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When the State took over the private Black Ball Line in 1951, it inherited the modernistic Kalakala, which operated until 1967.
State engineers began drafting ambitious plans after passage of the national interstate highway act in 1956.
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Shortly before World War II, most of the state’s streetcars and interurban rail systems shut down as cars and buses became the primary means of transportation. The war had profound effects on Washington, spurring development of new aircraft factories, shipyards, dams, harbors, airports, and the Hanford reservation, along with the roads and bridges needed to serve them.
In 1944, Washington voters amended the State Constitution to ban the use of gas and motor vehicle
excise taxes for anything other than highways. Postwar construction of suburban shopping centers
and housing developments increased demand for new highways.
With the private Black Ball Line facing collapse in 1951, the State acquired its Puget Sound fleet for
$6.8 million to create Washington State Ferries. Also in 1951, the Legislature established a new Highway Commission, first chaired by Fred G. Redmon.
On June 29, 1956, President Dwight Eisenhower signed the new Federal Aid Highway Act. It committed billions to build an “Interstate and Defense Highways” system including more than 740 miles of modern limited-access freeways in Washington.
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Timeline: 1941 - 1960 |
- Byrd's Mill Road, built in 1852, is designated as “Washington State Historical Road No. 1” in 1941.
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- Burwell Bantz becomes Director of Highways on July 1, 1941.
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- During World War II, gas rationing is imposed and maximum speed limits are reduced to 35 m.p.h.
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- Voters approve Amendment 18 to the State Constitution, limiting all highway-related tax revenues to highway uses (defined to include State ferries), on November 7, 1944.
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- Clarence Hickey is named Director of Highways in January 1945, but dies suddenly in June. James A. Davis is named acting director again until succeeded by Clarence Shain in October.
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- Legislature passes first authorization for limited-access highways and establishes an Aeronautics Commission in March 1947.
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- State purchases Longview Bridge (privately built in 1930, now Lewis and Clark Bridge) in 1947.
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- New Keller Ferry, the Martha S., enters service on Lake Roosevelt on September 9, 1948.
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- O. R. Dinsmore becomes acting director in January 1949 and serves until July, when William A. Bugge becomes Director of Highways.
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- Agate Pass Bridge between Bainbridge Island and Kitsap Peninsula opens on October 7, 1950.
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- Replacement Tacoma Narrows Bridge opens on October 14, 1950.
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- Washington State Toll Bridge Authority takes over Black Ball Line, at a cost of $6.8 million, to establish Washington State Ferries on June 1, 1951.
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- Legislature reorganizes the Department of Highways under a new five-member Highway Commission effective July 1, 1951. Fred G. Redmon is elected its first chair.
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- White Pass highway (SR 12) officially opens on August 12, 1951.
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- First portion of Seattle's Alaskan Way Viaduct between Battery and Dearborn streets opens on April 4, 1953.
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- Department of Highways begins using its first “computer,” an IBM Cardatype, in March 1956.
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- President Dwight D. Eisenhower signs legislation to fund an interstate highway system on June 29, 1956.
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- Olympia Freeway bypass (later part of I-5) opens on December 12, 1958.
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- Vancouver-Portland Interstate Toll Bridge over the Columbia River opens in January 1960.
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- First portion of Interstate 5 opens in Tacoma on December 21, 1960.
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