| ODOT joins in celebration of state's 150th birthday |
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| Transportation critical to state's history |
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Governor Kulongoski kicks off the Oregon 150 celebration.
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February 14, 2009 marked Oregon's 150th birthday. Throughout this year, Oregon is commemorating its sesquicentennial in a variety of ways. Community celebrations, special events, distinctive projects and fun activities will give Oregonians numerous was to celebrate 150 years of statehood.
The Oregon Department of Transportation is joining in this celebration and will commemorate the sesquicentennial in several different ways, using our state’s 150th birthday as an opportunity to reflect on Oregon’s transportation history and take a look forward at our future.
This web site is designed to share information about the role transportation has played in Oregon’s 150 years of statehood. Click on the links to the right for historical information, photographs, events calendar, related web links and facts and figures.
Join us as we remember the past and plan for the future.
April 25 is the 95th anniversary of "Good Roads Day" in Oregon
As Oregon celebrates its sesquicentennial this year, it’s fun to look back at interesting moments in transportation history.
On April 25, 1914, Governor Oswald West proclaimed the day “Good Roads Day” across Oregon. The proclamation stated “the good roads question is one of vital interest to us all…”
Today’s headlines are filled with stories about the need to improve Oregon transportation infrastructure. At a recent meeting of the Oregon Transportation Commission, the room was filled with local government representatives, transportation advocates, interest group members and others lobbying for federal economic stimulus funds to improve and enhance transportation infrastructure within their communities.
It seems as if the more things change, the more they stay the same.
In the late 1800s, the good roads movement began when bicyclists lobbied for an improvement of the dirt roads that existed in most of Oregon. The popularization of the automobile in the early 1900s accelerated the effort. The Columbia River Highway (now a national scenic byway) was largely a result of the groundswell of support for better roads. In fact, the precursor to the modern day Oregon Department of Transportation, the Oregon Highway Department, was formed in 1917 to help “get Oregon out of the mud.” A lot has happened since then!
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