Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1923-03-15
STATE HOUSE
Next Meeting Council 10 A. NJ /;

, Of the State, to undertake construc-
ton in some other part of the State
where labor conditions We're easier.
In this way a certain mileage OF
State highway has been built each
year which had it not been author
lied could not have been under
taken.
With respect to the type of sur
face selected Tor certain projects
the Commission pointed out that
primarily the attempt is made to
fit the type of surface to the traffic
conditions and available materials
On the Roosevelt Highway in par
ticular. where work is projected to
run through Raymond. Casco,
Naples and Bridgton, the Commits
slon's engineers and supervisors of
maintenance have been unable to
locate deposits OF suitable gravel for
road work. Notwithstanding the fact
that for years search has been car
rled on. On the other hand, there
are quantities Of stone walls which
| are suitable for crushing. Again
the question of traffic enters into the
selection of a type.
The traffic census of 1922 shows
that at the south end CT this road.
! in Wcstbrook, the average traffic Tor
| q twelve hour day for the week of
| August - to September was
1884. In Raymond. on this same line,
| at the same time, the traffic aver
aged 437. Experience has shown.
not only in Maine but in every state
! in the Union, that where the traffic
! averages over 400 per twelve hour
| day gravel surfaced road cannot
be kept in satisfactory condition for
| the travel. without going to the eX-
. DnnSp of 9nhly.iper
| face treatment. This adds TO the
| ordinary cost of maintenance $3.50
to $1,000 per mile per year.
Furthermore, the State has built
in cooperation with tho Federal
/ Government two sections of this
| highway in Westbrooll and Wind
! ham, both surfaced with btuminous
macadam. and there is now under
' construction in Bridgton at the
north end Of this road Il section OF
! bitumtnous macadam being con-
structod by Federal aid. 1t can he
reasonably predicted that the mo-
! mnnt this highway is completed for
its whole length, traffic will run close
f; to 1000 per day. and Federal enein-
GERS who have looked the route over
F; have approved the location rs one
| unSuited for gravel surfaced high
| way.
Referring to tho cost of maintain
Ing gravel surfaced highways, the
| Commission exhibited charts showing
the average annual maintenance cost
! per mile from 1916 to 1922 inclusive,
| together with the average daily traf-
fic. On three of four sections Of
J highway, for example, tho road
| from Benton to Bangor, the road
from Woolwich to Rockland, and a
| section of State highway "M" in
! Trenton, the costs all check very we'll
! and run from a little under $500 per
mile in 1916, with an average traf-
| fic of between 200 and 300. ND to
| between $500 and $500 per mile in
| 1922. when the traffic has increased
to about $50 vehicles per day on
| Highway a." and sos vehicles on
| Highway IN"
| Likewise. maintenance costs on
| some of the sections of bituminous
! macadam We're shown for q series of
years. In many instances the btu
| minous macadam roads cost amy
where from about one-fftccnth to
/ one quarter of the cost of maintain
| ing. gravel roads under n traffic
| which for the bituminousa macadams
runs as high as $3.50 vehicles per
day
In the town Of Ecnncbunk. where
! a certain section of gravel road is
! rcconStructed with q stone base and
| a hituminouS top, tho maintenance
cost was reduced on this section
fEom about $4,000 per mile to $120
| per mile per year.
A similar argument will apply to
| other sections which the Commits
| sion had selected to be surfaced
| with bituminous macadam.