In a previous issue of the Transportation Alert, we asked readers to pass along engineering related urban legends they have encountered. Here’s one purported fact that some people asked us to check into: “The Eisenhower Interstate Highway System requires that one mile in every five must be straight. These straight sections are usable as airstrips in times of war or other emergencies.”

Many facts about the Eisenhower Interstate Highway System are true, such as, in 1994, the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) designated it as one of the “Seven Wonders of the United States.” The interstate system has often been called “the greatest public works project in history.” But, it was never designed to be used by the tactical aircraft or long-range bombers of our nation’s armed forces.

In fact, Richard Weingroff, the Federal Highway Administration’s “unofficial historian” published an article to debunk this myth. He writes, “As with Dracula, it is very difficult to put a stake through the heart of this ‘fact.’”

The Interstate Highway System was originally conceived as a means to defend the United States. It was designed to allow troops and military equipment to travel rapidly and efficiently across the country. However, the FHWA admits that even this use by today’s military vehicles would be difficult on the interstate highway system. Many modern military vehicles cannot travel under or across overpasses. Nor would most sections of the highway be able to take the weight of stealth bombers landing on them.

While interstate highways would not make good runways, they have transformed our country. Since 1956, the system has boosted productivity and sustained a more than tenfold increase in the gross national product. It is the backbone of the our economy.

If you run across engineering or architecture related stories that you think are urban legends, pass them onto us at solutions@fisherassoc.com. We will research their validity and report any findings in an upcoming issue.