Interstate Highway Construction History.

When the Eisenhower administration was building the interstate highway system, did they excavate material from the roadsides that are now all those rectangular ponds and mini-lakes that we see? For obvious reasons, the vast majority of these ponds are in flat country. Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, etc.

I think these ponds/lakes are very cool. My guess is that the construction contractors dug these to get material to use for the roadbed. And this left the landowners with very nice ponds that many have built boathouses and piers on.

Any amateur historians here know the story behind all the ponds?

They're not holes that were dug, later filling with water to become ponds.

These are footprints left behind by Big Brother. He's always watching, then making more rules to follow. These are usually very far apart due to the giant that the bureaucracy has become.

They're not holes that were dug, later filling with water to become ponds.

These are footprints left behind by Big Brother. He's always watching, then making more rules to follow. These are usually very far apart due to the giant that the bureaucracy has become.

Ok, but my question remains. Many of these ponds are perfect rectangles, obviously not natural. They were dug by man. Where did the excavation material go?

And today I saw several that had small boats out there fishing. I wanted to be on one of those boats.

Asked this question to a friend who lives upper NW Ohio. He said when the highway was built they excavated to get dirt to build up for ramps and overpass construction. I figured that was a reasonable as anything.

Asked this question to a friend who lives upper NW Ohio. He said when the highway was built they excavated to get dirt to build up for ramps and overpass construction. I figured that was a reasonable as anything.

That makes sense to me. And the landowners got these great ponds. Seems like a rare win-win to me.

I know almost everyone here loves to hear about how things are done in California. :) There had been a long-time push to build another large canal to export water from the great northern part of the state to those huge population centers down south. This has been rejected a couple of times (and now the state has been pushing for one or two huge tunnels instead) but officials figured they would eventually get their dream canal built and in the 1970s when I-5 was being built there are some large sections a little west of I-5 where they excavated soil for an elevated freeway and began building the canal in the meantime. If you check a Google Map for "Flag City RV Park" and zoom out you can see the section of the incomplete tunnel. I'm guessing the state owns this property. People come and fish there sometimes but a lot of aquatic weeds have taken over most of it.

I know almost everyone here loves to hear about how things are done in California. :) There had been a long-time push to build another large canal to export water from the great northern part of the state to those huge population centers down south. This has been rejected a couple of times (and now the state has been pushing for one or two huge tunnels instead) but officials figured they would eventually get their dream canal built and in the 1970s when I-5 was being built there are some large sections a little west of I-5 where they excavated soil for an elevated freeway and began building the canal in the meantime. If you check a Google Map for "Flag City RV Park" and zoom out you can see the section of the incomplete tunnel. I'm guessing the state owns this property. People come and fish there sometimes but a lot of aquatic weeds have taken over most of it.

Harvey, interesting history. Elon Musk owns the Boring Company. Maybe he should bore tunnels to get water from north to south.

That makes sense to me. And the landowners got these great ponds. Seems like a rare win-win to me.

A win? Big Brother swooping in to claim part of your once beautiful, quiet, and peaceful private property through eminent domain, to plant an intrusive and loud interstate in your backyard, paid for by your tax dollar? Then all you get is pennies on the dollar for your land and an unnatural looking reservoir with which they can justify increasing your property taxes.

Sounds like a win/lose to me.

That makes sense to me. And the landowners got these great ponds. Seems like a rare win-win to me.

A win? Big Brother swooping in to claim part of your once beautiful, quiet, and peaceful private property through eminent domain, to plant an intrusive and loud interstate in your backyard, paid for by your tax dollar? Then all you get is pennies on the dollar for your land and an unnatural looking reservoir with which they can justify increasing your property taxes.

Sounds like a win/lose to me.

Turtle, I get your point. But the construction is done and the ponds are still there. I was just commenting on the reason all these ponds are there. As truckers, we all benefit from the Interstate system. We can complain all we want about the condition of certain interstates, but it’s still an incredible accomplishment.

I constantly wonder if the interstates are deteriorating faster than they can be fixed? Where will the money come from? Higher taxes, as if taxes aren’t high enough already?

I know it’s a little weird and this topic may interest nobody but me, but I’ve become fascinated by the roadside ponds along the interstates.

Several days ago I was on I80 in Nebraska. So far, Nebraska is the king of roadside ponds. Most of the ones I passed had beautiful turquoise water and lots of people fishing. I was tempted to park and go for a swim. Could have used the bath and rinse,