Sunday, February 19, 2017

Today In Wyoming's History: February 19, 1917. Wyoming State Highway Commission Created

Today In Wyoming's History: February 19: 1917  The State Highway Commission was created by the signature of the Governor Kendrick, in his last day in office, approving it.

It's odd to think of Wyoming lacking a Highway Department but up until this date in 1917, it did.  That was common at the time as most vehicular transportation remained strictly local.  However, that would begin to change with the Federal Aid Road Act of 1916, which provided funds, for the first time, to state highway departments in one of the "progressive" policies of the Wilson Administration.

The activities of the Commission would be modest but growing throughout its early years.  Limited winter plowing commenced in 1923 and then it began in earnest in 1929.  In 1991 the highway department became the Wyoming Department of Transportation, which it remains.

 

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