Roads, Bridges, and Tunnels Sites

The Works Progress Administration built sidewalks on Emerson Avenue in Parkersburg, Wood County.

The WPA made improvements to Empire Grade Road in Santa Cruz in 1936.

The New York Times reported in 1935: "TWO grade crossings of the Erie Railroad on Routes 6 and 23 at Singac, Passaic County, N.J., will be eliminated under a contract for which bids have been received by Highway Commissioners Arthur F. Foran and James Baker. Funds appropriated through the United States Bureau of Public Roads under the NRA will be used for the project." The infrastructure relating around Routes 6 (now 46) and 23 in the area has been extensively modified since the time of these projects, and the bridges are no longer extant.

In 1937 the WPA improved Escalona Drive "in the city of Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz County, including clearing, scrubbing widening, grading, oiling, installing culverts."

The Works Progress Administration built several roads and bridges in the vicinity of Atmore. This work was part of a county-wide bridge construction project in Escambia County. The approximate cost of the entire program was $377,500.00.

Photo caption, UVM: "This view shows Ethan Allen Park drive as seen from the pinnacle. This drive is being constructed with 8" telford stone sub base, 4 inches of stabilized sand and stone base and 1 1/4 inch of armor coat wearing surface covered with a thin layer of washed sand. There is a little over one mile of this type of pavement sixteen feet in width which has been constructed under the WPA project."

These sidewalks still bear WPA stamps from 1940.

27.5 miles of road shoulder along Evan Hewes Highway were oiled under a federal project totaling $50,000 during the Great Depression. The project spanned the road length between the Highline Canal to the East Side Sand Hills. The road used to be known as California Route 27; it was originally a plank road.

State Rt. 113, Evans Notch Rd. from North Chatham to Gilead, was originally built by the Civilian Conservation Corp (CCC) in 1936 under the US Forest Service and, while scenic, can be narrow and winding. It was constructed from a former logging trail and partially on the ROW of a logging railroad built by Major Gideon Hastings that was abandoned in 1904.

Everett, Washington's main library was constructed between 1933 and 1934 with the assistance of federal Public Works Administration (PWA) funds. The PWA provided a grant of $23,600; the final cost of the project was $108,112.

The Public Works Administration funded the resurfacing of Executive Ave in Washington DC. Pictured are work crews on Executive Ave with the White House in the background.

F. D. Roosevelt State Park is the largest state park in Georgia: "Many facilities within the park were built by FDR’s Civilian Conservation Corps during the Great Depression, including stone cabins overlooking the mountain, a Liberty Bell-shaped swimming pool, and the arched bridge at Hwys. 190 and 354. A small lake is open to fishing and canoeing, and picnic shelters are available for group gatherings."   (www.pinemountain.org)

The Puerto Rico Emergency Relief Administration carried out repair and maintenance work on Factor and Santana Roads in Arecibo.

The Federal Emergency Administration of Public Works provided funds for the construction of a "Fire Protection, Health Conservation and Parking Project" in Rochester, New Hampshire during the Great Depression. The lot currently serves as a popular staging grounds for public events.   "RESOLUTION TO FILE APPLICATION TO F. E. A. TO FINANCE PARKING PROJECT FACTORY COURT A Resolution authorizing the City of Rochester to file an application to the United States of America through the Federal Emergency Administration of Public Works for a grant to aid in financing the construction of Fire Protection, Health Conservation and Parking Project, and designating the Mayor, Sumner...

The Works Progress Administration carried out improvement work on Fairhope Point Clear Road, along Mobile Bay, in the vicinity of Mobile. The work consisted of headwalls, culverts, and road paving. The estimated WPA cost was $92,340.

The Works Progress Administration graded Fairview Addition Street in Smithsburg, Doddridge County.

The federal Works Progress Administration (WPA) developed Falls Road during the 1930s.

The federal Work Projects Administration worked to improve what is now the Fargo VA Medical Center in Fargo, North Dakota during the 1930s. One project was described by the WPA in its project rolls: "rading; reconstructing roads; sidewalks; installing sewers; water mains; steam services and electrical services;" other related work.

The federal Works Progress Administration constructed Farm to Market Road in Montville, New Jersey in 1936. The exact location of the road is unknown to Living New Deal.

The Works Progress Administration (WPA) constructed a farm to market road in West Milford, NJ ca. 1936. The exact stretch of road is unknown to Living New Deal. WPA Project No. 1-271.

This section of Farm to Market Road (FM) 45 is a 4.6 mile two-lane paved road running in an east-west direction below the south corporate city limits of Brownwood. The Works Progress Administration constructed the road in 1941 as a new access road to Camp Bowie. The military reservation had been established a year earlier in September of 1940 as a training center for the Thirty-sixth Infantry Division, Texas National Guard. The camp expanded rapidly during the early years of World War II, increasing form its original 2,000 acres to 120,000 by October of 1942. As part of the expansion,...

The Works Progress Administration (W.P.A.) built a 2.5-mile farm-to-market road in Blackstone starting in late 1937.

