Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-03-16
OVERPASS IS HELD
urgent SOLUTION
FOR CROSSING PERIL
Michigan Ave. Construction
Immediate Desire and Need,
Says Deviny.
CIVIC BODY LEADER
EXPLAINS ADVANTAGES
Monroe Street Makeshift Insult
fcient for Needs and Beauty Of
Capital, He Asserts.


the Catholic University of America. is
the immediate elimination of that
menace by construction of an overpase
there that will meet the best needs OF
city planning and engineering, in the
opinion of William M. Deviny, president
Of the Michigan Park Citizens AsSocia-
ton, which is waging a vigorous fight
with this in view.
An adequate bridge, to take care of
the problem, Mr.. Deviny said, should
harmonic with existing buildings and
grounds. We believe that II the people
of Washington had vote that we would
have had one some years ago" His
organization is insiStent that the Michi-
gan avenue grade crossing be eliminated
now-not by q makeshift plan of put
ting a reconstructed overpaSs at Monroe
street, short distance away, by placing
a 90-degree angle in the stream of
traflc northward on Michigan avenue.
but by q suitable Michigan avenue over
pass In a Strengthened thoroughfare, MI.
Deviny asserted.
Views Of Citizens.
Mr.. Deviny's statement to The Star
follows:
THE citizens of Michigan Park ap-
preciate the service you are rendering
them In acquainting our fellow citizens
with the many reasons why the grade
crossing at Michigan avenue northeast
| should not be eliminated by diverting
traflc through Tenth street to a bridge
on Monroe street and closing Of Michi-
gan avenue forever.
Representing q group Of home
owners and speaking for many, II not
all of the institutions east of the Balti-
more & Ohio Railroad, the Michigan
Io elr
the many years of its existence has
annually petitioned the Commissioners
to eliminate the hazardous grade cross
ing by the construction Of an adequate
and appropriate bridge; our supplica-
lions have been answered by having q
sum included in the budget, which was
thrown out in the House, and on an
other occasion a study was made; this
year tangible results are apparent by
some one recommending that, from his
viewpoint, the most economical solution
Of this engineering project would be by
| widening q bridge hundreds of feet
south of the problem.
This Is neither economical legis-
lation nor good engineering. Good en-
glneering recommends a permanent,
satisfactory solution to an undertaking
when taxpayers moneys are being
spent. Previous to this suggested solu-
ton. We thought engineers anticipated
future needs and preferred direct line
methods: The economic aspects Of any
engineering undertaking considers total
costs of maintenance and operation, the
elimination of risks and hazards, saw
ingS of time and effort, safeguarding
public interests insurance against dan
gers, as well as the first outlay.
Esthetic Considerations.
1
that merit careful and conscientious
consideration in the future plans of this
Capital City. To citizenry who have
| contributed to the Identification of
Northwest Washington and adjoining
counties in Virginia and neighboring
Maryland, we believe that our petition
for the elimination of dangerous rail-
road crossing by the erection of a suit
able bridge should not be substituted
by the widening of a bridge, which,
upon completion, will be at best only
capable of caring for present trafflc;
we think that future plans for the beau
tification of Washington should include
one or more programs in this neighbour
hood.
Lack Of foresight by engineers long
since happily buried Is shown today by
the necessity of eliminating two small
kinks in Michigan avenue due to demo-
/ a
pact of reckless automobiles In an In
stitutional and governmentally owned
property. These gentlemen who rectily
| engineering errors do not learn much
| IL they want that risk transferred to
! zone of school children and trafnc. All
Washington should protest against such
wanton waste of money, should DIS
miss such incompetent officialS. One
might conclude that the swivel chair
| 1w.ie kr h0 FAflITnHn
| I'm an era In which traffic engineers
show a need of wider streets and
greater number Of arterial highways;
| in n neriod In which q requisite OF a
highway Is q long stretch OF Wlde street
not intercepted by cross streets, only
unthinking engineers would recommend
and ill-advised legislators permit an
arterial highway such as Mlcngan ave
nue. with so few cross streets TO De
closed forever and divert trafic into
an area of homes and schools.
"If the tax rate Is high, II economy
| &c necessary. might one propose that
some of the plans for adjacent States
| or for certain areas in Northwest WASH
| ington be suspended temporarily; some
might wonder why money Is appr0-
nriated lavishly for an airport, not IN
| the District, while economy crowds
conQested community into bridge
and closes permanently another street
/ a wider, bigger avenue.
Costs and Advantages.
1.-THE unreasonableness for the position
taken in closing Michigan avenue Is
| clear and definite II and when the toCaI
costs and the comparative advantages
of the alternate plans are ScrutHll1eu:;
| The total cost of the construction OF
a modern bridge over Michigan avenue
would be approximately $4,000 ana
| the condemnation OF properly, muCLi
of which Is unimproved, should not De
more than $685. 900. This structure
could be made to harmon1ze with tne
existing buildings and topography
this would eliminate q dangerous grace
crossing, and at least remove one
unsightly traffic hazard. Total cost not
In excess of $375, 900, improvements ana
reduction of hazards.
The widening of Tenth street VIII
convert q residential street into dan
gerous boulevard on which there are
one public school, one high school ana
one orphanage for little children. One
must admit that not many more hazards
could be congested into the length OF
two small city blocks. The diversion
Of traffic from Michigan avenue into
Monroe street will precipitate chaos
that the proposed widening of the
bridge with its approaches cannot re-
lieve Without an outlet at Michigan
avenue there would be no way for flre
! or police to enter Brokland and ada
cent territory unless by the roundabout