TEXAS PARADE VOL. l?c No. 29 July.-1958, ?^l-^2,
Gj nLJQ © Gj Gj
P.
chief engineer, u.s. bureau of public roads
A native Texan gives an Appraisal of 1958 Federal Aid Highway Act)and
urges broad public understanding to keep road program moving on schedule
C-3 UK TKXAS Good Roads Assoeia- Taylor, our Regional Engineer located years from now without congestion, and lion was among tho many groups at Fort Worth, and J. M. Page, our with built-in provisions for easy ex working on behalf of the vast Federal- Division Engineer for Texas, located pansion to accommodate the increases
STALE highway program which became in Austin. of still later years. By 1975, this nation
AREN'IH in the enactment, of the Federal The Texas Good Roads Association is expected to have more than 100 mil •\irl [livhu;iy Act of 1956. The work was organized in 1932. which doesn't lion vehicles, traveling well over a tril
did N IILIRNT.IIR goal, certainly, was for a better motor vehicles registered in the United lives up to her reputation, she will then ,NIII --hunger America. Highway trans States, then, have now multiplied by be leading the States in numbers of port! I inn k such a vital force in our two and three-quarters times. In Texas, vehicles. nation,IL economy that a famous quota registrations have jumped during the Let me reiterate that important tion mav he aptly paraphrased to say, quarter-century from one million to phrase—a system with built-in. protec "Wind is good for roads is good for more than 4 million, and Texas has tion against obsolescence. In the first tin1 nmutry.'' risen from sixth place among the States place, never before have we undertaken TLUIHI'DI the efforts and interests of to third place, yielding only to Cali the establishment of a whole highway SINLI 'III'IIPS representing rather general fornia and New York in this item. system, simultaneously all over the na LY the whole public—we have a big Meanwhile, our national total mileage tion, in city and country alike, with a !ii;:liw;I\ program. Tf sincere, hard work of roads and streets has increased but specific length and locations, a uni will hritig il about, that program cer little—-and this is as might be expected, formly high level of design standards, tain lv WILL become a reality as fast as since even 25 years ago practically and a long-range completely packaged available funds will permit. every village and farm was reached by authorization for its financing. The Texas Highway Department, un some kind of road. What also might And never before, have we been so DER (LIE very capable leadership of De- have been expected during the 25 years, conscious of, and laid such careful will GREER, is doing an outstanding job. despite World War II and Korea—was plans against, obsolescence. One of our Mr. Greer is not only serving Texas the continuing improvement of these soundest measures, certainly, is the ac well 1ML also through his active partici roads and streets commensurate with quisition of ample rights-of-wav. so that pation in the work of the American their growing traffic load. But this did we may not only build the traffic lanes A.ssociiiliori of State Highway Officials not happen in the same degree. we need now, but will be able to pro NN si'.'IIIFII'MNiv in highway affair?. mounting traffic problem and adopt a rights-of-way will serve at the same lime \W. IN Washington, operate this Fcd- long-range program designed to solve to provide the broad, variable wide me !T;!l-;!id highway program by remote it. The Federal-Aid Highway Act of dians that are such important safety CONTROL not as manipulating long that year provided a program aimed at factors. Not only do thev keep the op sli'itiL's on a puppet, but through (he completion, in a dceade and a half, of a posing traffic streams well separated, ALMOST complete delegation of Federal designated Interstate System of prede