The
construction of the National Road took place majorly between 1811 and 1834 in
other to extent to the settlements in the west. It was the first federally
funded road in U.S. history. Land investors understood the importance of road
network in the west and as such a group which George Washington was a key
figure pushed for the building of roads to unify the country. By 1806,
President Jefferson signed into law an act that would bring this dream to
reality. This road was expected to unify Cumberland, Maryland till the Ohio
River.
THE BEGINNING
After
several bids for the contract, the construction of the National Road contract
was first awarded in 1811 the first contract was awarded. Work began and construction
was completed in stages in a space of over four decades. By 1818 the first
section of the road was built from Cumberland to Wheeling. $6,000 was estimated
as the initial cost of the road per mile. Around the years 1830s, the responsibility
to run the roads was handed over to the states by the federal government which
led to building of tollgates but the responsibility of road repairs was still
in the neck of the federal government.
SOCIO-ECONOMIC SIGNIFICANCE
The
construction of the National Road paved way for increase and development of
settlements. As the traditional villages and town became opened to the world, some
of these roads such as Cumberland Road became the Main Street in these
settlements. The popularity of the National Road reached its peak in 1825 when
song, story, poetry and painting were used to celebrate its emergence. As time
went on, explorers, westward bound jam-packed the hotels and roadhouses along
the road.
The
introduction of railroads in the 1870s faded the popularity of National Road
but this was soon reversed as Federal Aid became readily obtainable for maintenance
and improvements of the road for automobiles to ply the route. This sprouted
the development of the road as a coast-to-coast highway in 1926.
Some
of the bridges on the National Road are historic. The Stone Bridge was so named
due to its due to its design as a single structure of arch stone. The stone
Casselman River Bridge which stands to the east of Grantsville, Maryland was
built between 1813 and 1814. Its 80-foot span which connects Cumberland to Ohio
River, is the largest of its kind in America.
Vandalia,
Illinois was the stopping point for National Road in 1852. Though many wished it
was extended to Mississippi River and beyond, the road became a victim of
‘power tussle’ over responsibility, maintenance, improvements, and legal
clarification.
In
general, the National Road was able to fulfill its dual role in aiding the
economy by fast tracking the transportation of goods and also promoting trade
nationwide. With ease, manufactures from the east were able to find their way
to the west for closer business ties and expansion. The road helped the nation
expand while drawing it closer together.
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