I am happy though to talk with a group such as this, consisting, as it
does, of men who are experts in the field of highway construction, and
those who supply the materials and the equipment, a most important
adjunct to the construction of any project. Our entire nation has
become road conscious. Never before in our history have we experi-
enced such an expanded highway construction program as that now
under way in the several states. I am pleased that Maryland has a head
start in this modernization movement.

Because of the impetus given to highway construction by my pred-
ecessors, Governor Lane and Governor McKeldin, our State was well on
its way in rebuilding our roads system prior to the enactment of federal
legislation which created, and provided a means of financing, the inter-
state system of highways: multiple bands of flexible and concrete con-
struction which will stretch across our nation and which will link to-
gether practically all our major cities, and, will provide adequate travel
arteries through and around our great metropolitan centers.

Here in Maryland we have approximately 4, 700 miles of roads which
are the direct responsibility of the State. Modernization has already
taken place on a large part of this mileage. Many more projects must
be built before the goal of our twelve-year construction plan, now a
fifteen-year program, can be realized. Of this 4, 700 miles, the so-called
primary system embraces 1, 670 miles, and the remainder, a total of
approximately 3, 130 miles, represents what has been called the State
secondary system. Included in the primary system are 353 miles of high-
way which constitutes the interstate system of highways in Maryland.
These major highways, both on and off the interstate system, constitute
the blood stream for the free and orderly flow of traffic. If these main
arteries are not built to proper standards, they soon will become clogged
and our entire roads system will become inadequate and obsolete.

These are the highways on which the cost per mile is high. These
are the roads of multiple land construction where, in many instances,
control of access is demanded so that marginal friction will not destroy
their usage and their carrying capacities over the years ahead. Money-
wise these highways rate high in our construction program. In mileage
they do not approach that of the secondary system.

The fact that the secondary roads carry a much lower volume of
traffic does not minimize their importance. They are a vital part of
a properly coordinated system of highways. They are of the utmost
value to those who reside adjacent thereto and to those who use them
to get to the main highways. It is of the utmost importance that these

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