Old Red Trail: Construction Changes
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Early road construction was time-consuming and expensive. In 1959, road crews could lay out one mile of road a day, at best. Today, pavers can do the same much more easily. Additionally, grading roads is also much easier, which keeps the interstate clear of debris and funnels water and snow off to the sides of the road. Construction brought many new people to North Dakota. Construction of bridges required specialists who could design, structure, and create the river-spanning lengths. In the 1960s, road construction cost $400,000 per mile of four-lane highway, including the cost of land, equipment, workers’ pay, bridges, and materials. Today, roads cost $1.8 million for two lanes in one direction. Although more expensive, new roads will last 30 years, compared to the older standard of 20 years.
Photographer/Videographer
Geck, D., Jensen, T., Westad, L., Lee, K., & Van Tassel, D.
Source
Dambach, B., Stenehjem, K., & Deutscher, H. (Producers). Old Red Trail [Documentary]. USA: Prairie Public Broadcasting.
Grade Level
3 - 12
Subject Matter
Social Studies, Science
Standards
Explain the effects of human activities (e.g., dams, levees, farming practices, deforestation, land-use practices, land-management strategies) on the environment
Identify examples of how technologies have evolved
Identify details of an object’s form which determine its function (e.g., webbed feet for use in water, human feet for walking, shovel for scooping dirt, a rake for collecting leaves, tape measure and ruler to measure distance)
Explain ways humans benefit from Earth’s resources (e.g., air, water, soil, food, fuel, building materials)
Explain how an invention may lead to other inventions
Evaluate the effects of technology on people and the environment (e.g., new construction, oil drilling, electric cars)
Identify ways in which science and technology have greatly improved human lives (e.g., food quality and quantity, transportation, health, sanitation, communication)
Evaluate the impact of various factors that led to the transformation of the nation (e.g., imperialism, industrialization, immigration, political/social reformers, urbanization, mechanization of agriculture, changing business environment)
Explain ways technology contributes to the spread of ideas, values, and behavioral patterns between societies and regions (e.g., how transportation and communication technologies contribute to the diffusion of culture)
Evaluate how economic opportunities (e.g., manufacturing, agricultural, business) impact North Dakota and other regions (e.g., Midwest, Northeast)
Analyze the transformation of the nation (e.g., Imperialism, industrialization, immigration, political/social reformers, urbanization, mechanization of agriculture, changing business environment)
Explain the factors (e.g., trade routes, goods available, location) that influenced the growth of cities
Identify the location and characteristics of significant features of North Dakota (e.g., landforms, river systems, climate, regions, major cities)
Describe ways geography has affected the development (e.g., the development of transportation, communication, industry, and land use) of the state over time
Use chronological order and sequence to describe the cause-and-effect relationships of historical events and periods in North Dakota (e.g., how the railroads led to settlements in the state)
Describe the effects of changes in industry, agriculture, and technology in North Dakota (e.g., energy production, transportation, farming methods)
Identify similarities and differences between past events and current events in North Dakota (e.g., in the lives of people from different cultures past and present)
Describe ways (e.g., the development of transportation, communication, industry, and land use) geography has affected the development of the local community over time
