Friday, June 29, 2012

Interstate Highway System


Federal Aid Highway Act of 1956

was signed into law by President Dwight Eisenhower, June 29, 1956.   Been somewhere, or going somewhere?  Or using products delivered by truck?  You are the beneficiary of this federal project.


Does one say "happy birthday" to a road project?

7 comments:

Jim said...

I remember reading an article in the Terre Haute paper on the umpty-umpth birthday of I-70 in Indiana. A person who owned a business in Brazil, IN, said of the day that I-70 opened, and I paraphrase: It was as if someone had turned off a faucet, and the cars stopped running on US 40.

vanilla said...

Jim, without doubt those roads changed the face of America and the way Americans do business.

Shelly said...

That act revolutionized and modernized a nation. So I say, too, Happy Birthday to it!

Chuck said...

It did make huge changes in our country. And it makes long distance travel and trucking much better.

vanilla said...

Shelly, the system made a vast difference in our society!

Chuck, the problem of upkeep is exacerbated by increased usage. Some of the pavement goes back to the inception, almost. Example: I-40 from Memphis to Little Rock was terrible for a long time, has finally been pretty much upgraded; but not I-30 from Little Rock to Texarkana is rougher than a cob.

We can't keep up with what we have, and the demand for "more" doesn't go away.

Sharkbytes said...

It's a great system. However, I choose back roads whenever I have time.

vanilla said...

Shark, I am totally with you; I prefer the lesser travelled but more interesting byways. I am happy, though, that the truckers who are bringing my stuff have the I-system.