Interstate Highway System

This passage discusses the creation of the interstate highway system.

Lexile Level: 660L

Categories: History

The U.S. Congress decided to build a national system of roads in 1938. Over the next six years, Congress called for more than 40,000 miles of roads. These highways would connect the major cities in the country. There was a big problem though. There was no money to build the highways. Congress did not set aside money to build the interstate highway system until the early 1950s. Congress passed rules for building the highways. All interstates needed at least two lanes in each direction. All lanes had to be 12 feet wide. The roads had to be made for speeds of 50 to 70 miles per hour. There were also rules for naming the highways. Major interstates were named by one- or two-digit numbers. Highways that run from north to south were given odd numbers. Highways that run from east to west were given even numbers.