Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-08-06
New D.C.-Ba|tinore
Expressway Planned
Rood to Parallel
Old Route ],
,BonneII Says

A new highway paralleling old
Route l between Washington
and Baltimore is proposed in
Maryland'S road building plans
under the new Federal program.
Robert o. Bonnell, chairman
of the Maryland State Roads
Commission, told of Route is
likely fate yesterday in ANNOUNCE
ing details of the Federal road
program in Maryland.
He said none of Route / be-
tween Washington and Balti-
more would meet the new Fed
eral standards. Rather than try
to convert it to limited access,
dual-lane expressway, he said an
entirely new route probably
would be built paralleling the
old highway. This would come
late in the 13-year Federal
State program.
The same fate was forecast
for Route in Virginia south Of
Alexandria when the Federal-aid
program was discussed at State
Highway Commission meeting.
347-MiIe Program Set
Maryland's bodybuilding plans
under the new Federal program
involve BAT miles of highways,
Six United States routes. the
Baltimore County beltway and
the Washington circumferential
highway are included.
All are on the western side
of Chesapeake Bay. The longest
single stretch is 1893 miles OF
U. S. 40, from the Delaware
line to Hancock. The shortest is
l.6 miles of U. S. 500, crossing
the States narrow waist from
the Pennsylvania line through
Hancock to the West Virginia
line.
Other highways to be devel-
oped or completed as dual lane.
controlled access throughways
include:
U. S. II from the Pennsylvania
line through HagerStown to the
West Virginia line-12.4 miles.
| U. S. 240, from Frederick to
Washington. 38 miles.
I U. S. Ill (Old York road.
from Baltimore to the Pennsyl-
vania line. 33.4 miles.
The Baltimore County beltwav.
as miles, and the Washington
clrcumferential highway. "a
miles. were added to the system
since 1t was first planned.
The routes for the Al ,OOo-mile
interstate system were designated
by the Federal Government.
which also has specified stand
ards they must conform to. The
Federal Government will pay 90
per cent toward their construc-
ZION and the State 10 per cent.
The State is responsible for
; maintenance.
Many of the roads were all
ready IN Maryland's $3.50 million
highway improvement program
, including the Baltimore and
Washington circular by passes
and some already have been
modernized to the new Federal
; standards. But they can be con-
t. structed much faster now han
originally planned under the
State program. Some will be
J built tc higher standards than
the State had planned.
Mr.. Bonnell said he seriously
; doubts Maryland will get any
refunds for the roadwork it ale
ready has done for the inter-
state system. such as the almost
completed Washington National
; Pike from Frederick u. S. 24O
and the Harrisburg Expressway
III. 5. l1iD. But he says the
/, Increased Federal aid should
speed up the States own pro-
gram and absorb some of the
rise of costs since it was launched.
State to Get S85.S Million
Under the new highway bill
the State will receive $3.50 mill
lion in the three years. with
1884 million of it earmarked
for the interstate system and
the rest for primary State high
ways. urban highways. and
secondary roads in counties.
( Mr.. Bonnell said two projects
already have been submitted to
the Federal Government for APP
proval on the interstate network
and that more will soon follow.
He did not name these pending
approval from Washington.
The SRC hasn't gotten far
enough along in the new pro-
gram to set up any kind of time
table for projects, but an example
Of those that would be speeded
up is the Washington circum-
ferential highway.
This bypass Of the Nations
capital mad been earmarked for
construction in the second four
years Of the State program. Now
1t probably will be advanced.
The Baltimore County belt
way, already started but with
some sections not scheduled for
completion before 1862, also
probably will be speeded up.
Both Of these we're already
planned to the controlled access
requirements Of the Federal in
terstate system.
/ Maryland had a big Jump on
a lot Of other States In this
field.' Mr.. Bonnell noted.
Some sections Of Route 40 will
measure up to standards-such
as the stretch between Pine
orchard and the Monacacy
River east Of Frederick-bgt
others Will require construction
for limiting Of access.
Mr.. Bonnell would mt sav