how to get to pennsic without wanting to slice off the heads of each construction worker

This is from a posting made on the Rialto, with permission of the author.

Subject: ALT ROUTES TO PENNSIC was Re: Pennsic Road Construction

In article <9408021009.AA06521@milo.uucp>, Berwyn wrote:

>Earlier this year someone mentioned road construction in the vicinity of

>Coopers. What is the situation now, so we may plan our routes accordingly.

>(Like coming the back way thru Newcastle insteqd of down the In terstate,

>for example.)

Greetings,

I am Lord Andrei Grigorievich Topolev, seneschal for the Colleges of Cour d'Or (Pittsburgh, Colleges and Universities) After hearing a news report this morning (Wednesday) I went to our local AAA and received the following information:

Interstate I-79 in Pennsylvania is under HEAVY construction. 3 lanes in each direction have been reduced to 1 lane in each direction. The person at AAA notified me that trafic has been continually bumper-to-bumper. The construction is at its worse from Exit 24 (where 79 crosses the PA turnpike.) through 29 (der Pennsic Exit)

Coopers Lake campground is exit #29 on I-79 (State route 422). This is exceedingly inconvenient for all gentles. The Penna State Police Barracks from Mercer Co. PA gives the following info. During the week expect a 10-15 minute delay headed Southbound on 79. Expect a 20-30 minute delay headed North. On the weekend expect 15-30 minute delays headed South. Expect 45-90 minute delays headed north. I explained that I had a group of about one hundred headed near New Castle for a convention. Okay that's one camp site ;)

The following alternatives are offered. (Get a map, it's Pennsylvania; the roads are different here :) These are only sugestions from myself. I do not represent Pennsic and have not driven any of these routes. You take them at your own risk. Please don't kill me if they don't work, I'm a non-combatant.

If you are driving to Coopers lake via Interstate I-80: Exit 2A (I believe) is route 79. The alternative is Exit 2 (1 - 2 - 2a - 3) which is State Route 19. It is approximately 18 miles south to route 422. Head East on 422 towards 79. Coopers Lake should be on the left.

If you are coming from the South via 79 from south of Pittsburgh. (This one is messy). Exit 15 (I hope) is 22/30 West towards the airport. In one exit, this mutates into 60 West/ North to the airport and 22/30 kinda wanders away. Basically, follow signs for AIRPORT. You want to get yourself onto 60 North. You'll be on 60 for awhile. (Approx 50 miles (give or take 5)) Exit 422. To make matters worse, 60 is now attatched to the PA turnpike system so it becomes a toll road around exit 15. I'm told that there are 3-4 quarter-drop toll booths, and one person said that they may be exact change only. (I haven't been there and can not confirm or deny this). Exit 20 off Route 60 is state route 422. Head west on 422. After about 10-15 miles you will cross State route 19. Cooper's Lake Campground is within 1/2 mile on the left.

From Pittsburgh: Take Route 19 North. Cooper's Lake is on 422 Just west of 19.

If anyone else has any better routes. PLease submit the to Rialto. I'm planning to leave for war in about 36 hours (land grabber) so I'm fried. :)

Good luck. Again the routes above are only my suggestions. You'll get there by normal routes, it just may take a lot longer.

In Service to the society

Lord Andrei Grigorievich Topolev

Seneschal, Colleges of Cour d'Or