At the beginning of the 20th century, an uninterrupted system of national highways did not exist. In those times, a young captain named Dwight David Eisenhower with other 49 members of the army left Washington D.C. to reach Union Square in San Francisco. It was the first military's automobile caravan. The trip took them 62 days because of the terrible roads and highways. This experience and the frightening possibility of nuclear attack by the Soviet Union in the heat of Cold War encourage President Eisenhower in 1953 to push for a system of Interstate Highways across the United States.
The Federal Aid Highway Act (FAHA) was signed on June, 1956. It was one of the world's biggest public projects approved by the Congress. Soon, the Interstates were born and began to spread across the landscape. Although they were created to help protect and defend the country, they were also used for commerce and travel giving them an add-value. In 1990, in appreciation of President Eisenhower's essential responsibility in building the national system of interstate highways, President Bush signed legislation officially renaming it the Dwight D. Eisenhower System of Interstate and Defense Highways.
As an important antecedent, it was until the late 1930 that attention in a transcontinental system of highways began to grow. President Franklin Roosevelt urged the construction of a network of highways as a way to make available jobs for people unemployed. As a result, we can say today that that vision of President Roosevelt become true. Thanks to the modern system of Interstate Highways, the American industry, especially the trucking industry, has growth throughout these years and has obtained an important role in the US economy.
Therefore, it is for the trucking industry as well as for the country that the main highways are in good conditions and with daily maintenance. Not only because it helps have truckers to be on timed in their destinations, but also because it is useful to prevent serious accidents on the road. In my opinion, it is necessary that all states of the US dedicate big efforts to ameliorate the state of highways. Sometimes, the efficiency and good performance of a state or federal government is measured by the conditions of its infrastructure.
In the most recent Overdrive Worst Roads survey, the state of Pennsylvania was leading magazine's worst road list for the second consecutive year. Whereas on the other hand, truckers say that Tennessee's roads are among the nation's best. This yearly survey has been made to see the truck driver's opinions of which are considered the best and worst highways in the country. Also, it determines other important factors for truck drivers as the worst and best automobile drivers, trucks stop, overnight parking, among others.
Therefore, if the roads of your state are between the worst of the country, it is good idea to take the survey as an alert message and start working for better highways. As Governor Phil Bredesen affirms, "It's challenging to maintain our interstate system at this level, but it's a challenge we are determined to meet for the safety and mobility of Tennesseans."