it was built by the New York Central RR when they were trying to compete with the PRR and they were talked out of finishing the plan. The turnpike took over some of the track right of way for the initial road.

[Indeed. And the Pennsy was building a railroad up the west side of the Hudson River to compete with the NYC. JP Morgan met with the railroads and talked them out of the suicidal redundancy.]

Some of the tunnels on the turnpike have been daylighted. But this tunnel is below 1100' through a mountain that is over 1800'. So a 700' deep dut is too much even for modern equipment. 

1966/69 Fannettsburg Quad @ 24,000

gftinc
In the 2020s, the lanes in the 1940 eastbound bore were widened. Also, management of infiltrating water, ventilation, lighting and control electronics were improved. "A dark coating on the exterior portals, in combination with an illuminated tunnel interior, will help counteract motorists’ tendency to slow down when approaching a dark entrance, improving traffic flow through the tunnels."

WoodsAirMovement
The mile-long tunnel now has 12 modern axial exhaust fans.
"The 6 foot [1.8m] exhaust fans are designed to extract hazardous pollution if traffic is standing still in the tunnel - or smoke in the event of a fire - quickly and efficiently to allow safe evacuation and easier access for emergency services."