The Federal Highway Act of 1956

Paper Summary:

This paper examines the largest public works project of its time, the Federal Highway Act of 1956. The paper looks at the the historical events that led up to President Eisenhower's signing of the Act. It then goes on to discuss the positive impact that it would have on the U.S. economy, looking at such topics as employment, land development, travel, retail competition and lower consumer prices and freight prices. The paper then examines the negative impact the Act would have on the economy looking at such areas as mass transit, mass migration, travel and air pollution. The final are that the paper deals with is the cultural impact. The author feels that based upon their analysis of the Act, it had a fundamentally positive affect in shaping America over the past fifty years.

From the Paper:

"The construction of this system has provided Americans with access to valuable land, which encouraged construction and development of real estate including residential, industrial and commercial. Residential properties created as a result of the interstate system most often comes in the form of single-family homes. All over the country residential areas run alongside interstate highways. The system has created a variety of commercial development including roadside businesses, such as hotels and restaurants. The interstate system also aided in the development of industrial properties including nuclear power plants."

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