New Britain herald., 1927-12-31
1927 IMPORTANT
 IN HIGHWAY WORK
Connecticut Accepts 207 Miles Of
 New Paving

1927 was q year of exceptional
 activity in the Connecticut highway
 department, according to figures Of
 the years work reported today Ly
 Highway Commissioner John A..
 laCdonald. During the course of
 he year there were acceptances of
 -o5 miles Of construction and recon
 iruction of Connecticut highway
 nd work was begun on 66 more
 liles of pavement which is now in
 he course of reCoust ruction. Thirty
 TWO water spans were either com
 'i"tolN rebuilt or repaired during
 ,hc year. and tn" approaches to these bridges were in all cases rc-
 conditioned with the spans them selves.
 Many important pieces of high way were reconstructed in 1927. Several sections of the Boston Post 1 Road, which links Connecticut with
 New York state. were widcncd to accommodate four lanes Of traffic during the year, each being another step toward the completion of the states greatest and most heavily travelled road between New Haven and the state line. The greater part of the work on Inc new pavement between Middlctown and North IIa- ven was completed. The Waterbury, Milldalc road. another big traffic artery, was placed under rcconstruc- tiAn nf tho rnu1 from Waterbury through Thomaston to Torrington. which connects tho northwcs stern part of the state with the rest of lt, is being rebuilt. Con- plction Of the new pavement between Hartford and l'armington greatly enhanced tin" Pennington route from New Haven. Waterbury. SoutlIington
 Bristol and plninyille 10 the rapl- tai. Completion of the road between Marlborough and Hebron opened q through route from New Haven and points west diagonally across inc state 10 Wiliman,ic and the north eastern section by way of Middle town, thus eliminating 1hc old cir cuitous routes through Hartford and New London.
 In all of the reconstruction opcr- ations of tn" year, continuation of Commissioner MacdonaId's policy of reducing accident hazards has been dominant. Elimination of bad curves and steep grades has been accom- plished on practically all Of those stretches of road which were rebuilt in 1927. When curve elimination was found impractical. sight lines around the curves were improved by clearing away all hindrances to q clear view of traffic moving in the opposite direction. It is the purpos" of the department 10 remove all bad curves and grades from Connecticut highways as the trunklnc system is rebuilt.
 While tho figures of the highway work completed in 1927 are impress sivc. they hardly afford clear pic tyre of the actual achievement o' the department during the course Of tho year. In addition 10 its major work of highway construction, tho department undertakes scores Of other activities not reflected in the annual figures but which form a large part of the service rendered to the state.
 Towns Assisted
 The highway department furnish cd much assistance 10 the towns In the state in tho matter of state aid Following the revision of the state aid law ~nd the appro- priution of q fund oI~ one million dollars d year for state aid work by the Connecticut general assembly early ill the year. Commissioner Macdonald created a new office in the department called supervisor of state aid construction and appointed w. r.. Tiulsc, former supervisor ol Statc Aid Construction and appoint ! d w. E. Hulse, former supervisor , of Highway District No. II, 10 fill the position. Together with Mr. , Uldsc, Commissioner Macdonald i held meetings of the selcctmen from ! the towns oi each county at thelr ] various county seats and explained | to them the now law and the new i policy of thr department, inaugural , d this year. which enables the ! towns to use their share Of the ap- propria.ion for entirely completing | a section of road. or to use it 10 . complete certain stages of construc- 1 ton under this years fund and the mplcmentary stages under future 1, appropriations. As a result of these , me etings. l62 of the lG9 towns in the state made application under , the appropriation act. and generally [ improved town roads will be the outcome. The department also imam s,;ratcd this year h" policy of offer | ing cooperation 10 the towns in tn" ' matter of construction machinery . and engineering advice.
 Identification Work
 Highway Identification work be : gun or the department last year was continued more cnerSctical!y this year, several hundred trees be- ing planted along certain sections of highway and considerable work