Robert Frost’s famous poem “The Road Not Taken” has always resonated with me. Maybe a little too much, if you ask my family.
I’m known for my patented “shortcuts” — spontaneous detours to visit obscure historical markers, hidden sites, and out-of-the-way curiosities. My family calls them “adventures.” My son just calls them “Dad’s detours,” and after one particularly memorable side trip to Coral Castle near Miami, he doesn’t let me drive anymore.
But these backroad journeys have a certain charm — and sometimes a little danger.
I remember one GPS-guided misadventure when the technology was still new. We were in Greene County, PA, and the GPS told me to take Seven Creek Road (not to be confused with “Seven Bridges Road,” though that would’ve been a nicer tune to travel by). The first bridge had a sizeable hole, but my car made it across. The second was little more than concrete slabs flanked by cinder block guide rails. At the third creek, there was no bridge at all. Time to turn around. Recalculating…
The Long Road to Better Roads
It turns out I’m not the first to struggle with the state of America’s roads.
Closer to home, Sarasota County was carved out of Manatee County in 1921 — in large part because of the desperate need for better roads and bridges. At that time, 75% of the roads in Sarasota were impassable for parts of the year. The cars were often more advanced than the roads they drove on.
The effort to improve American roads goes back centuries. The first federally funded highway, the National Road (now U.S. Route 40), was commissioned by Congress in 1806 and began construction in 1811. It connected Cumberland, MD to Pittsburgh, PA and closely followed General Braddock’s path from the French and Indian War — with a young Colonel George Washington in tow.
Even earlier, King Charles II ordered the construction of the King’s Highway in 1650 to connect Charleston, SC to Boston, MA — over 1,300 miles that would later become parts of U.S. Routes 1 and 17.
In the early 20th century, the Lincoln Highway (now U.S. Route 30), dedicated in 1913, became America’s first transcontinental road for automobiles. Running from New York to San Francisco, it was tested in 1919 when the U.S. Army sent a convoy of 81 trucks across the country. One of the officers on that journey, Lt. Colonel Dwight D. Eisenhower, never forgot the treacherous mud and rugged terrain — experiences that later inspired the Interstate Highway Act of 1956 when he became president.
The Lincoln Highway earned its title as the “Granddaddy of Highways,” while the Pennsylvania Turnpike, opened in 1940, became known as the “Granddaddy of the Interstates,” built for fast-moving modern vehicles.
From Rough Roads to Smooth Retirement
At HPK Provident Advisors, we like to think we’re in the business of building good roads — financial roads. Ones that help guide you smoothly to a stable and fulfilling retirement.
Sure, there might be a few detours or unmarked roads along the way, but that’s where we come in. We help you stay on course, avoid the potholes, and make the journey as scenic and productive as possible.
Just do yourself a favor: steer clear shortcuts.
Ready to map out your retirement journey?
Let’s talk about where you want to go — and how to get there.
Contact us to schedule a conversation. Your future deserves a well-paved road. We’re here to help you find it.
The opinions voiced in this material are for general information only and are not intended to provide specific advice or recommendations for any individual. All performance referenced is historical and is no guarantee of future results. All indices are unmanaged and may not be invested into directly. Economic forecasts set forth may not develop as predicted