Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-02-24
NEW HIGHWAY UNIT
HISTORY SKETCHED.
Rigid Investigation Preceding
Choice of Route so North
Is Recalled.

With the marking of the new U. S.
Route No SO north now being COM
pleted by the Ohio Highway Depart
ment, the unusual investigation which
resulted in determination of this route
is called to mind.
U. S. routes are determined by the
national conventions of State highway
commissioners, and once officially Sc
lected, a route is not readily changeable.
With the rivalries existing between
cities it is logical that route selecting
authorities must be fairly "hardboiled"
or devote most of their time to hearing
rival claims and competitive community
arguments.
So some national routes remain as
originally located even the later roads
are shorter and better.
Such situation was that of the new
short route" from Eflenboro, w. Va,
to Athens, Ohio, a stretch of about 80
miles. The connecting links which
made "the short route" were the new
Short Route Bridge at ST. Marys, w. Va.
the completion of the 17-mile concrete
boulevard up the north bank of the
Ohio River from Marietta to the bridge.
and the connection at marietta with
good roads leading north in every direc-
ton.
Result of Close Study.
Convinced in a general way as to
the route betterment thus brought about
the organizations along the new short
route" made an exact comparative
study of both the old and new routes
with results interesting and startling
enough to appeal to motorists generally.
While the new short route" showed
a saving in mileage of As miles for
motorists going on west from Athens,
and 80 miles for those going to Col
umbuS and points north and west, the
saving in driving time proved startling.
The proposed No. SO North showed
savings of SO per cent tfor west
bound) and IS per cent for north
boun) traffic over the old route.
Such vast difference in driving
time, as related to the lesser saving
in miles, leads to the inevitable query
as to why this is SO. The investigation,
however, fully developed the answer,
for there are 369 five degree or greater
curves on the u. S. No. so (now u. S.
No. SO South against 1874 on the newer
route. Forty-eight of these 369 curves
are blind" while only IA on the newer
route prevent full vision ahead. There
are five main line railroad crossings on
the then Route No. so as compared to
but three branch line crossings on the
new Twice as many second gear hills
and a larger percentage of gravel road
further slowed up travel on the old
route.
The proposed route had seven direct
feeder roads to one on the south road.
and there were 10 recognized points of
historic or other unusual interest, all
marked plainly for convenience Of the
stranger on the short route, while the
older route afforded only five, none
being marked.
Decision Inevitable.
With this convicting evidence formal
request for q u. S. route classification
was inevitable. And its granting was
equally inevitable. So now U. S. No.
SO North branches from U. S. No. SO
at Ellengoro and comes down through
West VirginiaS hills to st. Marys;
crosses the Short Route Bridge there
and thence to historic Marietta, the
cradle of the Northwest territory. From
there one may go on west over No. so
North to Athens, or branch off to
Columbus on No 81 Or he may go
north over No. 81 to Cleveland; No.
81 and No. II to GAINESVILLE. etc.
The opening of this route Shortens
the trip between Washington, D. c., to
points West and Northwest as well as
avoiding much snow in Winter, many
railroad crossings and heavy grades.
And beyond these purely mechanical
advantages 1t makes easily available
to the motorist some of Americas most
alluring history and scenery.
Apparently many alternate routes
could be studied in similar manner
with benefit to the motoring public.