Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1957-08-11

projects have produced more
results in three weeks than they
did IN the last three months.
L. E. McCarl, SRC district
engineer for Montgomery and
Prince Georges Counties, said
the three road projects which
were tagging behind schedule
were:
!. The reconstruction of
University boulevard from a
point close to New Hampshire
avenue east LA miles to Just
west Of the University of Mary
land campus.
2. The extension from Enter
prise road to George Palmer
highway of the Annapolis free
way tthe John Hanson Me-
mortal highway. project
with a total of TOT miles of
paved surface.
3. The last (2.44-mile) sec
ton Of the Viers Mill road re-
construction from Viers Mill
Village to Georgia avenue.
Rea Holds Contract
Contracts for the three high
ways were awarded to the Rea
construction Co. of Charlotte,
N. c. The bid estimates for
the three jobs totalled about
$4.2 million.
The district engineer said
the contracting company was
gwen as stiff a warning as
you can give a contractor. He
said the produce more work
or else" order was issued by
the roads agency's chief engi-
neer, Norman Pritchett
The warning implied that
the commission. if work on the
projects was not speeded I'D
would refer the matter to the
oonolng company holding the
contractors performance bond
Only 40 Days to Go
Mr.. McCarl said the Mont
gomery County project on
viers Mill road was considered
the most critical Of the three
Vlers Mill road has been re-
ouilt as a dual highway from
Rockville southeast to Vlers
Mill Village. Traffic volume on
the road in the Georgia avenue
area is estimated at about
10000 cars a day.
AS OF last week, paved sur
races on the last section to
Georgia avenue were about 40
per cent complete with only
about 40 working days remain
ing under the contract.
In spite Of the redoubled
activity in the last three weeks.
Mr.. McCarl said the project
VIII run beyond the workday
limit. sometime in late Sep
TENDER. He said IS per cent
Of the paved surfaces should be
finished by mid-November.
Several factors were cited as
causing the delays on the Viers
Mill project and the two others
IN Prince Georges County. The
contracting firm has had or
ganizational problems, Mr.. Nc
Carl said. in addition to other
difficulties. A grading subcon-
tractor working on one of the
three projects went BANKRUPT.
recent cement workers strike
lowed the contractors. and de-
lays in the delivery Of struc-
ural steel hampered the prof.
cts last year.
Rebuilt Viers Mill road will
nave a 34-foot roadway 1.-TWO
and three-quarter lanes) on
either side Of a l6-foot center
island for most of its length.
Cost Of Viers Mill road con-
struction was estimated at
1881. 900.
Boulevard to BE Month Late
The Rea firms contract on
University boulevard, engineers
said, was due TO be completed
on about August 81. 1t is now
hoped the paving, but not final
cleaning up, will be completed
by September 30. In one portion
OF the project. the road between
New Hampshire avenue and
Riggs road, all lanes of the re-
constructed highway are An
ished and in use. Still unf1n-
ished is a three-span bridge
over Northwest branch at Lanor
Manor park. This project was
awarded on a $4,000 bid.
The Annapolis freeway prof.
eet. according TO the State enpi-
neer, is considerably late. OFF,