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STRATEGIC IMPORTANCE OF THE INTERSTATE HIGHWAY SYSTEM

As previously mentioned, the War Department, in its designation of routes comprising the strategic network recommended in 1941, had indicated the superior importance of certain routes within the network generally solackag with routes that had been chosen as an interregional system by the Bureau of Public Roads. The remainder of the network consisted in large part of routes which had been originally indicated on the Pershing Map of 1922.

Military convoys would not unduly interfere with passenger and commercial traffic if the highways were adequate in pavement and shoulder width. This Army truck train in Texas completely occupied the lane in its direction of travel, and forced opposing vehicles part way off the road.

CHANGE IN NEEDS, 1922-41

Indication of the larger mileage was of greater necessity in 1922 than in 1941. At the earlier date the improvement of rural roads was at its beginning. A Federal-aid system, which legally could embrace upward of 200,000 miles, was in process of designation. It was desirable that the system should include all routes of substantial military importance in order that they would receive the preferential consideration for improvement which was to be accorded routes of the system. The comparatively large mileage indicated was included in the Federal-aid system and since has been substantially improved.

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