From the archives: In 1965, this Wilmington highway was 'a disgrace to our state'

Road projects are nothing new in Wilmington. Recent ones include repaving Market Street in Ogden and the Military Cutoff Road extension. There's also the endless debate on a replacement for the Cape Fear Memorial Bridge.

In 1965, with the bridge already in the planning stage, a new district highway commissioner had more projects in mind.

An article in the July 21, 1965, Wilmington Morning Star outlined Ashley Murphy's priorities for roads in the Wilmington and nearby areas, starting with U.S. 17.

"Highway 17 from Wilmington to Supply is a disgrace to our state. It is hazardous to driving, and it is Priority No. 1 on my list," said Murphy, who got the commissioner role weeks earlier. His district included New Hanover, Brunswick, Duplin, Pender, Onslow and Sampson counties.

Priority No. 2 was U.S. 421 "from a point 17 miles from Wilmington into Clinton." Projects already approved before Murphy took on the job included the new Cape Fear span and a ferry from Southport to Fort Fisher.

As guest speaker of a monthly Wilmington Business and Professional Women's Club meeting, Murphy stressed the importance of voting for a $300 million highway bond in November to further improve roads statewide. The club voiced its support, and that fall, nearly 76 percent of voters said yes.

While not part of the bond, Murphy also pointed to an "east-west highway to open the state's ports to the interior roads of the state." Twenty-five years later, Interstate 40 arrived in Wilmington.