Breezewood, Pennsylvania facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Breezewood, Pennsylvania
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The stretch of U.S. Route 30 in Breezewood, Pennsylvania is one of the few gaps in the Interstate Highway System. A portion of I-70 uses this surface street to connect the untolled interstate highway with the Pennsylvania Turnpike.
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 Breezewood, Pennsylvania
Location in Pennsylvania
Breezewood, Pennsylvania
Location in the United States
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| Country |  United States |
| State |  Pennsylvania |
| County | Bedford |
| Township | East Providence |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| ZIP codes |
15533
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| Area code(s) | 814 |
| GNIS feature ID | 1170190 |
Breezewood is a small, unincorporated town in Bedford County, Pennsylvania. It's not officially a city or borough, but a community within East Providence Township.
Breezewood has always been a popular stopping place for travelers. Long ago, Native Americans used trails here. Later, European settlers and British soldiers traveled through this valley. In the early 1900s, it became a key stop for people driving cars on the Lincoln Highway.
In 1940, Breezewood became an exit on the new Pennsylvania Turnpike. Later, in the 1960s, it connected to the new Interstate 70. Today, Breezewood is famous for its unusual highway connection. Traffic between I-70 and the Turnpike has to use local streets with gas stations, hotels, and restaurants. This means it's one of the few places where an Interstate Highway isn't a continuous freeway.
History of Breezewood
Breezewood has a long and interesting history of serving travelers.
Early Roads and Trails
Before European settlers arrived, Native Americans had an old trail that went through this area. Later, during colonial times, a wagon road was built. In 1758, General John Forbes built a British military trail here. This trail was used during the French and Indian War. It was later known as the Pittsburgh Road. Eventually, a private toll road called the Chambersburg-Bedford Turnpike also passed through the valley.
The South Pennsylvania Railroad
In the late 1800s, there was a plan to build a railroad across southern Pennsylvania. This railroad, called the South Pennsylvania Railroad, was meant to compete with another big railroad company. A lot of money was spent, and many lives were lost during its construction. However, the project was stopped in 1886. The railroad was never finished, but much of the digging and tunnel work was already done. These tunnels would later be used for the Pennsylvania Turnpike.
How Breezewood Grew
A community called Rays Hill was located just east of where Breezewood is now. It had a small store and a tiny post office. On the western side of present-day Breezewood, there's an old building called the Maple Lawn Inn. It opened around 1789 and was a stop for stagecoaches. It was also a safe place for people escaping slavery on the Underground Railroad.
By the early 1900s, with more cars on the road, the area between Rays Hill and the Maple Lawn Inn became known as Breezewood. The name was given to a car repair garage built in 1937. Maps from that time show Breezewood as the group of buildings where U.S. Route 30 (the Lincoln Highway) and Pennsylvania Route 126 meet.
1913: The Lincoln Highway
On July 1, 1913, car fans and industry leaders announced plans for the Lincoln Highway. This was the first paved road across the United States made just for cars. Important people like former President Theodore Roosevelt and inventor Thomas A. Edison supported the project. Even President Woodrow Wilson enjoyed driving on it.
In 1919, after World War I, the U.S. Army drove a group of vehicles across the country. This trip, called the Transcontinental Motor Convoy, followed the Lincoln Highway through Breezewood. The trip showed how important good roads were for the military. One of the young officers on this convoy was Dwight David Eisenhower. Later, as a general in World War II, Eisenhower was very impressed by Germany's autobahn highway system. These experiences convinced him that the U.S. needed its own Interstate Highway System. The part of the Lincoln Highway through Breezewood became U.S. Route 30.
1940: The Pennsylvania Turnpike
When the Pennsylvania Turnpike was built in the 1930s, Breezewood made sure it would have an exit. The Turnpike opened on October 1, 1940, and Breezewood was at its original Exit 6. The new Turnpike used many of the tunnels and graded areas from the old South Pennsylvania Railroad project.
After the Pennsylvania Turnpike opened, Breezewood became a very busy place. It was known as the "Town of Motels" and the "Traveler's Oasis." Gas stations, hotels, and restaurants quickly opened to serve the many travelers.
1960s: Connecting I-70 and the Turnpike
About 25 years later, Interstate 70 was built through Pennsylvania. For 86 miles, I-70 shared the same road as the Pennsylvania Turnpike. This section of I-70 and the Turnpike included tunnels through the Allegheny Mountains.
Around the same time, in the early 1960s, the original Turnpike was improved. The Breezewood exit was also changed.
Why I-70 is Unusual Here
The way I-70 connects in Breezewood is very unique. Instead of a direct highway-to-highway connection, I-70 uses a local road (part of US 30). This local road has regular intersections and traffic lights. Drivers have to go through this area to get from the toll-free I-70 to the Pennsylvania Turnpike (which is also I-76 here) or vice versa.
This unusual setup happened because of old rules about federal funding for highways. At the time, Pennsylvania couldn't get federal money to build a direct interchange unless it agreed to stop collecting tolls on the Turnpike later. A direct connection would have forced drivers on I-70 to use the toll road. Local businesses, like fast food restaurants, gas stations, and motels, also wanted to keep the gap. They feared losing customers if drivers could just pass through without stopping.
This short part of I-70 in Breezewood is one of only two places in the U.S. where a main Interstate Highway has traffic lights.
2000s: Pike 2 Bike Trail
The Pennsylvania Turnpike sold an old, unused 13-mile (21 km) section of the highway for just $1 in 2001. This section, called the Abandoned Pennsylvania Turnpike, is now being turned into a bike trail. It's managed by a group called Friends of the Pike 2 Bike. The trail includes two old tunnels, the Rays Hill Tunnel and the Sideling Hill Tunnel.
Tourist Services and Amenities
Breezewood is a very busy place for travelers. In 1995, about 2.6 million vehicles exited the Turnpike here. By 2003, that number grew to 3.4 million. During busy times, this unique highway connection can cause long traffic jams.
The area has many choices for gas and diesel fuel. Some stations are set up for large trucks and buses. You can also find a wide variety of restaurants, from family-style places to fast food outlets. Breezewood truly lives up to its nickname, "Town of Motels," offering hundreds of hotel and motel rooms.
In 1990, The New York Times reported that Breezewood had "no less than 10 motels, 14 fast-food restaurants and 7 fuel and service stations." By 1997, about 1,000 people worked in Breezewood's business area. Some people have called Breezewood a "tourist trap" because of all the businesses.
Community Life
Breezewood is not an official town under Pennsylvania law. It is part of East Providence Township. The businesses in Breezewood make up about 75 percent of the township's tax money.
The community has its own post office with the ZIP code 15533. Breezewood also has a fire station, the East Providence Township Hall, and an elementary school. There are not many homes right in the main business area of Breezewood.
Geography
Breezewood is located in the Ridge and Valley Physiographic Province of the Appalachian Mountains in Pennsylvania. It sits on the western edge of a place called Rays Hill.
