Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1925-05-22

In the spring season should receive
first attention.
"A word of explanation may be
necessary as to the type of pavement
which the commission has in mind to
lay on this highway. We recommend
the so-called dual type, to be COM
posed of two strips of Portland
cement concrete, each eight feet in
width, separated by strip of btu
minous macadam nine feet in width,
with necessary shoulders and bitches.
This type of construction is being
largely used in other states on high
ways. carrying a traffic similar to
and less in numbers than on the
kttery- Portland road. The advan-
tages are that the two lines of traffic
are kept about nine feet apart and
the center section of bituminous
macadam is used only for vehicles
passing the slower moving traffic
This type really provides a three
lane pavement. 1t has been found
extremely satisfactory wherever
used.
"The traffic survey conducted in
the summer of 1924 found an aver
age daily movement of vehicles for
the four months of 1878 at Kittery
and 5S52 between Portland and Bid
deford. From traffic data which has
beel- kept annually by the state high
way commission since 1916. experts
of the Bureau of Public Roads in
form the commission that high
way traffic will double by 1880. This
will mean an average of substanti-
ally 5000 vehicles per day at Kittery
and of nearly $4,000 per day between
Portland and Saco by 1880.
1T appears to the state highway
commission that our Reconstruction
program should make ample pro-
vision for present day traffic with
fair margin of provision for traffic
which we are absolutely sure will
develop within the next few years,
in outlined is the minimum as to
believe is necessary to handle this
volume of traffic with safety.
"Of the projects between Kittery
and Biddeford, the only one which
has been surveyed and for which
plans are ready is the first Of the
list, designated as York Corner to
Cape Neddick. We believe this road
should be put under construction as
soon as approval as a federal project
is secured, without seriously inter-
fering with traffic, as traffic can take
the road around York Beach.
Surveys have not been made on
any Of the other three projects and
in order to secure federal aid care
fully prepared plans and specifica-
tions must be submitted to the fed
eral government. Furthermore, the
last three projects will have to be
carried on while traffic is moving
over the highway. 1t seems to this
commission that work on these prof.
ects should not be undertaken prior
to Labor Day. Traffic usually de-
creases about SO percent from the
high peak OF summer within a week
or 10 days after Labor Day, and the
work can then be done with less in
reference with traffic and with
greater economy in it's prosecution.
THE Windham and Raymond sec
ton was constructed with prison la
Dor about nine years ago. This road
was surfaced with n mixture Of sand
and clay. For the past three or four
years it has been entirely inadequate
to handle the traffic and in the spring
of the year has been nearly impassa-
BILE. All of the road from Portland to
not surfaced with bituminous maca-
dam, and the commission would like to
rebuild this section using the same
type of surface. Plans are prepared
for this project and they have been
submitted to the federal government
for federal aid.
with a projected Reconstruction
program to cost about 100000, we be-
lieve it would be unwise to provide
program which would call for the ex-'
penditure of every dollar tentatively
set up. Experience in the past has
shown that unforeseen contingencies
are apt to arise which may materially
increase the cost of any project, and
it is always wise to have some lee
way in the matter Of available funds.
Whatever program Of reconstruction
Is finally approved, 1T will be possible
at any time to add projects to the pro-
gram as it appears that funds are.
available.
State Projects
Under the above caption, we have
listed three projects covering sections