History of the US Road System

The United States has one of the largest and most advanced road systems in the world, with over 4 million miles of highways and interstates. However, the development of this system was not always a public endeavor. In the late 19th century, roads were mostly privately managed, with businesses, associations, and individual entrepreneurs building and maintaining them.

Early Road Conditions

America’s roads in the late 19th century were in a state of disarray, consisting of dirt paths, wagon trails, and barely passable routes that made travel slow, unpredictable, and dangerous. This prompted the need for private highway associations to step in and improve the situation. Horatio Earl, an engineer, described the roads in Michigan in 1905 as a “quagmire of sand, mud, and clay” that trapped horse-drawn vehicles and early automobiles.

The Rise of Private Highway Associations

The improvement of highways is often attributed to the proliferation of automobiles, but it actually began with the rise of bicycles. Early cyclists were among the first to demand better roads, long before the automobile became prominent. Once the horseless carriage arrived, the need for real roads became impossible to ignore, leading to a battle for who would make the necessary changes. Private highway associations sprang up, with over 250 by the mid-1920s, including the Great Trails Highway and the Old Spanish Trail.

Notable Private Highway Initiatives

Carl Fischer, a wealthy and famous property developer, had a vision for a privately funded coast-to-coast highway, recognizing the need for infrastructure to support the growing use of cars. The Lincoln Highway Association aimed to make this dream a reality with funding from automakers, tire companies, and private investors. Other notable initiatives included the Dixie Highway, which passed through Fischer’s major investments.

Challenges and Corruption

However, with expansion came problems, as many associations weren’t well-organized or well-funded, and some were even run by conmen. Conmen disguised as road promoters saw creating highway associations as a way to make a quick profit, requiring only permission from landholders, a good sales pitch, and minimal effort. Promoters often collected money, made promises, and vanished before doing any real work.

Government Intervention

The US government was initially stuck in the middle, protecting a big investment in America’s railroad. However, with the demand for better roads continuing to grow, the government eventually stepped in. President Woodrow Wilson signed the Federal Aid Road Act of 1916, aimed at kickstarting government investment in roads. World War I diverted resources, leaving road construction underfunded and stalled, but the government eventually took action, with influential figures like Henry Ford, Harvey Firestone, and John D. Rockefeller Jr. supporting the development of a federal highway system.

The Turning Point

A series of army motor convoys, led in part by a young Lieutenant Colonel Dwight D. Eisenhower, set out from Washington DC to test the newly mechanized support system against the existing roads. The convoy exposed the dire condition of America’s road network, and Eisenhower later used his experience with Germany’s autobahns in World War II to inform his efforts to improve roads in the US.

The End of Private Highways

By the 1920s, the decision on who would control America’s roads had been made, with the automobile on the rise and railroads on the decline. Congress enacted the US numbered route system in 1926, a full takeover of America’s road network with a standardized system of numbering highways. The private highway era ended as the government funded major interstate connections, regulated road construction and maintenance, and created a national highway system.

Legacy of Private Roadbuilders

Many federally funded roads followed the paths laid out by private roadbuilders, raising the question of whether private roadbuilders were failures or stepping stones to the national system. The Lincoln Highway became mostly US30, and the Dixie Highway influenced US41, with private roads ultimately prevailing in a way, but without receiving credit.

Current State of the US Road System

The US public road system is well-maintained, with the government spending over $200 billion annually. However, things are aging rapidly, and a large infrastructure restructuring will be necessary soon, leading to the question of what to do next.

Key Takeaways

• The US road system was initially privately managed, with businesses, associations, and individual entrepreneurs building and maintaining roads.
• The rise of bicycles and automobiles led to a demand for better roads, prompting the creation of private highway associations.
• Government intervention eventually led to the creation of a federal highway system, with the US numbered route system being enacted in 1926.
• Private roadbuilders played a significant role in shaping the US road system, but their legacy is often overlooked.
• The current US road system is well-maintained, but aging infrastructure requires significant investment and restructuring.

Key Vocabulary

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Vocabulary Quiz

1. Which word means ‘a path or road that is very muddy or wet’?

A) Quagmire
B) Highway
C) Interstate
D) Autobahn

2. What event prompted the US government to invest in roads, according to the text?

A) The rise of bicycles
B) The growth of the railroad industry
C) World War I
D) A series of army motor convoys

3. Which of the following best describes the role of private highway associations in the US?

A) They were responsible for building and maintaining all US roads
B) They were government-funded organizations that built highways
C) They were private organizations that built and maintained roads, often with mixed results
D) They were solely focused on building roads for bicycles

4. What was the significance of the Federal Aid Road Act of 1916 in the development of the US road system?

A) It marked the beginning of private highway associations
B) It led to the immediate construction of a national highway system
C) It was the first government investment in roads, aimed at kickstarting road construction
D) It signaled the end of private roadbuilding in the US

5. What is the current state of the US road system, according to the text?

A) It is poorly maintained and in disarray
B) It is well-maintained, but aging infrastructure requires significant investment and restructuring
C) It is entirely privately funded and maintained
D) It is solely focused on building new roads, rather than maintaining existing ones

Answer Key:

1. A
2. D
3. C
4. C
5. B

Grammar Focus

Grammar Focus: The Use of the Passive Voice in Formal Writing

Grammar Quiz:

Choose the correct form of the sentence using the passive voice:

1. The US numbered route system ____________________ in 1926.
   
   A) was enacted by Congress
   
   B) enacts Congress
   
   C) is enacting by Congress
   
   D) enacted Congress
2. The Lincoln Highway ____________________ by the Lincoln Highway Association.
   
   A) was built
   
   B) builds
   
   C) is building
   
   D) built
3. The private highway era ____________________ by the 1920s.
   
   A) had ended
   
   B) ends
   
   C) is ending
   
   D) ended
4. The US road system ____________________ with over $200 billion annually.
   
   A) is maintained
   
   B) maintains
   
   C) was maintained
   
   D) maintaining
5. The need for better roads ____________________ by the rise of bicycles and automobiles.
   
   A) was prompted
   
   B) prompts
   
   C) is prompting
   
   D) prompt

Answer Key:

1. A) was enacted by Congress
2. A) was built
3. A) had ended
4. A) is maintained
5. A) was prompted