The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1937-01-08
NEW HIGHWAY PLAN AN
NOUNCED

A new method of determining the
locations of all future primary high
ways built in Maryland in the future
has been announced by the State
Roads Commission. Under this
plan, it was stated, less expensive
surveys, economical maintenance and
more efficient construction is prom
ised.
Under this system, CLEANED by the
Commission officials and engineers
during their recent visit to the con-
vention of highway officials at San
Francisco, all engineers primarily
concerned in the construction, main
tenance and traffic operation Of a
road will collaborate in locating it.
Once the need of route has been
established, seven specialists embark
together upon the selection of line
and the drafting Of an original plan.
They are: The location and design
engineer; division engineer; con-
struction engineer; soils engineer;
traffic engineer; maintenance engine
er; right-of-way engineer.
Under the old system, road was
located by the reconnaissance engine
er according to topography, align
ment and grade, without special re-
gard to right of way difficulties, con-
struction problems, soils or traffic.
Often 1t has been necessary to relo-
cate the road time and again prior
to construction, as difficulties arose,
often necessitating changes In plans.
The State Roads Commission esti-
mates that hundreds of thousands of
dollars will be saved in highways
properly and definitely located the
first time, with one set of plans that
need be altered but slightly, If at
all. There will be no after
thoughts, was the way one commits
sioner put it.
The new plan already is being
placed in operation In the location OF
The new Hughesville- Waldorf Road,
it was reported.
In future, when a road is selected
for construction, the six engineers
embark on their work at once. The
location engineer suggests the route
as the party proceeds, basing his Sc
lection on the ordinary qualifications
of grade and line. But the construc-
zion engineer may find difficulties
that would run into expense and diff
ficulty later on; the right of way en-
gineer might forsee trouble in &C.
curing the land at reasonable prices;
the soils engineer might find that the
line leads through properties that
have sub-standard soils; the traffic
engineer might consider the line in
efficient from the standpoint of oper-
alton later on, or the maintenance
engineer might see trouble ahead in
upkeep.
By weighing together all Of these
elements, the committee of special
lists strike an average, according to
the Commission, which will render
an initial plan complete, striking the
best average of favorable conditions
possible.
1.-THE primary consideration in the
determination of a road" said a
statement of the Commission, "Will
be whether the traffic justifies the
road; the second, whether the popu-
tlation justifies it. Having decided
that a road Is needed, the next con-
sideration will be what design OF
highway will be best suited to pres
ent traffic, with an eye to potential
increase.
Then will the survey go forward
along those new lines. 1t does not
seem likely that we will need to re-
sort to expediencies later that will
take away from the efficiency of the
road"