From east to west, north to south, our nation is held together by the most extensive transportation network in history. The highway system connects America's diverse people with a wide range of opportunities available in our nation--connecting people to jobs, hospitals, places of worship, cultural and sporting events, national parks, and to family members across the country. The highway system also provides a vital link in our country's economic development and national defense--connecting manufacturers to retailers, farms to markets, military installations to deployment stations and shippers to seaports, airports, and railroads.