The United States Interstate Highway System is the world's second longest, with a total length of 47,856 miles as of 2013. It was authorized by the Federal Aid Highway Act of 1956, championed by Dwight D. Eisenhower, who it is named for. They were originally built for better military transportation and defense.
Statistics
Interchanges: 14,750 Bridges: 55,512 (2005) Most Traveled Interstate: I-405 in Los Angeles, California (374,000 vehicles per day, 2008 estimate) Highest Elevation: 11,158 feet (I-70, Eisenhower Tunnel in Colorado) Lowest Land Elevation: -52 feet (I-8, Seeley, California) Lowest Underwater Elevation: -103 feet (I-95, Fort McHenry Tunnel in Baltimore, Maryland)
Longest Interstate Routes | Interstate | Terminus 1 | Terminus 2 | Length | | I-90 | Seattle, Washington | Boston, Massachusetts | 3,020 miles | | I-80 | San Francisco, California | Teaneck, New Jersey | 2,899 miles | | I-40 | Barstow, California | Wilmington, North Carolina | 2,555 miles | | I-10 | Los Angeles, California | Jacksonville, Florida | 2,460 miles | | I-70 | Cove Fort, Utah | Baltimore, Maryland | 2,153 miles |
Shortest 2-Digit Interstate Routes | Interstate | Terminus 1 | Terminus 2 | Length | | I-97 | Annapolis, Maryland | Baltimore, Maryland | 17.6 miles | | I-99 | Bedford, Pennsylvania | Bald Eagle, Pennsylvania | 53 miles | | I-73 | Emery, North Carolina | Greensboro, North Carolina | 56.7 miles | | I-19 | Nogales, Arizona | Tuscon, Arizona | 63.3 miles | | I-66 | Strasburg, Virginia | Washington, D.C. | 74.8 miles |
Interstate Routes Which Go Through the Most States | Interstate | States | # of States | | I-95 | FL, GA, SC, NC, VA, DC, MD, DE, PA, NJ, NY, CT, RI, MA, NH, ME | 16 states | | I-90 | WA, ID, MT, WY, SD, MN, WI, IL, IN, OH, PA, NY, MA | 13 states | | I-80 | CA, NV, UT, WY, NE, IA, IL, IN, OH, PA, NJ | 11 states | | I-70 | UT, CO, KS, MO, IL, IN, OH, WV, PA, MD | 10 states | | I-10 | CA, AZ, NM, TX, LA, MS, AL, FL | 8 states |
States with the most Interstate Routes | State | Miles | Number of Routes | | New York | 1,674 miles | 29 routes | | California | 2,455 miles | 25 routes | | Illinois | 2,169 miles | 23 routes | | Pennsylvania | 1,759 miles | 22 routes | | Ohio | 1,572 miles | 21 routes |
Sources http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/programadmin/interstate.cfm#interstate_trivia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Interstate_Highway_System http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/policyinformation/tables/02.cfm http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/reports/routefinder/#s11
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