"Travis Jordan" wrote:

Why do people build right up against the highway when
there is so much other land available? Are land values on the highway
so much lower than they are 'inland', or is it some kind of fascination
with the traffic or highway itself?

As with many major purchases, its a question of balancing a number of factors.
While I wouldn't buy within a couple of miles of an interstate or major highway,
some people feel access to a particular school district, distance to work,
distance to shops, potential for equity growth, etc are all more important.