The Earliest roads transported people
and goods. People walked or used animals.
Roads were tracks or traces that often used
or paralleled game trails.
One example that still exists in the US is the
Natchez Trace.
This is a picture of
a sunken part of the
Trace.
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 Mesopotamia - where the wheel was developed
 Hard surfaces for travel purposes
 Most likely packed material - soil, etc.
 In 2000 BC, the Minoans built a road from
Knossos to Gortyn and Lebena. It was 50
kilometers long, and was made of sandstone
blocks and gypsum mortar.
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 The Silk Road and its connectors were the major
trade link between China, Asia, the Middle East
and Europe.
 4,000 miles long.
 Begun some time before 114 BC.
 A series of caravan tracks.
 More of series of routes rather than a true road.
 Named for the prized silks the Chinese traded
for western goods.
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 Used deep beds of crushed stone.
 More heavily traveled roads used pavers to allow chariots
to travel more quickly.
 They were build to allow the armies to travel quickly.
 Some of these roads
still exist. Like this one
in Hungary.
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Early Baghdad (in Iraq) used road surfaces
paved with tar from oil deposits.
Mayans, Aztecs, and Incas built roads
from inland cities
to coast to move food
and trade goods.
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Blind Jack Metcalf was first professional road builder in
England in 1765. He understood that roads
needed good foundations and drainage.
(Yes he was blind, he lost his sight
at age 6 from small pox.)
John Loudon MacAdam
Builds macadam
hard-surface roads in
England in 1815.
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 Early roads were costly and were usually
built by private companies.
 In the US prior to 1790 roads were built,
financed, and managed towns through road
labor taxes.
 Many began and ended right outside of the
town limits.
 Often these roads were made of wooden
planks.
 They were maintained by citizens who either
contributed money, materials, or labor.
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Public interest in roads and roadways did not occur
until the invention of the bicycle.
 In the 1890’s most roads outside of towns were still
dirt roads
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
Henry Ford introduced the Model T in 1908
 Low priced at $950
 Highly efficient

Pressure was created for the Federal Government to get
involved with road building.
 Congress Passed the
Federal-Aid Road Act of 1916.
 1920 the Bureau of
Public Roads provided
funding for a system of
Paved Highways.
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One great example of the economic and cultural
importance of roads in the US is Route 66.
U.S. Route 66 was one of the original highways within the
U.S. Highway System
It is also known as
 the Will Rogers Highway
 the Main Street of America
 the Mother Road.
It ran from Chicago, Illinois through Missouri, Kansas,
Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona before ending
in Santa Monica, California.
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
This route provided a major route for westward migration
during the Dust Bowl of the 1930’s.
 It was a popular route for vacationers in the 1950’s.
 It was officially decommissioned in the 1985 as an official
part of the highway system.
 Portions of the road have been designated as a National
Scenic Byway.
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 Businesses –




Route 66 Records
Route 66 Geographic Information Systems (GIS)
Route 66 Blue Jeans
Numerous Hotels and other business along the route bears its name.
 Entertainment –
 Route 66 – Televisions series (1960’s and in 1993).
 Route 66 – Song “Get your Kicks on Route 66” (1946)
Originally sung by Nat King Cole, subsequently covered by Chuck
Berry, the Rolling Stones, Bing Crosby & the Andrews Sisters, Asleep
at the Wheel, Jerry Lee Lewis, the Lightcrust Doughboys, Depeche
Mode, Pappo’s Blues, John Mayer, and Glen Frey.
 Route 66 – Film 1998
 Route 66 Band
 Other
 A rock on Mars was named Route 66
 Route 66 Raceway – Joliet, Illinois
 Route 66 Oil Company
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Roads fell into disrepair during World War II.
After the war, President Eisenhower signed the Federal -Aid
Highway Act of 1956. This act funded the Interstate Program.
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





By increasing speed and expanding access, freight costs
have been reduced substantially.
Made less expensive land more accessible and encouraged
development.
Made travel time more reliable
Made just in time delivery more feasible, reducing
warehousing costs and adding to business efficiency.
Increased retail competition.
Improved inter-regional access.
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Any Ideas?
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