By Nancy ColumbBy Nancy Columb

Interstate 89 between Williston and South Burlington Interstate 89 between Williston and South Burlington in 1962 and then two years later in 1964. These photos in 1962 and then two years later in 1964. These photos

illustrate the transition from small roads to major illustrate the transition from small roads to major highways.highways.

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The first idea for a set of The first idea for a set of superhighways came from President superhighways came from President Eisenhower when he traveled across Eisenhower when he traveled across the US as a lieutenant colonel in the the US as a lieutenant colonel in the

army (right)army (right)11 and when he was in and when he was in Germany and witnessed the Germany and witnessed the

AutobahnAutobahn22..

The Autobahn increased vehicular The Autobahn increased vehicular safety and could be used for safety and could be used for

military purposes; this is what military purposes; this is what President Eisenhower envisioned President Eisenhower envisioned

for the United States.for the United States.

In 1956 President In 1956 President Eisenhower received Eisenhower received

support from the support from the Federal-Aid Highway Federal-Aid Highway

Act to begin Act to begin constructing what he constructing what he called the “National called the “National System of Interstate System of Interstate

and Defense and Defense Highways.” Highways.” 33

It didn’t take long for It didn’t take long for construction to start in Vermont. construction to start in Vermont.

This is the beginning of some This is the beginning of some construction on Interstate-91 in construction on Interstate-91 in

Brattleboro in 1958.Brattleboro in 1958.

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There was more There was more than just road to be than just road to be built when it came built when it came to Vermont’s hilly to Vermont’s hilly and uneven areas. and uneven areas. This is construction This is construction

of bridges on of bridges on Interstate-91 in Interstate-91 in

Rockingham.Rockingham.

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Signs had to be posted as well Signs had to be posted as well so that drivers would know so that drivers would know

how far to the next destination how far to the next destination they were, and where to they were, and where to

expect an exit ramp; another expect an exit ramp; another example of safety featuresexample of safety features

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The terrain The terrain around around

Vermont was Vermont was not always not always

conducive to conducive to straight-up straight-up paving of paving of

roads. Here roads. Here outside of outside of

Montpelier a Montpelier a crane crane

removes removes steep rock steep rock

outcroppings outcroppings along where along where the road will the road will

go.go.

Before the Interstate Highway System, many Before the Interstate Highway System, many places in Vermont were farmland with a few places in Vermont were farmland with a few scattered houses and one or two main roads. scattered houses and one or two main roads.

This aerial photo from 1927 of some land along This aerial photo from 1927 of some land along the Winooski River between Williston and the Winooski River between Williston and

Richmond depicts that scenario.Richmond depicts that scenario.

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Here is the Here is the same area same area along the along the

Winooski River Winooski River in 2004, now in 2004, now with many with many

more houses more houses and Interstate and Interstate

89 running 89 running through the through the middle. Even middle. Even the covered the covered bridge was bridge was

replaced with replaced with a metal one.a metal one.

But as a result of skyrocketing farming prices But as a result of skyrocketing farming prices and the increasing ease of importing goods and the increasing ease of importing goods due to railways and the Interstate, much of due to railways and the Interstate, much of the previous farmland has been reforested. the previous farmland has been reforested. That is evident here in Royalton, Vermont in That is evident here in Royalton, Vermont in

1927, where much farmland is visible.1927, where much farmland is visible.

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In the same area, 77 years later, In the same area, 77 years later, some of the area is still open but some of the area is still open but there is much more forest than there is much more forest than before. Interstate 89 is also a before. Interstate 89 is also a

major change to the area.major change to the area.

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Here is the very beginning Here is the very beginning of road layout and an exit of road layout and an exit ramp for Interstate-89 in ramp for Interstate-89 in

Williston, Vermont around Williston, Vermont around 1961. 1961.

Three Three years years

later, in later, in 1964, the 1964, the

road is road is finished finished

and and complete complete with road with road signs. It signs. It is now is now

available available for cars for cars to travel to travel

on. on.

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Here men from the Vermont Highway Department Here men from the Vermont Highway Department dump roadside litter into the truck. Aside from the dump roadside litter into the truck. Aside from the

accumulation of litter, many other large trucks accumulation of litter, many other large trucks could travel the interstate allowing for growth of could travel the interstate allowing for growth of business by speeding up the delivery process and business by speeding up the delivery process and

driving down warehouse storage costs.driving down warehouse storage costs.

From all the From all the construction construction

and planning by and planning by the state and the state and

federal federal governments governments

came the came the Interstates of Interstates of today that we today that we all know and all know and

love: I-89 and I-love: I-89 and I-91 here in 91 here in

Vermont, such Vermont, such as this stretch as this stretch

outside of outside of Middlesex.Middlesex.LS01432_0

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From dirt roads and covered From dirt roads and covered bridges…bridges…

To asphalt, cement, and To asphalt, cement, and metal.metal.

1. Weingroff, Richard F. “Federal-Aid Highway Act of 1956: Creating the Interstate System”. Public Roads. 1996.http://www.tfhrc.gov/pubrds/summer96/

p96su10.htm

2. GE 342 - Military Geology PowerPoint Presentations. University of Missouri -Rolla. http://web.umr.edu/~rogersda/umrcourses/ge342/

3. “National Interstate and Defense Highways Act”.

1956. U.S. National Archives & Records

Administration. http://www.ourdocuments.gov/doc.php?flash=true&doc=88