The Smoking Highway, Centralia, Pa

The old Pa Route 61, just south of Centralia, has suffered from the coal fire that has burned beneath the town since 1962.  Having been repaired several times, and still deteriorating at an alarming rate, nearly one mile of it was finally closed in 1993, the state installed earthen berms at either end, and traffic was rerouted to a new road to the west of the original highway.   The old road was left intact, however, and is now a popular place to explore.

Disclaimer: It is not the intent of StrangePA, its creators or contributers to encourage or recommend the exploration of any grounds under which an active mine fire is burning, or to which gasses, smoke, steam, or any combination thereof may at any time be vented. We do not assert that such activities are in any way safe, and cannot be held responsible for damages resulting from dangerous gasses, heat, fire, or sudden collapse of ground, or any other incident which may occur in such areas.
 

The original Route 61 is behind an earthen berm
while the detour created in 1993 is to the left.







The road has buckled dramatically from the
heat of the fires, and subsidence of the Earth.

 









 

 







A large chasm has opened in the road,
emittingsteam and gasses from the mine fire.















Graffiti adorns most of the roadway.


 

Not all of the graffiti is family friendly.

Ummmm.... Well....  Isn't that interesting?