Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-09-21
5 to 9 Years Covered by
Program of Resurfacing,.
Widening and Bridging.
CAPT. WHITEHURST PUTS
-nn
URGENT PROJECTS FIRST
System of Major Boulevards Pro-
posed by Chief Engineer
of District.

A comprehensive highway improve
ment program, involving the resurfac-
ing of major highways widening Of
streets, elimination of grade crossings
and replacement or reconstruction Of
bridges was completed yesterday by
Capt. H. c. Whitehurst, chief engineer
of the District.
The program is designed to cover a
period ranging from five to nine years,
at the end of which Capt Whitehurst
pictures Washington with an unex-
celled system of highways, broad and
smooth surfaced, radiating in all direc-
tons from the business section. The
traffic bottle necks would be removed
by widening the narrow sections OF the
main boulevards. building bridges to
meet modern traffic needs, and the
gradual elimination of other conditions
that bark back to the horse and car
riage era.
In Order of Urgency.
Capt. Whitehurst has framed the
program in the order of the urgency
of the projects and the sequence in
which he believes they should be carr
ried out to provide a co-ordinated plan
of development. Each year he pro-
poses Systematically to add 70 projects
started in the preceding year.
1t is Capt. Whitehurst's Idea to first
provide a system of major boulevards
free of all distractions that would tend
to restrict the expeditions movement OF
traffic. Such a plan would necessitate
the widening of several streets in the
downtown section, and the reconstruc-
ton of bridges over which some of these
boulevards pass. Capt. Whitehurst also
would give these major thoroughfares a
smooth surface from one end to the
other.
Boulevard Feeders Next.
Streets which feed the boulevards
would next be improved. and then
would come the so-called minor streets,
so that eventually by the time the en-
tire program is completed, Washing
tons highway system would be model
for the Nation.
The program does not contemplate an
expenditure much greater than the
regular annual appropriations for the
Highway Department. The work, If
carried out Systematically. in Capt.
Whitehurst's opinion, can be financed
with several hundred thousand dollars
more each year than the current APP
preparation for the Highway Depart
ment which amounts TO $4.268, 900.
the exception of two or three, would
be entirely replaced or reconstructed
under the program. Klingle Bridge, IT
was pointed out, is to be reconstructed
first, the initial appropriation for this
work being already available.
The bridge improvement part OF the
program would take nine years to carry
out. In this time it is planned to re-
place Chain Bridge with new and
modern structure entering the District
at Potomac avenue on much higher
level than the present District abut-
ment and reconstruct the Calvert Street
Bridge. and the P Street Bridge, both
of which cross Rock Greek.
Appropriations Considered.
Capt. Whitehurst purposely extended
the bridge reconstruction program over
a period of nine years in order to keep
the appropriations for this item under
81 ,0OO, 900 a year In nearly all in
stances each of the bridge construc-
ton projects would be carried out in
a period of two or more years.
The improvement program will be
submitted to Engineer Commissioners
Gotwals Capt. Whitehurst is conf
dent that it will serve. not only as q
guide to the highway department for
systematic development of the highways
of the District, but that 1t will be in
valuable to public utility corporations
in planning their underground con-
struction work so that it can be car.
ried out in advance of street paving and
thus avoid any interference with the
highway work when 1t Is undertaken.
definite program of this kind, Capt.
Whitehurst also believes. will result in
the saving of thousands of dollars TO
the District.