 This 624-mile road, which passed through what was later to become the town of Benge, was completed in 1862 at a cost of $280,000.The Benge section of the road was completed on May 22, 1861; the wagon ruts were still visible in 2008 just northeast of town at the site of the First Benge School.Although built as a military road, it was used by civilians for both travelers and cargo transport until the Northern Pacific Railroad was completed in 1883.