Evening star., 1922-12-11
TERMINAL LFORNEW
+ BRIDGE PROPOSED
Bill Would Extend Virginia
Avenue From Rock Creek
to North End of Span.

Representative r. Walton Moore OF
Virginia today introduced in the
House a bill providing for the ex-
tension Of Virginia avenue west Of
Rock Creek to the north end Of the
new bridge at Georgetown. Tho
proposition was considered by En-
gineer Commissioner Kutz and Is
said to have met with his approval.
Representative Moore explained that
the bill was introduced at the request
of Frank Lyon Of Washington and
Arlington county, Va.
Explaining the proposed legislation,
Mr.. Lyon said that owing to the topog-
raphy of the ground at the District
end there Is no street. by which the
bridge may be reached. except NJ street,
which is only fifty feet wide between
all the travel from Virginia passing
over the bridge, but all the travel by
way Of the canal road and the Chain
bridge to Virginia. the travel by that
road to Montgomery county and q largo
part Of the travel from Washington
westerly up the Conduit road to Great
Falls and Montgomery county.
Street Greatly Congested.
At present this ffty-foot street has
w
the Capital Traction Company. It's
entire length from Rock creek to the
bridge terminal is built up OF whole
sale and retail business houses. and
constitutes in the morning and after
noon one of the most congested
streets in the city.
1t is evident. Mr.. Lyon points out,
that there must be some relief II the
bridge Is to serve it's maximum pur-
pose for the convenience of the peo-
pie.
The travel may not be diverted to
N street to the northwest because of
the grades and because. also. there
Is no bridge over N street, and the
travel would have to come back into
NJ in order to cross that street. The
only other practicable outlet is to
extend Virginia avenue through that
part Of Georgetown lying south of
NJ street and terminate it at the
junction Of the bridge with M street
An Ideal Terminal.
The extension Of this broad avenue
to the bridge. it Is pointed out. would
make one of the most ideal termi-
nails for Washington that could be
devised. The avenue would take all
OF the downtown traffic off of NJ
street and PENNSYLVANIA avenue and
send it into the lettered streets from
X to B as the needs of traffic de-
manded.
1t is recognized by all who use NJ
street. MIR. Lyon says. that it is be-
coming so congested even without
the new bridge that some relief
must he had.
II this bill becomes a law. and
Virginia avenue is opened. not only
will the cars carrying passengers be
largely taken from N street. but all
trucks carrying garden supplies from
virginia and Maryland to the market
at 9TH street would be diverted from
pennsylvania avenue and the front
OF the White House to Virginia ave-
nue. and 3 street, south Of the White
House.
The subject of a proper terminal
at the north end Of the bridge has
been given careful consideration and
no other practicable relief has been
according to Mr.. Lyon.
Beautiful Thoroushfare.
Aside from utility purposes there
could be no more beautiful driveway
than could be made by turning into
Virginia avenue at the end OF the
bridge and proceeding down the river
Virginia avenue In the vicinity Of
the X Street bridge. II Virginia ave-
nue. were thus extended with,the same
width 1t now has, 1t would afford 4
beautiful view of the Potomac river.
the new Georgetown bridge and Of
which is now contemplated.
1T seems almost a travesty that the
government should spend $3,000,0OO
In building a bridge" said Mr. Lyon,
'and provide no practicable terminal.
1t is only question of a short time
when the demands of traffic will make
necessary some opening up of this
terminal. and If it 10 not done now
1t Will be enormously more expensive
as time passes"
The proposition covered by Repre-
sentative Moore's bill was given con-
sideration by the former Engineer
Col. kutz, and is be-
lieved to have the approval Of all who
have carefully studied it.