Smyrna times., 1919-07-02
EXCELLENT PROGRESS BEING
MADE IN ROAD BUILDING
EXPERTS PRAISE DELAWARE'S
NEW CONCRETE ROADS
Work Progressing on Road From
Smyrna to CheswOld-Other Road
Work Down State Is Booming.

Work Down State Is Booming. G
1t will be gratifying for the dyed
in-the-wool Delawarean to learn that
the little Diamond State, under the
efficient and able direction of Charles
M. Upham, Chief Engineer of the
State Highway Department, has at
tanned the reputation of having the
best concrete roads in the United
States under construction. The Bureau
of Public Roads in Washington, says
so, and that should be prima facie
proof anyway. AS matter of fact,
Walter E. Bush, City Engineer of
Auckland, New Zealand, has pro-
nounced our concrete construction the
best he had ever seen. Mr.. Bush has
been sent under full pay by Great
Britain and France to investigate the |
best types of roads in the United |
States. On arriving at Washington,
he was sent by the Bureau of Public
Roads to Delaware as the best place
to secure data on concrete roads. Sew
eral days ago, Mr.. Bush went over all
the roads of the State, spending two
days on the trip, with the result we
have mentioned above.
Record Being Made Down the State.
In reference to down-State work,
the Department is making an excellent
record. From Smyrna to Dover, one
contract has been completed and the
road from Cheswold to Dover is open
to traffic. From Smyrna to CheswOld
the road is rapidly nearing compile
ton. All grading and culvert work
has been done between Glendale and
Milford; and about two miles of
concrete laid. From Laurel to Del
mar, the work is progressing rapidly,
= and the contract will be completed by
: the middle of July. 1t is in great
/ shape. The contractor on the Laurel
: to Seaford stretch is arranging to
:, put two mixers on, the grading is well
p advanced, and the contract will be
s completed this year. About a mile
d and a half of the road between Sea
+ ford and Bndgeville is done, anc
V three miles south from Bridgevillt
i is open to traffic. The contract from
:. Bridgeville to two miles north Of
e Harrington was let April Both, tt
% McNichol, of Philadelphia, and the
le grubbing and preparation is ended
If and the concrete work will be I'm
,e ished in a few weeks. Two sections
1t of the Milford road, and th'
j. Az Causeway section are now unde
e. advertisements In fact, everything
N all over the State in the line of road
r work is booming. 1t is intended t
n, have a hard surface road from tn
IL State line to Selbyville on the othe
ee end. utilizing the DUPONT road fror
r. Smyrna to Selbyville.
e. Penny Hill Road Above Wilmington
n In five days, the concrete base b'
IL tween Shellpot Park and the Stat
nd line will be completed, with the e'
u ception of a short stretch throug
FL the Worth Steel plant. Ten days lat'
ie- the brick surface will be laid, an
fourteen days later, the road will
opened up for traffic. A new bridt
IN. is now being built at the Worth Ste
Mill to overcome the necessity OF
J. grade crossing in the plant. Inc
will be a short detour necessary thel
nr From Shellpot to Wilmington, Il
.L double track has been half complete
=;x alhough all rough grading and dral
e ing is now finished. The concrete W
~ be laid in a week or ten days. 1
- celebrated grade on Penny Hill n
- been cut from II per cent. to 3 P
~ cent, and for safety, the track n
- been placed in the middle Of the 10
of all along the line. Most eXcelIe
~ progress is being made with
~ work as there is now plenty OF laf
- and plenty of material.