The Need for New Interstates
by Ben R.
The need for highway expansion was proposed shortly after World War One and continually proposed through the Second World War until the Federal Aid Highway Act of 1956. The 1956 highway act was known as the greatest public works project in history. The format was called “a system of direct interregional highways, with all necessary connections through and around cities, designed to meet the requirements of the national defense in time of war and the needs of a growing peacetime traffic of longer range” (Weingroff, 1). Defense was a key factor in the collaboration of minds planning the new freeway system, during the First World War when president Eisenhower took a two-month journey from Washington to San Francisco on a military convoy. (Weingroff, 2) Eisenhower examined his experience overseas in the war and traveling across the US in military convoys and concluded, “ the old convoy had stared me thinking about good, two lane, highways, but Germany made me see the wisdom of broader ribbon across the land” he learned that Germanys style of the superstructure of the Reichautobahnen would be a more efficient system to use in America; “the name of the Interstate System was changed to reflect its importance to national defense: The National System of Interstate and Defense Highways”(Weingroff,3) Americans of the time were more enthusiastic toward military actions and more trusting of government. Most people do not realize that our freeway system was borrowed from now ally Germany, during the time when Americans were looking to expand American engineers were quite jealous of the autobahn. (Weingroff, 2)
Eisenhower believed that a new freeway way system was essential for creating unity among Americans, by joining states and borders. With the legislation of the Interstate act of 1956 25 billion dollars was allotted from 1957 to 1969 to complete over 40000 miles of highway, the increase from a little over 2000 miles of highway to 40000 miles of highway would be able to accommodate traffic estimates for 1975 when all of the highways were to be finished. (Weingroff, 3) While the construction was taking place government officials were trying to figure out a way to apply a numbering plan and designs for signposts. Eventually it was decided that lowest odd numbered routes were labeled north and south and even numbers would run east to west, later a three number system was brought into place for urban areas. (Weingroff, 5) the system was carried out and placed in effect. Another issue to deal with was which roads would be toll roads vs. free roads. It was decided that toll roads would on be used in areas that were urbanized, the idea was reverse suburbanization, and it was thought that tolls would replace certain other taxes. (Weingroff, 7)
One thing often overlooked by most people is that before we had freeways the suburbs were not very convenient. It was the invention and fascination of the Americans and their cars that made the suburbs great. “Congress had approved the 1956 Act based on a study of highways, “not a study of real problems” It had been jammed through Congress so blithely and lightly because of Americas preference for anything that gave “added attraction to the second mistress that exist in every household right along side the wife- the motor car” (Weingroff, 7) the government never took into account the impact of freeways on the motor industry and the want to drive of Americans inside the home. While the thought of freeways is taken for granted by Americans today it is essential to remember a time when it took months to travel only a few hundred miles.
Citation:
Weingroff, Richard F. : The Greatest Decade 1956-1969 Part 1 Essential to the National Interest
The need for highway expansion was proposed shortly after World War One and continually proposed through the Second World War until the Federal Aid Highway Act of 1956. The 1956 highway act was known as the greatest public works project in history. The format was called “a system of direct interregional highways, with all necessary connections through and around cities, designed to meet the requirements of the national defense in time of war and the needs of a growing peacetime traffic of longer range” (Weingroff, 1). Defense was a key factor in the collaboration of minds planning the new freeway system, during the First World War when president Eisenhower took a two-month journey from Washington to San Francisco on a military convoy. (Weingroff, 2) Eisenhower examined his experience overseas in the war and traveling across the US in military convoys and concluded, “ the old convoy had stared me thinking about good, two lane, highways, but Germany made me see the wisdom of broader ribbon across the land” he learned that Germanys style of the superstructure of the Reichautobahnen would be a more efficient system to use in America; “the name of the Interstate System was changed to reflect its importance to national defense: The National System of Interstate and Defense Highways”(Weingroff,3) Americans of the time were more enthusiastic toward military actions and more trusting of government. Most people do not realize that our freeway system was borrowed from now ally Germany, during the time when Americans were looking to expand American engineers were quite jealous of the autobahn. (Weingroff, 2)
Eisenhower believed that a new freeway way system was essential for creating unity among Americans, by joining states and borders. With the legislation of the Interstate act of 1956 25 billion dollars was allotted from 1957 to 1969 to complete over 40000 miles of highway, the increase from a little over 2000 miles of highway to 40000 miles of highway would be able to accommodate traffic estimates for 1975 when all of the highways were to be finished. (Weingroff, 3) While the construction was taking place government officials were trying to figure out a way to apply a numbering plan and designs for signposts. Eventually it was decided that lowest odd numbered routes were labeled north and south and even numbers would run east to west, later a three number system was brought into place for urban areas. (Weingroff, 5) the system was carried out and placed in effect. Another issue to deal with was which roads would be toll roads vs. free roads. It was decided that toll roads would on be used in areas that were urbanized, the idea was reverse suburbanization, and it was thought that tolls would replace certain other taxes. (Weingroff, 7)
One thing often overlooked by most people is that before we had freeways the suburbs were not very convenient. It was the invention and fascination of the Americans and their cars that made the suburbs great. “Congress had approved the 1956 Act based on a study of highways, “not a study of real problems” It had been jammed through Congress so blithely and lightly because of Americas preference for anything that gave “added attraction to the second mistress that exist in every household right along side the wife- the motor car” (Weingroff, 7) the government never took into account the impact of freeways on the motor industry and the want to drive of Americans inside the home. While the thought of freeways is taken for granted by Americans today it is essential to remember a time when it took months to travel only a few hundred miles.
Citation:
Weingroff, Richard F. : The Greatest Decade 1956-1969 Part 1 Essential to the National Interest
posted by Leslie Madsen-Brooks at 10/22/2006 10:42:00 PM
3 Comments:
Here's an interesting connection--In Holy Land, we learn that the houses were built small on each lot so that streets could accommodate the post-war, gas guzzling vehicles of the 1950s. I wonder what Eisenhower would think of our highways now--especially in California. They are crap and definitely don't mimick the still-existing autobahn.--Sarah H.
It's interesting that America spent so much time on building freeways and connecting our cities. Today, it seems that freeways are so poorly made because there is always traffic. Clearly it was not a complete solution to connect people because many have to look for other ways of transportation to get to where they need to go; for example, Bart. It seems our government keeps looking for alternatives to our transportation problem. Also, another problem with all of the driving is that our oil supply will end, will we have an alternative solution to gas or will we have to come up with new ideas to connect to the cities?-Michelle J.
I’ve always been fascinated by the fact that the highways were built for the military’s use. They are such an integral part of all of our lives now that it is unbelievable to think they were supposed to carry troops and supplies around the country and were not thought of as a way for moms to get their kids to the malls and schools of 1950s America. I’m pretty sure that 90% of military supplies/troops/equipment now travel the country by plane, boat, or rail. It’s funny how things work out sometimes!
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