Bruce wrote:

Trivia question (no fair Googling the answer): What was the primary
justification/purpose of the Interstate Highway System?


Wasn't it originally a Department of Defence project, inspired by the
autobahn network in Germany?

Yep. The official enabling legislation was called theDwight D. Eisenhower
National System of Interstate and Defense Highways. The DOD was concerned that
they wouldn't be able to shift forces quickly from one side of the country to
the other.