60 years of the National Interstate Highway System

The National Stone, Sand & Gravel Association is celebrating 60 years of the National Interstate Highway System. President Eisenhower signed the system into law on 29 June 1956.

The National Interstate Highway system was built on a foundation of aggregates and today roughly 1.2 million pounds of stone, sand and gravel, produced by NSSGA member companies, are used by every American over the course of their lives.

“When it was built, our highway system was the envy of the world. It connected communities and fueled a world-class economy,” said Michael W. Johnson, NSSGA president and CEO. “While our nation has lapsed in maintaining the system over 60 years, the men and women of the aggregates industry are ready to produce the very building blocks needed to return our infrastructure to its former glory.”

Some recent developments in Washington, D.C. are encouraging signs of commitment to investing in the nation’s infrastructure. The first multi-year highway bill was signed into law in December 2015 and provided much-needed guarantees for states to green-light maintenance and improvements to roads, highways and bridges.

“We like to say that when the aggregates industry is doing well, America is doing well. That’s because we’re building and growing our economy, cities and communities with aggregates,” Johnson said. “This industry is in need of talented people to produce America’s building materials. There are many skilled and good-paying jobs available in the quarrying industry, from engineers to equipment operators to operation managers.”

Adapted from press release by Rebecca Bowden

Read the article online at: https://www.worldcement.com/the-americas/01072016/60-years-of-the-national-interstate-highway-system-442/