A "backbone" concept for development of Minnesota trunk highways

A careful examination of our State Trunk Highway System in 1972 revealed the following:
- Demands and requests for highway improvements throughout the state far exceeded our ability to finance them.
- Road improvements contained in the program surpassed available finances.
- Construction standards had been increased by the Federal Government for all projects involving federal funds resulting in sharply increased costs.
- Inflationary forces had reduced the amount of construction that could be obtained.
- Revenues had not been increased for state highway construction by the 1971 State Legislature.

Obviously, a financially realistic highway plan was needed.