Arizona Highway Commission Notes

Arizona Highway Commission Notes October 15, 1935.

The Arizona State Highway Commission met in regular session in their offices in the Highway Building at 9:00 A. M., October 15, 1935. Those present were: Chairman Dowell, Vice-Chairman Angle, Commissioners Addams, Barth and Sealt; also, the State Engineer, the Secretary and Assistant Attorney General A. I. Winsett.

State Engineer O'Connell recommended, subject to the approval of the Bureau of Public Roads, that the contract on the Tempe-Mesa Highway, F.A.P. No. 8-A Reopened, A.F.E. 515, be awarded to the low bidder, the Phoenix-Tempe Stone Company, in the amount of $25,141.24. It was regularly moved by Commissioner Angle, seconded by Commissioner Barth and unanimously carried, that the recommendation of the State Engineer be accepted.

State Engineer O'Connell advised the Commission that the Town of Safford had cleared up the matter of right of way through the Town and they had signed the necessary agreements, so he, therefore, recommended that the contract on the Geronimo Solomonville Highway, F.A.P. No. 43 Reopened, AF.E. 542, be awarded, subject to the approval of the Bureau of Public Roads, to the low bidder the Borderland Construction Company, in the amount of $12,539.47. It was regularly moved by Commissioner Angle, seconded by Commissioner Barth and carried, that the recommendations of the State Engineer be accepted.

State Engineer O'Connell recommended, subject to the approval of the Bureau of Public Roads, that the contract on the Kingman-Boulder Dam Highway, W.P.S.S. No. 102-C, A.F.Ε. 6908, be awarded to the low bidder, the Packard Construction Company, in the amount of $51,498.72. It was regularly moved by Commissioner Seale, seconded by Commissioner Barth and carried, that the recommendation of the State Engineer be accepted.

State Engineer O'Connell presented a request from the Town of Wickenburg asking permission to install a 4-inch water man under the new bridge across the Hassayampa River, which request, on the recommendation of the Bridge Department, he recommended be allowed. He pointed out that only those requests received from municipalities are granted and gave as an example a similar request allowed the City of Tempe at the Tempe Bridge. It was regularly moved by Commissioner Seale, seconded by Commissioner Angle and carried, that the request be granted.

The next matter considered was the claim for damages made by Mr. Ned Cross of the Oasis, located about eleven miles East of Mesa. Mr. R. C. Perkins, District Engineer, stated that investigation of the claim had been made by Mr. Harry Duberstein and Mr. J. L. Bone and that in constructing the road in 1929 on the location of the old road at that time, the grade hadn't been changed to any degree. He reported that at the time of rebuilding the highway, there had been dips which were changed and replaced by 8 by 4 concrete boxes and dikes were put through to stop the drainage. Also, that the flood, mentioned by Mr. Cross, occurred in 1931 or 1932 and the Department put in a 36-inch pipe through the dike to let the water go down the land, however, according to an old map of the County, the cabins are placed on a well defined wash and, consequently, every flood that comes in there, floods that particular spot and will continue to do so, through no fault of the Highway Department.

It was regularly moved by Commissioner Addams, seconded by Commissioner Barth and carried, Commissioner Seale not voting, that in view of the opinion which has been received from the Attorney General, the Commission act upon the advice of the Attorney General and disallow any claim.

State Engineer O'Connell advised the Commission that Senate Bill No. 68, which failed to pass, stipulated that pedestrian traffic on State Highways where sidewalks are not provided, should walk against traffic for safety purposes, and, in spite of the bill not passing, he had asked for and received an opinion from the Attorney General.

The matter of safety for pedestrians on State Highways where no sidewalks are provided was discussed at length later in the meeting, and it was regularly moved by Commissioner Seale, seconded by Commissioner Addams and unanimously carried, that the Safety Engineer be instructed to contact other cities and states with reference to what is being done for pedestrian traffic and that he give thought and consideration to the handling of pedestrian traffic in Arizona.

