Page 38 - 2009 DT 7 issues

May U.S. Roads, continued from p. 1 first-class interstate highway system
in the United States. Shortly after he
Desk Schedule went with you. An ad in Esquire maga- became President in 1953, Ike pushed
zine from July, 1936, declared “Don’t for action and got it with the Interstate
Fri/1 P. Glovin P. Gertis be a summer shut-in. Get yourself a Highway Act of 1956. It envisioned
Sat/2 W. Barbuck W. Barbuck streamline Covered Wagon—and live!” 42,000 miles of limited-access roads
Sun/ 3 OPEN R. Erickson The cost ranged from $395 to $1,185 covering the nation. The first stretch
Mon/4 S./S. Stenzel J. Ponder complete. Americans had fallen in love of just eight miles at Topeka, Kansas
Tues/5 H. Weldon OPEN with travel by car, going where you was completed in 1956, and the last at
M. Slagle Los Angeles in 1993. The multi-lane
Wed/6 G. Fazio L. Coleman wanted and when you wanted. Demand
P. Herman P. Gertis brought progress. The tourist cabin Interstate Highway System is just that;
Thur/7 G. Wojciechowski J. Barrett gave way to motels, often owned by it goes from one state to another. North-
S. Stenzel F. Davis a chain and offering higher standards. South routes have odd numbers, like
Fri/8 C. Camburn P. Boghossian The American Automobile Association I-95 along the eastern seaboard, while
P. Glovin R. Porche became a big factor in helping motorists East-West routes are even numbered,
Sat/9 P. VanDooremaal OPEN and setting standards. But it all hinged the I-80 running between New York
Sun/10 D. langdon P. Kepner on roads, the routes they traveled, their and San Francisco. By-passes are a big
K. Nelson feature, skirting city-centers. You can
Mon/11 S. Stenzel J. Ponder type and condition.
Tues/12 H. Weldon OPEN Shorter distances between major cruise for hours without a stop, stay at
M. Slagle cities saw the biggest strides in road motels with every amenity, including
Wed/13 G. Fazio L. Coleman building. Motor Age reported in April, swimming pools, and fuel and food
P. Herman 1918 that “Pennsylvania has done won- stops are all along the way. Travel by
Thur/14 G. Wojciechowski J. Barrett ders in road building. The road from auto has, indeed, come a long way.
F. Davis Philadelphia to Pittsburgh is practically Despite all the progress, two and
Fri/15 B. Jackson OPEN a boulevard.” It was not the norm. three-lane “suicide” highways are still
P. Glovin
Sat/16 L. Mills OPEN Signs, conditions, un-
Sun/17 OPEN P. Kepner paved and paved roads,
Mon/18 S./S. Stenzel L. Coleman convenience facilities
Tues/19 H. Weldon OPEN and nearly everything
M. Slagle else varied widely Courtesy of Norm Kresge
Wed/20 G. Fazio K. Jackson from state to state.
P. Herman There were over 250
Thur/21 G. Wojciechowski J. Barrett highways with names
S. Stenzel F. Davis
Fri/22 B. Jackson P. Boghossian like “National Old
J. Kisosondi Trails Highway.” Some
Sat/23 K. Nelson OPEN progress was made
Sun/24 D. Langdon L./M. Utah with the Federal Aid
S. Stenzel Highway Act of 1925
Mon/25 OPEN OPEN which encompassed
Tues/26 H. Weldon P. Kepner a uniform numbering Route 66 in Amboy, California
M. Slagle C. Camburn system within a shield.
Wed/27 G. Fazio L. Coleman common and well named for motorists
P. Herman Six years earlier, on July 7, 1919, an
Thur/28 G. Wojciechowski J. Barrett army captain, Dwight Eisenhower, was taking that “extra chance” in passing.
F. Davis part of a transcontinental caravan of Dirt roads? They are anywhere you
Fri/29 B. Jackson OPEN 294 people that left from Washington want to get off the beaten track. The
P. Glovin D.C. and headed west. They reached author recalls his parents telling of
Sat/30 OPEN OPEN San Francisco . . . 62 days later! That their harrowing trip over The Apache
F. Davis fact alone describes the state of the Trail in Arizona. They were told it was
Sun/31 OPEN L./M. Utah roads. Eisenhower never forgot that 40 miles of very scenic country. They

experience, and when he saw the superb weren’t informed that it was a very
Autobahns in Germany after the war, narrow dirt road, one-lane with certain
Changes? Call Kate at 515-5353 he became determined to establish a death on a good part of it if you went

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