Department of Transportation. Office of Community Relations Subject Photographs, 1957-1970, 1979.

The Department of Transportation (UDOT) documents its activities and construction projects with photographs. During the late 1950s and early 1960s, when the bulk of these photographs were taken, the Department (then organized as the State Road Commission) was highly involved in the construction of Interstate Highways throughout the state. This collection commences in 1957, which is one year after President Eisenhower signed the Federal-Aid Highway Act of 1956, calling for the construction of a National System of Interstate and Defense Highways. These photographs document original construction of Interstate-15, Interstate-70, and Interstates-80 and 80N (later changed to I-84). Photographs include drawings of proposed routes, photos of construction in progress, photos of engineers and construction crews, aerials of sections of highway, and photos of construction equipment. They document the construction of numerous structures and bridges and the development of freeway and and state roadsigns. In addition to interstate construction, the commission also photographically documented road maintenance throughout the state. Photographs document snow removal, flood damage, accidents, and vandalism. They document widening State Street in Salt Lake City which required replacing the old Eagle Gate, a decorative structure with an eagle statue perched on top which arches over the street at the foot of Capitol Hill. In addition to road construction and maintenance these photographs document commission events such as conferences of the American Association of State Highway Officials (AASHO) and the Western Association of State Highway Officials (WASHO). They also include scenery shots and a variety of other miscellaneous treasures including photographs of Native Americans and historic photographs of the Beehive House (Brigham Young's home) and of Utah roads and travel in the early twentieth century.