Puzzled by the sudden celebrity treatment, Jones asked the reason behind her request. Although the Pennsylvania Turnpike is not the oldest or longest road system today, the PA Turnpike has left a distinguished mark in history as the conceptual blueprint for modern-day interstate highways. This roadway incorporated technologies that had never been used before and implemented many concepts still kept in mind today. However, before the construction of the turnpike was even a concept, Pennsylvania tried many different transportation methods to cross the state.
The biggest obstacle between the eastern and western parts of Pennsylvania was, and remains, the Appalachian Mountains. This massive barrier made it nearly impossible to cross back and forth efficiently. The first attempt at bridging this gap was a canal system that took travelers days to cross the state, but this venture soon became obsolete with new transportation innovations.
During the 19th century, the next major mode of transportation to take PA by storm was to travel by train for long distances. However, the invention of the automobile at the start of the 20th century created an alternative, and more personal, option for travelers. Most people chose to take the train because it would have been a long journey spanning several days to cross the state if traveling by car.
In addition, inclement weather made the roads treacherous to drive, making the trip even more difficult. The Lincoln Highway of that stretched between Philadelphia and Pittsburgh had been the first attempt of creating a major road system.
However, this highway was very winding and followed the same sharp curves that the Conestoga wagons used to maneuver in the s. Even though the Lincoln Highway attempted a toll system, the profits plummeted and the roads deteriorated into dusty abandoned strips of cracked concrete. Repairs were made when interest in the road and driving became more popular and eventually the Lincoln Highway spread across the United States spanning over 14 states and reaching a mileage record of miles.
Today the Lincoln Highway is still designated, following much of US Route 30 in the southern part of the state. Even though this highway was the first and longest road system, it was not until the PA Turnpike came online that drivers began to see technological advancements implemented to create an easier and safer road system to travel; the PA Turnpike avoided both the cross traffic and the steep grades that the Lincoln Highway faced. Despite the beginning attempts of road systems like the Lincoln Highway, most transportation across the state was still conducted by the railroads.
Two companies controlled the railroad industry on the eastern side of the United States during the 19th century. During this time period competition within the railroad industry was fierce, and there were several strategies the companies employed to gain a competitive edge. It became common practice to build new tracks, expand railroad tracks, or buy the stock of newcomers to force the competition out of business. These tactics would later provide significant routing for the creation of the PA Turnpike.
At the time, William H. In order to gain the upper hand, Vanderbilt decided to construct the South Pennsylvania Railroad. The project was backed by steel magnate Andrew Carnegie since he too was angered by the outrageous rates the Pennsy was charging for transportation. However, this project was abandoned in when J.
Upon hearing the news, workers of the South Pennsylvania Railroad simply stopped working and walked away from the work site. When the Great Depression hit the economy, almost everyone suffered from the financial crisis.
Even though only a few people were able to afford new automobiles, the popularity of cars still remained high. Highways became in demand when the number of automobile owners reached a record high, and soon the state of New York constructed the first express highway in American history, the Bronx River Parkway.
For now, the plan is to raise toll rates until a more sustainable idea emerges. But pull into Breezewood any hour of the day or night: the lights are on, the gas is pumping and the hotel business is robust. Sign up for our weekly newsletter. Skip to content. Share this Facebook Twitter Email. Brought to you by Keystone Crossroads. Keystone Crossroads Exploring the stories that matter across the commonwealth with all Pennsylvanians in mind. About Eleanor Klibanoff Read more. Enter your Email here.
Truck climbing lanes were added; interchanges were renovated and expanded, emergency call boxes were installed along the highway and service plaza locations and food offerings were modified. The system weighed all vehicles passing through toll lanes. For the first time the PA Turnpike was now a four-lane highway for the entire mile length.
Ross Highway in Beaver County, launching the s as the next decade of expansion. It was the first major PA Turnpike expansion since the construction of the Northeastern Extension in The Northeastern Extension was also upgraded in the s, including the widening of the Lehigh Tunnel on November 22, The original PA Turnpike was now 50 years old and needed to be rebuilt.
This began in and targeted a section between mileposts 94 and 99 near Somerset County. Reconstruction work continued eastward on mileposts 76 to 85 and mileposts to Emergency call boxes were made available across the entire PA Turnpike System. By the 21st century the original mile route had expanded to miles.
The decade from saw an increase in the use of intelligent devices to monitor the roadway and travel conditions. Roadway cameras, a highway advisory radio system, a truck rollover and height alert system, fog detection system, a traffic flow detection system, and weather stations were put in place along the PA Turnpike. The PA Turnpike Commission started its public information program, TRIP, which alerted the public to travel conditions via web, phone, email, and text messages.
The s saw the opening of the 7. It would be the first of three independent but interconnected projects that make up the Southern Beltway. The PTC upgraded service plazas with new parking lots, lighting, sanitary and wastewater treatment facilities, and renovated dining rooms.
Route 22 to I project. Reconstruction across the PA Turnpike continued and the roadway saw new grading, new drainage systems, new pavement, new guide rails, and a new median widened to 18 feet. Larger shoulders allowed easier access for emergency vehicles. Environmental awareness expanded.
The original concrete from highway reconstruction was recycled to provide a base for the new highway.
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