The interstate highway system is one of americas most storied accomplishments, and it all began with the interstate highway act of 1956. The idea for interstate highways came from dwight d. Foxx explained that in the 1950s, president dwight d. The interstate highway act of 1956 created a nationwide network for fast, uninterrupted travel.
Eisenhower launched the nations interstate highway program. The system extends throughout the contiguous united states and. But, then, at the same time, the book recounted stories of the engineers and the earliest developers of the interstate highway idea, providing a neat little history of how the interstate system came to be. Other legislation allows the federal highway administration to approve additional mileage for freeways adhering to interstate standards that would be a logical addition or connection. The bill created a 41,000mile national system of interstate and defense highways that would, according to eisenhower, eliminate unsafe roads, inefficient routes, traffic jams and all of the other things that got in the way.
The system extends throughout the contiguous united states and has routes in hawaii, alaska, and puerto rico. The bill created a 41,000mile system of interstate highways. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading the big roads. Eisenhower after he saw the benefits of the autobahn during wartime in germany. Eisenhower system of interstate and defense highway. Divided highways is the best and most important book yet published about how asphalt and concrete have changed the united states. Map of national system of interstate and defense highways, 1958. On june 29, 1956, congress authorized the national interstate and defense highways act of. Army toward berlin on wonderfully wide roads that adolf hitler had built. The interstate highway system is an enduring marvel of conception, design, and construction. The interstate highway system officially known as the dwight d. Popularly known as the national interstate and defense highways act of 1956, the federalaid highway act of 1956 established an interstate highway system in the united states. Construction of the system was authorized by the federal aid highway act of 1956. Hes a former web editor of smithsonian magazine and now writes for the atlantic cities, a site devoted to urban life run by the atlantic magazine.
Jun 07, 2019 the federalaid highway act of 1956 was signed into law by president dwight eisenhower on june 29, 1956. The emergence of the trucking industry in the 1930s further increased calls for longdistance interstate superhighways. The 1956 federal highway act converted many twolane state roads into wellpaved, fourlane superhighways, speeding travel between major population centers. Which development was a major result of the 1956 interstate. After 61 years, interstate 95 is almost complete the atlantic. An ardent supporter of a modern, interstate highway system, president eisenhower would sign this bill into law on the 29th of june, 1956. The act authorized the building of highways throughout the nation, which would be the biggest public works project in the nations history.
Popularly known as the national interstate and defense highways act of 1956, the federalaid highway act of 1956 established an interstate highway system in. But the lincoln highway, which crossed the us, was finished in 1919the first federal interstate highway. Federalaid highway act of 1956 government book talk. The federalaid highway act of 1956 was signed into law by president dwight eisenhower on june 29, 1956. Murphy tells the whole story before, during and after passage of the interstate highway act of 1956 the dwight d eisenhower national system of interstate and defense highways. An interstate highway is any highway built under the auspices of the federal aid highway act of 1956 and funded by the federal government. The interstate we knowcongress passed the federalaid highway act of 1956 creating federal funds for interstate highway. President eisenhower signed the federalaid highway act of 1956 on june 29, 1956 in a hospital room he was recovering from illness. Find a summary, definition and facts about the interstate highway system for kids. However, it was a token amount, reflecting the continuing disagreements within the highway community rather than the national importance of the system. These were the first funds authorized specifically for interstate construction. Besides the main interstate system connecting the metropolitan areas of the country, the yellow book also included maps of the proposed urban interstates within many of those metropolitan areas.
Establishment of the interstate highway system bragdon, john stewart. Jul 10, 2019 later, as president of the united states, eisenhower cited the 1919 convoy and his world war ii experiences to persuade congress to enact the federalaid highway act of 1956, creating what is now known as the interstate highway system, which is observing its 50th anniversary this year. The routes were meant for emergency evacuation and military transport as well as for commerce and commuting. National interstate and defense highways act 1956 our documents. Facts about the interstate highway system for kids, children, homework and schools. The federalaid road act of 1944 mandated construction of an interstate highway system. The lost history of the boston post road, the route that made america, which won the u. Oftentimes, it appeared that the author was critical of the system, but, at times was critical of those who opposed it.
The federal highway act of 1956 sent the interstate highway system into a major growth phase. The interstate system has been called the greatest public works project in history. A portion of i70 running through the state was the first to be completed under the federal aid highway act of 1956. President dwight eisenhowers signing of the federalaid highway act of 1956 into law 60 years ago on june 29th had a profound change and impact on american life. President eisenhower signed the federal aid highway act of 1956, kickstarting the interstate system. They analyze the passage of congressional legislation in the 1990s, especially the intermodal surface transportation efficiency act istea, that initiated a major shift of highway trust fund dollars to mass transit and light rail, as well as to hiking trails and bike lanes. This book explores the conflicted legacy of that megaproject. The bill created a 41,000mile system of interstate highways that eisenhower promised would. Eric jaffe is the author of the kings best highway. A mixed methods approach abstract this paper is an analysis of highway alignments based on the census tracts that surround them. Cribb, john, a field guide to interstate 95, madison books, 1989. The interstate highway system gained a champion in president dwight d.