but they help to keep the drivers in AIILLI'iiily and responsibilities to our termined length and built to or above terested and alert. field offices. If Public Roads is being prescribed minimum standards—a sys The acquisition of right-of-wa v is n licljifu] to Texas in this cooperative tem with built-in protection against ear complicated and often protracted pro '•nil•rjirisi1 nf ours, and 1 believe wr ly obsolescence, and capable of handling cedure, involving the combined (a)ent< air. much credit certainly is due Clason as a verv minimum the traffic of 20 of engineers, lawyers, and real estate experts. Right-of-way for this Inter usefulness largely dissipated by lack of the pay-as-you-go feature of the 1956 state System is going lo cost about. $5 access control. Yet the four lanes of Act for two years. It increased the In billion, so obviously we have before us, pavement are physically as good as terstate authorization for fiscal year in the aggregate, a bigger real estate new, and of ample potential capacity. 1959 by S200 million, which was im transaction than has ever before been Rejuvenation of this section, by pur mediately apportioned lo the states by envisioned. This problem is somewhat chase of access rights now, would be Secretary Weeks, with Texas receiving new to the highway department of Tex possible, but fantastically expensive. It Si 1.6 million new monies. as, where traditionally the counties and will be much cheaper to build a new For the fiscal year 1960, the effect cities have provided such rights-of-way road. And yet, 15 years ago, a relatively of the new act is indeed potent. With as were needed for state highways. The modest additional expenditure, and ade the pay-as-you-go clause temporarily Texas Highway Department has been quate state legislation, could have pro suspended and the Interstate authoriza organizing its own right-of-way unit vided controlled access, which in turn, tion increased by $300 million, the pros and has made very satisfactory progress would have given a road that would be pects in fiscal year 1960 arc extremely in doing so. fully as useful now as on the day it bright. Instead of apportioning to the The single feature in highway plan 1 was opened to traffic. States $1.6 billion in December, we ning that, more than any other, will ' There are similar case histories to be will be able to make available the full retard obsolescence is what we, as en found everywhere across the land -— S2.5 billion now authorized, and do it gineers, call planned, controlled access. shortsighted monuments of obsolescence this summer. Thus we will be making Everyone has heard many descriptions , and the wastage of our resources. Is a gain of S900 million and 5 or 6 of what it is, how it works, and why it it any wonder, then, that the Congress months in lime. We are confident that is needed. Better than any engineering wisely insisted on control of access on the States will meet the challenge of or economic justification in general the Interstate System? And that all who this increased tempo in the program. terms, however, a case history can drive are interested in. getting the most for The new act, incidentally, authorized home this point. our highway dollar, should adhere to Public Roads to apportion the 1960 In another state, on a heavily-trav that dictum? funds on the basis of the estimate of eled route, a new section of highway As to the present status of this In the cost of completing the Interstate was built only 15 years ago, extending terstate program, it is on schedule. On System, made by the States and sub- from the limits of a large city to an March 31, actual construction was under milted to Congress in January. Texas important cross route 7 miles away. way on 2,400 miles of the system. From will receive 4*4 percent of the total U. S. The road was laid entirely on new .Tulv 1, 1956, to