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8 A tabular comparison of the present financing that was provided by the 1954 and 1956 acts and the financing needs currently estimated in accordance with the 1956 act is given in the following table.

Thus it is indicated from the estimates made in 1956-57 that the combined Federal-aid and required State matching finances needed after July 1, 1956, to ny ape the Interstate System would be about 37 percent greater than the amounts which have been authorized in the 1954 and 1956 acts.

CAUSES FOR THE INCREASED COST REFLECTED IN THIS REPORT

This estimate of cost for completing the Interstate System is higher than the amounts presently authorized because—


 * (1) The nationwide traffic forecasts for 1975 which were made subsequent to the 1956 act are 15 percent higher than previous forecasts, resulting in a need for more traffic lanes and other facilities. Construction required on the Interstate System by this additional traffic accounts for an estimated 5-percent increase in needed facilities.


 * (2) Section 116 (b) of the 1956 act states that it is “* * * the intent that local needs, to the extent practicable, suitable, and feasible, shall be given equal consideration with the needs of interstate commerce.” To serve local needs as required by the above portion of the act will require an estimated 63 percent more highway grade separations, interchanges, other structures, and additional frontage roads than had been considered in determining the amounts authorized by the 1956 act. This accounts for an estimated 15-percent increase in total work to be done.


 * (3) In addition, miscellaneous items such as utility adjustments, lighting, signing, and other incidentals account for some increase, probably aggregating another 3 percent.


 * (4) Highway construction costs of the Interstate System type have risen 12 percent during the interval between mid-1954 and the last half of 1956 as reflected by the Bureau’s price index for Federal-aid highway construction and this increase is applicable to all items.

CONCLUSIONS

These estimates are an accurate appraisal of the cost in each State based on 1956 price levels but do not represent a commitment of funds to the location, design, or cost of individual projects to be undertaken on the Interstate System. Before any construction begins, every portion of the system covered by this estimate will be further