Improving Road Conditions
The federal government knew the nation needed a more permanent solution, which came in 1811 when construction began on the Cumberland Road. The road began in Cumberland, Maryland, and by 1833 it had reached Columbus, Ohio. Today this road is known as Route 40.
The federal government did not fund all of the construction of roads during this period. In fact, many were completed by private companies. As a result, the companies involved in the construction hoped to earn additional revenue through tolls. A toll is a fee paid by a driver using the road. At various locations along the road, there would be a gate with a bar called a pike, which blocked the way. After the toll was collected, the attendant collecting the fee would turn the pike aside; thus, these types of roads eventually became known as turnpikes.