click to sign up for email alerts

Today in Interstate History

I-70 in Missouri in June 1961. Photo courtesy of FHWA.

November 8, 1964

Towards the end of a year that had witnessed the debuts of several notable sections of the Interstate System (see June 23, August 17, August 18, September 1, and October 5), the U.S. Bureau of Public Roads announced that a total of 1983 miles of the highway network had been constructed in the 12 months prior to September 30. The bureau clarified that 17,572 miles of the projected 41,000-mile Interstate System were open to traffic. There were 6059 miles still under construction, the bureau further explained, and acquisition of right-of-way in progress for another 12,057 miles. There had been minimal or no preparatory work on the remaining 5312 miles.