The Nome Nugget

$33 Billion Highway Construction
Bill Awaits Eisenhower's Signature

WASHINGTON, Congressional sponsors of the giant highway construction bill predicted today he nation's motorists may be riding on some of the new superhighways by the summer of 1958.

The $33 billion measure completed its congressional course yesterday and was sent to President Eisenhower. He is expected to sign it promptly, possibly late this week.

With it goes a higher $14,800,000,000 tax bill for the next 16 years for motored America to make the 12-year program pay-as-you-ride.

There has been speculation during the long, rough ride through Congress that it might be at least three years before any noticeable construction could take place on the 41,000-mile four-lane interstate system, the key provision of the bill.

However, Sen. Francis Case (R-SD) who has worked on the bill this year and last, told a reporter "We may be surprised at how speedily the states get going on this."

Case said he believes that in fiscal 1957 the 11-month period which starts next Sunday, most of the work on the interstate system would involve planning and purchase of rights of way.

But he said many states already have made such progress on this preliminary work with limited funds already available.