that dale, construction funds, or about $113 million. This location, across farm land and open had already been completed on 1,404 method of distribution among the Stales country. It was built as a four-lane di miles. The amount of money put into will do much toward attainment of the vided highway, to what some thought construction contracts during the 21 goal expressed by Congress: to com was a ridiculously extravagant design, months totaled very nearly $2 billion plete the system simultaneously across but, and this is important, access was and an additional SI.4 billion had been the nation. uncontrolled and road crossings were all authorized for preliminary engineering The provisions of the 1958 Act, with at grade. and right-of-way acquisition. The spread regard to the waiver of the pay-as-you- Now, it happens that about one mile in progress among slates is wide, though go restriction and authorization of the of this road lies within a state park; the lagging ones show promise of catch cost-of-complction method of apportion TO, in effect, that portion has controlled ing up. In terms of available federal- ment, do not extend beyond the fiscal access. That one mile functions as well aid funds obligated, I am happy to say, year 1960. Consequently, it would not now as the year it was built. But on Texas is among the top twelve states. be proper at the present time to specu the rest of the route, within 10 years' That is where we are. Now, where late into the future in detail. The cost time, service stations, refreshment are we going, and—since we have a estimate reported in January showed a stands, businesses, apartments, and resi specific goal—how fast? The 1956 high $10 billion increase above the long- dences lined both sides of the road. way act put the federal-aid program on range financing authorized in the 1956 Traffic lights were installed at major a pay-as-you-go basis, with financing Act equivalent to about a one-third in cross roads. Driveways and crossroads from highway-user excise taxes which crease. A considerable proportion of now average 250 feet apart. go into a Highway Trust Fund. The that increase resulted from rising prices of highway construction. What does this mean to the driver? law requires us to gear the yearly au Slower overall speed, more stop-and-go, thorizations to ihe estimated Trust Fund Whatever the future holds, one thing more gasoline burned, more repair bills, receipts. Some months ago, it was evi is certain—a long-range program of this greater nervous tension. That average dent that under the law we would have sort requires a great deal of advance of a road entrance every 250 feet means to drop back from the $2 billion allo planning. Many of the States and Public encountering a potential serious acci cated to the states for ihe fiscal vear Roads are even now scheduling the spe dent hazard every 4 seconds, equivalent 1959 to about Si.6 billion for fiscal cific projects to he built in the next 5 to two accident exposures within the year I960. years, with the work that will remain distance required to stop after seeing The federal-aid highway act, of 1958, thereafter grouped into two or three the first hazard. signed last .April, has considerably similar schedules for the ensuing period. The highway is already obsolete, its brightened this pichnc. for it set aside Such plans must, necessarily be some- \k: ELASTIC, AND SUBJECT to CONTINUOUS CROSSED OR TOUCHED BY THE INTERSTATE VIEWED NARROWLY IN TERMS OF PRESENT EX [MEW. A. PROGRAM that INVOLVES WHOLE- SYSTEM. PENDITURE ALONE- BUT IF THEY PROVIDE SAB LAIID ACQUISITION, DISLOCATION OF A COMPLETELY NEW FEATURE OF THE 1958 FOR AND PRESERVE THE CAPACITY OF OUR BMCS A-IDL BUSINESSES, RELOCATION OF UTIL ACT IS THE ESTABLISHMENT OF a NATIONAL MOST HEAVILY-TRAVELED ROUTES FOR YEARS ITIES, aad FINALLY, CONSTRUCTION, DEMANDS POLICY WITH REGARD LO THE