There's one book on the subject I'm aware of, *Divided Highways: Building the Interstate Highways, Transforming American Life* by Tom Lewis, published last. It identifies the turning point in attidues coming well over a decade later.
Since the Interstate system was initaited by the Federal-Aid Highway Act of 1956, signed on June 29 of that year, it's doubtful that the article you saw announced was based on a whole lot of experience. But it would be interesting to read.
As for the needs it was built to meet -- one of them dated back to 1919, when Eisenhower participatd in a cross-country military convoy. That alone convinced him of the need for such a system.
FDR proposed a more modest version before the outbreak of WWII. The Pensylvania Turnpike--which Roosevelt supported--was the first solid demostration that building a high-quality road would unlock a potential demand well beyond that which already existed.
The final bill was passed only after the interstates were extended into the cities. This secured support from urban lawmakers, who were unwittingly helping to destroy their political bases.
-- Paul Rosenberg Reason and Democracy rad at gte.net
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