Evening star., 1940-08-26
Federal Officials
Inspect Pennsylvania
Gen. Devers Urges
Extension of Route
To Philadelphia

To Philadelphia
Pennsylvania new super highway
from Pittsburgh to Harrisburg was
previewed today as members of
Congress, Federal officials and mill
tary experts began an inspection
trip of the $4,000, 900 project. Nine
hours were allowed for a full-length
inspection of the l60-mile, four
lane roadway.
Thomas H. Macdonald, commits
sioner of the Federal Roads Admin
istration, told l65 dinner guests of
the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commits
sion at Hershey, Pa. last night that
the new mountain piercing highway
is "a strategic military route" and
declared that lit is very necessary to
extend this road TO Philadelphia"
Among the guests was Brig. Gen.
Jacob L. Devers. representing Secre-
tary of War Stimson.
Others who attended the dinner
were Senators Davis and Gutfey of
Pennsylvania and Downey Of Cali
fornia and Representatives Steagall.
Grant and Boykin of Alabama;
Cartwright and johnson of Okla
homa, Stefan, Nebraska; Whiting
ton, Mississippi; Robinson, Utah,
and Ford, California.
Greatest Single Highway Project
The Pennsylvania turnpike. which
connects Harrisburg, Pennsylvania S
capital, with the vast industrial
center of Pittsburgh, is the great
est single highway project in the
history of the United States. This
master motorway win give motorists
and truckers all-weather passage
through the Appalachian Noun
tainS over q low-grade route and
free Pennsylvania from the barriers
its mountains have always imposed
between the Atlantic seaboard and
the Middle West. This roadway
achievement was made possible
through the utilization of seven
abandoned tunnels and part of the
roadbed of railroad that was never
built-the abandoned South Penn.
The South Penn Railroad was
conceived by William K. Vanderbilt
in 1883. Within two years huge
cuts and fills SCARED the hills and
valleys and the Alleghenies were
partially pierced by nine tunnels,
but the project failed when
half completed. Construction work
stopped in the fall of 1885. The
abandoned roadway was called to
the attention of the Pennsylvania
Planning Board in 1885 and surveys
were made of the route. Soon after
ward an act was passed by the
Pennsylvania Legislature creating
the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commits
sion. The act gave the commission
power to construct a tunnel high
way, but granted no money nor
authority to use the credit Of the
commonwealth to build it.
The financial problem of con-
structing the turnpike was solved
through the efforts of one man.
Walter A. Jones. AS chairman of
the Pennsylvania Turnpike Com
mission, Mr.. Jones worked for
months to interest the Federal Gov
ernment in this highway from a
military standpoint. Successful in
this, he also induced the P w. A.
and the r. F. c. to finance the
superhighway. 1t was completed in
20 months, the first link in a ma
tional network of superhighways
which will be of vast Importance
to national defense.
Great Saving Seen.
Experts say great savings in time
and operating expenses will result
to motorists and trucking companies
It's safety features will make the
turnpike virtually foolproof high
way, since it has no stops, no red
lights, no grade crossings, no inter-
sections, no speed limit and no
dangers. The engineering principles
make provisions for future traffic
as we'll as present-day requirements.
A four-lane divided highway carries
the road through the mountains
instead of over them. as is the case
with other highways. Traffic NOV
ing in opposite directions is sepa-
rated the entire distance by a 10
foot parkway. All cities and towns
along the route are by-passed. The
maximum ascending grade is per
cent. Curves are long and sweep
ing, with a minimum radius of about
1000 feet. Cloverleaf-type connec-
tions are at all points of exit and
entrance.
Charles M. Upham, engineer-di-
rector, American Road Builders As
sociation of Washington, who served
as consulting engineer for the turn
pike, points out that the super
highway sets a standard for to-
morrow's highway construction. 4ssq
THE turnpike may we'll be, con-
sidered the yardstick for, all ssiper-
highway building in the future" Mr..
Upham explained. ITS construction
involves every known principle of
modern engineering skill. ). IT pro-
vides an opportunity to test many
new ideas. Its adequate service as
a peacetime transportation route
will justify the money spent on its
construction. Its further value for
military movement increases its ad-
santages as an instrument of COM
munication. 1t should set the pace