CONTROL OF TO COME, THEN THEY MAY BE CONSIDERED TO ITTENAVC ( A D VAN CE PLA N N I N G BY. AN D OUTDOOR ADVERTISING ALONG THE INTER BE STURDY GUARDIANS OF THE HUGE HIGH DOSE COOPERATION AMONG HIGHWAY OFFI STATE SYSTEM. WHILE GENERAL PRINCIPLES WAY INVESTMENT WC ARE NOW MAKING. cii, Engineers, AND LEGISLATURES, AND AND RESTRICTIONS ARC LAID DOWN IN THE WE ARE PAYING HEAVILY NOW FOR OUR ILSO CONTRACTORS, EQUIPMENT MANUFAC LAW, THE SECRETARY OF COMMERCE IS FAILURE TO SPEND WISELY IN YEARS PAST. TORIES, AND MATERIALS PRODUCERS, BUT CALLED UPON TO PREPARE NATIONAL STAND WE MUST NOT MAKE THE SAME MISTAKES MOST OF ALL, THE GENERAL PUBLIC. ARDS AND ENTER INTO AGREEMENTS WITH TWICE. IT IS Line THAT the 41,000 MILES OF THE STATES WHICH seek THE INCENTIVE IN ADDITION TO THE PERIL OF WATERING INTERSTATE SYSTEM SEEM TO HOLD THE BONUS PROVIDED FOR IN the ACT- IT IS DOWN LHCSE GENERAL FEATURES OF THE IN- Sf-OTLIJLIT IN the PUBLIC EYE. BUT JUST AS PROBABLE THAT a GOOD DEAL OF STUDY AND LERSLATE SYSTEM, THE STATES FACE ANOLHER IMPORTANT IS THE CONTINUING REGULAR PRO- DISCUSSION WITH THE SLATES WILL BE NECES SERIOUS PROBLEM—LHE CHOICE OF DETAILED, RAN (OR THE IMPROVEMENT of THE 737,- SARY BEFORE Lhe DEFINITIVE AND PRACTICAL FINAL LOCATION OF SPECIFIC ROUTE SECTIONS, 1 MILES OF the FEDERAL-AID primary WORKING ARRANGEMENTS WILL BE DEVELOPED PARTICULARLY IN AND NEAR URBAN AREAS. AID SECONDARY HIGHWAY SYSTEMS AND AND put INTO EFFCRL. THE HIGHWAY DEPARTMENTS ARE TRYING JEIR URBAN EXTENSIONS. WITHOUT THEM ONE FURTHER POINT IN EXPLANATION OF LO SELECT THE MOST FEASIBLE ROUTES; THE LB INTERSTATE SYSTEM COULD PROVIDE very THE 1958 ACT. THE NEW LAW HAS BEEN MOST ECONOMICAL ONES, IN TERMS OF BOTH little SERVICE TO THE COUNTRY;—no MORE WIDELY CITED IN THE PRESS AS PROVIDING IMMEDIATE COST AND LONG-RANGE BENEFIT. THAN CAN A HIGH-VOLTAGE ELECTRIC TRANS $1.S BILLION OF FEDERAL AID THIS YEAR. BUT ALL OVER THE COUNTRY, IN METROPOLI ITION LINE be of SERVICE WITHOUT THE THAT FIGURE IS COMPOSED IN PART OF LHE TAN AREA AND VILLAGE ALIKE, PRESSURE MAY LOWER-VOLTAGE DISTRIBUTION LINES $400 MILLION PROVIDED FOR IMMEDIATE GROUPS ARE FIGHTING BOTH THE STATE HIGH IND THE MILLIONS OF WIRES FEEDING cur USE on THE PRIMARY, SECONDARY AND UR WAY DEPARTMENTS AND EACH OTHER. BUSI RENT INTO INDIVIDUAL CITIES, BLOCKS, BAN SYSTEMS AND THE ADDITIONAL $200 NESSMEN WANT THE ROUTE IN A RESIDENTIAL KNITS, BUSINESSES, AND INDUSTRIES. MILLION FOR LHE FISCALYEA R 1959 FOR THE AREA; HOME OWNERS WANT IT IN PARK TJM 1958 FEDERAL-AID HIGHWAY ACT INTERSTATE SYSTEM, ALL OF WHICH HAS al LAND; NATURE LOVERS WANT IT IN THE BUSI h been REFERRED to AS AN ANTI-RECES READY BEEN APPORTIONED to THE STATES NESS AREA. EVERYONE WANTS THE ROUTE— SION MEASURE. IT IS FAR MORE THAN THAT. IMMEDIATELY AFTER PASSAGE OF the ACT. BUT OVER IN SOMEONE ELSE'S FRONT YARD. 1 IUVE ALREADY INDICATED SOME OF ITS THE REMAINDER IS COMPOSED OF THE AU AMERICANS, UNFORTUNATELY, ARE TO A ELITE OR. THE INTERSTATE SYSTEM pro THORIZATIONS IN THIS ACT FOR LHE FISCAL GREAT EXTENT, A COMPLACENT PEOPLE. IF GRAM, AND ITS PROVISION FOR CONTINUANCE YEAR I960: THE S900 MILLION FOR LHE WE ARE SATISFIED WITH THE WAY TILINGS OL THE REGULAR PRIMARY, SECONDARY, AND PRIMARY AND SECONDARY SYSTEMS AND THE ARE GOING, WE NOD APPROVAL AND SIL WKN PROGRAMS. additional $300 MILLION FOR THE INTER HOME IN FRONT OF THE TV. MEANWHILE, ONE SECTION OF THE 1958 ACT WAS STATE SYSTEM. ACTUALLY, as I HAVE INDI THE SMALL MINORITY, WHO ARE "ANTI." DISTINCTLY INTENDED TO BE AN ANTI-RECES CATED, THE WHOLE INTERSTATE APPORTION OFTEN ON THE BASIS OF PREJUDICE, SOME SION MEASURE, JUDGING BOTH BY THE NA- MENT FOR 1960 WILL BE 32.5 BILLION. AS TIMES FOR HOPE OF PERSONAL BENEFIT, OR, LUE OF ITS PROVISIONS AND THE DISCUS YOU CAN see, THE REPORTED $1.8 BILLION QUITE UNDERSTANDABLY, FOR FEAR OF PER SION OF THE CONGRESSIONAL COMMITTEES. DOES NOT TAKE INTO ACCOUNT AT ALL