Show defense roads I 1 in U US S mapped vast program calls for an immediate start on huge highway improvement washington the 1941 prospectus of arterial highways which proponents say may one day save america from warlike invasion proposes 24 foot widths for major roads shoulders 10 feet wide alternate right and left parking spaces 2000 feet long at two mile intervals auxiliary roads paralleling h heavy eavy duty military routes and flight fligh t strips for aircraft contact with moving units the prospectus is the work of military and civil authorities and calls for an immediate start by federal and state governments on a vast program to prepare miles of existing key roads and 1800 bridges for mass movement of great mechanized and motorized troop units and supplies at top speed mr roosevelt had the lessons lesson s of poland denmark the netherlands belgium and france in mind authorities ties said when he dir directed acted john M carmody federal works administrator to confer with the war and navy departments the public roads administration and with state highway departments in preparing the prospectus roads needed in peace the plan contemplates vitalization of the historic pershing map of 1922 the first national planning of a system of national defense highways by military experts headed by the world war commander of the american expeditionary force carmody said the vast majority of the road surfaces and the bridges to be straightened widened and strengthened came within the regular federal aid system and with few exceptions were the roads most needed in normal peacetime pursuits military reconditioning he said I 1 will ill be financed from oi of federal aid funds which congress made available until the end of the 1943 fiscal year plus state funds contributed tri buted on a douar dollar for doll dollar ar basis in addition the prospectus calls for construction of miles of new roads within and leading to military ary establishments and centers of industrial and population centers the probably will also concentrate cen on construction of road shoulders and on unpaved parallel roads which could be pressed into public service when arterial highways near great cities are filled to capacity with military activities bridges in bad shape officials said the most conspicuous shortcoming is the condition of some 1800 bridges that are not strong enough to carry the standard loadings of normal commercial traffic these are to be reinforced more than others will be tested to io determine whether as claimed they can carry 50 ton tanks spaced 50 feet apart and proceeding at not more than four miles an hour the prospectus points out that all road surfaces on the strategic system should be dustless and capable of supporting pound wheel loads under any weather conditions such surfaces should be capable of carrying all military loads including I 1 the heaviest tanks all surfaces less than 18 feet wide should be widened immediately experts said to at least 22 to 24 feet where large volumes of traffic are expected |