December 1, 1966
The Texas Highway Commission Wednesday approved initial construction of the 7.4 mile center section of the Trans-Mountain Road across the Franklin Mountains. The action was taken in Austin.
The commission authorized construction of grading and structures on the section between War Highway and the completed portion 3.2 miles east of Interstate 10 near Canutillo interchange. Estimated cost is $7.5 million for the initial work.
Officials and civic leaders from a dozen Texas, New Mexico and Oklahoma cities will be in El Paso Thursday to meet with the commission that is holding its December Session in Hotel Paso del Norte.
Commission Chairman Herbert C. Petry Jr. and commissioners Hall Woodward and H.H. Kultgen arrived at International Airport late Wednesday for the meeting in which seven highway projects will be presented for state approval. New Mexico Highway Commission Chairman john Sudderth will also attend the two-day meeting.
TO ASK FUNDS
Perhaps of most important immediate concert to El Paso will be a request that the State of Texas enter into an agreement with federal officials for construction of the Chamizal Memorial Highway between Downtown El Paso and the Zaragosa Bridge, paralleling the relocated border. Estimated cost of the multi-lane project is $12 million, with Congress allocating $8 million in federal funds for right of way acquisition and partial construction.
The Texas Highway Commission will be asked to pay the difference for construction of the 12.5 mile arterial highway.
Of more widespread interest is request for a proposed controlled access super-highway between El Paso and Oklahoma City, Okla., a scenic highway along the Rio Grande from El Paso to Big Bend National Park and continuous signing of the Tumbleweed Turnpike extending the full width of Texas from el Paso to the Louisiana border.
Also on the agenda will be a request for extending designation of Interstate 25 from Las Cruces, N.M., to the international border crossing at Cordova Island and paving of the road to Hueco Tanks County Park 5.8 miles north of U.S. 62.
The Oklahoma delegation supporting the interstate highway will include Alderman Charles Hill and Jim White of the Oklahoma City Chamber of commerce and Aldermen T.R. Stephans and Jerry Brandon of Lawton Okla. Others include City Clerk James Know, Construction Engineer Wyatt Hendrick. Road and Transportation Director J.C. Kennedy and E.G. Hahney of the Lawton Chamber of Commerce.
Lubbock Mayor W.D. Rogers and County judge Roderick Shaw will be supporting witnesses. Mayor R.C. Rancier will head a delegation from Wichita Falls, County Judge Charles Lawrence will lead a delegation fro Seminole and civic leaders from Carlsbad, Hobbs and Loving, N.M. will attend the hearing.
SUPPORT HIGHWAY
Supporting the scenic river highway will be Mayor C.E. McFarland, County Judge W.B. Johnson, Chamber of Commerce officials E.K. Beauland and Herbert Harlow, of Marfa; County Judge Tom Neely and Commissioner Louis Lutich, of Sierra Blanca, and commissioners from Hudspeth, Presidio and Jeff Davis Counties, and the mayor and two councilmen from Ojinaga, Mexico.
Mayor G.L. McGuire and other Kermit, Tex., officials will be present to support the continuous singing of the Tumbleweed Turnpike along with Nacogdoches Chamber of Commerce President John J. Rudisill and other city officials along the highway.
The commission will hold a closed door business session during Thursday morning, followed by a luncheon in the Paso del Norte ballroom sponsored by the Downtown Rotary club, El Paso Chamber of Commerce, and the Road Hands Association.
The open hearing will be hold during the afternoon in the hotel mezzanine ballroom starting at 2 p.m.
Participating in the luncheon will be Mayor Judson Williams, Chamber of commerce President Fred Hervey, county judge Travis Johnson, State Representative John E. (Ned) Blaine, State Senator Joe Christi, Rotary President Robert B. Price Jr. and Vice President George Chrysler, C of C Highway Committee Chairman Tom Diamond, Road Hands President George W. Brown, District Highway Engineer Joseph Battle and a host of officials from other communities.
The commissioners will be accompanied by Asst. state Highway Engineer James c. Dingwall and all will be taken on a tour of El Paso highway and street projects Friday morning after a breakfast sponsored by El Paso Road Hand. A cocktail party will be held Thursday in El Paso Club and the commissioners will attend the dog races in Juarez Thursday evening and horse races at Sunland Park Friday afternoon.
My dad worked on Trans Mountain road in the 60's before he left El Paso and moved to Alpine, TX. I sure like reading your tales. My dad's name was William "Bill" Burton.
Posted by: Nancy Burton | December 04, 2010 at 08:24 PM