Infrastructure and Utilities Sites

The Works Progress Administration built a culvert on Choctaw Road in Choctaw, OK. Contributor note: "This culvert carries water run-off north-south at the intersection of 10th Street and Choctaw Road. The culvert has a 3 ft by 3 ft. opening, and at the time of our visit was heavily overgrown with tall grasses. At the top of each curb of the culvert, the WPA shield is stamped reading 1939."  

The Works Progress Administration built a culvert at the intersection of 10thStreet and and Autumn Lane in Harrah, in 1939. Contributor note: "This culvert carries water run-off north-south under 10th Street, about two miles west of the town of Harrah. The culvert opening is about 3 ft by 3 ft. Stamped on top of the curbing on either side of the road is the WPA shield and the date 1939."

The Works Progress Administration built culverts at the intersection of 10th Street and Dobbs Road in Harrah, in 1939. Contributor note: "These two culverts carry water run-off east-west under Dobbs Road, on each side of 10th Street. The culverts were built by the WPA in 1939. The culvert on the north side of 10th Street is approximately 2 ft. high and 3 ft. wide; the culvert on the south is 2 ft. high and 4 ft. wide. Though partially filled with sand and dirt, they appear to be handling the water flow satisfactorily. On the curbing of each culvert end, a WPA stamp...

The Works Progress Administration built a culvert at the intersection of 10th Street and Luther Road in Harrah, in 1939. Contributor note: "This culvert carries water east-west under Luther Road, on the south side of 10th Street. The culvert opening is approximately 3 ft by 3 ft. The culvert carries water run-off and we saw no creek in the vicinity. On top of the curbing, the WPA stamp reads 1939."

The Works Progress Administration built a culvert on 10thStreet Peebly Road, Oklahoma County. Contributor note: "On 10th Street, between Choctaw and Harrah, at Peebly Road, there are two culverts which carry water east-west from the drainage ditches alongside 10th Street. The culvert openings are rectangular, and approximately 2 ft. by 3 ft. The WPA did extensive road and drainage work in this area in the latter part of the 1930's. These culverts are stamped 1939."

The Works Progress Administration built a bridge on 10thStreet in Choctaw. Contributor note: "One-half mile east of Hiwassee Road on 10th Street, this is a bridge with three 10 ft. wide openings, and five concrete pillars at each side of the road. The bridge spans north-south flowing water down an unnamed creek. The bridge is located on the northern edge of the Optimist Park. The bridge appears to be in good condition. On each side of the road, a pillar is stamped with the WPA shield and the date 1939."

The Works Progress Administration built a culvert on 10th Street in Oklahoma County, in 1939. Contributor note: "This culvert is located about 200 feet east of the intersection of 10th Street and Peebly Road. This culvert carries water north-south from a small pond northeast of the culvert. Run-off must be quite severe at times, as the culvert opening is about 3 ft. by 6 ft. As with much of the culvert road in this area, this culvert was constructed in 1939 by the WPA."

The Works Progress Administration built culverts on 10th Street in Gotebo, OK in 1938. The culverts are marked with the WPA stamp and are located north and south of Maud Linnie Avenue. Contributor note: In front of a former school, these two culverts cross 10th Street, north and south of Maud Linnie Avenue. They handle drainage flowing east-west. The culverts are concrete and have openings approximately 2 ft. high and 4 ft. wide. The curbing is imprinted with the WPA stamp showing the year 1938. Grass and weeds are grown up at the entrances which may impede the water flow. The nearby auditorium/gymnasium was also...

The WPA photos here show the sewer cut at the end of 123rd St. in Queens before and after the WPA improved it. The before photo has the following caption: "This is how the sewer cut at 123rd St. south of Sunrise Highway in Queens looked before WPA waved its magic wand. The magic in this case took the form of a small array of Federal relief workers who transformed the cut into a modern sewage canal." The after photo depicts the sewer cut "after a force of WPA workers had rebuilt its walls."

The Work Projects Administration undertook a large sewer replacement project with respect to 125th Street in Manhattan. The project was described by the WPA in 1940: "Completed early in 1940. New twin flat-op reinforced concrete sewer, each half ranging from six feet to seven feet in depth and from six feet six inches to eight feet eight inches in width, replacing an antiquated brick sewer. Total length of 3,720 feet, in addition to an overflow chamber, 98 feet long, 22 feet wide and 16 feet 8 inches deep, which was built at the lower end. At the riverfront, the construction includes...