Eisenhower signed the federalaid highway act of 1956, the interstate system has been a part of our culture as construction projects, as transportation in our daily lives, and as an integral part of the american way of life every citizen has been touched by it, if not directly. Federal interest in preserving highways goes back to the enactment of the federalaid highway act of 1956, which authorized the interstate and defense highway system. Every citizen has been touched by it, if not directly as motorists, then indirectly because every item we buy has been on the interstate system at some point. Truck size and weight fhwa freight management and operations. Transportation deployment casebookinterstate highway. The racist legacy of americas innercity highways d. In 1956, the combination of a more populous and mobile nation, and president dwight eisenhowers recognition during world war ii of the importance of a highway network to mobility and defense. Undaunted, the president renewed his call for a modern, interstate highway system in his 1956 state of the union address. This page has links to city scans from the yellow book, which was a book from 1955 detailing the thenproposed interstate highway system. Insightful look at creation of the federalaid highway act of 1956, and criticism of the urban.
On this day in 1956, congress approved the federalaid highway act, widely known as the national interstate and defense highways act. Other than those specified before in the visual expressions, the components of shape one of a kind to move are. More than a decade later, only a fraction of the roads had actually been constructed because of the expense. This 1958 map of interstate highways shows improvements in rural segments to be completed over the next quartercentury. Eisenhower national system of interstate and defense highways, commonly known as the interstate highway system or interstate, is a network of controlledaccess highways that forms part of the national highway system in the united states. It began with the federalaid highway act of 1956, which authorized construction of the system, and was intended to connect most major cities and regions in. In 1919, a convoy of army trucks was sent on a journey across the united states, from washington to san francisco, to test the efficiency of the roadway system in. National interstate defense and highways act of 1956 arshan abbasi. Tennessee department of transportation clay bright james k. Smart news keeping you current three ways the interstate system changed america the idea of a national highway system stretches back to the. Three ways the interstate system changed america smart. It begins at a point greater than zero, because paved interregional roads existed before 1956. Eisenhower signed the federalaid highway act of 1956, the interstate system has been a part of our culture as construction projects, as transportation in our daily lives, and as an integral part of the american way of life.
With public sentiment favoring a world made easy by zipping to and from suburban homes and downtown offices on ribbons of concrete and a booming postwar economy that made car ownership more possible president eisenhower signed the federal aid highway act of 1956, kickstarting the interstate system. Mar 18, 2016 theres an article on vox today that offers a concise summary of just how we went from being a nation of streetcar riders to a nation of long haul auto commuters. Pennypacker signed into the law the creation of the department, which was one of the first in the country. The ministry of transportation mto strives to be a world leader in moving people and goods safely, efficiently and sustainably to support a globally competitive economy and a high quality of life. To preserve our nations infrastructure and to keep trucks and buses moving efficiently, states must ensure that commercial motor vehicles comply with federal size and weight. Eisenhower signed the federalaid highway act of 1956, the interstate system has been a part of our culture as construction. While it is true that eisenhower got the highway bug in his system while rolling along with the u. Renewing the national commitment to the interstate highway. President roosevelt expressed interest in the idea as a way of providing jobs. It started with eight miles in the middle of kansas, eventually growing to one of the most expansive and impressive road networks that the world has ever seen. More than 40,000 miles bound the lower 48 states together as an interconnected whole. The 1950s witnessed a rush to the suburbs, with new housing developments like levittown, pennsylvania. Highway building and maintenance standards were developed from the tests. Interstate highway act 1956 eisenhower 20 yr plan to build 41,000 mi of highway, largest public works project in history these highways did much to change the economic and social structure of america.
The untold story of the engineers, visionaries, and trailblazers who created. Bpr also published general location of national system of interstate highways, which became known as the yellow book because of the color of its cover. The federal aid highway act of 1956, popularly known as the national interstate and defense highways act public law 84627, was enacted on june 29, 1956, when president dwight d. The untold story of the engineers, visionaries, and trailblazers who created the american superhighways kindle edition by swift, earl. Department of transportation and the freeway revolt, 19661973 raymond a. Transportation deployment casebookinterstate highway system.
Within a few months, after considerable debate and amendment in the congress, the federalaid highway act of 1956 emerged from the housesenate conference committee. Mohl bio when construction began on the urban expressways of the new interstate highway system in the late 1950s, homes, businesses, schools, and churches began to fall before bulldozers and wrecking crews. The interstate highway system was the most important public works project in united states history, said kenneth p. Map of national system of interstate and defense highways. Posts about interstate highway act written by bryandumas. The federal government funded up to 90 percent of project costs. Unfortunately, this book cant be printed from the openbook.
The scurve model depicted below shows the mileage of the interstate highway system. How america built its highways to serve the wealthy and. The system enabled by the federalaid highway act of 1956 simply. Department of transportation by 1912, the local paper captured the prevailing views that brooklyn was far too valuable to. May 23, 20 interstate highway act music and lyrics. May 28, 2019 shortly afterwards, the us joined the first world war, and the road act fell by the wayside. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. Learn interstate highway act american history with free interactive flashcards. The interstate highway system the geography of transport. The department of highways, the forerunner to penndot, was created by an act that was passed on may 31, 1903.
