The Waterbury Democrat., 1943-04-30
lNTEn-nME HIGHWAY MAY BE READY BY 44-45
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United Press Stan Correspondent
 wilmington, April 90 lUp) The t4,l3i~mllo IntefsAmeFlonn nl1hs gay, rolling down from Alaska O Santiago and Rio de JAniefo una doubtedly will Do open lor vacalion- mg motorists by the tlme they are able Co got sukalclent gasoline and tires tor tragis.conelnontai pleasure touring, engineering ofilciAls here believe.
 Automobile societies already AFO taking about highway travel from New York Co Buonos AlreB-~drlving tlmo % Co % days. They are baslng their future plans, however, on Q grand opening of the entire hlgh- way not earlier than the latter part of 1884 or early iefs.
 Army engineers, nevertheless, hopo to have tho Pan-Amorican highway sn Central America open Co the Panama Canal by Aug. !. Currently, they arc working with war-efEoTt speed through the rug god mountain country of southern Costa Rica. This section ig ConBld- cred one oe the nest dllgilcult for the blazing Of pioneer roads.
 Mexico Duii6lng Link
 Tn Mexico, the national highway department is pushing construction of Q highway from oaxaca south Co uuatemala. T'hls Is the largest un- finished link of the road.
 The hefmiBpheric transportation problem, complicated by the uncer. talnties of ocean shipping, hnS proved an important stimulus to- ward the rapid completion Of the far-flung highway system.
 Engineers of government and IntersAmeFican agencies decline to estimate tho exact date for colii- pleto opening of ell unfinished secs tions, but they express confidence that it will be before that day when motorists arc able to get oil the restricted supplies needed for long distance travelling.
 QeA8 Per Cent Paved
 A survey of various engineering agencies in Washington reveals that the Alaska Co Fslo dc JanelrO highway ls this near CoInplete:
 Paved or all.weather--ii ,060 eniles, or SPAS per cent of the total,
 Dry weather road-i,sBB miles, or p.b7 per cent of the total.
 Trails-i,i23 miles, or 7.e0 per cent of the total (T0 per cent Of this is in Mexico and Central Amerlca).
 Tn other words, the i4,OOO-mile highway Is open for dry.weRther trafilc along 02 per cent Og It's ex- tenglve couse, which tratgvergeB 70 countries and Alaska on two con- sIn0mts.
 Most engineers believe that the last section to be complete will be thae south of the Panama Canal Into Colombia. Current plans call for the ferrying of trucks and auto- mobiles from Colon in Panama to the port of Turbo ii1 northern Go. Iombia until . highway can Dc pu8hed through that wilderness country. Some engineers believe .haN this strip should not be at sempted until the postwar period.
 Open iHl South America
 IN SOutl AmGFtC8 Vne nhkuWny tlready is open for dry.woather irivinR. rt is being brought up Co standard for all-weether trafilc in Ecuador and in other spots.
 Tho United States War Depart flcnt undertook the task of Gen. ,ral American road construction when it's completion was specified as essential to the war for trans- porting supplies. It was for this gaine reason that the highway was completed with comparative speed through Canada into Alaska.
 During the war period, the high. gays chief utllltarlan value will be Or tho movement of supplies, both north and south.
 But In peacetllme it is expected Co seconio an important factor In the development of inter- American uii- ierstandlng. rt is believed that hundreds of thousands will use the fi0hwav RoP vaankinss tFnvaily,w