The Bridgeport times and evening farmer. (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1918-1924, 1918-01-14

Ihat highway construction should
be prosecuted without Iet-up and ex-
listing roads maintained at the high
est point of efficiency; that more and
more permanent roads of the high
est character should be the states
policy in road building; and that the
increased motor traffic should lead
to a policy of cooperation on the
part of the state, railroad companies
and municipalities in the progressive
elimination of dangerous grade cross
ings, are the chief recommendations
in the report of Highway Commission
er Charles J. Bennett for the year
ended September 80, 1917.
The expense, of maintenance of the
state highway department for the
year ended September 80, was 81
528,225. The refunds received from
all sources were $330;961, making the
net expenditures for the year $2,197,-
26S, or Slightly in excess of the sum
spent in the season of 1856 This
increase was mainly due to increases
in the cost of maintenance and recon-
struction of highways, and money to
meet it was found in the increased
revenue from the automobile depart
ment; material and labor costs ia
| creased because of war conditions
The chief expenditures of the de-
partment were of three kinds: The
construction Of highways, the con-
struction trunk line highways under
acts Of 1915 and 1917, and payments
for the maintenance, construction
and repairs of highways. Other ap-
| purposes, such as elimination of dam
gerous conditions on trunk lines, con-
struction of specified bridges and for
1.-THE general operation of the depart
ment.
The last Assembly made ample pro-
vision for new road construction and
the coming two years should show in
creased mileage in improved high
ways, although the total is restricted
ed by reason of the federal govern
ment's schedule, that only necessary
roads should be improved, and be-
cause materials and labor are scarce,
by reason of war conditions.
During the year 1926 miles of new
road was built, making the total of
state aid and trunk line highways to
! 1,457.26 miles. The department is
convinced that present day traffic re-
quires permanent pavements of a
high character. Conditions at pres
ent are abnormal and the demand for
twelve month use of a highway
makes it necessary to expend more
money on improved types of surface.
1t is hoped during the coming year
to construct only such roads as are
of vital necessity to the passage OF
through traffic or to the development
of facilities for the prosecution of
the war. The department expects to
work in cooperation with the author
tiles at Washington in the develop
ment of roads which are both a ne
cessity from a military and CONNER
cial standpoint, in the successful pros
ecution of the war.
The department expended or con-
tracted for about 100000 worth of
trunk line bridge construction, on
which the refunds were such that the
net expenditure was about $4,000
The Westport bridge at Saugatuck
has been completed and the Housa-
tonic River bridge at Derby started
Other bridges have been examined
and repairs made to strengthen them
to carry all traffic which goes over
, them.
The Legislature of 1917 restricted
the weight of vehicles passing over
trunk line bridges to $4,000 pounds
and made a further restriction, to be
used at the option of. the highway
commissioner, allowing only 16,00f
pounds to pass over certain bridges
All new bridges have been construct
ed to carry not only $4,000 pound!
but a future extension of this limit
to allow the passage of any loat
, which may reasonably be expected tt
use the highways. The new bridge:
have been constructed of permanen
character, principally Of concrete OF
reinforced concrete, and have been de
signed not only with a view o.
strength but with some idea o:
beauty.
The increase in motor traffic ha:
been abnormal The total amour
spent on maintenance and repairs or
trunk line roads for the year wal
= S1.495.4S6. In comparison the amour
in 1884 was $7S5,099 In the latte
year the miles maintained were 744
] while the past year the figure wa
= 923, The total expended the las
= year for hard pavements on roads al
u ready constructed, was almost twic'
: that expended in any previous year
. Form aintenance of state aid road
the cost was $191,955 for 533 miles
y as compared with $119,67S and So
= miles in 1894.
=, The total amount expended TO
: both ordinary and permanent repair
of trunk line roads for the mileag
. under repair for the past four year
G Is as follows:
:, 1854 .....-.....s 7S5,099.3
q 1y14-15 ......-..-. S79,936.4
1915-l6 -.......-...-- SSl,6OS.7
n 1867 ........... 1,495, 1856. a
> Particular attention is called to tn
"a fact that the total amount expende
70 for permanent improvement, namel
q the placing of hard pavements O.
y, roads already constructed is almos
- twice that expended in any othe
VI year. Experience has shown, Com
% missioner Bennett says, that the con
&c crete road so far has been thorough
r successful and with one exception
? due to faulty construction, no seriou
IL defects have been found.
The following table gives the COS
a of ordinary maintenance and the cos
ID of placing permanent pavement o
l. trunk line roads already constructed
,e Ordinary Permaner
r 1884 -. $587,1S2.5S s197,916.7
ir 1914-15 80. 665,761.7O 214,t747
10 1855 -. 567,13o.17 414,47S.E
r 1861 -. 709, 419.64 7S6.066.S
1e The department spent the past yea