Omaha Construction (1968)

Omaha Construction (1968)

Interstate construction

This image of interstate construction in downtown Omaha was taken in 1968. In 1944, Congress passed the Federal Highway Act which in turn resulted in planning the Omaha interstate system. (Sistrunk et al., 2022).
In 1956, the Eisenhower Administration passed the Federal-Aid Highway Act (Senate Historical Office, 1956), encouraging automobile usage (Sistrunk et al., 2022). Before the Interstate system, the nation experienced congestion and traffic jams, and concerns about the country’s readiness for national defense were rising (Karas, 2015). The Interstate Highway Act allocated $26 billion to construct 41 thousand miles of interstate networks (Senate Historical Office, 1956), connecting the nation and cities, massively changing the landscape of urban centers, and encouraging suburban growth (Archer, 2020). This is heavily linked to the destruction of thriving African-American and black neighborhoods across the United States (Archer, 2020; Sistrunk et al., 2022). This was done under the façade of “urban renovation,” as highways were constructed through successful and vibrant black communities (Archer, 2020; Sistrunk et al., 2022). Interstate systems were strategically constructed through black and minority communities, referred to as “slums” by interstate planners and government officials (Archer, 2020), in an attempt to frame the interstate plans as a beautification project, when in reality it was attempted cultural and racial erasure and discrimination. Interstate construction both symbolically and physically encouraged racial segregation and isolated minority communities, constructed to enforce white spaces and privilege (Archer, 2020). In virtually every region of the US, highway construction displaced and isolated hundreds of thousands of people, and millions more were left to live in “hollowed-out communities” (Archer, 2020). The federal interstate system serves as a means of urban segregation and structural discrimination, even today (Sistrunk et al., 2020).
Effects of interstate development are expansive and not limited to economic deprivation, residential isolation, enforcement of segregation, (Archer, 2020), and a source of toxic exposure (Sistrunk et al., 2022). Literature has indicated that black communities in proximity to federal interstate systems affected by this method of structural and systemic discrimination are linked to cardiovascular decline and other health issues (Sistrunk et al., 2022), highlighting long-evident insight into unequal healthcare access. Highways connected white people who lived in the suburbs to the economic benefits of the inner cities, while black communities were displaced or declined residence in white neighborhoods and forced to settle in communities that were already experiencing racial and class segregation (Archer, 2020).
However, the Interstate system did not develop without opposition. Now coined “freeway revolts” popped up in several American cities in the early stages of the interstate system, advocating against the bulldozing of existing communities (Karas, 2015).
In summary, this image represents a small piece of the broader context of the interstate system and its discriminatory roots. Omaha, Nebraska’s interstate development was not unique in comparison to other American urban centers in the 1960s. Many American cities and black communities suffered the same effects of interstate construction, from health effects, economic deprivation, isolation, etc. When analyzing the landscape of urban communities, it's vital to understand the discriminatory nature of the interstate development projects, used as a physical force of segregation and structural discrimination.

Paskach, Robert (1927-2001)

The Durham Museumhttps://durhammuseum.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/p15426coll7/id/48835/rec/1

The Durham Museum

1968

Eva Brucciani

Original Format: 35mm black and white film roll

Still Image; Original Format: 35mm black and white film roll