"Route 66, a two-lane highway, was the height of modernity, connecting Chicago to California and representing the fast lane to the future."
"In 1916, the federal government passed the Federal Aid Road Act, offering states money to develop major highways, marking a significant shift in transportation."
"Cyrus Avery, a key figure in highway development, argued for improving the tangled roads of the Midwest, leading to the establishment of Route 66."
"On November 11, 1926, Route 66 became an official federal highway, although only 800 miles of the planned 2,448 miles were paved at that time."
Route 66 began as a two-lane highway connecting Chicago to California, representing modern travel in the early 1900s. Initially, roads were unpaved and poorly maintained. The Federal Aid Road Act of 1916 initiated government support for highway development. Cyrus Avery advocated for a connected interstate system, leading to Route 66's official designation in 1926. Despite its designation, much of the road remained unpaved, prompting efforts to complete the highway and enhance its infrastructure.
Read at Smithsonian Magazine
Unable to calculate read time
Collection
[
|
...
]