The Bureau of Public Roads provided funds to construct an overpass carrying 12th Street over the railroad in Folsom, N.J. The project was undertaken as part of a larger grade crossing elimination initiative during that era. Living New Deal believes this structure has since been replaced. New Jersey Board of Public Utility Commissioners: "A "Works Program-State Highway Department" project on which the Board initiated proceedings and on March 26, 1936, after a re-hearing of the case, issued an order to eliminate the grade crossing. Contract for construction was let by the State Highway Department on April 7, 1937 ... Funds from the Bureau of Public Roads were allotted...

The federal Work Projects Administration undertook a large road repair project starting in 1935 in the borough of Queens. The streets, many of which in New York City were still unpaved, were repaired; particular emphasis was placed on fixing washout-damaged stretches of road. Holes were filled in and the streets were smoothed, surfaced and reconditioned. Roads improved as part of this project (WPA Official Project No. 65-97-9) included the stretch of 160th Street between Union Turnpike and Goethals Ave.

The federal Work Projects Administration undertook a large road repair project starting in 1935 in the borough of Queens. The streets, many of which in New York City were still unpaved, were repaired; particular emphasis was placed on fixing washout-damaged stretches of road. Holes were filled in and the streets were smoothed, surfaced and reconditioned. Roads improved as part of this project (WPA Official Project No. 65-97-9) included the stretch of 164th Street between Union Turnpike and the Grand Central Parkway.

In September 1935, an enormous highway and grade crossing elimination program was approved by the state Public Works Administration (PWA) officials and was forwarded to Washington for final approval. The large number of projects would amount to a financial outlay of $3,614,500.00 in PWA funds, and an estimated $80,000.00 of the total would be spent on a grade separation at the intersection of Highway 281 and the Union Pacific tracks in Hastings. Although specifics had not yet been shared with the public, it was thought that the project would include an overpass near 16th Street and Kansas Avenue. The highway...

This WPA photo showing a WPA sewer under construction has the following caption: "Engineers take pride in their work. This smiling WPA worker is as proud as his fellow workers and chief engineers as the big job nearing completion in the vicinity  of 179th Street and Highbridge Park. Antiquated and inadequate sewers are being replaced with modern ones - an important adjunct in the plan for improving sanitary conditions in the five boros of New York."

The Civil Works Administration (CWA) conducted "grading and filling" work on 17th Ave. from Monroe Street to the city limits.

The federal Work Projects Administration (WPA) undertook several road improvement projects along roads in Brooklyn, New York. One such project involved the removal of malls and other repair work along 17th Ave. from 47th St. to Old New Utrecht Rd.

The federal Works Progress Administration (WPA) worked to improve many roads in San Francisco, including the stretch of 17th Street between Market and Harrison.

The Works Progress Administration (WPA) carried out paving work on 18th Street in Jasper. According to the Secretary-Treasurer of the Jasper Land Company, the WPA’s road improvement work brought an increase in housing construction.

This was a combination City/State/Federal (Civil Works Administration) project. Clearing the right-of-way for the viaduct began in Nov. 1933. In Feb. 1934, the federal government allotted $186,000. The cost of the project was $243,000. The width of paving was reduced to 20 ft from 40 ft to cut cost. The viaduct is over the Missouri-Kansas-Texas railroad, St. Louis-Southwestern railroad, and Waco creek on Hwy 2 and 44. The 18th Street approach to the bridge had a storm sewer built using CWA labor. The city bought the right-of-way, the cost of viaduct was paid by state and federal funds. Pouring of the concrete deck was...

The Works Progress Administration (WPA) improved many roads in San Francisco, California, including widening a 1,655 foot stretch of 18th Street between 3rd and Missouri Streets (between Potrero Point and the crest of Potrero Hill).    

Federal Public Works Administration (PWA) funds enabled the construction of the old terminal at what was then known as Houston Municipal Airport. The Art Deco building at William P. Hobby Airport now serves as the 1940 Air Terminal Museum.

The federal Work Projects Administration (WPA) undertook several road improvement projects along roads in Brooklyn, New York. One such project involved the removal of malls and other repair work at the intersection of 19th Ave. and Dahill Rd.

The federal Works Progress Administration (WPA) undertook a sizable public building improvement project in Brooklyn, New York beginning in 1935.  The project involved the "Improvement of Public Buildings and Offices" at more than 30 locations, including the municipal yard at "19th Ave. and 56th St." The site is still occupied by the Department of Sanitation.

Among a series of paving projects undertaken by the federal Works Progress Administration (WPA) in Irvington, New Jersey was the 700-foot stretch of 20th Avenue from Ellis Ave. to 21st St. The work was completed in three days in September 1936. The paving, it was reported, "is two inches deep on the old concrete base of six inches, and runs thirty-eight feet from curb to curb. The cost to Irvington was approximately $500 for half of the materials."

