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'''Toll roads'''. Rhode Island and Connecticut developed turnpike (toll) systems for wagon roads in the early 1800s including most of the route from Providence to New London. The Providence and Pawcatuck Turnpike (opened 1820), and the Hopkinton and Richmond Turnpike (opened 1820) in Rhode Island, and the Groton and Stonington Turnpike (opened 1818) in Connnecticut replaced the Pequot Path which was closer to the shore.<ref>Wood, map between 286 and 287; pages 315-16; map between 330 and 331; and pages 389-91.</ref> Most of these early pathways continue as roads today. Modern freeways usually parallel the older road systems. | '''Toll roads'''. Rhode Island and Connecticut developed turnpike (toll) systems for wagon roads in the early 1800s including most of the route from Providence to New London. The Providence and Pawcatuck Turnpike (opened 1820), and the Hopkinton and Richmond Turnpike (opened 1820) in Rhode Island, and the Groton and Stonington Turnpike (opened 1818) in Connnecticut replaced the Pequot Path which was closer to the shore.<ref>Wood, map between 286 and 287; pages 315-16; map between 330 and 331; and pages 389-91.</ref> Most of these early pathways continue as roads today. Modern freeways usually parallel the older road systems. | ||
'''Decline'''. However, the use of early roads and turnpikes for moving settlers waned with the introduction of railroads. Settlers could travel faster, less expensively, and safer on railroads than on wagon roads. So, as railroads entered an area, the wagon-road traffic in that area declined. The first railroad from New London to Providence opened in 1839, but did not cause much decline in turnpike traffic. | '''Decline'''. However, the use of early roads and turnpikes for moving settlers waned with the introduction of railroads. Settlers could travel faster, less expensively, and safer on railroads than on wagon roads. So, as railroads entered an area, the wagon-road traffic in that area declined. The first railroad from New London to Providence opened in 1839, but did not cause much decline in turnpike traffic. However, the railroad built in 1852 from New London to New Haven, which had previous connections with New York City, signaled the end of the toll roads. The next year, in 1853, the turnpikes from Providence to New London became public (free) roads.<ref>Wood, 391.</ref> | ||
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