Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1918-03-02
WIDTH OF STATE
HIGHWAYS NOW
MOOT QUESTION
Commission Wrestling With the
Wilmington and Philadelphia
Turnpike Problem.
ENGINEER GIVES IDEAS

No decision has been reached, according
tn Josiah Marvel, member of the State
Highway Commission from rural New
Castle county, as to the proposed width,
nature of construction, etc, OF the roads
which it is proposed to convert into
State highways.
Under the terms Of the agreement
entered into with r. G.. du Pont, the
highway commission is to complete the
du Pont boulevard at the expense oi Mr..
du Pont from the Appcnzeler farm TO
Milford, n distance of about five miles,
and for this purpose has instructed
charles NJ Upham, the chiei engineer
Of the commission, In purchase ao-foot
right of way. Nearly, if not all, OF this
right of way has been acquired
The width of the road north from Mil
ford TO Wilmington, the expense OF which
is to be borne by Mr.. du Pont under the
terms of the agreement, has not been
decided upon, according to members ot
the commission, but II IS expected that
some definite agreement will bc reached
at the next meeting.
Decision in connection with the Phlla-
dcIphia Pike project will very likely be
reached nj this meeting as this IS one OF
the first roads to be taken up for improve
mcnt an S0-loot right of way is suggested,
and the appended letter Of Chief Engineer
Upham under date Of February - ls oi
interest.
INV dear Mr. Marvel - Relative TO
orr conversation while in your office
last week as to the width of right-ofway
on Philadelphia Pike. | would SAY that
the location Of this road and the part
that il will play in the future develop
mcnt Of this industrial locality would IN
my mind. demand that sufficient width
of right t-of-way to take care Of the develop
ment Of the next fifty or one hundred
wears should now be acquired.
"WhlIc ordinarily 60 it, would be OF
sufficient width for right-oiway over
generally level country, tins particular
road is made up Of several grades and our
fills will extend beyond the GO IT, right
of-way limits
at is also quite likely that within q
short period If the same development
goes on that has been carried on for the
past five or six wears, that there will bc a
trolley line on the greater portion of this
Pike. and this must he provided for.
1T is also desirable 10 make our right
of-wav considerably wider than our road
way, not only TO take care Of the future
growth of traffic, but to prepare section
along the highway that will take care OF
the telephone and telegraph condmts,
rs we'll rs sewer pipes and water pipes
This will prevent digging up the road
pavcments whenlaying pipes, etc,
With the exception Of the grades, an
so f. right-of-way would provide 40
it. roadway and areas for public utilities
as well as for sidewalks.
In looking over the plans for tins
roadway. | find that If we taken an Sc
# right-of-way. our extreme limits would
cut only six houses: IS fl. right-of-way
would cut houses: and 20 II right-of-
way would cut 4 houses In practically
every instance on the Philadelphia Pike
we could carry out the idea suggested
in the report, namely not to molest ol
disturb these houses NJ this time but that
any future rebuilding or development
should be carried on with AN idea o
arranging the construction suitable fol
the ultimate so #. right of way
Members Of the commission hav'
expressed q desire to learn the sentiment
of the public in regard to the width o.
the roads to be converted into highways