ATOMIC CIVIL DEFENSE PROPAGANDA No.6 (1956 Interstate Defense Highway System)

GAS-FOOD-FALLOUT SHELTER

THE EISENHOWER SYSTEM OF INTERSTATE

AND DEFENSE HIGHWAYS

 BUILT FROM COLD WAR FEAR

AND NECESSITY

America's Interstate system was planned with ever expanding cities and population . President Eisenhower did not like the fact that troops going to aid a Natural Disaster were bogged down by roads that were not paved or usable and this poor infrastructure could become an issue in a National Emergency. So funds were allocated and plans made with priority to get interstates built that would connect the nations military bases and military assets. Then Interstates were connected around to large cities to allow efficient and unimpeded  travel and if needed so evacuation or emergency assistance by National Guard  could be possible in hours . Our nation at this time expected a Nuclear Conflict at anytime so the need for preparation and  materials  were at an all time demand , rumors of the interstate being  planned to be able to bear large Nuclear Missiles in transit or bridges able to support their weight,and height were a urban myth .Also military vehicle convoys that were to include tracked vehicles like, Tanks,Mobile Missile Launch Vehicles, Personnel carriers, and Large troop transporters  were likely to use these new interstates. These Convoys were known at times to be 80 vehicles long but nothing in the blueprints planned for these cold war military movements .The interstate had to support everyday congestion of rush hour traffic  and in cold climates the freeze thaw cycle and the road salt. in some warmer climates constant sun and heat that can melt the rubber on tires and fifty something years later Interstates have brought prosperity to some area's and show how overpopulated we are as we sit in Rush Hour traffic sometimes for hours. the project is still being expanded , built ,and upgraded and though we have not used it in war the Interstate Defense Highways have evacuated many cities during natural disasters and the US Military uses the interstate and it has not had to have any special adjustments.The interstate defense highway system was born out fear of not being able to mobilize to any area of this country in time of conflict and is another product of the Cold War. 

One of many FCDA pamphlets this Civil Defense Organization's Funding was cut by President Eisenhower.

Below one of the many odd Civil Defense signs from

the 1960's it is a road sign but from where is still

unknown.

One of the more popular cold war Interstate Defense Highway System Urban Myths was every 5 miles one mile had to be straight and this was to allow USAF or other US Military units a place to setup alternate landing facilities if a Soviet Nuclear strike vaporized  the base and returning  B-52 and other aircraft would be able to land and refuel on runways made from stretches of Highway and could re-arn and take back off to drop more Nuclear Devices on Russia Now Understand this was not planned into the  building of the interstate defense highway system. There is no Plan for this on any blue prints...... HOWEVER... USAF and Department of Defense Nuclear War Procedure and Planning has figured into account that upon a DEFCON 3 or 2 status Airbases would disperse all aircraft to Civil Airfields spread out throughout the Continental United States so Soviet ICBMS and SLBMS and even Bombers could not catch our military aircraft on the ground at targeted locations if these airfields are not able to host returning USAF and USN aircraft special USAF Emergency War Relocation units would use any type of runway to host returning aircraft and in the Nuclear Warfare Playbook highways,freeways,expressways are the next best thing and USAF-ARB Teams would start blowing up or use cutting torches to remove light posts and signs and any obstruction that would not allow the biggest bomber to land. underpasses with large spans would be great repair and rearming areas. This was not planned into the actual roadwork or blueprints but is part of Post Attack Continuity of US combat forces and this part is NOT a urban myth. The Defense Interstate and Highway project was to connect all US Military Bases and asset's allowing large movements of US Troops and their vehicles to any place in the (CONUS) as fast as possible and to Evacuate Large Cities Pre- Attack or Pre-Natural Disaster and to expedite man, machines ,and materials into devastated areas, As well connecting all US Military posts so the same could be sent within hours and with these four lane highways fast and efficiently saving fuel, wear and tear,and lives.