The Pennsylvania Turnpike may be a beautiful ride, but driving it can be an intense pain if there’s any construction or you’re traveling during the holidays. Well add one more complication: A Turnpike strike.

According to the Post, in their preview of the Thanksgiving travel conditions, said that there is a strong possibility that toll collectors could go on strike either tonight or Wednesday. Turnpike authorities are saying it’d be good to think about an alternative.

From the Post:

Turnpike spokesman Carl DeFebo said that he and other managers would staff toll booths if there is a strike but that there would be about 12 hours between the start of the strike and their arrival. Even after they get there, their lack of experience will likely add to delays expected by the crush of motorists, DeFebo said.

That sounds noble, but we fear that the lines to get off at Breezewood could be epic. So if you have relatives, friends, etc. coming to Washington, the line to get through the so called Town of Motels, could be a big pain. But those going through would only charge $2 for vehicles, regardless of how far they drive within the Turnpike system.

There are alternatives, but none of them are very good:
From Pittsburgh, it may be better to take I-79 SOUTH into West Virginia, then take I-68/”National Highway” from the Morgantown area into EAST into Maryland to I-70 at Hancock (then I-270 into the D.C. area).

Or to avoid Breezewood, exit one or two exits prior and take back roads to reconnect in Maryland. (US-220 from Bedford, Pa., to I-68 at Cumberland, Md., or US-219 from Somerset, Pa., to I-68 in West Virginia.