Evening star., 1929-07-02
KENS|NGTON GRADE
PLANS SUBMITTED
State Roads Commission,
After Survey, Presents
Three Projects.
by WILLIAM J. WHEATLEY.
stan Correspondent Of The Star.

by WILLIAM J. WHEATLEY.
STAN Correspondent Of The Star
KENSrNGToN, Md, July State
Roads Commission proposals for new
crossing Of the Baltimore g. Ohio Rail-
road tracks here to eliminate the pres
ent one at grade were presented by the
State oficials and the engineers Of the
road body yesterday to a large group Of
interested persons, which included the
Montgomery County commissioners,
members of the Maryland National
Capital Park and Planning Commission,
the town council and members of both
Houses of the Legislature, as well as a
number of citizens and real estate op-
orators in the section.
For more than two hours, the group
which numbered approximately so per-
sons, walked up and down Howard ave-
nue., which borders the railroad tracks,
and listened to explanations Of the
the State Roads Commission said they
favored. Any one of the three. Howard
Bruce, member Of the commission, said
would be satisfactory to the commission
and would not involve any very great
difference in cost.
Cross Traffic Required.
All three of the projects would neces-
state cross traffic at the bridge ap-
proach. But this did not appear to be
Objectionable from the viewpoint Of
those familiar with road construction.
However, in the course Of discussions
some months ago in connection with
the proposed underpass near the sta
ton q right-angle road crossing close
| 20 the approaches was declared to be
Objectionable.
Following the lengthy discussions
! there was no indication from the COM
| mission as to which crossing would be
! provided, but it was said that. it will
/ probably be either the State Road COM
, missions plan of bringing tTaffic out
/ Lincoln avenue, by way Of Knowles ave.
nue., or the plan originated by A. G.
Warthen of Kensington, which is to
purchase corner OF land at the inter-
4 section of Howard and Connecticut
avenues and turn the traffic in an easy
curve to the Lincoln road crossing. At
any rate, it was indicated that the con-
Struction Of the bridge would probably
be at Lincoln avenue. Whether the
State Roads Commission will make o
formal announcement is not known,
but 1t was said to be probable that the
first indication of its decision will come
ever, 1t was said that whatever de-
termination Is made the work VIII be
started this Summer.
First Project Discussed.
The first project laid before the as
sembly was the crossing at the end OF
Lincoln road, on Howard avenue. H. D.
Williar. chief engineer OF the commits
sion. pointed out that the construction
of the bridge at this point would In.
volve the raising of the grade six feet
above the present level Of the street
railway tracks, which run along Howard
avenue. This also would involve a NIL
on three streets to grade on the .ap-
proaches, for $50 feet on Lincoln ave-
nue., 800 feet east on Howard avenue,
and $50 feet west on the same avenue.
Traffic could then come to Lincoln ave-
nue., from Connecticut avenue, by way
of Knowles avenue. However, as part
Of this plan, it was proposed that q new
street be cut from the intersection OF
Lincoln avenue and Knowles avenue, in
a gradual curve to the Intersection OF
Connecticut avenue and Baltimore
street, which would make a five point
intersection. This would eliminate, It
was said, two right-angle turns for
trafic. one at Connecticut avenue and
Knowles avenue, and the other at Lin
coin and Knowles avenues.
Irving @. Root, chief engineer OF the
Maryland Planning Commission, said
that the Lincoln road crossing was most
desirable because 1t would tie up with
Concord street on the other side Of the
tracks, and that this highway would
ultimately be continuation OF Con-
necticut avenue to the Brookevllle road,
at or near Aspen. A bill was INTRODUCED
In the legislature at the last session
~,~oxvi<lfv,r f0v this yraU road bit IL was
killed in the Senate.
A. C. Warthen said that the proposal
to cut q new street was Objectionable
because 1t would make dangerous five-
point intersection on two main nigh
ways In the town, and also he did not
believe that the additional expense OF
condemning the right Of way Tor the
be justified. He pointed out that his
ulau for making q curve at Connecticut
and Howard avenues would be cheaper
and less dangerous.
Second Plan Submitted.
The second project Of the commission
1s for an overhead crossing at Dietrick
street and Howard avenue, one square
west of the Lincoln crossing, while the
third provided for the use Of the pres
ent bridge In the west end OF the town
known as the Ken Gar Bridge. State
senator Eugene Jones of KenSington
said that Of the three projects sub
mitted by the commission he favored
the Ken Gar Bridge crossing. However.
he pointed out that he favored this only
in the event that the commission de-
cided on the overhead crossing. He in
dicated. however, that the only project
that he was in favor Of was an under
pass east Of the present railroad sta
ton.
General objections were found to hav-
ing cross traffic on the bridge approach,
but it appeared to be impossible to elm
mate this, In view of the fact that
Howard avenue runs parallel with the
steam railroad tracks. State road en-
Rineers pointed out that 1t would be nee
essary to raise the grade at Lincoln
avenue because OF the necessity OF nav
ing the bridge clearance 26 feet above
the steam railroad tracks.
Among those attending the confer.
ence were G. @. Uhl, chairman, and
Howard Bruce and John K. Shaw, men,
hers of the State Road Commission; H.
%. williar, chief engineer, and w. @.
Hopkins, bridge engineer, Of the roads
commission; Maj. e. Brooke Lee, speaker
of the Maryland House Of Delegates and
county leader; Senator Eugene Jones,
DIR. Benjamin c. Perry. president; Lacy
Shaw, vice president, and Clagett Hill
ton. member, of the Board OF Mont
Qomery County Commissioners; Robert
q. Hilton, J. Herbert Cissel and George
p. Hoover, members Of the Maryland
National Capital Park and Planning
Commission; H. P. Hartshorn, Fred
erick w. Brown, Archie Woodwen and
w A. warthen members Of the Town