The movement behind the construction of a transcontinental superhighway started in the 1930s when president franklin d. Poor red and wealthy blue neighborhoods in charlotte, nc, as the interstate highway system was just beginning and after it was completed credit. Publications and reports created by the ontario ministry of transportation. Also, by july 1950, the united states was again at war, this time in korea, and the focus of the highway program shifted from civilian to military needs. Interstate highway act by 1919 the need for a planned system of national highways became apparent with the increasingly common use of the automobile in the united states. National interstate defense and highways act of 1956 youtube. The racist legacy of americas innercity highways d magazine. History of the interstate highway system and the federal highway act. Urged to ease congestion on americas roads, and inspired by germanys use of autobahns for troop movement during world war ii.
Postal services 2012 moroney award for scholarship in postal history. Through the north atlantic treaty organization nato, the united states and its european allies pledged mutual defense and peacekeeping. The author captures the personalities and dedication of a group of civil servants determined to make the project a reality, and gives a reasonably comprehensive overview of the planning process. When eisenhower proposed, pushed, and got his federal highway act passed in 1956, due in part to his popularity an. In this lesson, discover this laws history and its. The writing is geared to a 9th grader, but doesnt take away from the story. Eisenhower national system of interstate and defense highways after the president who signed the authorizing bill is a network of approximately 46,750 miles of gradeseparated, limitedaccess freeways and highways. Bibliography, 50th anniversary interstate highway system 50th.
Even before eisenhower, congress passed a federal interstate highways act, in 1944. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. It was under president eisenhower that the question of how to fund the interstate system was resolved with the enactment of the federalaid highway act of 1956, which in addition provided design standards for the system. The national interstate and defense highways act of 1956. Highways ruined black communities, says transportation. Papers, 195462 box 2 letters of appointment 7155, bragdon appointed assistant for public works box 2 book correspondence and draft on interstate highway system 1961 book correspondence and draft on interstate system financing 1961. With the federalaid highway act of 1956, the interstate designation was implemented. Illinois compiled statutes illinois general assembly. About 2,900 miles 4,700 km of toll roads are included in the interstate highway system. First, i perform a quantitative analysis of the tracts with highways and the percentage of nonwhite and africanamericans in. These routes are considered not chargeable, meaning they are not eligible for interstate construction funds under the 1956 act. It is written for the average person, not just young people. The book was an excellent treatise on the political side of building the interstate highway system, and i enjoyed the look at parts of the tale i hadnt heard before.
Later, as president of the united states, eisenhower cited the 1919 convoy and his world war ii experiences to persuade congress to enact the federalaid highway act of 1956, creating what is now known as the interstate highway system, which is observing its 50th anniversary this year. While federal legislation initially banned the collection of tolls on interstates, many of the toll roads on the system were either completed or under construction when the interstate highway system was established. The interstate highway act of 1956 created the vast network of superhighways, beltlines, and spurs of the modernday highway system. System of interstate highways, informally known as the yellow book. Transportation deployment casebooklife cycle of the. The book tells nothing of the self dealing that went on to win the passage of the federal aid highway act of 1956, where a cabal of lobbyists, oil companies, road. Jan 26, 2016 the interstate highway system has its roots right here in kansas.
Jan 20, 2018 the original interstate highway act had a network of highways across the nation that were associated it. An interstate highway system was first considered in the 1930s. Within the first couple of pages of the book s introduction gives the projects name, dwight d. Pros and cons of the interstate highway system homestead on. Department of transportation by 1912, the local paper captured the prevailing views that brooklyn was far too valuable to be left to africanamericans, foxx said. It is hereby declared to be essential to the national interest to provide for the early completion of the national system of interstate highways, as authorized and designated in accordance with section 7 of the federalaid highway act of 1944 58 stat. Interstate highway means any highway designated by the department and approved by the united states department of transportation as a part of the national system of interstate and defense highways on the effective date of this act or thereafter. Interstate highways established under the aegis of the federal aid highway act of 1956.
History of the interstate highway system 50th anniversary. Central to that partnership is federal leadership and a resolve to restore the interstate highway systema s premier status and ensure that this status is no longer allowed to obsolesce. Federal highway act of 1956 us house of representatives. Eisenhower national system of interstate and defense highways aka the interstate highway system, one of largest public works programs in u. It began with the federalaid highway act of 1956, which authorized construction of the system, and was intended. If you need to print pages from this book, we recommend downloading it as a pdf. On june 29, 1956, president dwight eisenhower signed the federalaid highway act of 1956. Eisenhowers 1919 road trip and the interstate highway system. Transportation deployment casebookthe life cycle of the. Through some federal bills since then, that list was amended a little bit and made a. Choose from 500 different sets of interstate highway act american history flashcards on quizlet. The interstate highway act of 1956 created a nationwide.