AA-2026-0F9AAD
On the image
A section of highway sliced through a rocky hillside reveals the era's unwavering belief that a straight line is always the best solution. The rocks, ancient and indifferent, were merely obstacles to be cut through, rather than features to be admired or, God forbid, circumvented.
This is the kind of geological evidence that confirms two things: roads exist, and somebody decided this particular path was optimal. The slight reddish soil layer at the base suggests geological processes that predate human ambition by several orders of magnitude, a detail likely overlooked by anyone speeding past in a Ford Pinto.
The entire scene speaks to a certain industrial pragmatism, where the landscape existed primarily to facilitate rapid transportation between point A and point B. Aesthetic considerations, like "should we disturb this ancient rock face?", were clearly not on the architectural review board's agenda.
The historian's note
The construction of major roadways, particularly during the mid-20th century, often involved significant topographical alterations. This included cutting directly through hillsides and rock formations to achieve desired gradients and curvatures for efficient vehicular travel.
The scene captures a typical example of such engineering practices, where the immediate demands of infrastructure development superseded concerns for natural landscape preservation. These interventions were common across various terrains throughout the United States during the period.
Subjects & keywords — each links to a search
Visually related — by likeness
1970s Road Cut Through Rocky Hillside. 1970–1979. Archive & Atlas, Historical Image Library, AA-2026-0F9AAD. https://thearchive.archiveandatlas.com/library/1970s-road-cut-through-rocky-hillside.
@misc{aaAA20260F9AAD,
title = {1970s Road Cut Through Rocky Hillside},
year = {1970–1979},
howpublished = {Archive \& Atlas, Historical Image Library},
note = {Accession AA-2026-0F9AAD},
url = {https://thearchive.archiveandatlas.com/library/1970s-road-cut-through-rocky-hillside}
}TY - ART TI - 1970s Road Cut Through Rocky Hillside PY - 1970–1979 PB - Archive & Atlas, Historical Image Library AN - AA-2026-0F9AAD UR - https://thearchive.archiveandatlas.com/library/1970s-road-cut-through-rocky-hillside ER -
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