New York Turnpikes

Early turnpikes were toll roads and were comparatively good highways. They were called turnpikes because they were barred by a pike (or pole) balanced and swinging on a post. This aparatus was placed in the center of the early turnpikes as a toll gate. When the traveler paid his toll, the pike was turned parallel with the road and the toll-payer passed through.

Timeline

 * 1794 New York passed a law for the laying out and improvement of Great Genesee Road
 * 1797 Albany and Schenectady Turnpike Corporation chartered
 * 1799 Cherry Valley Turnpike first constructed as a toll road
 * 1799 Rensselaer and Columbia Turnpike chartered
 * 1800 Seneca Turnpike chartered
 * 1800 Mohawk Turnpike chartered
 * 1801 Newburgh and Cochecton Turnpike chartered
 * 1802 Ulster and Delaware Turnpike chartered
 * 1803 Cherry Valley Turnpike extension authorized
 * 1805 Ontario and Genesee Turnpike chartered
 * 1806 Seneca Turnpike expanded through Syracuse
 * 1806 Catskill Turnpike completed
 * 1808 Newburgh and Cochecton Turnpike completed
 * 1811 Cherry Valley Turnpike extension completed
 * 1812 Mount Hope – Lumberland Turnpike started
 * 1815 Philipstown Turnpike Company organized
 * 1825 Erie Canal constructed and opened
 * 1852 Seneca and Mohawk Turnpikes reverted to public control