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"60 years ago, we didn't have highways."

Not quite. Here's the US highway system in 1955.[1] Construction of the US Interstate Highway System started in 1956.

[1] http://www.mappery.com/map-of/Pre-Interstate-US-Highway-Syst...

He probably meant Interstates, and 1956 is 60 years ago, which is why I'm guessing that. Interstate 5 (Seattle portion) was only completed in 1969[0] so depending on where you are, it could be significantly less.

[0] - http://www.historylink.org/index.cfm?DisplayPage=output.cfm&...

Good point. I-80 wasn't complete coast-to-coast until 1986. There were gaps in the Western sections for years. That was the first coast-to-coast Interstate, the old Lincoln Highway route. I-40, the "Route 66" route, was completed even later.

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