>>After the war it was clear to him that our industrial power- and hence our military power- was hampered by an archaic infrastructure.

Yep. Many won't realize that the cross-country Route 66 was gravel or dirt for much of its length and wasn't fully paved until 1938. It was substantially upgraded during and after the war and then came Ike with personal experience "getting his kicks" compared to his recent appreciation of German autobahns. By the time of its decommission in the mid 1980s, part of Route 66 had been incorporated into high speed highway and other parts were bypassed. In 2016 kids think the freeways are just there, like the internet, so that many of the life lessons already are lost.

>>It remains the most significant civilian accomplishment since WWII.

Fair enough, but IMHO the greatest feat of imagination was Yuri Gagarin's exploits in Vostok followed by an astonishing US effort that had men on the moon, a feat that probably could not be replicated these days until the Chinese get around to it to formally signal their new place in the world.