Articulo vias

¿Se puede mejorar el estado de las vías Colombianas? Problemas y posibles soluciones.
(Julián Torres Estupiñan)
The Main Roads Board was created in 1920 with J.R. (later Sir John) Kemp as Chairman. It was later renamed the Main Roads Commission, then the Main Roads Department. Prior to this, local councils were responsible for the construction of their own roads.
Under the Main Roads Act of1920, a road could be gazetted as a ‘Main Road’ only under certain conditions. Roads within towns were specifically excluded, and remained the responsibility of the relevant local council. Outside the towns, three priorities were identified: to use trunk roads to join towns which were not yet connected by railway; to construct feeder roads linking farming areas to the existing rail network; anddevelopmental roads which were to open new areas of Crown Land to closer settlement.
The Board was a large employer, contributing to employment relief during the Great Depression of the 1930s. Projects included the Story Bridge, Somerset Dam and buildings at the University of Queensland, St Lucia.
111,000 private vehicles were registered in 1937, making construction of main roads a priority.
TheMain Roads Commission made a significant contribution towards infrastructure required for World War II operations. The Commission took on a range of defence projects: constructing military camps, aerodromes, fortifications, fuel storage tanks, firing ranges, parade grounds, docks, jetties and more roadworks. Subsequent labour shortage resulted in an increased use of machinery.
Between 1951 and1952, motor vehicle registrations rose by 14,269 to 253,361. As a consequence roads became inadequate and road widening and safety became a priority.
Throughout the 1960s, the organisation was decentralised and regional and district offices were allocated greater authority and responsibilities. Increased training was provided for staff and a road plan was introduced.
As the road network expandedthroughout the 1970s and 80s, road building methods became more scientific, technical and sophisticated.
Population levels continue to increase in the 21st century, putting similar pressures on the road system. Road projects and roadworks are rapidly increasing as Main Roads works to meet the challenges and give Queensland a safe and efficient road transport system.

El aumento de tamaño ydensidad de las poblaciones en las ciudades de las primeras civilizaciones y la necesidad de comunicación con otras regiones se tornó necesaria para hacer llegar suministros alimenticios o transportarlos a otros consumidores, es allí donde surgen las carreteras. Las carreteras fueron los primeros signos de una civilización avanzada. Los mesopotámicos fueron uno de los primeros constructores de carreterashacia el año 3500 a.C. Le siguieron los chinos, los cuales desarrollaron un sistema de carreteras en torno al siglo XI a.C., y construyeron la Ruta de la Seda (la más larga del mundo) durante 2.000 años; Los incas de Sudamérica construyeron una avanzada red de caminos que no se consideran estrictamente carreteras, ya que la rueda no era conocida por los incas.
Estas llamadas carreteras recorríantodo los Andes e incluían galerías cortadas en rocas sólidas. En el siglo I, el geógrafo griego Estrabón registró un sistema de carreteras que partían de la antigua Babilonia; los escritos de Heródoto, historiador griego del siglo V a.C., mencionan las vías construidas en Egipto para transportar los materiales con los que construyeron las pirámides y otras estructuras monumentales levantadas porlos faraones. Aun existen algunas de las antiguas carreteras. Las más antiguas fueron construidas por los romanos. La vía Apia empezó a construirse alrededor del 312 a.C., y la vía Faminia hacia el 220 a.C. En la cumbre de su poder, el Imperio romano tenía un sistema de carreteras de unos 80.000 km, consistente en 29 calzadas que partían de la ciudad de Roma, y una red que cubría todas las...