Page:Needs of the Highway Systems, 1955–84.pdf/21

Rh It is of interest to examine the highway construction expenditures of the past, and those estimated as future needs, in comparison with the gross national product, which is a measure of the Nation’s economy.

In the early 1920’s, highway construction expenditures averaged 1.2 percent of the gross national product, and gradually increased to a peak of 1.8 percent in 1931. The ratio declined somewhat, to a low of 1.2 percent in 1935, rose again to 1.7 percent in 1938, and thereafter dwindled to a low of 0.2 percent during World War II. In the first postwar years the figure climbed rapidly reaching 0.8 percent in the 4 years 1949–52, and continued upward to 1.1 percent in 1954.

Fulfillment of all highway needs within a 10-year period would require, during 1955–64, construction expenditures averaging 2.4 percent of the anticipated gross national product, with a range from 1.2 percent in 1955 up to 3.0 percent in 1960 and 1961 and back to 2.1 percent in 1964.

If the needs were so fulfilled, construction needs for replacement and expansion thereafter would continue at a fairly constant proportion of the gross national product, averaging about 0.8 percent a year.

MAINTENANCE NEEDS

Maintenance needs are additional to construction needs and must be considered in the total costs of a highway program. In 1955, maintenance expenditures for all road and street mileage in the United States will total about $1.75 billion, according to estimates furnished by each State. The distribution of this total by principal items of expense is as follows:

Maintenance costs per mile range from a nationwide average of $250 per mile for local roads to $2,900 per mile for urban streets on the interstate system as it now exists. By 1965 the States estimate that the needed annual expenditure for maintenance will rise about 22 percent above the 1955 total, in order to provide adequate maintenance on the roads and streets at the stage of development that will exist at the end of the 10-year period. The States also estimated maintenance needs for the 20-year period 1965–84. The total maintenance needs in 1984 will average about 57 percent above the 1954 level for all systems, combined.

The total estimated maintenance needs are shown for each system in table 5, broken down into amounts for the first 10 years, 1955–64, and for the next 20 years, 1965–84.