Great Western Turnpike

The Great Western Turnpike was a series of toll roads that crossed part of New York State from east to west.

*The "First Great Western Turnpike" was started in 1799 in Albany where the present "Western Avenue" is located, and it extended west to Cherry Valley in Otsego County, New York, along a path similar to today's U.S. Route 20.

*The "Second Great Western Turnpike" ran from Cherry Valley, through Cooperstown and on to Sherburne in Chenango County, New York, along a path similar to today's New York State Route 80.

*The "Third Great Western Turnpike" or Cherry Valley Turnpike went from Cherry Valley to Cazenovia in Madison County, New York, along a path similar to today's U.S. Route 20. This was eventually extended as far as the Finger Lakes.

The First and Third Turnpikes were rebuilt as part of US 20 in the 1920s, bypassing the older Route 5, which passed through several cities. [New York Times, [http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F20E13F73F5B12738DDDA80A94DA415B848EF1D3 New York's Main Highways Designated by Numbers] , December 21, 1924, page XX9] [New York Times Magazine, [http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F10A10F63F5E10728DDDAE0A94D9405B898EF1D3 The Man Who Builds Our State Roads] , January 27, 1929, page SM5]

ee also

*Cherry Valley Turnpike
*Skaneateles Turnpike
*U.S. Route 20

References