Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1940-08-26
D. C.-Ba|timore
Dual Road Held
Defense Need
Maryland Program
Also Calls for Link
With Annapolis

AS part of proposed new system
of national defense highways, the
Public Roads Administration has
submitted to the State of Maryland
plans for construction OF new four
lane dual highways between WASH
ington and Annapolis and WASH
ington and Baltimore.
This was disclosed by Gov.
O'Conor at Annapolis last night.
| He also announced that another
project suggested is a new highway
between Washington and Frederick.
In announcing the proposals, the
Governor said Roads Commission
Chairman Ezra B. Whitman esti-
mated the cost would entail
minimum of $4,000, 900 to a maxi
mum of SIS ,000, 600"
while no definite indication has
been given as to how the funds will
be provided for the possible recon-
| struction of the roadways in ques-
ton" the Governors statement said,
1T is expected that the necessary
Federal aid will be forthcoming
from the authorization bill now be-
| ing considered
Nation Wide Inventory.
The proposals were said by Fed
eral roads officials here to be part
of a Nation wide inventory" made
at the request of President Roose-
welt, to determine the status of high
ways from viewpoint of national
defense.
John M. Carmody, administrator
of the Federal Works Agency, has
notified each State highway depart
ment of this move and asked for a
report. He will advise the President
of such steps as may appear nee
eSsary," with particular attention to
strength of bridges, width of strate-
gic roads, adequacy of ingress to and
egresS from urban centers and serv-
icing of existing and proposed Army,
Navy and air bases"
Gov. O'Conor said a map sub
mitted by the Federal Government
showed the roads in the order of the
military importance, listing them as
Of first, second or third priority.
New Washington Baltimore Road.
In connection with Route No. /,
Baltimore to Washington, the i'm
mediate construction of a new, null
tiple-lane divided highway is rec
commended" the Governor declared.
The same applies to route No.
so, the defense highway between
Washington and Annapolis, where
any addition of military traffic VOL
ume will necessitate building a new
road, designed a four-lane divided
section as the ultimate development.
"On route No. Ill, York road to
the Pennsylvania line, and route
No. 40, Baltimore to Frederick, the
clear necessity for relocation is out
lined, and program calling for ulti-
mate development as a four-lane
divided section is provided"
Gov. O'Conor said the map desig-
mated route No. 2, the Gov. Richie
polls, and No. 40, Baltimore to the
Delaware line via Elkton, as meeting
"the minimum defense requirements
and require no work other than
regular maintenance"
stabilized Shoulders Needed.
/
shoulders of to 10 feet in width
lin addition to much realignment
and regarding" would be required
ION all the other roads designated.
! throughout the State
The Maryland Commission recon-
mended that "the costs of construc-
. ton. rights of way and engineering
IF he lnI
primarily by special Federal appro-
priation ."
1t also was urged that Legislation
be prepared and enacted promptly
to give the State Roads Commission
. the right of entry on property i'm
mediately following the fair valua-
ton by competent authority, as pro-
vided in the laws of other States.
The State Roads Commission sug-
gested that very serious considera-
ton be given to providing an ade-
quate passage through the City of
Baltimore to connect the Baltimore
Washington highway to the Phila-
delphia road. Unless this connection
is provided, very serious congestion
and loss of time will result from
heavy movement of traffic ="
In addition to the Washington
Baltimore, the Washington Annap-
oils and the Washington-Freder
links as first priority" roads. the
map lists No. 113 on the lower East
ern Shore from the Virginia State
line to Pocomoke, through Snow
Hill and Berlin to the Delaware
State line.
Second priority roads we're shown
as follows:
Morgantown, via La Plata. Upper
Marlboro, Priest Bridge to Glen Bur-
ME, connecting with the Richie
highway; No. /, Bel Air road from
Baltimore to Pennsylvania State
line; Crisfeld to Salisbury; No. 213,
Ocean City to Salisbury, Vienna,
Hurlock, Easton, Chestertown to
Elkton Claiborne to EaSton; ELL
wood to the Delaware line via Fed
eralsburg; Church Hill to the Della
ware line via Sudlersville.
Third priority was shown as:
Matapeake to the Delaware line,
via Wye Mills and Denton; No. 40,
Hagerstown to the Pennsylvania line