39°57′41.7″N 78°51′24.1″W / 39.961583°N 78.856694°W
Overview | |
---|---|
Location | Somerset County, Pennsylvania |
Route | I-70 / I-76 / Penna Turnpike |
Operation | |
Constructed | 1939 |
Opened | October 1, 1940 (present-day westbound tube) March 15, 1965 (eastbound tube) |
Operator | Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission |
Character | Twin-bore tunnel |
Technical | |
Length | 6,070 feet (1,850 m) |
No. of lanes | 4 (two in each direction) |
Highest elevation | 2,314 feet (705 m) |
The Allegheny Mountain Tunnel is a vehicular tunnel carrying the Pennsylvania Turnpike through the Allegheny Mountains. At this point, the Turnpike carries Interstates 70 and 76. When the tunnel was built, it was considered an "engineering marvel."[1]
The tunnel was built in 1939 and is used by 11 million vehicles annually today. Throughout the 2000s, state officials attempted to implement plans to replace the tunnel, citing the westbound tube's age.