Of Republican Presidents & American Infrastructure

Hear this here... driving northbound:
EXIT 4, I-95 N to Indian Field Road, Cos Cob & Riverside in Greenwich CT

I-95 on Mianus Bridge, Cos Cob to Old Greenwich, Connecticut


"Ok Road Trippers, upcoming is a Road Test, so pay attention. We will discuss local born presidents and pot holes. Here are the Fast Facts:

"The Interstate Highway system was the brainchild  of President Dwight Eisenhower.  Correction: It was the brainchild of General Dwight Eisenhower who as one of the Supreme Generals in World War 2 was aghast that it took troops almost 10 days to get from one coast to the other...   ​

Frankly, Dwight borrowed the concept of Hitler’s Autobahn and applied the concept to the United States. The high speed system would have no stop signs and would link all major urban areas all across the country. In addition to troop movements, commerce would be expedited and the benefits would accrue to every citizen -- not to mention trips home to Grandmom could be done in hours instead of days.   The Interstate system was funded by Congress in 1956.

​You are now driving across the Mianus River Bridge. Beneath your vehicle are several commercial buildings alongside the river in Old Greenwich and Cos Cob.


Nowadays NOT investing in America's infrastructure is a hall mark of our Congress.  In 1983, the Bridge on which you drive, collapsed.  Yup, the entire northbound side fell in.

Three people were killed and three others were seriously injured.  Casualties from the collapse were so few only because the disaster occurred at one thirty in the morning when traffic was low. Perhaps in some kind of Karmic revenge the one car that drove off the bridge was a recently stolen BMW containing the 3 car thieves.  All the occupants died in the fall.

In the nineteen fifties, investing in Connecticut’s infrastructure meant short term costs for smart long term gains. So while Connecticut lost many wartime factories following the end of hostilities, by investing in Highways, the state shared in a general post-war expansion that resulted in solid growth in suburban areas.


One strong supporter of Long-term Infrastructure improvements was Greenwich native, Senator Prescott Bush. In conjunction with Republican President Dwight Eisenhower, Senator Bush, also a Republican,  saw the need to invest in a coast to coast Interstate Highway system.

​Senator Bush represented Connecticut in the United States Senate from 1952 to 1963; his son George Herbert Walker Bush and grandson George Bush both would become Presidents. Another Grandson, Jeb Bush became the governor of Florida.


Now for the road test: What was Senator Bush's first name?    


#MianusBridge #InfrastructureInvestments #PrescottBush #PresidentBush #Old Greenwich #Connecticut #CosCob #OldGreenwich

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