Once construction of the U.S. Interstate and Defense Highway System began, shortly after enactment of the Federal Aid Highway Act of 1956, citizens and local officials across the nation began letting the FHWA know that they would not accept adverse impacts from the new highways. FHWA was forced to broaden its mission from that of providing highways to meet traffic demand to one that includes reflecting the cultural, economic, environmental, and social needs of U.S. cities and sensitive rural areas. This article provides an overview of how the FHWA handled the task of building highways while minimizing or eliminating damage to the environment, and of how the FHWA expanded its mission to include protecting and enhancing the environment during the 1990s.
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