Transportation Cabinet
50th Anniversary of the Interstate System Exhibit on Display at the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet

 Frankfort, KY (June 27, 2006) - As part of the national celebration for the 50th anniversary of the interstate system, a federal highways “interstate marvels” exhibit is on display in the lobby of the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC) central office building in Frankfort.  A photo of the interstate exhibit is attached.

The interstate building project is recognized by many as the greatest public works project in history.  President Dwight D. Eisenhower signed the Federal-Aid Highway Act on June 29, 1956. Nationwide, there are more than 46,000 miles of limited-access interstate highway. 

Construction on Kentucky’s interstate network began in the 1960’s.  Today, there are more than 760 miles of interstate highways in our state, including more than 200 miles of urban interstates.  The interstates are so much a part of daily life that most people take for granted the system they use to get to work, to school, to shopping districts, and to vacation destinations.

“With the Governor’s leadership and the General Assembly’s approval, Kentucky is spending more than $400 million dollars to make improvements to many of our major interstate routes,” said Kentucky Transportation Cabinet Secretary Bill Nighbert.  “Along with Kentucky’s existing interstate network and our planned integration of Interstate 66 and Interstate 69, economic potential is being unleashed for communities all across our great Commonwealth.”

The “interstate marvels” exhibit will be on display at the KYTC for the rest of the week. 

###