Evening star., 1933-07-14
FUND GOES
TO WIDEN AVENUE
Arlington Span Approach OF
80 Feet Planned in $780,
600 Allotment.

The 100000 allotted by the public
works administrator to the Arlington
Memorial Bridge Commission will be
used for the widening of Constitution
avenue from Virginia avenue to the
Potomac River.
This was explained today by the
commissions executive officer, Col.
James A. Woodruff. Corps OF Engineers,
U. S. A. who said the approach to the
Arlington Memorial Bridge will be
widened to 80 feet. Inasmuch as the
Presidents reorganization program steps
into the picture. the Arlington Mem
orial Bridge Commission will have
ceased to exist before the elapse of the
customary 80 days allowed contractors
before bids are opened. The commits
sion is slated to be merged. by execu-
tive order, under the program pre-
ganization within the Interior Depart
ment that will succeed the present Ma
tional Park Service
Widening Supervision.
Accordingly Col Woodruff explained
today the widening of Constitution
avenue will be supervised by the Bu
reau of Public Roads of the Depart
ment of Agriculture. which. for
decade, has done work for the Interior
Department.
Plans and specifications are ready
now, and waiting at the Arlington Me-
mortal Bridge Commission to be exc
cuted in carrying out the Constitution
avenue widening. 1t is expected that
Immediately Thomas H. Macdonald.
chief of the Bureau of Public Roads,
will confer with Col. Woodruff on de-
tails of the program. Already Consti-
tuition avenue, which ultimately will
be improved from the Senate Office
Building to the Potomac River. as a
magnificent approach to the Arlington
Memorial Bridge. has been widened at
Third street, westward of the inter-
section with Pennsylvania avenue, and
from Fourteenth street to Virginia ave-
nue.. The District government has
shared in the expense of this work.
the 100000 will be wholly Federal
funds. inasmuch as the thoroughfare
eastward of Virginia avenue is entirely
within Federal territory.
Having the widening done by the
Bureau of Public Roads will mean that
the, Arlington Memorial Bridge Com
mission will be unable to recall any of
its workers, dropped recently for lack
OF funds. Some IA employees. includ-
ing inspectors. granite supervisors and
designers. lost their jobs because of
lack of money.
No Columbia Island Funds.
At present there is no money for the
improvement OF Columbia Island. an
essential part of the bridge DEVELOPMENT,
or for any of the other features of the
program. such as the new bridge at the
northwest corner of the island across
Boundary Channel, to link up with the
Lee Highway around the northern end
of Arlington National Cemetery. In
the Independent Offices appropriation
act for the current fiscal year. there
are S195, coo. part of which is intended
for improvement of Constitution avenue
cast of Fourteenth street. What be-
comes of this under the merger is now
problematical The appropriation act
carries SIS 900 for the Arlington Memo
rial Bridge Commission for tying up
with the Virginia highway at the south
east corner of Arlington National Gene
terry, making an improved thorough
fare at the southern end of the ceme-
terry. This money is contingent upon
Virginia doing its share of the work
Some $4,000 was appropriated by Con-
gress for sculptural groups on the
Washington end of the bridge and these
funds have been obligated as the
artists are now at work on the models.
Salaries and $4,000 for emergency
work take up the balance of the COM
MISSIONS appropriations. which will be
transferred to the Interior Department.