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Lancaster Turnpike
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Lancaster Turnpike

road, Pennsylvania, United States
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Quick Summary

The Lancaster Turnpike was the first engineered and planned road in the United States. This privately constructed toll road was built between 1793 and 1795, connecting Philadelphia and Lancaster in Pennsylvania. Its 62-mile length featured a maximum grade of 7 percent and was surfaced with broken stone and gravel. Pavement failures in 1796 led to the adoption of some new European road-building methods. The turnpike from Lancaster to Philadelphia was completed in 1794.12

Summary created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
3 Britannica Sources
  1. Pennsylvania Turnpike
  2. road - The Lancaster Turnpike
  3. Lancaster

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