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Show State Dedicates Overpass at Beck Springs Today The cutting of a bright red, white and blue ribbon Friday morning at the east portal of the Beck's Springs Overpass will climax the development of the state's first Interstate project to be contracted and completed by the National Defense Highway Act of 1956. The ceremony will officially open southbound traffic along U. S. Highway 89 and 91 onto 8th West. Eventually the overpass over-pass will be linked with the north-south Interstate Route 15, extending from Idaho to Arizona. Ari-zona. Estimated total cost of the twin unit overpass is in the vicinity of $1.4 million. Wielding the scissors at the ribbon cutting ceremony will be Governor George D. Clyde, assisted as-sisted by Miss Janet Secor, Miss Utah candidate for the Miss America contest. An honor guard from the Utah National Guard will post the colors. Master of ceremonies will be C. Taylor Burton, Salt Lake City, chairman of the State Road Commission of Utah. "Utah's portion of the nation's 41,000 mile National Defense Highway system will be 950 miles," stated Ellis Armstrong, director of highways for the Road Commission. "The Utah roads will be built over a period of 14 years at an approximate cost of a half billion dollars." "Several major projects are already under way and being constructed around the state on the Interstate system. Among these is a 10 mile stretch in Box Elder County and a $3.5 million project under contract from the Iron-Washington County line to the Anderson Junction. Bids on the first phase for the proposed Salt Lake City freeway will be let this year." Mr. Burton commented on the importance of the Beck's Springs Overpass to national defense. "The overpass is one of the most heavily traveled areas in state. Its completion forms an important chain in the national defense highway system and is a victory for the state in its race against growth and time." The first phase of the twin overpass was the northbound unit which was begun July 13, 1953 and completed June 16, 1955. The cost of the first unit was $677,4558. The southbound unit, which will be dedicated today, to-day, was begun in April of last year. Anticipating future increases in traffic, the inside curbs and guard rails have been designed so that they can be removed and two additional lanes constructed in the intervening space to make a 6-lane structure. The overpass carries traffic over three parallel railroads Union Pacific, Denver & Rio Grande and the Bamberger. The structure is supported by eight massive piers, ranging in height from 19 feet to 29 feet. The spans between the piers range from 80 feet to 102 feet. The weight of structural steel used amounted to 1,457,727 lbs. and required a total of 3,200 cubic cu-bic yards of concrete. Following the opening, the official of-ficial guests will form a caravan and proceed along the overpass to Salt Lake City. |