DuPont Highway construction, 1910s C018 / 0610
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DuPont Highway construction, 1910s C018 / 0610
DuPont Highway construction. View of the state of the roads prior to construction of the Coleman du Pont Road in Delaware, USA. Also known as the DuPont Highway, funding came from US industrialist Thomas Coleman du Pont (1863-1930). The scheme received legislative approval in 1911. The Coleman Du Pont Road company supervised the initial building of the two-lane concrete road, with the reminder completed by the new state highway department. Du Pont provided a total of 4 million US dollars, and construction was completed by 1923. The highway, dedicated in 1924, ran for 156 kilometres from Selbyville to Wilmington. Photographed circa 1915
Science Photo Library features Science and Medical images including photos and illustrations
Media ID 9236871
© HAGLEY ARCHIVE / SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY
1900s 1910s 1915 Automobile Carriageway Delaware Driver Drivers Dupont Engineer Engineering Engineers Highway Inspecting Inspection Motor Vehicle Muddy North American Road Survey Surveying Surveyor Transport Transportation Dirt Track Impassable Ruts Rutted State Highway Surveyors
EDITORS COMMENTS
This print captures a significant moment in American history - the construction of the DuPont Highway in Delaware during the early 1910s. The image showcases the state of the roads before this ambitious project, revealing a treacherous and muddy landscape that made transportation nearly impossible. Funded by renowned US industrialist Thomas Coleman du Pont, this groundbreaking initiative received legislative approval in 1911. The Coleman Du Pont Road company took charge of supervising the initial building of a two-lane concrete road, while the remaining sections were completed by the new state highway department. With a total investment of 4 million US dollars from du Pont himself, construction was finally concluded in 1923. Dedicated to public use in 1924, this monumental highway stretched an impressive distance of 156 kilometers from Selbyville to Wilmington. It revolutionized travel and connectivity within Delaware and became known as one of America's most vital transportation routes. In this snapshot taken around 1915, we witness an engineer inspecting what appears to be impassable ruts on an ungraded dirt track. This scene serves as a testament to both human ingenuity and perseverance amidst challenging circumstances. As we admire this historical photograph, let us appreciate how far our modern infrastructure has come since those early days when courageous individuals like Thomas Coleman du Pont paved the way for progress across North America.
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