The Daily Alaska empire., 1951-12-20

sevcral years behind schedule. The fourth contract, between Rap- ids and Big Delta includes both grading and paving. A line change was constructed between Rapids and Donnelly that will elnlnate flcod damage by the Delta River, and equipment is now on the job 70 accomplish the remaining, grading and hard surfacing.
 An important new 128 mile link in the highway system was formally dedicated October 19, 1951,, opening the new Seward-Anchorage High way. Portions of the old Seward Hope Road, between Seward and Mile 58, are still under reconstruc- ton preparatory to paving. and the section from Girdwood to Anchor age has been placed under contract for hard surfacing. Additional paw ing contracts are to be awarded during the coming season and will be administered by the Bureau of Public Roads under cooperative agreement with the Alaska Road Commission.
 Under a similar agreement the Bureau of Public Roads is admin istering a contract covering re-grad- ing and paving of the Alaska High way eastward toward Johnson river. A line change near Halfway House that will eliminate much winding road with blind curves is under con- struction and will be available for use early next summer.
 The Taylor Highway, extending from the Alaska Highway northward to Eagle and including branch connecting at Boundary with the road to Dawson, was pushed almost io completion during the past sea- son. Construction of two bridges and grading of approaches was op- ened early last season.
 Work On west End
 Work was continued on the Rich ardson Highway Mckinley Park Road with efforts concentrated at the west end. A pioneer road was pushed through bstween Cantwell and Mckinley ParA Station and there remains only the construction of necessary bridges acrcss the Ne mana River to permit travel between these points.
 Other work undertaken by the AL aska Road Commission, in addition to maintaining nearly 5000 miles Of road, included completion of the paving of the Alaska portion of the Haines Highway and the widening and improvement of the Sterling Highway from its junction Wish the Seward Anchorage Highway to Homer
 The farm and industrial road sys- tenn was extended as much as avail able funds would permit, aggregating approximately 20 miles of new con- struction and 30 miles of recon struction and surfacing of existing low standard road. Some 20 miles of new construction was undertaken on a cooperative agreement basis at the request of various other gov ernment agencies.
 Buildings Erected
 To provide adequate facilities to handle the enlarged highway pro- gram several buildings were erect ed by the Alaska Road Commission during the past season. These in- cluded a new warehouse at Fair banks and warm storage building and a dormitory at Glennallen A trailed camp containing twenty 3o- foot house trailers has been set up in Valdez to provide housing for engineering personnel employed on the many contracts in effect in that area.
 The Alaska Road Commission is again maintaining the Richardson Highway over Thompson Pass out of Valdez through the winter months, funds having recently been made available through cooperation of the Army. This work has been under