Susquehanna & Tioga Turnpike

Susquehanna and Tioga Turnpike
Route information
Length:	100 mi (161 km)
Major junctions
South end:	Berwick, Pennsylvania
North end:	Elmira, New York
Location
Counties:	Columbia, Luzerne, Tioga

The Susquehanna and Tioga Turnpike; also called the Berwick and Tioga Turnpike, and Susquehanna & Tioga Turnpike connecting via the high ground of tributary valleys Berwick and upstream, Tioga—chartered & incorporated in 1806, the toll road, like many middle ages toll roads in Europe was opened initially as a animal power (foot traffic) turnpike in northeastern Pennsylvania (eventually) connecting early Central & Northern Eastern Pennsylvania along the Main Branch Susquehanna River to Lower New York State. Established in the early American canal age, and undercapitalized, it took several years to gradually extend improved trails in stages 100 miles (160 km) to Elmira, New York from its southern terminus at Berwick, Pennsylvania opposite Nescopeck across the Susquehanna River—in this manner it initially also sufficed as a bridle trail as well. Where demand existed from sources of natural resources or farmers seeking to ship farm goods to markets, it was systematically widened and improved into a wagon road.

Built south to north, the path was opened initially along Amerindian trails, which were widened and improved to enable local farm commerce. When first completed, several northern ascents were far too steep for conversion into a wagon road so required later expensive engineering works by building shoulders into slope traversing roadbeds. Inspired by the earlier Lehigh & Susquehanna Turnpike, the two toll roads connected Philadelphia and New Jersey (Delaware & Lehigh Valley communities) to Lake Erie at Buffalo, New York via the toll bridge across the Susquehanna River between Berwick and Nescopeck—the northern terminus of the Lausanne-Nescopeck Turnpike.

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Wikipedia