"Construction of a three-mile long farm-to-market road in St. Tammany parish was completed this week by the Works Progress Administration. Sponsored by the St. Tammany Parish Police Jury, employing approximately 22 men and costing $15,300, the project included the moving and rebuilding of fences, construction of two wooden bridges, and repairing the road which will serve as a fire line in case of forest fires" (WPA builds road, p. 1). Exact location and current status of the road is unknown to the Living New Deal.

The Works Progress Administration (WPA) conducted multiple farm-to-market road construction projects, including a seven-mile project "which begins at a point 11 miles east of Marlow on Highway 29 and extends four miles south, thence three miles east." That stretch of road entailed constructing 23 bridges and culverts. Living New Deal believes this project to refer to N 2940 Road (four miles south) and E Stephens County Rd 1680 (three miles east); however, no bridges or culverts are directly visible from satellite imagery or Google Street View.

The Works Progress Administration (WPA) conducted multiple farm-to-market road construction projects, including a five-mile project "which begins at a point 16 miles east of Marlow on Highway 29 and extends five miles south." That stretch of road entailed constructing 17 bridges and culverts. Living New Deal believes this project to refer to N 2990 Road (a.k.a. 16 Mile Road South); however, no bridges or culverts are directly visible from satellite imagery or Google Street View.

In 1937 the Wichita Falls Times described a Works Progress Administration (WPA) in a photo caption: "a farm-to-market road job in Young county near Olney." The road in question is unknown to Living New Deal.

"Work is expected to start November 11 to provide proper drainage for Tanwax and Kroger farm-to-market roads in Pierce County at an expenditure of $6,000 of which the WA supplies all but $40. The work consists of removing slides, surfacing, grading and repairing."

"Don G. Abel, state director of the Works Progress Administration, today announced approval of a $16,245 farm-to-market road improvement project for Asotin County. Throughout the county the roads will be graded, resurfaced and generally reconditioned. The project is slated to begin about November 29th and will be completed about April of 1938, with labor taken from local relief rolls."

"Camano Island, Island County draws $21,267 for reconstruction of farm-to-market roads."

Works Progress Administration (W.P.A.) labor constructed farm-to-market roads in Hardwick, Mass. WPA Bulletin, 1937: With the hearty cooperation of town officials WPA is constructing 10 miles of farm-to-market roads in Hardwick, several of the roads tapping a prolific source of milk for the big city markets. One farmer who has been an active petitioner for the new roads insisted that his milk was butter after a half dozen jolting miles while all agreed that the roads, especially in the Spring, were very bad. WPA will drain the roadsides and widen the streets to a width of 22 leveled and properly graded...

Works Progress Administration (W.P.A.) labor constructed farm-to-market roads in Lowell, Massachusetts. WPA Bulletin: WPA in Lowell has improved over 12 miles of farm-to-market roads. Previously many of these roads were impassable during parts of the Spring and Winter seasons and in all seasons travel was difficult.

Works Progress Administration (W.P.A.) laborers constructed water mains in Ware, MA.

"The old bridge across the Charles River at this point had become unsafe. This new bridge is a single span of 105 feet and consists of a three-hinged steel arch encased in concrete supporting a 40-foot roadway and two 6-foot sidewalks. The arch is composed of seven structural-steel, spandrel-braced, three-hinged arched ribs spaced 8 feet 4 inches on centers except the outside ribs which are spaced 9 feet 2 inches from the typical ribs. The abutments are mass concrete enclosing the old stone abutments. A center pier from the old bridge was removed. The project was completed in September 1935...

The Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) constructed Fayette Road in Eastford, Connecticut. One source refers to it as "Fayette Wright Road."

Federal funds helped grade 2.5 miles of the Feather River Highway and bridges at Rock Creek, Tobin, & Storrie within the Plumas National Forest.

The federal Works Progress Administration paved Federal Street in Camden, New Jersey in 1936. Additionally, the WPA tore up obsolete trolley car tracks along the road, notably along the viaduct over Admiral Wilson Blvd.

The WPA worked on Fell St. between Van Ness Ave. and Baker St.

The Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) constructed Fernow Bridge, which spans the Natchaug River, in Eastport, Connecticut. The bridge was dedicated June. 4, 1934.

A substantial infrastructure development project was undertaken in downtown McKeesport as part of a New Deal project, sponsored by the Public Works Administration (PWA). According to the Pittsburgh Press the project involved: "Raising and paving of Fifth Avenue and adjacent streets and alleys, approximately 3380 feet long, grant of $388,350, total estimated cost $863,000. The project provides also for elevating a number of houses to conform to the new street grade line." The eventual total cost was listed as $849,659, and the project also involved sewer construction. PWA Docket No. PA 1504

Parkersburg's historic Fifth Street Bridge was constructed between Sept. 1935 and Apr. 1937. The bridge, which crosses the Little Kanawha River, was built with federal Public Works Administration (PWA) funds in addition to tolls from the nearby East Street Bridge. The PWA supplied a grant of $119,723 for the project, whose total cost was $536,303. PWA Docket No. WV 5410. Excerpt from the The Parkersburg News, April 14, 1937: "Fifth Street Bridge nearing completion The Fifth Street bridge across the Little Kanawha river should be completed by May, it was announced yesterday by H.R. Staley, government engineer inspector for the WPA on the project. Mr. Staley...