THE SONAL LOSS, OR, EVEN INFREQUENTLY, BE THAT SECTION AUTHORIZES FOR THE FISCAL AUTHORIZATIONS FOR 1961 MADE IN THE CAUSE IHEY SEE TOO NARROWLY, MAKE JAR 1959 AN ADDITIONAL £400 MILLION NEW ACT, WHICH WILL BRING THE TOTAL FOR NOISES LIKE A MULTITUDE. [C-R USE ON THE PRIMARY AND SECONDARY THAT YEAR TO $3.4-25 BILLION, IT IS OF UTMOST IMPORTANCE THAT TEXAS SYSTEMS AND THEIR URBAN EXTENSIONS, FOR v IT IS IN THE INTERSTATE PROGRAM THAT ACQUIRE AS MUCH INFORMATION ABOUT TINS LIE PURPOSE OF IMMEDIATE ACCELERATION WE FACE SOME REAL PROBLEMS, AND it IS INTERSTATE PROGRAM AS POSSIBLE—WHAT IT EUHE RATE OF HIGHWAY CONSTRUCTION OT HERE that PUBLIC UNDERSTANDING AND SUP MEANS TO THE NATION, TO THE STATE, TO THESE SYSTEMS, WITH CONSEQUENT INCREASE PORT ARE VITAL. IF THESE MAIN-LINE ROUTES THE HOME TOWN, TO THE INDIVIDUAL. NOT IN EMPLOYMENT. THE 8-100 MILLION WAS , ARE TO be ADEQUATE INTO THE DISTANT ONLY NOW, BUT IN THE FUTURE AS WELL. IMMEDIATELY APPORTIONED to THE STALES FUTURE AS INTENDED, SUFFICIENT RIGHLS-of- WE BELIEVE THAT FULL PUBLIC KNOWLEDGE 3ii THE CAY THE ACT was SIGNED INTO LAW IWAY MUST BE OBTAINED AT THE BEGIN WILL CREATE WHOLEHEARTED SUPPORT AMONG IN APRIL 16, TEXAS RECEIVING $24.3 MIL NING. DESIGN STANDARDS NEED NOT BE EX THE VAST MAJORITY OF AMERICANS WHO LION, WHICH HAS ALREADY BEEN PUT INTO TRAVAGANT BUT THEY SHOULD be GENEROUS WANT BETTER, SAFER, AND—IN THE LONG .ID SCHEDULED LETTINGS TO PERMIT ADDI- —CERTAINLY NO LESS THAN THE MINIMUMS RUN—CHEAPER HIGHWAYS. :IONAL ROAD JOBS TO BEGIN IMMEDIATELY. NOW ADOPTED—AND IHEY SHOULD PROVIDE WITH THE SUPPORT OF THE PUBLIC, ACTING FOR an OPTIMISTIC AND EXPANDABLE FU TURNING TO OTHER PROVISIONS OF THE BOTH THROUGH GROUPS AND INDIVIDUALS, TURE. ACCESS CONTROL, WINCH IS OUR BEST 1958 ACT, THE PUBLIC HEARINGS REQUIRE' WE CAN CONTINUE TO KEEP THIS FNLCRMATE INSURANCE AGAINST UNTIMELY OBSOLESCENCE, RANT, HERETOFORE LIMITED lo CITIES, TOWNS PROGRAM, AND OTHER HIGHWAY PROGRAMS, MUST NOT HE CRIPPLED BY UNWARRANTED AND VILLAGES, IS EXTENDED: TO PROVIDE op ON SCHEDULE—A SCHEDULE LLIAL WILL PRO EXCEPT IONS. PORTUNITY OF HEARINGS for PERSONS IN VIDE FOR OUR IRAHV NEEDS OF TODAY AND RURAL AREAS WHOSE PROPERLY IS TO BE ALL of THESE ELEMENTS ORE EXPENSIVE IF TOMORROW. HMI YRSICRRLAY. trfrb ENGINEERING NEWS-RECORD Vol. 16*7, NO. 16„ OCTNBE: 19 1961, p.26-2/. HI- ^ i SI SGHRS URBAN PLANNING, RESEARCL AND PAYOLA uiS'Wrfafi'.m problem. One of these more application of research. We must the Ottawa Road Test- Flexible and K A.W If )"s newly elected president, see to it that research is in keeping rigid pavement design recommendations Ciil.foniin's jasper C. Womack (sec with the needs of our programs." may be revealed next year. Recommen fax, p. 76). Representative Blatnik also empha dations as to maximum sizes and The position of AASHO in regard to sized research, saying, "Highway re weights of vehicles may not be ready iiibj transportation was spotted out in search by a]l agencies lias not kept pace until 1965. Highway legislation that JVnver ;IS part of a policy statement on with the accelerated program. More will come up for action in the next luftways in a national trail spoliation highway dollars must be utilized in session of Congress was detailed bv policy, ;Cliicf administrative officers of research than has been the case in the Rep. George 1'allon (D„ Md.) and Gem (k member departments developed ''lie past." L. \V. Prentiss, executive vice-president .Moment for inclusion in a compre A proposal that the state highway of the American Road Builders Asso ssive study report to be submitted to departments pool some of their research ciation. Expected proposals include: feiclcvit Kennedy in November.) funds is now out for approval by • Biennial authorization for the A13C Key starcmcnts included these: AASHO member departments." If ap program for fiscal years 196-} and J965. .