How does Utah stand in construction of its sections of the interstate highway system? Nation-wide, it’s reported only about 10 per cent of the 42,500 mile freeway system is uncompleted – but those last few thousand miles are proving to be the hardest and most expensive and in some urban sections completion isn’t in sight. In Utah, according to Utah highway officials, about 20 percent of the interstate routes are yet to be finished mileage – wise – but designs and right – of – way acquisition are advanced sufficiently that completion within national deadlines should be no problem. Transportation Secretary Brock Adams estimated last June that to complete the last 4,250 miles of the inter-state system would cost $40.5 billion – or about 63 per cent of the $63.7 billion that has been spent to build the first 38,250 miles. If Adams has his way, those states with missing links would either have to commit themselves to construction by Sept. 30, 1982, or request that their interstate funds be made available for something else. Blaine J. Kay, director of the Utah Department of Transportation, says this deadline should be no problem in this state. Comparatively speaking, Utah has a good record of putting allocated federal money into construction, ranking eighth among states in this category, according to Mr. Kay. It would take an estimated $305 million to complete the interstate system in Utah, including the through routes and intra-city (belt) routes in Salt Lake City. Funding of freeway projects is split on a 90-10 federal-state basis. Major unfinished sections on the three interstate systems in Utah include: About 45 miles on I15 between Scipio and Nephi ; and about 25 miles from Elwood (near Tremonton) to a point about six miles south of the Idaho line. On I-80 (the east-west route), pavement of the Wendover bypass which will be done this next summer ; and a section in Salt Lake County between the Redwood Road and Salt Lake City, parts to be under construction next summer ; also a 13-mile section west of Tremonton. On I-70 (the route from Colorado to Cove Fort), the main stretch uncompleted consists of about 40 miles between Salina and Sevier Summit. Plus belt route sections in Salt Lake City. In all there will be 935 miles of interstate roads in Utah when fully completed. The freeway system – which has been called the greatest public works project in history fills an important need, as Utah motorists will testify. Here in Utah County, it is difficult to conjecture how we could have gotten by, traffic-wise, without the freeway. Old Highway 91 already was overloaded with the interstate route was put to use. The interstate system has been under construction since 1957. Secretary Adams is right in pressing to get the job completed, and his deadline for state commitments to construction in 1932 seems fair enough.