Next time you are stuck in traffic on the highway, and trust me, there will be a next time, take a moment to appreciate its architecture. The clear signage, standardized lane sizes, and even the quality of its pavement are a tribute to American planning and engineering. The story of its construction is the story of the power of self-government, compromise, and diligence in a time of economic and technological growth.

The United States stretches from sea to shining sea, covering a vast territory encompassing almost every geographic feature imaginable. From its earliest days, improving travel was seen as a key to economic growth and, more importantly, a key to unifying the nation. Improvements in travel would expand commercial and civic interests, knitting the nation together. 

First turnpikes, then canals, and railroads improved the speed of goods to market and connected distant commercial centers. It also allowed individuals and families to crisscross the nation and build communities. 

The invention of the automobile at the turn of the twentieth century offered even more opportunities to traverse the vastness of the United States. But packing the trunk and hitting the open road in those early days was not that easy. 

Inconsistent and disconnected regional road networks crisscrossed the nation, and breakdowns were a common occurrence. Travel by car was difficult, if not impossible. Few knew these challenges better than Dwight D. Eisenhower. 

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