Summary
The Pittsburgh Pike was an early toll road in the United States.
Pittsburgh Pike | |
|---|---|
| Route information | |
| History | Chartered in 1805 Completed on May 20, 1818 |
| Major junctions | |
| West end | Pittsburgh, PA |
| East end | Harrisburg, PA |
| Location | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Pennsylvania |
| Highway system | |
| 19th Century Turnpikes | |
History and notable features edit
The road was chartered as the Harrisburg and Pittsburgh Turnpike in 1805, and upon completion on May 20, 1818,[1] it enabled travelers to go from Pittsburgh to Harrisburg, Pennsylvania over the Allegheny Mountains, cutting freight rates in half because wagons increased their capacity, speed, and certainty.
It cost $4,850 per mile ($3,010/km) to build. Private interests contributed 62 percent of the capital; the government of Pennsylvania provided the remaining amount.[2] In 1814, the company was broken up into five constituent parts:
- Greensburg and Pittsburgh Turnpike, Pittsburgh to Greensburg
- Somerset and Greensburg Turnpike, Greensburg to Stoystown
- Bedford and Somerset Turnpike, Stoystown to Bedford
- Chambersburg and Bedford Turnpike, Bedford to Chambersburg
- Harrisburg, Carlisle, and Chambersburg Turnpike[3]
Of these turnpikes, the first four were included in the Lincoln Highway, and later PA 1 and US 30. The Chambersburg and Harrisburg was not included in any major auto trails, but was included in PA 13, and later US 11