The Big Roads: The Untold Story of the Engineers, Visionaries, and Trailblazers Who Created the American Superhighways

The Big Roads traces the creation of the U.S. interstate highway system, a network of over 47,000 miles that transformed twentieth-century America. Though officially named after President Dwight D. Eisenhower, the system's origins extend back to the World War I era. The book follows the full story of the interstate's development, from the early speed enthusiast who inspired primitive dirt auto trails, through the planners who designed the system before Eisenhower took office, to city residents who opposed highway construction in their neighborhoods. It examines how these interconnected roads functioned as economic pipelines, drivers of sprawl, and symbols of American freedom, while documenting the individual lives affected by this massive public works project.