PA Turnpike-worse in US?

[Land_Yachters]

I live in PA, so know the PA Turnpike well. After traveling through 35 states or so in the past 2 years, I come home and realize the PA Turnpke is probably the worst interstate I have traveled on.

Toll cost is higher than NJ or NY
Fuel/diesel cost is at least $.15-$.25 more than anywhere else in state
No DEF at the truck diesel islands, but you can buy a "box" for a high price. Oh and they usually only have 2-3 islands so waiting is the norm.
We returned from the Hershey RV show and found a service plaza with pump out...only in PA would they put it on the wrong side of the lot. Had to pull in and make U turn to pump out, and make another U turn to get out in front of the truck pumps.

The road is in good shape in most places that aren't under construction, but still have lots of rough spots.

I just had to rant. I feel better.

[_1Flyboy]

…… Come on over to Kalifornia; where fuel is a Dollar a gallon more than our neighbor states and their worst roads equal our best roads. Even Canada & Alaska with their harsh winters have better quality roads!!! The state recently did a survey of road surfaces & don’t you know our county came in First Place with Last Place roads! Tuolumne County, Kalifornia…..

[ford_truck_guy]

schlep1967 wrote:

ford truck guy wrote:
I hate it as well, but its MUCH better than I80.... mainly due to the fact that the tolls are expensive so MOST truckers avoid it.. I have taken I80 many times from Eastern PA to Erie and the road divots from the heavy truck traffic, the trucks traffic, and the Deer at night make it a worse option in my book....

Not to mention, I am in SE Bucks, so I would have to travel 2 hrs North to catch 80

According to Google.... If you took the turnpike to Harrisburg an then headed west on US 322 to I-80, it would only add 18 minutes and save a whole lot on tolls. That still doesn't change the condition of I-80 though.

That 18 minutes could/would turn into a whole lot more if in the 322 area of Harrisburg at the wrong time ! That is a mess between 283/83/322/81.. we take that way to go to Moscow camping when going to Port Royal Dirt speedway.

[schlep1967]

ford truck guy wrote:
I hate it as well, but its MUCH better than I80.... mainly due to the fact that the tolls are expensive so MOST truckers avoid it.. I have taken I80 many times from Eastern PA to Erie and the road divots from the heavy truck traffic, the trucks traffic, and the Deer at night make it a worse option in my book....

Not to mention, I am in SE Bucks, so I would have to travel 2 hrs North to catch 80

According to Google.... If you took the turnpike to Harrisburg an then headed west on US 322 to I-80, it would only add 18 minutes and save a whole lot on tolls. That still doesn't change the condition of I-80 though.

[bukhrn]

ferndaleflyer wrote:
I think they finished it in 1951 or so and was to be paid for by tolls in 10 years. Been a long 10 years I would say. As for the condition of the road, only thing close to that bad is I-10 in Louisiana.

It must be related to NY State Thruway, (I-90) but their theory is that the tolls pay for the road maintenance, although it is in better shape than the pike.

[gbopp]

I avoid the PA Turnpike whenever possible for all the reasons mentioned above.

[ferndaleflyer]

I think they finished it in 1951 or so and was to be paid for by tolls in 10 years. Been a long 10 years I would say. As for the condition of the road, only thing close to that bad is I-10 in Louisiana.

[ford_truck_guy]

I hate it as well, but its MUCH better than I80.... mainly due to the fact that the tolls are expensive so MOST truckers avoid it.. I have taken I80 many times from Eastern PA to Erie and the road divots from the heavy truck traffic, the trucks traffic, and the Deer at night make it a worse option in my book....

Not to mention, I am in SE Bucks, so I would have to travel 2 hrs North to catch 80

[pasusan]

I feel for ya.

We avoid the turnpike whenever we can. We spend 40 minutes more to avoid it - taking I-68 to visit relatives that live down below.

We are amazed that with our class B the cost is almost double if we are over 7000 lbs. Sometimes we are under - whew!

The cost and road conditions don't match up. :R

[Lwiddis]

Sounds like California road conditions!