This Detroit Freeway Was the First of Its Kind in the U.S.

Detroit is fondly known as Motor City, the birthplace of the automobile, which revolutionized transportation worldwide. Without Henry Ford's Model T, we would never have gotten Eisenhower's Federal-Aid Highway Act of 1956, prompting the creation of the Interstate System that now connects every state around the country.

However, before the highway system was made, Detroit was still the hub for automobile travel. In 1942, the Davison Freeway (M-8) would accomplish a feat that would be utilized around the country once freeways expanded around the country: the first urban freeway.

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Urban Depressed Freeways

Now, hear me out because I'm sure you read that and thought, "Man, those poor freeways- I hope they feel better soon." The sentiment is appreciated, but it's a bit off-base. Originally built as a way to alleviate the auto-worker traffic from Highland Park, Davison Avenue was turned into a six-lane freeway that led straight into the city.

As with much of the country, World War 2 created a boom in progress as wartime manufacturing was an economic boon for a country coming out of the Great Depression. Auto plants were converted to produce military vehicles and military helmets rather than automobiles. This need accelerated the creation of the freeway to adjust for even more traffic to Detroit's auto plants.

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Not only was this urban freeway an original for the city, but this was the first depressed freeway in the country. Davison Avenue was originally a short street, but when it was turned into a freeway, it became a model for more highways to come. These types of freeways are known for being less disruptive to other pre-existing streets and are known to reduce the sound of traffic. This model of freeway became a fixture for highways going forward, like this one in Ohio.