Evening star., 1934-07-28
Bridges for the Capital.

The Districts bridge needs are
strongly set forth tn a statement Just
presented 10 the National Capital Park
and Planning Commission by 9 COM
mittee Of the Warrington Beard OF
Trade A program Of ten visducta Ia
proposed, costing. altogether, $40. 900. -
600. Recognizing the heavy demands
upon the Capitals finances and the
uncertainty Of securing FEDERAL aid
for these works. the suggestion has
been made that q priority list should
be prepared, 10 state the requirements
in the order of their importance. with
the view 10 3 spreading Of the works
over period Of years
There has been a broad spreading
Of these necessary works already, COW
erins a very long period. The bridges
Of the Capital, despite new construc-
tions and requirements within the
past decades. are seriously in arrears.
Some Of those now in use are de-
crepit and Inadequate. They should
take precedenes In any arrangement
OF priority. One OF these is the Penn
sylvsnis Avenue Bridge, across the
Anacostia River, replacement of which
has long been required In the interest
of accommodation and safety.
Another item on the list which
should be given priority Ia the pro-
posed replacement of the Chain
Bridge, OF dubious security and alto
gether OF insufficient capacity for
present-day trafic The proposal has
been pending for many years. 1t is
now linked with q plan for the estab-
lishment OF an arterisl highway link
ing North and South, skirtins the
Capital. and studies are being made
to locate the new structure suitably
in that relationship II should not
be postponed longer than may be nee
essary TO. effect a satisfactory con-
junction between road and viaduct.
Smaller bridges. effectins connec-
tions between the park system on the
washington and Virginia sides OF the
Potomac River, are included in the
program submitted All of them are
important units in any comprehensive
bridge plan. A bridge is also needed
across the Anacostia from the end of
South Capitol street. to afford access
between the city and the growing Sec
ton on the other side of that stream.
One of the items to which attention
Is called in the program is the
eventual replacement OF the present
Highway Bridge, which is rated as
obsolete as 10 both capacity and ap-
pearance. 1t and It's neishbor, the
Railway Bridge, are In sharp and
jarrins contrast with the masonry
structures spanning the river a short
distance above, the Memorial and Key
Bridges. The trafic needs. even with
the relief afforded by the Memorial
Bridge. are in truth too heavy for the
present Highway Bridge, though it
has been somewhat enlarged in capac-
ity by the removal of the car tracks.
In this connection it is to be borne
in mind that eventually, II considera-
ton for the appearance of the Capital
prevails, the railroad bridge immedi-
ately below the Highway Bridge must
be removed. with the rail lines carried
across stream by tunnel That plan
has been given some study, and IL
should be advanced to the rank of one
Of the major requirements of the near
future
In any Determination OF the pro-
gram Of constructions nrst considera-
tton should be given to the matter Of
material. Mere utilitarian structures
built OF steel, will not suflce Every
viaduct erected foF>the Capitals equip
ment should be Of masonry, so de-
signed as to present when the entire
list is completed a picture of con-
siStency and an assurance of the ut
most security and durability.