I've spent the past week traveling throughout the Southeast U.S.

In past travels I noticed a new fence erected next to the interstate in and around the greater Atlanta area. Then about six months later I noticed the fence had been extended throughout the entire 85 corridor from ATL to the Alabama border.

This week I noticed it from GA to LA and in FL as well - in other words the same fencing along the entire interstate. It's a six-foot high hog-wire fence with two rows of barbed wire on top of that. Closer to the exits it's an eight-foot high heavy gauge chain-link fence with triple rows of barbed wire.

Has anyone else noticed this? Does anyone know what company was contracted to install it? What purpose does it serve? Why are the exits reinforced?

Obviously, at first glance, one might assume that it was to keep animals off of the highway. But then why are the exits so reinforced? People concern themselves with exits, not animals.

It's been several months since I've taken a trip so I haven't noticed.

I have my own pet theory about interstate highways.

Would they not be excellent runways and staging areas for the military?
They could have close access to all major cities along the entire highway system.

Several years ago a friend of mine had to make an emergency landing on the interstate highway near Saint Simon's Island, Ga.. That started me thinking how easy it would be for the government to physically take over the interstate highways.

There are many other four lane highways that could also be used for aircraft landings and takeoffs.

It's just a one of the wild theories running through my head.

Originally posted by dizziedame
Would they not be excellent runways and staging areas for the military?
They could have close access to all major cities along the entire highway system.

Several years ago a friend of mine had to make an emergency landing on the interstate highway near Saint Simon's Island, Ga.. That started me thinking how easy it would be for the government to physically take over the interstate highways.

There are many other four lane highways that could also be used for aircraft landings and takeoffs.

It's just a one of the wild theories running through my head.

That's why it's called the Eisenhower Interstate System. To qualify and to get gov't funding for upkeep they have to have a certain number of miles that are straight and flat that the military can use for emergency airstrips in case of war. They got the idea for the interstate system in the US from the Autobhan.

Well, sheep and cattle have to be herded through a fence too and sometimes they don't come back.

We run 85 down to Montgomery, and haven't seen anything like this. The only time we've seen any kind of barriers is when we're going through all that construction, and around the new Kia plant near Westpoint. Most of the way down to Montgomery we don't see anything. We went that way towards the end of November and didn't see anything then. I'd be pretty impressed if they could have put up that much fencing in less than a month.

In another post of mine I mentioned how Marshall Law might be implemented. I said that the Freeways would become off-limits to all except Military traffic. The state police/highway patrol etc would close all access to the freeways, restricting travel to the cities.
And all air traffic would be grounded. They already know this works. That experiment happened on 9/11/2001. Then, only Military and authorized air traffic will be allowed.
I would like to see some pics of this fence.

Oh it's there. Look about fifty feet off the road. Depending on the terrain, sometimes it's more visible than others. Most of it's not more than a year or two old. The materials and construction are consistent from state to state.

Our next trip to Montgomery should be in the next couple of weeks after we get our truck. We'll see if we see this fence and take pictures all along the way down.

Somebody better tell the History Channel then, because that's where I heard about it.

The Strategic Air Command used to practice refueling and reloading bombers on Interstates in places like North Dakota, back during the cold war. There were sections of straight flat highway that had all the signage low to the ground, and they would actually close the roads while they simulated bombing runs over the Soviet Union. They would land planes (B-52s I guess, don't recall) and refuel them for another run. There was a book published about it and some other interesting things, some years ago. I heard the author on NPR or somewhere. Lots of people remember having to wait, stopped on the highway, long before it became common because of congestion in most places.

There are some great stories about roads in the US in general, but you have to read through a lot of pretty dry publications to find them.

Simple enough. The fence you speak of is undoubtedly situated within the Highway Right-of-Way. Meaning, the reason you see the "same fence" is because it was contracted by the government to the same contractor.

Why the fence? You already answered that question. To keep animals and PEOPLE off the interstate. Very dangerous place an interstate. Why more security around the on-ramps and off-ramps? Because that is the likely place where a person would try to gain access to the interstate.

On the remarks of interstate highways being used for military purposes. OF COURSE they are utilized by the military. Would you expect the Army to roll its vehicles down County Road 235 when Interstate I-40 runs parallel to it and all the way across the country?!!!

If you had a mass evacuation / relocation due to a disaster, especially in cases where you had to quarantine the populace, a fenced in corridor would be ideal.

The thought of that just creeps me out.

[edit on 12/29/2008 by clay2 baraka]

I don't understand the sarcasm here.
I glanced at your source, but I don't need to read it. By trade I am a land surveyor. I have LAYED OUT interstate highways. I understand the Right-of-Way laws and WHY they are there.
Anyhow, you were saying?

And as far as "costs" go, I don't think I need to site examples of unnecessary government spending, do I?


[edit on 29-12-2008 by Jay-in-AR]

[edit on 29-12-2008 by Jay-in-AR]