ɪt wʌzðə fˈɜːst tˈɜːnpaɪk ʌv ɪmpˈoːɹtəns, ænd bɪkˈʌz ðə kˈɑːmənwˌɛlθ ʌv pˌɛnsɪlvˈeɪniə kʊd nˌɑːt ɐfˈoːɹd tə pˈeɪ fɔːɹ ɪts kənstɹˈʌkʃən, ɪt wʌz pɹˈaɪvətli bˈɪlt baɪ ðə fɪlɐdˈɛlfiə ænd lˈæŋkæstɚ tˈɜːnpaɪk ɹˈoʊd kˈʌmpəni, mˌeɪkɪŋ ɪɾ ɐn ˈɜːli ɛɡzˈæmpəl əvə pˈʌblɪkpɹˈaɪvət pˈɑːɹtnɚʃˌɪp fɔːɹ ɐmˈɛɹɪkən ˈɪnfɹəstɹˌʌktʃɚ.
It was the first turnpike of importance, and because the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania could not afford to pay for its construction, it was privately built by the Philadelphia and Lancaster Turnpike Road Company, making it an early example of a public-private partnership for American infrastructure.