Located just south of the Stroudsburg Exit at US 209 (Exit 74) on the Pennsylvania Turnpike, the Lehigh Tunnel is the only Turnpike tunnel in Eastern Pennsylvania.  Traveling below Blue Mountain to the north of the Allentown/Bethlehem area, the tunnel facilitates four lanes of travel between Philadelphia to the south and Scranton/Wilkes-Barre to the north.

Northbound Tube

Approaching from the south
October 10, 1996	May 15, 1997
October 10, 1996	May 15, 1997

Originally the Lehigh Tunnel consisted of the northbound only tube.  While this was sufficient in the early years of the Turnpike, increasing traffic demands and tourism in northeast Pennsylvania caused the Lehigh Tunnel to become a chokepoint, with traffic reducing from four to two lanes.  After many years of this condition and associated headaches, it was agreed to double the capacity with the construction of a new southbound only tube, with the original tube serving northbound.  The project began on February 14, 1989 and was completed in November 1991.

Tunnel Entrance
October 10, 1996	Perspective of the tunnel exit from southbound (September 13, 1993)
Within the Tunnel
October 10, 1996

The southbound facade shows the difference in age between the two entrances. Notice also that the "Lehigh Tunnel" letters are still centered over the original tube to the left.

Another perspective of the northbound tube, photographed by Doug Kerr in 1999.

Southbound Tube

The southbound tube is tiled on the sides, but not on the ceiling. Large ventilation fans are in place throughout the length of the tunnel. Also interesting how the newer tunnel is more circular in design.

Entrance to the tunnel along southbound I-476.

Midway through the tunnel.

Slightly further south.

Tunnel exit approaches
All southbound vidcaps taken September 13, 1993.