US Road Map

The National Highway System of the United States is an extensive network of highways that connect various parts of the States. Formed on November 28, 1995, the National Highway System is the world’s largest highways system with a length of 160,955 miles. It comprises the Interstate Highway System as well as other roads that connect the rails, railway stations, ports, truck terminals, major airports, etc, of the country. The extensive system carries around 40 percent of the highways traffic, 90 percent of the tourist traffic, and 75 percent of the heavy truck traffic.

About US Road Network

The Federal Interstate Highway and the regional US Highway are 2 major highway and road networks of the States. These two main road-highway networks are central to the overall American surface transportation network which, however, also includes two other road-highway systems, namely the State Highways and the County Highways.

However, the 4 levels of the road-highway network of the US are mainly classified on operational and administrative bais rather than functional. Some highways or roads in the network are heavily traveled and thus, they are ensured to match the maintenance and quality standards of the Federal Interstate Expressways.
Road map of USA depicts the Interstate System which is the main part of the American highway and road network. It is also termed as the Dwight D. Eisenhower System of Interstate and Defense Highways. The system is largely maintained by the states. However, it is also administered and funded by the Federal Government of the United States. Serving as the lifeline of the nation, it forms a network of 45,000 miles and connects more than 50,000 people.

The highways first came to use in the 1950s. They were built to match the high-quality standards in order to ensure safety, efficiency, speed, and ease for millions of daily commuters. Studies show that the system carries about 20% of the whole traffic in the States.
The more regional, older US Highways, however, are only maintained and operated by the concerned states and are not the recipient of the Federal funding. Some highways and roads in the network are no longer in the use and some are decommissioned as a result of the increasing utility of the freer and faster Expressways of the System.
While for the faster and easy travel, Interstate System is the best option. But, the real adventures of the landscape of the USA can be best experienced by riding on the smaller country roads, most of which are in the rural parts of the country.
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