Page:Highway Needs of the National Defense.pdf/11

 HIGHWAY NEEDS OF THE NATIONAL DEFENSE

Section 2 of the Federal-aid Highway Act of 1948, approved June 29, 1948, provides that:

“The Commissioner of Public Roads is hereby directed to cooperate with the State highway departments in a study of the status of improvement of the National System of Interstate Highways, designated in accordance with the provisions of section 7 of the Federal-aid Highway Act of 1944; to invite the cooperation and suggestions of the Secretary of Defense and the National Security Resources Board as to their indicated or potential needs for improved highways for the national defense; and to supplement, not later than April 1, 1949, the report dated February 1, 1941, entitled ‘Highways for the National Defense’ (77th Cong., 1st sess.), to reflect current conditions and deficiencies.”

This direction of the Congress has been complied with in every respect. A detailed study of the status of improvement of the National System of Interstate Highways has been made, with the complete cooperation of every State highway department. The Secretary of Defense and the National Security Resources Board have been invited to cooperate and have responded with suggestion of the indicated or potential needs for improved highways for the national defense; and the following report, supplementary to the report dated February 1, 1941, entitled “Highways for the National Defense,” reflects the conditions and principal deficiencies of the highway system of the United States, existing December 31, 1948, as they are believed to affect the national defense. 1