Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1955-01-15
Maryland Gives
Roads Priority
To D. C..A Area
AZ Miles Of
Columbia Pike
On Top Of List
By Alex +. Preston
star StoH Correspondent


BALTIMORE. Jan. is
Maryland's road builders con-
tinue to give the Washington
Metropolitan Area top billing in
their priority list Of construction
projects planned for 1855.
At the very top Of the list
are five contracts to build ~
miles OF dual highway on Column
bia pike from the Cedarcroft
Ganitarium to Sligo Greek Park
way in Montgomery County.
This is a continuation of
projects started last year to re-
locate Route 20. the black road"
to Baltimore from Washington.
Al 4.5-mile extension Of the
highway from Burtonsville to-
ward White Oak was COM
nienced last year.
The State Roads Commission
held a press conference for more
than 80 representatives Of the
daily and weekly press and radio
and television representatives
yesterday.
Reviews Progress.
Primarily, the commission
wanted to review progress made
in the first year Of its 12-year,
$3.50 million highway program
The Washington Star disclosed
two weeks ago that some $59.1
million worth Of highway prof.
ects either had been placed UNI
der contract last year or were
scheduled for assignment this
year in Montgomery and Prince
Georges Counties.
Commission Chairman Russell
II. Mccain was asked by a news
man for comment on statement
earlier this week by Delegate
Cannon. Democrat. Of Wicomico-
that he might ask for an in
vestigation of the roads agency
by the Grand Inquest Commit
tee of the General Assembly.
"It has been my privilege to
serve on the commission under
three great Governors-O' Conor,
Lane and McKeldin," Mr.. Nc
Cain said. II personally know
there is nothing wrong with the
State Roads Commission.
All Files Available.
"The commission is willing to
cit down and work and cooper
ate fully with the General As
sembly or turn over to any of
its committees any information
or any files that they may ask
for"
Mr.. Mccain also disclosed q
plan to permit the Chesapeake &
Potomac Telephone Co. to place
phone booths along stretches of
limited-access highways for the
benefit of motorists who run out
Of gas, have fiat tires or expert
ence other difficulties.
About 100 Of the phone booths
already have been approved
along the States dualzlane high
way system, he said. They will
be well lighted and signs will
be posted a mile or so in advance.
Last year. the commission
chairman said. the commission
started road projects costing
more than $50 million. Some of
those projects will carry over
into this year. That is some sat
million more than the States
previous road building year
record in 1949. he said.
In addition, the commission
spent some $14 million more for
surveys. plans and rights-of-way
for projects to build later.
The $144 million Patapsco
River tunnel project took up
q considerable portion Of the
press conference. Charles S.
Garland of Alexander Brown g.
Sons explained the financial
setup.
$3.50 Million In Bonds.
He told about how $3.50 million
In bonds were floated to finance
the job. including, the retire.
ment Of about $50 million in
bonds outstanding at the time
the project really got under
way.
This project means that
Washington motorists bound for
Philadelphia. New York and
other points North, can bypass
the Baltimore traffic headache"
by leaving the Baltimore park
way. passing through the tun-
mel and joining Route 40 in the
northwest section of the city.
The largest single contract
1865 million--for the tunnel IT.
self will be advertised next
month. Construction will begin
in April.
Nine other tunnel contracts
for auxiliary projects will be
awarded in the spring and sum-
mer next year. Between June
and November contracts for IL
additional projects for grading,
surfacing and related work will
be advertised for approach
roads.
Final contracts for toll booths.