•Urban portions of tlic Interstate proval (and money) is forthcoming, • An amendment to the fcdcral-aid System should be planned and devcl- AASHO 'will hike action on a specific highway law requiring assurances that c-pwl l?y the state highway departments group of research proposals. satisfactory housing will be made avail B urban extensions and connections, of Key AASHO committees have again able for families displaced by federal-aid flit over-all highway network', in coopcr- postponed announcement of results of highway projects. ihn with appropriate local govern ments and interested federal agencies. • The development of scientific re- U. S. highway experts touring the Soviet Union find lags b'misiiips among transportation, land n OCTOBER IP, 7POL * ENGINEERING NEWS-RECORD r r o Iv.msfcr of financing of forest and out plans for a proposed demonstration moisture readings being within 2% of ;i:ii)]ic lands highways (about 537 mil automatic highway. moisture contents determined by the ium ncr year) from the General Fund Opening of a proposed 100-mile sec traditional method. In density de In the Highway Trust Fund. tion of electronic road is at least four terminations S3% of the nuclear read • Transfer of aviation fuel receipts years awav, saws Mr. Atwell. A tentative ings were within a tolerance of 3 lb per •[inn the Trust Fund into the General timetable allows one year for analysis cu ft by a standard method. bind (about $22 million in tiic current of an approach to the problem, another William A. Bugge, director of high list.il year). vcar of experimentation with basic sys ways for the State of Washington won • Reimbursement to the states for tems and two vcars for construction. AASHO's Thomas A. MacDonald lollmacls and some free roads incorpo- Two research engineers reported the Award. Mr. Bugge is a past president uted in the Interstate System. results of tests of nuclear devices to of AASIIO, a previous recipient of the «Some form of legislation dealing measure soil densitv and moisture. George S. Bartlctt Award and current with the urban transportation problem. S. II. Kuhn of South Africa reported chairman of the Highway Research A,\SIIO went solidly on record as that the nuclear method is nine times Board. opposing "use of any Highway Trust faster and just as accurate as traditional John C. Mackic, Michigan Highway Fund monies for any program other methods. Reliability is within 5% of Commissioner, was elected first vice than now authorized by law." actua1 moisture con teat and 3% densitv. president of AASIIO. Regional vice Albert At well, a member of the W. R. Brown, of the Colorado De presidents arc William Froeblich. Penn transportation policy group consultants partment of .1 Iighways, reported that sylvania; M. II. Harris. Virginia; Walter !i) the Department of Commerce and an extensive series of tests with one Johnson, Kansas; and Bryce Bennett, other governmental agencies, spelled device resulted in 95% of the nuclear Idaho. esearchpand they conclude: ni design, construction and i They're Good. Moscow is particularly notable for its In construction as in other fields, Crimea, where a new four-lane highway wide boulevards. Pavement alone on they arc obsessed with a drive to surpass is being built across the mountains to many of these runs 150-175 ft in width. the rest of the world by having "the the Black Sea; Mincralhvvc Vodv in the Under development in the capital biggest." even where bigness may be northern Caucasus; Tiflis, capital of citv (population 7 million) is a series of uneconomical and unrealistic, says Mr. Georgia, which is in the vinicity of the tin™ highways. The seventh of these Turner. For instance, in Leningrad they Turkish and Iranian borders; Tashkent, rings is a four-lane, divided circumfer have built a six-story, brick asphalt mix a city east of the Caspian Sea; and Alma ential highway with controlled access