Evening star., 1923-04-07
FINAL BRIDGE WORK
PLANNED AUGUST |.
Army Engineers Expect Cars
Will Then Be Running
to Virginia Side.

August / next is now given by the
Army engineers in charge ah the ap-
proximate date of the completion OF
the Francis Scott Key bridge across
the Potomac at Georgetown and the
operation of the cars of the Capltal
Traction Company over the structure
to Rosslyn. The bridge proper is
practically finished, but there is con-
siderable work yet to be done on the
land approaches. The Georgetown
approach is being cleared up for road
ways, paving, curbing, sewer connec-
tions and other improvements. includ-
ing the railroad trackage between NJ
street and the bridge proper.
There is even more work to be done
on the Virginia approach at Rosslyn.
Extensive filing was required 10
bring the approach to grade and pro-
vide foundations for two roadways,
outside of the loop to be constructed
on the reservation by the Capital
Traction Company.
Plan Permanent Roads.
1t is expected that the fill will be
settled by the first of May sufficiently
to permit the construction OF the
permanent roads. as well as the loop
itself. These roads will curve out
ward from the bridge end to the
Lee highway at Hume avenue and
on the inside. The roads Will be
built of penetration macadam, which
will be topped by asphalt when
finally settled. -..
When they are laid the present
temporary straight road through the
center of the approach Will be aban-
doned. The east side of the fill. where
there is a sheer drop of about thirty
graded and sodded. 1t is planned to
make the entire approach as attrac-
tive as possible.
Rearrangement of the trackage of
the Washington and Old Dominion
railway is under way. but cannot be
completed until the Capital Traction
loop is laid and the new terminal sta
tion on the RosSlyn reservation has
been constructed. When that point is
reached. the trackage across the old
AQueduct bridge to Georgetown will
be abandoned and the terminal of the
Old Dominion car line will be at
RoSSlyn.
To Build Station.
The company has a permit to build
temporary frame station. with
plaster finish. on the west side of the
reservation subject in all details to
the approval of the Army chief of en-
gineerS. That building is now under
construction. 1t will be about 130
feet long. IS feet deep and about 25
feet in height.
ton county. Va. recently filed objec-
ton at the War Department to the
use of the federal reservation by the
Old Dominion Company on the ground
that such use endangered general
traffic on Lee highway at that point.
In reply. Secretary Weeks informed
the board that the law providing for
the new bridge contemplated the use
of the reservation by the Old Domin-
ion Company. and that the permit
just granted by the War Department
is to be regarded as merely temporary
and does not affect the establishment
of a permanent terminal off the res
ervation, if such action is found de-
sirable. 1T seems questionable" the
Secretary added. that the risk to the
public caused by the railway crossing
will be greater than would result if
the crossing were eliminated and the
passengers transferring between the
Washington and Old Dominion rail-
way and the Capital Traction railway
were required to cross the highway
on foot"