National Interstates Began Life As Many Local Projects
Administering the early years of the Interstate highway program required the cooperation of officials at the federal, state and local levels. It began as something of a patchwork job but was probably more democratic than a top-down setup.
Although the Federal Aid Highway Act of 1956 that launched the program established the Highway Trust Fund, administered by the Bureau of Public Roads, the program was executed by the 48 states. Many were not ready to leave the starting gate. By late 1957, only 23 states had “quick-take” laws permitting them immediate access to property they wanted to use for roads. The remaining 25 states faced legal delays ranging from 30 days to several years.