|
|
Article: Area marks 50 years since birth of interstate highway system.
- Article from:
- Herald & Review (Decatur, IL)
- Article date:
- June 25, 2006
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2006 Herald & Review. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
|
Byline: Dave Fopay
Jun. 25--MATTOON -- It grew out of concrete and asphalt and, in at least one case, bales of straw.
Thursday will mark the 50th anniversary of President Dwight D. Eisenhower's signing the Federal Highway Act into law, creating the nation's interstate highway system.
It took 25 years for the travel-changing road network to reach more than 40,000 miles. Illinois ended up with more than 2,000 miles of interstate, more than any state except California and Texas.
Locally, Mattoon and much of the area access Interstate 57, the longest interstate in Illinois at nearly 353 miles. That's about 77 miles longer than runner-up ...