Volpe Says End Highway Cutback

John A. Volpe, Governor of Massachusetts, has asked President Johnson to consider overturning the order that froze federal funds for highway construction.

In a letter to the President, the Republican governor said that the fund freeze would bring postponement of a dozen highway projects in the state totaling $71 million.

The freezing of federal funds will delay the controversial Inner Belt Highway somewhat, by stalling land acquisitions in Roxbury, according to the Boston Globe. But the announcement of the Cambridge segment of the eight-lane highway is still expected in the next three or four weeks.

"The program included the advertising for the construction of the balance of Interstate 91, Interstate 290 and Interstate 495," Volpe wrote.

The chief projects affected are an $18 million job bringing Interstate 290 from Worcester to Marlboro, a $13 million job extending Interstate 95 from Revere to Saugus, an $8 million project extending Interstate 495 from Hopkinton to Medway, and two Interstate 91 projects in Springfield and West Springfield totaling $11 million.