The US has celebrated the bicentennial of its first federally funded road. The road was built in 1811 to link the towns of Cumberland and Wheeling, running from the Potomac River to the Ohio River. When Indiana and Illinois joined the Union in 1816 and 1818, respectively, the road was extended, reaching nearly 1200km long. The road reached Vandalia, which was then the capital of Illinois. Called the National Road this link became part of the National Old Trails Road in 1912 and its popularity grew in the 1920s as automobiles became more common. In 1926, the road became part of US 40 as a coast-to-coast highway. US Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood marked the date with a speech, "This is a major milestone for residents served by this historic route and for the nation as a whole," he said. "From the 19th century until today, the transportation systems we build continue to be economic engines for prosperity and growth. The highway and bridge projects of today follow in the grand tradition of our first National Road." Construction of the National Road began on May 8, 1811. Authorised by Congress in 1806 and signed into law by president Thomas Jefferson, the road connected the Potomac River at Cumberland, MD, and the Ohio River at Wheeling, VA, which is now in West Virginia.
