Our route home yesterday took us across the Pennsylvania Turnpike. I had never minded traveling the turnpike, and I know I was in the minority.
The turnpike commission cured me during yesterday's trip. The highway is an embarrassment. The surface in many, many areas is unbearable to drive. I admit a bias here because the unevenness of the road causes an unpleasant harmonic effect between the trailer and the truck. I recall, though, when I drove this road without the trailer other sections caused harmonic bouncing in our Jeep SUV. (By the way, to experience an even worse highway, try I-86 in Western New York. It is truly dangerous because of the poor pavement. It's nice to know there is someplace worse.)
The Pennsylvania Turnpike has areas that seem to be meant to pull over for a short period, like during heavy rain and reduced visibility. You cannot use it because there are no signs that indicate a wide spot is approaching, and by the time you see the parking area, you've passed it.
That thought, of course, leads to another about driving safety. There are no rest stops on the turnpike. The only spots are the gasoline stops, which, of course, are spaced too far apart if all you want is a spot to rest your eyes a few minutes.
When we passed the gasoline stops, though, I noticed that the prices were not exorbitant as you find on so many limited access highways and turnpikes. I suspect the turnpike commission has something to do with that, and that is good.
The bottom line, though, is that it appears the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission has not invested a cent in the highway in decades. There has been a lot of work on the road, I know, but the western portion, at least, is a terrible experience. This is disappointing.
As a young boy, maybe I was five years old, I remember my father taking me to watch the turnpike being built near Koppel, PA. I have always been proud of it, with that fond boyhood memory of my vibrant dad holding me up to watch the big dump trucks and scrapers.
After all these years, the turnpike commission has disappointed me.
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