Construction of the Pennsylvania Turnpike

This circa-1940 footage shows the construction of the Pennsylvania Turnpike. On Oct. 2, 2015 The State Museum of Pennsylvania unveiled ts “The Pennsylvania Turnpike: America’s First Superhighway” exhibit. This exhibit highlights the turnpike’s contribution to the ongoing quest to improve the state’s transportation infrastructure. By tunneling through the mountains rather than routing over or around them, and maintaining uniform design and construction standards across its entire length, the original 160-mile section of roadway cut travel time between Harrisburg and Pittsburgh by nearly half.

Copyright 2015 PA State Archives

Series Number: RG 29.59

Asset Number: r029_0059_0000_0001