Republican farmer., 1918-01-18
HIGHWAY CONSTRUCTION SHOULD BE CONTINUED AT HIGHEST POINT
 OF EFFICIENCY IN CONNECTICUT
Commissioner Bennett Also Recommends Construction of More Permanent Roadways, a Policy of Cooperation to Care for Increasing Motor Traffic and Elimination of Grade Crossings

character, principally of concrete or reinforced concrete, and have been de- signed not only with a view of strength but with some idea of beauty.
 The increase in motor traffic has been abnormal The total amount spent on maintenance and repairs on trunk line roads for the year was S1,495.4S6. In comparison the amount in 1913-14 was $7S5,099. In the latter year the miles maintained were 744, while the past year the figure was 923. The total expended the last year for hard pavements on roads al ready constructed was almost twice that expended in any previous year. Form aintenance of state. aid roads the cost was $191,955 for 533 miles, as compared with $119,67S and 389 miles in 1913-14.
 The total amount expended for both ordinary and permanent repairs of trunk line roads for the mileage under repair for the past four years IS as follows:
 1913-14 ...-...-......$ 7S5,099.34 1914-15 .-~........ 9,936.44 1Sl0-1O SoI, 6Uo. (Z 1916-17 ..... 1,495,4 ,4S6.45
 Particular attention is called to the fact that the total amount expended for permanent improvement, namely the placing of hard pavements on roads already constructed is almost twice that expended in any other year. Experience has shown, Com missioner Bennett says, that the con- crete road so far has been thoroughly successful and with one exception, due to faulty construction, no serious defects have been found.
 The following table gives the cost of ordinary maintenance and the cost of placing permanent pavement on trunk line roads already constructed: Ordinary Permanent 1913-14 ... $5S7182.58 S197,916.76 1914-15 =. 665,761.70 214,174.74 1915-16 =. 567,13O.17 414,478.56 1916-17 =. 7O9,419.64 786,066.80
 The department spent the past year for repair equipment, motor trucks, crushers, etc, $65,3o7. It has been found necessary to increase equip ment to take advantage of the use of machinery in the repairs of high ways and to secure rapidity in execu- 1 ton.
 | Automobile fees have increased sufficiently to take care of the ordi- nary repairs of roads and provide for supervision and to allow of some re- placement of roads with peremanent pavement. But even with the in- creased vehicle fees, it is necessary to provide additional appropriations for replacements and this policy has been adhered to by the Legislature of l 1917 so that our program of replace iements can bee arried on consistently and in such manner as to provide hard surface roads where they are most needed.
 The commissioners report takes up specific tasks which have figured as large items of the years business, such as elimination of grade cross ings, improving dangerous spots on trunk highways, work on the Mantle and Thames river bridges. and in carrying out work provided for by act of the General Assembly.
 With respect to the elimination of dangerous railroad crossings on trunk line highways, the commissioner is eSpec1d4ly 4isIstenl upou Ihe ueNeIop- ment of a definite plan for a pro- gressive removal of the evil "As the motor vehicle traffic increases the ] lia bility of accidents becomes more and more evident. It would seem that the state, the railroad companies and the different municipalities should cooperate in doing away with the menace to life existent at evA-y railroad crossing"
 Allusion is made to the fact that twenty-five employees of the depart ment have gone into war service. In conclusion the commissioner points out that highway construction should be prosecuted without let-up to the end