Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-11-04
DEATH TRAP ROAD
BARRIER WILL co
ObIique Fence to Replace
Highway Obstruction at
Four-MiIe Run.
BY HOWARD M. BAGGETT.
stan Correspondent Of The star


ALEXANDRIA, Va. November A.
| Following conference of officials Of this
city and Arlington County, with rep
resentatives of the State Highway De-
partment, at the Death Trap" barrier
in Arlington County, at the north side
Of the Four-Mile Run culvert, on the
Alexandria Washington highway, J. G..
Albright, district engineer of the High
way Department, announced that addi-
tional precautionary measures would be
taken at once to properly warn motor
lists of the sudden ending of the wide
Arlington County portion of the road.
The wire netting and barricade, which
extends across the front of the barri-
cade at the present time, will be length
ened about 100 feet, thus forming
more gradual approach to the narrow
culvert and the city portion Of the road
beyond. This extension of the wire
netting viii act as q buffer and will
prevent any possibility of an automo-
bile going over into Four-Mile Run, as
one did 10 days ago. according to Al
bright A "narrow-bridge" sign, with
appropriate warning reflectors, will also
be placed considerable distance to the
north.
VIII Not Be Lighted.
No lights will be placed on the barri-
cade at this time, it was decided by the
district engineer. but a number of spe-
cial headlight refiectors will be placed
above the wire netting. On behalf of
Arlington County, Edward Duncan,
chairman of the board Of supervisors,
announced that the county would be
willing to stand the cost OF the placing
of lights on the barricade, and Engineer
Albright said that he would accept the
offer If the additional precautions, as
now planned, did not properly SAFE
guard the danger point.
A divergence Of opinion was noted be-
tween Arlington County officials and
local city authorities concerning the
question of widening the culvert, which
lies one-half in the city and one-half
In the county. Some difference Of opin-
ion was even expressed by different
present. Arlington officials charged
that the city should be criticised for its
lack of initiative in the matter.
Might Get Favorable Action.
Mayor Carroll Pierce expressed the
opinion that the city had not been
asked by the State Highway Commits
sion to cooperate In widening the cul-
vert span and indicated that the mat
ter might receive favorable action from
the city il requested by the commission
to participate in the cost of the work.
The opinion Of Vice Mayor Edmund +.
TIGER, however, was that the city
should not be asked TO correct o situa-
ton lying on the county side, which
the State had created. widening the
span, TIGER pointed out, would throw
the burden of the sudden narrow road
on the city on the other side Of the
An estimate of the cost to widen the
bridge is now being made, according to
r. / Mount, resident engineer OF Fair
fax, Va, following a survey made last
week, but whether this estimate Is
merely for purposes Of record or
whether the State intends to take any
initiative in the matter he could not
state.
Members of the local City Council
suggested that II something was not
done It was entirely within the ctty's
power to designate the highway as
one-way street going north and force
trafnc to come into the city over Mount
Vernon avenue, which Is wider but
more roundabout route. Albright said
that the city had perfect authority TO
do this and If council so desired he
would change the routing signs just as
soon as any action was taken.
Boundary Signs TO BE Moved.
Mayor Pierce and other Alexandria
officials also brought up the point that
the corporation limits sign of the city
; was now at the north side Of the bridge
and demanded that this be placed In
the center of the span, where the city
line begins. The city has received all
of the unfavorable publicity concern
ing the "deseh trap" Mayor Pierce said,
whereas all Of the accidents take place
on the county side Of the culvert. which
Is under State maintenance. Albright
agreed to correct this matter and the
sign viii be moved to the center Of the
bridge Just as soon as possible.
Although it was not brought out at
the conference, the city some months
ago received q letter from the State
Highway Commission which the COM
mission wrote Gov. Pollard in answer