The United States Interstate Highway System

The United States Interstate Highway System

At the close of World War II, the United States' economy hit an all time high. Hyper-productivity in commerce and trade forced the country to find a new way to connect its cities. President Eisenhower himself decided to travel across the nation to see what could be done; the early 1950s explorative roadtrip took him over 60 days. A bold vision to create an interstate system began to take hold. The goal? To help people, ideas and goods travel about more efficiently.

 

It was the largest engineering feat ever taken on in U.S. history. A price tag of 29 billion dollars would allow the American people the freedom to travel where they wanted and a lifestyle that celebrated that freedom. It was the golden era of the automobile!

Some believed that the interstate system would destroy communities, bypassing them altogether. "Death by interstate" did become a reality for many towns, but the American passion for travel by car only drove the country to further invest in its roads. The interstate system has proven to be a huge economic success, carrying half of all heavy truck travel. It has also made travel much safer; in fact, safety requirements have made the U.S. Interstate Highway System the safest in the world. As for convenience, travelers can now cross the United States in about four days.

The ultimate interstate challenge?

                                       Slowing down long enough to enjoy the trip!