The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1923-12-06
STATE ROADS COMMISSION
COMPLETING YEARS WORK
Fine improvements Made on All
Highways by L. T. DOwney's
Force This Season

Leo T. DOwney, district engineer,
State Roads Commission, is bringing
to close, for the winter season, his
/ big program of construction and
maintenance work on highways of
this section, extending from PeDnsyl-
vania State Line, on the National
Highway, above Grantsville, to
Boonsboro on the Baltimore Turn
pike.
One of the largest programs of i'm
/ prCvements, of Mr.. Downey's ad-
ministration has been accomplished
this year and some of the work will
be discontinued until next spring
when the weather permits resumption
The Roads Commission is equipped
anc PREPARED, with ten snow shovel
trucks, and sufficient expert drivers
, and workers, to combat the SHOWS of
this winter. All State-maintained
roads will be scraped clear of snow
Immediately after or slightly before
each precipitation ceases and the
highways will be kept entirely free
from obstruction of snow and ice dur
ing the entire winter season, permit
ting unhindered traffic at any and all
times, Mr.. Downey stated.
High commentator of the activi-
ties OF the Commission in this section
has been made frequently during
each winter and summer by distant
and local tourists
Among the present betterments to
the roads are concrete shoulders
along the Mount Savage road to
Ba2rcllsWlle were completed today
and macadam is being placed in readi-
ness to fill in the roadbed the Old
town road, three miles of which has
been concreted is finished and open
to traffic by S. T. Brotemarkle, con-
tractor; the new concrete bridge, over
Evitt's Greek, Williams road is COM
pleted and in use cinders will be
placed on the flooring until next
spring Wher concreting will be put I'M;
shoulders on one mile of the Oldtown
road are finished and will be filled
with macadam next week.
Improvements on the road between
Keyser and Friendsville will be COR
tinued next year; seven miles of con-
creting from Gormcr toward he
West Virginia State Line is Just IN
ishod and two more miles will be c.a-
GREETED by next month; grading Of he
Crcllin-to-Hutton road is through and
Icsurfacing will be ON neNt springs
program; the link of road connecting
lIiddletown with MyersyilIe, six miles
in length, is finished; work on the
AIiddletown to Burkettsville road is
closed for the season; one half of the
entire distance Of four miles has been
graded and concreted.
The State Roads Commission with
Washington county has completed
Improvement of % miles Of roadways
leading into Hagerstown and has fin
ished the imposing 58-foot double
arcii concrete bridge near Hagers-
town.
The new arched concrete bridge
over Middletown is complete and
open TO traffic.
The structure takes the place of the
old wooden covered bridge built in
1868 after the one that was burned
by Confederate troops in their retreat
from South Mountain, during the
Civil War. The dangerous angle of
the old bridge has been Strengthened
by the new one eliminating danger
Gus pace on the highway at which
points comparatively recently two
persons were killed in an automobile
when the machine collided with the
old structure.
Every detail aimed at safety, easy
curves and angles and fine surface,
scenic beauty of the famed highways
of this section, has been considered
and carried out by Mr.. Downey's fore
thought and his efficient assistants
| and Workmen,