Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-07-08
BRIDGE NEAR FALLS
TO Be STEEL SPAN.
Design Approved for LAO
Foot Structure by Plan
ming Commission.

The design for the proposed toll bridge
across the Potomac River. just below
and within view of Great Falls. which
Gas approved yesterday by the Nationa
Capital Park and Planning Commission
will be steel span. deck type of bridge
and will be lao feet long.
The central span of the bridge. which
will be directly over the gorge. it VA
explained. will be 500 feet long. anc
there will be IL other spans to the ap-
prosclles. each 100 feet long. The piers
will be OF masonry, faced with natural
rock, taken from the vicinity. Only one
detail remains to be approved, and that
whether the piers will be round OF
square This question will be submitted
. 10 the National Commission of Fine
Arts.
Vehicular Roadway.
The commission also determined that
The vehicular roadway on the bridge
kroper viii be so feet wide. which will
= permit Of three lanes of traffic. On
either SIDE will be walks for pedestrians.
II was pointed out that the design does
not provide. as originally suggested, a
vide span In the central part. which
would permit automobile parties to halt
for a view OF the Falls. but the plans
contemplate large parking area on the
Virginia shore for automobiles, when
their occupants may go on the bridge II
they desire more than passing
glimpse. 1t was pointed out that the
location Of the bridge viii permit a
view Of the Falls only from the extreme
enc Of the central span to the shore,
and that il cannot be viewed from the
MARYLAND side Of the bridge.
Offcials Of the Park and Planning
Commission expressed the belief that
work will be started on the structure
sometime this Summer. and that il
would require year to complete. The
construction OF the bridge by the Great
Falls Bridge Co. was authorized by the
last session Of Congress.
Sixteenth Street Approach.
Plans for the improvement of the APP
preach 10 the city at Sixteenth street
and the District of Columbia line. ii was
disclosed. will provide for an extension
OF the Rock Greek Park boundaryseast-
ward 10 the former thoroughfare. 1t is
proposed TO improve this approach in
coordination with plans for the treat
nlent on the Maryland side of the line.
and particularly with relation to the
new Silver Spring Bethesda roadway,
ths contract for the building of which
was let last week by the Maryland State
Road Commission.
A committee of the commission is to
confer with the State Road Commission
Of Maryland and the Maryland National
Capital Park and Planning Commission
on this matter of treatment of the Six
tenth street approach. which viii deal
primarily with the laying out of new
grades in this section.
The commission discussed briefly the
question of treatment of the Virginia
approach to the Key Bridge, but re-
ferred the matter TO a committee for
thorough study, with instructions to
make its report at the September meet
ing
A number Of land purchases were au-
tlaorized but the commission refused to
make them public until after title is OBJ
tanned, because of its ever-present fear
that land owners will boost the price If
they find that the Government Is seek
ing IL. II vas said, however. that no
new projects were authorized. the ac-
QUESTIONS 10 be made being merely small
additions to certain projects already es-
tablished.