Interstate Highway System
The Interstate is named for President Dwight D. Eisenhower, who made its formation. Eisenhower was influenced by the experiences he had when he was an army officer traveling cross country. He traveled the Lincoln Highway, the first road clear across America. As he was serving Commander of the Allied forces in Europe in WWII he had learned to appreciate the German Autobahn network, as it was an ideal component of a national defense system. Not only would it limit private and commercial transportation, it would provide key ground transport routes for military supplies and troop deployments in case of an emergency or foreign invasion. The planning of the interstate began in 1921 when the Bureau of Public Roads asked the Army to provide a list of roads it considered necessary for national defense, resulting in the Pershing Map, the first blueprint for the national highway system. The Interstate was authorized by the Federal-Aid Highway Act of 1956.
President Dwight D. Eisenhower
Three states have claimed the title of first Interstate Highway. Missouri claims that the first three contracts under the new program were signed in Missouri on August 2, 1956. Kansas claims that it was the first to start paving after the act was signed. Preliminary construction had taken place before the act was signed, and paving started September 26, 1956. Nebraska was the first state to complete its mainline Interstate Highway. The portion of Interstate 80 in Nebraska was completed on October 19, 1974.
The interstate is funded federally with money shared between the states. 70% of the construction cost is paid for by user fees, such as gas taxes and tolls collected on toll roads and bridges. The other cost are paid for by receipts, bond issues, and designated property and other taxes.
Reflection-
I think the Interstate is a big deal! It's the biggest public works project accomplished in History! I thought it was neat how Eisenhower became intersted and thought up this whole Interstate formation. I also didn't know the first road to go across state was the Lincoln Highway, cool!
Sources: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Interstate_Highway_System
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