Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-10-02
STATE ROAD BAORD
WARNED OF CURVE
Montgomery Commissioner
Got No Reply to Letter
Pointing Out Danger.
BY WILLIAM J. WHEATLEY,
stan Correspondent OF The Star.

BETHESDA, Md, October 2.-While
some Montgomery County officials were
lamenting the disclosures in The Star
Of the prevalence of certain dangerous
sections in the new East-WeSt high
way, they learned that another county
official had formally called to the at
tention of the Maryland State Roads
Commission the serious traffic hazard
at the point in the road which has
been compared to the famous Dead
Mans curve on the Washington-Balti
more boulevard. This is at the east ap-
proach to the bridge over the railroad
in the Bethesda district
It was disclosed for the flrSt time
yesterday that more than a month ago
DR.. Benjamin c. Perry, president Of the
Board of Montgomery County Com
missioners and commissioner of the
district in which the accident-breed-
ing curve is located, in a letter had
called the condition to the attention Of
the State roads body. which is con-
structing the road for the county. How
ever, the commission did not even reply
to this communication.
DIR. Perry's Letter.
In his communication DR.. Perry
pointed out that at point 16 feet
from the edge of the bridge, where it
connects with the approach, the Wis
Utility Is only go feet. This is due to
the fact that the road makes a COM
paratively sharp left turn, and 1t is
impossible for an autoist driving east
ward to see even the roadbed from a
point midway of the bridge. Unless
automobile drivers are familiar with the
road or are extremely careful in using
the bridge, they are likely to find them
selves precipitated off the road and
onto the hillside east Of the bridge.
DR.. Perry'S letter was sent only after
he and Joseph G. Christopher, clerk to
the commissioner, had made study Of
this section of the roadway and the
seriousness of the situation was pre-
sented as a practical matter. Further
more, it was pointed out that as the
bridge roadway is about 8 feet wider
than the approach roadway, an auto
mobile travelling to the extreme right
Of the bridge, the driver of which would
be unable to see the road any farther
than the edge Of the bridge proper be-
cause OF the drop, would run di-
rectly off the bridge onto the earth
drop at the side.
Not having received any reply from
the State Road Commission or any
suggestion from it as to the best method
OF eliminating the menace, steps have
been taken by the direction of DR..
Perry to attempt to bring to the at
tention Of automobile drivers the
danger they face when crossing the
bridge.
Concrete Apron a Remedy.
One of the remedies is to put a con-
crete apron on the road the width of
the bridge so that a car will not run
off at this point, another is to place
a large rejecting sign announcing the
danger, the third is to let a rush con-
track to the Potomac Electric Power
Co. to begin Immediately the erection
OF poles to carry the lights for the
highway, so that motorist by observ-
ing the poles ahead may see the turn
he is approaching, and fourth is to
and the road sign will give the only
indication of the turn and sudden drop
In the roadway at this point.
Some engineers and traffic police,
the latter having much experience in
investigating accidents on turns. are
open in their criticism of this worst
of several bad turns in the new high
way, which connects Sligo at the in
tersection of Georgia avenue and the
Colesville road, in the east suburban
district, with Wisconsin avenue at the
junction of the Old Georgetown road
and Watkins avenue, in the western
metropolitan district.
The fact that the State Road Com
mission did nothing in response to
Or. Perry's letter may be explained
to some extent by the fact that the
commission Is constructing the road
at county expense on right of way
selected by the county. AS a matter
of fact, it was said, the road was ap-
proved by the Maryland National Cap
ital Park and Planning Commission,
after it had been stepped of In the
rough by county officials and others.
No Answer for Curves.
No one could be found to say just
why the curves and steep grades were
allowed to develop in the highway,
especially in view Of the fact that the
roads commission is doing everything
to eliminate curves from many Of the
existing State highways. and the coun-
ty officials have been engaged for
on roads to be improved. in order that
curves may be taken out of them.
The new East-West Highway, for the
greater part of its distance, runs
through as yet undeveloped territory.
When one county official was asked
why the curve had been put in the
stretch of highway between Conecti-
cut avenue and the Brookeville road,
a section entirely devoid of houses,
1lc cApldulc0 IAdI IIIAo AdLlO 1lou DSSiA
subdivided.
At the same time, he had no ex-
PLANTATION to offer when it was callsd
to his attention that on the east side
the Columbia Boulevard, which even
tually is to connect Georgia avenue
at North Woodside with the new high
way, was being outlined to cut through
lots in a section that not only was
subdivided, but was developed to the
extent of having number Of homes
actually built. Also it might be point
ed out, that the county Is negotiating
for the purchase of not only lots, but
even houses which lie in the right Of
way of the planned approaches to q
proposed bridge over the Baltimore &
Ohio Railroad tracks at. Kensington,
to be built to eliminate the present
grade crossing. These new approaches
are to be developed to obviate vehicular
traffic making sharp turns in order to
reach the crossing.
In regard to the curve at the over
head railroad bridge approach one
county official, who Is apprehensive as
to the prevalent danger, said that If
it had been necessary $4,000 NOR