Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1957-01-20
Virginia Gives
go Sign 70 19
Road Projects

RICHMOND. Jan. 10 (P).-Vir-
Iginia's highway commission an
Inounced today priority has been
given to 10 projects totaling 282
miles in this States network of
|controlled-access interstate
roads.
Included in the priority" prof.
Iects are the two interstate roads
lin the Washington area. They
ARE:
!. The 22-mile "circumferen-
|tial" freeway, a brand-new road
to extend across country from
the proposed Potomac River
bridge at Jones Point, Alexan-
dria. to a proposed Potomac span
opposite Cabin John. Md. The
Ifreeway will bear the identifica-
ton. Route 88.
2. Reconstruction of Route so
darlington boulevard) from Ar
Ilington Ridge road to Fairfax
circle. and Route 1921 from
that point to east of GAINESVILLE,
Ia distance of 29.2 miles.
On Basis of Need
Moving to get the multi
million dollar interstate pro-
gram under way in Virginia as
quickly as possible, the COM
mission approved the projects on
the basis of need. and gave
engineers the go-ahead for
preparation of plans, detailed To-
cation studies and other pre-
liminary work.
A number of interstate prof.
ects already are under construc-
ton under earlier Federal aid
programs, including a four lane
project on U. S. 301 between
Stony Greek and Emporia.
The newly approved 10 prof.
ects-considered to be among the
most urgently needed improve
'ments on the 1.0l2-mile inter-
state network in the State-will
be the first to be started under
the 1856 Federal Highway Act.
This law will make an estimated
$986 million available to Vir-
ginia during the next three fiscal
years.
Under the act the State must
match the Federal 80 per cent
money with 10 per cent in State
funds.
State Highway Commissioner
James A. Anderson said today
the interstate program will bene-
fit Virginia in many ways.
165 Deaths Cited
He recalled that 165 persons
were killed on interstate roads
in Virginia during 1855 when
5.026 accidents on these high
ways resulted in property dam
age exceeding So million.
Traffic engineers estimate
that had our interstate high
ways been constructed to con-
trolled-access standards, the
number of deaths could have
been reduced by as much as SO
per cent" Anderson said.
The Importance of this gil
gantic program to our safety.
economy and national defense
cannot be overemphasized." 81
Cost estimates are not avail@I
able for the 10 top priority prof.
ects. The projects VIII be con-
trolled-access facilities varying
from four to eight lanes.
Earlier this week the commits
sion released a consultants' re-
port recommending new loca-
tons for approximately 800
miles of Virginia's interstate
roads. The report is to be used
as the basis for a cost estimate
which must be furnished the
United States Bureau of Public
Roads by July 1.
Other Projects Noted
Other than Washington-area
projects. include:
U. S. II. from the Tennessee State
line to the west end Of the proposed
Wytheville bypass l705 miles, n. re- |
Including, a spur connection into Roa-
noke ~ niles: IL, Harrisonburg by- /
pass q & miles,; !, south of Buchanan !
70 north OF Natural Bridge us miles,: !
U. s., ,30l from the Richmond Peters
burg. toll road connection in Petersburg |
70 ne intersection OF Route 80 south
the north end Of preposed 1Y Emp 5pGm
BYPASS 70 the North Carolina State
81. U; s; I from the Peters
Richmond TO the vicinity Of Ashland Gs
miles,: /. Woodbridge south 1915 miles, |
1876 from the intersection Of Route
unted sF a'ss Na ASpe Rs cSun Y e The
G3 milesl: IS frmo the intersection
Of Routes l3 and 400 IN Norfolk couT- /!
" near Bowers Hill to the Norfolk |
miles); U. s.. so from the Richmond.
ppeters6urg toll road in, Richmond to
the Richmond Petersburg toll road TO
the vicinity Of Short Pump ar miles,. |
Sixty from the west end Of a pro-
END, OF proposed bypass at covineton
G:2 miles). y. s. 16S las from The
Intersection of ,Roue IL. and the Hamp-
ton Roads bridge-tunnel approach roa
oyster Point f2.5 miles,: Route 100
from y. 8. 10 the vicinity Of McAdam
" mileSl. Route 81 frnnn Mnrshn ii