History Teaches - June 29

[azmouse]

June 29, 1956: Federal-Aid Highway Act of 1956 signed

“The Interstate Highway Act literally brought Americans closer together. We were connected city-to-city, town-to-town, family-to-family, as we had never been before.” ~ President Bill Clinton

President Eisenhower made improving the country's highways one of the goals of his first term. As a young man he saw the poor condition of the roads and the difficulties of travel. During WWII, he admired the well-engineered Autobahn highway in Germany. Eisenhower wanted that for the United States.

As a result, Eisenhower formed committees to study the idea of a federal highway system, enlisted the country's governors to offer suggestions, and met with members of Congress to promote the proposal. The legislation formed from these committees failed, but President Eisenhower continued to push for approval and worked with Congress to reach a compromise.

The President signed the Federal-Aid Highway Act of 1956 on June 29, 1956.



The highway system has been called the greatest public works project in history. From the day the Federal-Aid Highway Act of 1956 was signed, the highways have been a part of our culture, as construction projects, as transportation in our everyday lives, and as an essential part of the American way of life. Every citizen has been touched by it - directly as motorists, and indirectly because every item we buy travels on the Interstate system.

President Eisenhower considered the federal highway system one of the most important achievements of his two terms in office, and historians agree.

[jaxx]

I remember going to California when I was a kid....and no interstates. The trip was never ending. It's still a long way today but with the interstates it's faster and safer. Ike did a good thing with this.