ing plant having a capacity of more than Ata, which is near the border of Red designed to accommodate 20,000- 1,000 tons an hour. It is larger than China. The Tashkent and Alma Ata :i,(]flO vehicles daily. It is 62 miles anything in this country, though there regions have only recently been opened bug and scheduled for completion next is serious doubt that the Russians really to foreign visitors. jcar. need a plant of this capacity. The Russian delegation arrived in At the request of the Russians, the The U. S. delegation generally Washington October 7 and will remain American delegation offered a critique learned nothing new from Russian re in this country through October 30. of this project. The U.S. officials felt search projects. They had expected the Last week, it visited BPR headquarters ;lic Russians are making a mistake in Russians to display a number of sonic., and two research laboratories in Wash not providing structures and space now or nuclear testing devices not used in ington and viewed various Washington for eventual widening of this highway the U. S., but they either don't have bridges and the circumferential highway tit at least six lanes. They also criti them or wouldn't show them. There now under construction, the Washing cized the lack of American-tvpe speed were some indications that the Rus ton-Baltimore Parkway, the Baltimore clumgc lanes at access points. sians may be ahead of this country in Tunnel and then traveled to New York [flic Russians accepted all criticism research on welding techniques. City via the Delaware River Bridge, the in good spirit and at all times treated In addition to Mr. Turner, the Amer New Jersey Turnpike and the Lincoln tiit U.S. delegation with friendship.) icans who visited Russia included O. K. Tunnel. Over the weekend, it toured Russian construction methods arc Nonnann, deputy assistant commis bridges, tunnels and highways spon generally less satisfactory than this sioner of BPR's Office of Research; Eric sored by the New York Port and Tri- country's. There is not enough heavy L. Erickspn, chief of BPR's bridge di Borough Bridge and Tunnel authori ties. rolling of fills and bases. Portland ce vision; D. Kenneth Chaccy, a Defense ment scaling is a problem. Harsh con Department transportation official; This week's schedule carried the dele trite mixes arc used. Frank M. Melhnger, director, Ohio gation to Albany and Buffalo, N. Y.; All equipment is noticeably under- River Division Laboratories, Corps of Chicago, the AASHO road test site at pimvK'd by American standards. Pavc- Engineers; Robert C. Morrill, product Ottawa, 111., and the Caterpillar Tractor iiitut mixes arc hauled in side-dump, division manager, Caterpillar Tractor Co. plant at Jolict, 111. On Sunday, the imiKigitator trucks. The mixes must • Co.; and Charles E. Shumate, assistant group moves into the West, viewing k transported long distances from giant ' chief engineer, Colorado Department of existing highways and construction proj cuitriil mixing plants and often begin ' Highways. ects at Boise, Idaho; Grand Junction, ViEilcning cn route. The group went first to Moscow for Colo.; Salt Lake City, Utah; and Den 1 Sic use of precast and prestresscd briefings at the Ministry of Transport ver. Next Thursday, the delegation ••''Sikicic is almost an obsession with the Construction and tours of highway proj travels south to Dallas, the Corps of Ku^iaiis. The;- use it for long-span ects and research facilities. Subse Engineers' Waterways Experimental Idlers, footings, retaining walls, col- quently, it visited Leningrad; Kiev and Station at Jackson, Miss., and Atlanta. '^iiv caps and all sorts or components Kharkov, Russia's Pittsburgh, in the It returns October 30 to Washington bt holdings. Ukraine; Simferopol and Yalta in the for a final session with BPR officials. ^•INHERING NEWS-RECORD • October 19, 1961 27