On information received from State Engineer O'Connell that Judge W. J. Parker, Chairman of the Utah State Highway Commission and member of the American Association of State Highway Officials, had recently passed away, the Secretary was instructed to draw up a resolution of condolence in respect to the deceased.

The Secretary read a communication from Mrs. Clara Osborne Botzum, Secretary of the Northern Yuma County Chamber of Commerce, expressing appreciation for the present development and improvement of the Hope-Parker Highway, State Route 72, which leads to the proposed Parker Bridge Project, and requesting the Highway Commission to join with the Northern Yuma County Chamber of Commerce in urging the Bureau of Public Roads to expedite the Parker Bridge Project as an independent structure. On being asked for the status of the Parker Bridge Project, State Engineer O'Connell advised that when he returned from Washington he had made a report which contained the information that a bill had been passed by Congress allowing the construction of a dam at Head Gate; that Senator Hayden had been in constant touch with Mr. Wathen, Chief Engineer of the Indian Service, and had been assured by him that if the dam is built there will be a bridge over it. Mr. Wathen, on being questioned, had informed Mr. O'Connell that if the bridge is built it will be up to Bureau of Public Road Standards, and that a request had been made for WPA funds for the construction of the dam. Mr. O'Connell stated he had not received any further information on the matter, and the Commission instructed the Secretary to acknowledge receipt of the letter and furnish a copy of Mrs. Botzum's communication to each Member of the Commission.

gineer of the Indian Service, and had been assured by him that if the dam is built there will be a bridge over it. Mr. Wathen, on being questioned, had in-formed Mr. O'Connell that if the bridge is built it will be up to Bureau of Public Road Standards, and that a request had been made for WPA funds for the con-struction of the dam. Mr. O'Connell stated he had not received any further information on the matter, and the Com-mission instructed the Secretary to acknowledge receipt of the letter and furnish a copy of Mrs. Botzum's com-munication to each Member of the Com-mission.

State Engineer O'Connell presented a wire received from Mr. G. H. Shirley, Chairman of the Virginia State Highway Commission, requesting that Senator Hayden be urged to accept an invitation to the Annual Convention of the American Association of State Highway Officials to be held in Miami, Florida, December 9, 10, 11 and 12. It was regularly moved, seconded, and carried, that the Commission address a communication to Senator Hayden requesting him to attend the Convention if possible.

It was regularly moved by Commissioner Addams, seconded by Commissioner Barth and carried, that inasmuch as many people are violating the law by placing posts outside of our right of way and allowing the sign which the posts are supporting to overhang on the right of way, and inasmuch as the Attorney General has given an opinion that such a sign is on our right of way, the State Engineer be instructed to see that all of these signs are removed from our right of way.

Mr. E. C. Corbell, Chief Clerk of the Motor Vehicle Division, reported to the Commission the progress being made on the examinations for operators' licenses.

Afternoon Session

Mr. Harlow Akers, an Attorney, appeared before the Commission as representative of a Wickenburg delegation consisting of Messrs. Hal Greer and Everett Coxwell, with reference to the location of the underpass to be constructed in Wickenburg. He stated he did not know the Commission meeting would be held so soon and Messrs. Greer and Coxwell were the only ones who were able to be present, however, they expressed the attitude of the majority of the people of Wickenburg. He presented a photostatic copy of a wire addressed to Senator Henry F. Ashurst, by Chas. L. Shontz, Mayor of Wickenburg; H. K. MacLennan, President of the Chamber of Commerce, and Burt Fox, requesting the Senator's help in having the proposed new bridge built at or near its present site and the underpass being located so as to go straight out Center Street just beyond the bridge. Mr. Akers stated that there has been some question as to where the underpass would be located, whether it would follow and go straight out Center Street or be located near Barnette's Dairy and he pointed out that by going (Continued on page 24)