Smyrna times., 1926-06-30
ROAD BUILDING PROGRAM IS
AWAY AHEAD OF SCHEDULE
CONTRACTORS ARE FAVORED BY
GOOD WEATHER, FINISH JOBS
Widening of Highway Between Dover
and Wilmington Is Under Con-
sideratiOn-Part Already Done

y
tically complete the main arteries OF
travel planned throughout the state
and from now on, it will be case of
widening those already built and con
structing lateral roads that may be
considered necessary, according to the
best Judgment of road engineers.
This year will also be featured by the
completion of the road building pro-
gram much more rapidly than any
prior year, if the record already es-
tablished this spring and summer is
maintained throughout the remainder
of the summer and fall. Ordinarily
it has been an effort to get the roads
planned completed before frost and
often there were miles of work left
over because of delays in getting
started that could not be avoided.
But this year, it is anticipated that
the program set up will be completed
early in September. This program is
due first of all to the early start made
and secondly to the skill and organi-
zation Of the road building forces and
to the weather which has been almost
ideal for road building.
The cool spring made it possible for
workmen to apply themselves more
diligently and the volume of work
they have completed has been in ex-
cess of other seasons. Unless there
should be a spell of exceptionally
rainy weather, the road building out
lined for this season will be completed
SO early in the fall, that some addi-
tional work might be contemplated
and the contracts awarded thus allow
ing for the grading to be done before
frost stops cement pouring.
1t has been suggested that the State
Highway Commission consider as
supplemental job to this years road
building, that Of widening the high
way between Dover and Wilmington
to width Of Is feet throughout. Just
below Wilmington the highway is that
width, but there are sections from
Dover to Smyrna and from Armstrong
to Blackbird, where it isn't 18 feet
wide. The value of a wider road was
illustrated this spring in the widening
of the stretch from Pine Tree to Odes-
sa, and all those who use the road ap-
preciate the greater safety and con-
venience it is to have the highway
that much wider.
If the present road building plans
progress as expected, it is likely that
G. D. Buck may suggest to the Com
mission the desirablility Of doing this
or any other supplemental work after
the regular road building program for
the years has been completed.
To Arrange New Routes
Another detail in automobile travel
which the State Highway Commission
will have to consider is that of re
routing cars through Wilmington by
providing other avenues of entrance
and exit. Such plans are already be-
ing discussed, as he congestion at en-
frances to Wilmington and through it
on fair days, is one that must be reck-
oned with.
There are several routes that could
be used that would divert some of the
travel to less frequented streets and
thus help the great crowd of motor
lists on the chief highways in and out
Of the city. One Of these routes lead
ing discussed, as the congestion at en-
is already being utilized and the feas-
ibility Of others is being discussed and
tried out.