| Show x s EDITORIALS s The Highway Program Recent estimates indicate the national national national na na- highway program about which so BO many had hopes a year or so ago will beslow beslow be beslow slow in reaching completion Moreover the Governments Government's share of the huge program program program pro pro- gram originally estimated at is to be almost The net r is to stretch out the program and delay the completion date It t is now predicted i that t the United States will not have a complete ft- ft federal leral system until 1973 The original goal was completion completion completion comple comple- tion by 1970 It turns out that mai y states underestimated underestimated underestimated under under- estimated the cost of a quiring acquiring rights rights- way of-way in their own borders and they now wish to add about twice as many traffic interchanges bridges and other complications complications complications to the roads in their states as had heretofore been expected In addition higher standards of construction have hav b been n decided upon in many instances The way we see the handwriting on the wall in view of the latest developments developments developments develop develop- ments is that the states themselves are still faced with the responsibility and necessity necessity necessity of seeing to it that their road systems systems systems are kept mod modern rn both in conjunction tion with the new program and otherwise After all the problem i is to realty really one for toe tto states S primarily and the latest indications indications in indications in- in are that the states must continue continue continue con con- to carry the ball and responsibility in the field The federal program is not nota a cure-all cure by any means For years Western states have been faced with the problem of building vast stretches of highway with a limited population population population lation to pay for them With the increasing increasing increasing ing rise of construction costs it is going to be a challenge to keep up with highway needs ort on a state level with the funds that available are |