The federal Work Projects Administration undertook a large road repair project starting in 1935 in the borough of Queens. The streets, many of which in New York City were still unpaved, were repaired; particular emphasis was placed on fixing washout-damaged stretches of road. Holes were filled in and the streets were smoothed, surfaced and reconditioned. Roads improved as part of this project (WPA Official Project No. 65-97-9) included the stretch of 212th Street in Queens Village between Jamaica Ave. and Hollis Ave.

Among a series of paving projects undertaken by the federal Works Progress Administration (WPA) in Irvington, New Jersey was the 1,200-foot stretch of 21st Street from from 20th Ave. to 18th Ave.

An early Works Progress Administration (WPA) project in Fremont, Nebraska was described as follows: Water extension from Broad street to Nye avenue on Twenty-third street. This included the laying of 1,294 feet of 6 inch water main and the placing of two fire hydrants to improve the fire protection in this section of town. The project provided two weeks' employment for 18 persons.

The Works Progress Administration built retaining walls on 24th Street in Parkersburg.

The federal Works Progress Administration (WPA) worked to improve many roads in San Francisco, including the stretch of 25th Ave. between Fulton St. and El Camino del Mar.

The Works Progress Administration built storm sewers on 26th Street in Parkersburg.

In 1939, a dead-end wall was constructed on 2nd Street in Salina, Kansas by youths who were employed by the National Youth Administration (NYA). The NYA was a division of the Works Progress Administration (WPA) that focused on training, employing, and educating young people between the ages of 16 and 25. Chris Cotten, Parks and Recreation Director of the City of Salina, Kansas tells us that "n April 1939 the Salina Journal reported that 35 NYA youths, working part time and using rubble masonry, were hired to construct 'ten dead-end walls' on streets that terminated at the Smoky Hill River. Remnants...

The Works Progress Administration (WPA) contributed to the development of what of 35th Avenue, extending it from Prince to College Points Boulevard (then known as Lawrence Street), in anticipation of the 1939 World's Fair in Flushing.

The federal Works Progress Administration (WPA) worked to improve many roads in San Francisco, including the stretch of 3rd St. between what was then Bayshore Blvd. and Burke Ave. Highway 101 now occupies that stretch of Bayshore Blvd.

In 1939, a dead-end wall was constructed on 3rd Street in Salina, Kansas by youths who were employed by the National Youth Administration (NYA). The rock wall at the south end of 3rd Street bears an NYA plaque. The NYA was a division of the Works Progress Administration (WPA) that focused on training, employing, and educating young people between the ages of 16 and 25. Chris Cotten, Parks and Recreation Director of the City of Salina, Kansas tells us that "n April 1939 the Salina Journal reported that 35 NYA youths, working part time and using rubble masonry, were hired to construct 'ten...

The federal Civil Works Administration improved 4th Avenue— "ashing" the road—in Greenville, Pennsylvania between 1933 and 1934.

Constructed with Public Works Administration (PWA) funds in 1936, the 5th Avenue Bridge spanned Pigeon Creek, south of Diamond Ave, though it is no longer extant. It was a modified parker truss bridge, polygonal top chords, lacks cross diagonals in the center two bays, instead the laterals in these two bays form a diamond, cement deck with floor beams and stringers and bottom lateral bracing, sidewalk decks cantilevered out on both sides.

A WPA sidewalk imprint stamp marks the sidewalk on the west side South 5th Street, one half block up from Cedar St., across from the south end of the school campus Gymnasium building.

In 1934 the Federal Public Works Administration (PWA) provided funds to build a million-gallon water storage tank in Newport News, Virginia to replace the old water tank. The caption for the photo above reads "A million-gallon water-storage tank erected at Newport News, Virginia, to replace an old tank which had been condemned." The name listed for the project on the PWA docket records is "Newport News 60th Street Elevated Tank." Researcher Frank da Cruz has found that this water tank as well as others constructed by the PWA in the area at the same time, were "...financed by 25% to 45%...

The federal Work Projects Administration undertook a large road repair project starting in 1935 in the borough of Queens. The streets, many of which in New York City were still unpaved, were repaired; particular emphasis was placed on fixing washout-damaged stretches of road. Holes were filled in and the streets were smoothed, surfaced and reconditioned. Roads improved as part of this project (WPA Official Project No. 65-97-9) included the stretch of 64th Road between Dry Harbor Rd. and 82nd Pl.