Sideling Hill Tunnel BDA

In the late 1800’s, work was beginning on a railroad line though the southern tier of Pennsylvania. The difficult topography of the Ridge and Valley Province created the need to bore tunnels through several high ridges through the proposed path of the rail line. The line was never completed, and all of the construction for the railroad, including several nearly completed tunnels was abandoned. During the next decades, species of concern use the tunnels as seasonal habitat. In the early 1930’s, plans were developed to create the nation’s first superhighway across Pennsylvania. In proposing a route, the abandoned tunnels were examined for use in the proposed highway corridor. The Sideling Hill Tunnel was one of these tunnels that were chosen to now carry car traffic. In 1940, the completed tunnel and turnpike was opened. The single bore tunnel with only one lane of travel in each direction was abandoned in 1968 after turnpike traffic increased.

Threats and Stresses Current plans on the conversion of the abandoned section of the Pennsylvania Turnpike between Breezewood and the Sideling Hill Service Plaza to a bike trail may potentially impact the use of the Sideling Hill Tunnel by the species of concern. Of special concern are the plans that would create light in the tunnel.

Conservation Recommendations The Pennsylvania Game Commission can provide the best and most current management recommendations for these species of concern. Considerations may include appropriate forest management to maintain contiguous forest that includes the older trees needed by the species, avoiding the release of pesticides within the habitat area to maintain the species’ food supply and prevent them from being poisoned by toxic compounds in the food supply, and maintaining a tall forest buffer along roads to prevent road kills (a low canopy may cause the species to travel into the path of traffic). The tunnel must be protected from disturbance during November through March. Within the core area, blasting or other bedrock disturbances should be avoided. Further assessments of what areas are being used, as summer habitat by the species of concern will be useful in guiding conservation of this population. Generally, maintaining and cultivating forest cover will increase the amount of available habitat for the species.