As "awkward" as this Breezewood "interchange" is, the skyrocketing tolls on the PA Turnpike / I-76 are an infinitely worse problem https://www.reddit.com/r/Pennsylvania/comments/19fgc04/it_costs_over_100_to_traverse_the_entire_pa/. As a student I used to travel on I-76 across the state about a dozen times a year in the late 2000s, when it was still quite expensive but at least remotely reasonably priced. Nowadays if I ever need to travel from Central/Eastern PA to Western PA, I use the "shunpike" route via State College instead: US 322 W to I-99 S, to US 22 W if headed towards Pittsburgh or continuing on US 322 W if headed to I-80. This shunpike route is almost entirely 4 lane, with even better scenery and more "fun to drive" overall (though admittedly I-76 is also quite a scenic and generally good road besides its narrowness), plus the shunpike offers more options for food, lodging, etc. overall, and it costs less than 45 minutes extra which I think is typically inconsequential for an at least 4-5 hour trip and ultimately well worth the money saved. Unless in an EXTREME hurry or traveling late at night and needing 24-hour services and rest areas, I see no reason NOT to use the shunpike instead of I-76.
On further thought I realized that this particular shunpike via State College isn't very ideal for most I-70 travelers who would actually use the Breezewood interchange, so it is somewhat tangential as far as the original post. BUT I-68 to I-79 (or I-68 to US 40 to 4-lane PA 51 as an alternate route if going to the Pittsburgh area) is a very reasonable shunpike for I-70 travelers through PA.
Agreed. I may pay heed to your advice and take the "shunpike" for my next drive to Michigan. It usually nets out to a similar price to flights when I take I-76 home via car.
And they are finally going to rebuild the exit to connect to I-70. Tat is something tat should've happened when they rebuilt the Interchange in the 1960s, but whatever.
As "awkward" as this Breezewood "interchange" is, the skyrocketing tolls on the PA Turnpike / I-76 are an infinitely worse problem https://www.reddit.com/r/Pennsylvania/comments/19fgc04/it_costs_over_100_to_traverse_the_entire_pa/. As a student I used to travel on I-76 across the state about a dozen times a year in the late 2000s, when it was still quite expensive but at least remotely reasonably priced. Nowadays if I ever need to travel from Central/Eastern PA to Western PA, I use the "shunpike" route via State College instead: US 322 W to I-99 S, to US 22 W if headed towards Pittsburgh or continuing on US 322 W if headed to I-80. This shunpike route is almost entirely 4 lane, with even better scenery and more "fun to drive" overall (though admittedly I-76 is also quite a scenic and generally good road besides its narrowness), plus the shunpike offers more options for food, lodging, etc. overall, and it costs less than 45 minutes extra which I think is typically inconsequential for an at least 4-5 hour trip and ultimately well worth the money saved. Unless in an EXTREME hurry or traveling late at night and needing 24-hour services and rest areas, I see no reason NOT to use the shunpike instead of I-76.
On further thought I realized that this particular shunpike via State College isn't very ideal for most I-70 travelers who would actually use the Breezewood interchange, so it is somewhat tangential as far as the original post. BUT I-68 to I-79 (or I-68 to US 40 to 4-lane PA 51 as an alternate route if going to the Pittsburgh area) is a very reasonable shunpike for I-70 travelers through PA.
Agreed. I may pay heed to your advice and take the "shunpike" for my next drive to Michigan. It usually nets out to a similar price to flights when I take I-76 home via car.
And they are finally going to rebuild the exit to connect to I-70. Tat is something tat should've happened when they rebuilt the Interchange in the 1960s, but whatever.