The times-news. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1927-current, 1936-01-06
RIG N. C.. HIGHWAY
EXPANSION PLANNED
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North Carolina cannot be as rapid
as the users of the roads wish IL
could be.
We are building wider roads
and wider road structures, con-
scious of the important relation
ship of width to safety on the
No important roads are being
prepared for, pavement or sur1a zee
treatment now for less, than ~
feet width. The minimum Wlotn
of bridges and other structures
has been increased during the
current year, and we are making
a start on the necessary business
of widening some OF our mpof-
tant narrow roads and structures.
Much of the hard-surfaced mile.
age of this state was built 10 Ieet
wide, a breadth unsafe for fast
traffic where vehicles have been
legalized SO inches wide. When
two such vehicles meet on To-
foot road one must leave the
pavement. Conscious of the great
loss in property and human lives
on the road systems of the state,
this commission is striving to i'm
prove the physical conditions so
that this Improvement may have
it's part in the reduction of trail
fic hazards.
During the calendar year OF
1885 the state highway commis-
sion expended the regular app,ro-
priated maintenance funds, and a
100000 deficiency malnten-
ance appropriation, and has plac-
ed under contract construction
jobs calling for the use OF So
393,545.71.
We spent $85O,OOO of the 49,
900 of the 100000 appropria-
tionin improving or rebuilding
bridges. Our progra mresulted IN
construction of 1858 new bridges
and the repair of 1882 making a
total ne wand rebuilt bridges OF
1896. i
In addition to this we replaced
1850 bridges with large galvanl-
zed pipe. Altogether, therefore,
with the $85O,000 appropriation
for bridges we affected the con-
dition of 4485 bridges.
These bridges are located IN
every county of the 100 in North
Carolina. The new, improved
and replaced bridges in each
county range from two to 100.
At the beginning of the year
he equipment with which the
maintenance forces were working
vas not in bad condition. The
state had not made any large ad-
lition to it's equipment since 1881.
North Carolina had not had OPP
1ortunity because of reduced ap..
,ropriation to take advantage of
he improved machinery for road
work, and we used 100000 OF
he 100000 appropriation to
this deficiency. Il
With this money we equipped
he maintenance forces with bet
er tools with which to do their
OBJ.
Since the beginning of the pres
mt fiscal year we have spent
;328,254.8O in further improving
,ur equipment. The use of funds
or this purpose has strengthened
greatly the provisions for main
enance.
During the calendar. year. we
,laced under contract $685.
j45.71 worth of projects. This
program calls for the
Improvement of 603.22 miles of
oadway, and the construction of
BRIDGES and other road structures
equiring an expenditure of ST.
83,681.24.
The state highway commission
employs about $500 men and has
lnder it's direction for use on
maintenance work the employ
lbles of $500 convicts serving
,erms of 80 days duration and
The prison system is, main
aimed from credit given the pri- +
on division for the work done by
hese men so employed.
an any.v/r