Evening star., 1935-12-16
District Bridges.

The elaborate plans that have been
made for the community celebration
Thursday night to mark the completion
of the new bridge across Rock Creek
at Calvert street are an expression OF
public rejoicing in the accomplishment
of a long needed improvement. This
bridge, which has been partially opened
for service for several weeks, repre-
sents an accomplishment that in point
of need and utility should have been
effected long ago. The original bridge
was recognized as inadequate almost
Immediately after its erection. Though
the traffic over it was not heavy, it
gave access to an area that was as
suredly destined to develop soon into
a popular suburb. Every condition
pointed to the early need of greater facil-
tiles for communication. There was then
no systematic planning of transport
routes. The Capital was "juSt growing"
TopSylike without definite design and
with no concept of the effect of the
motor car in spreading habitation into
then distant areas. The construction OF
the Taft Bridge was the first step in
the direction of adequate viaduct facili-
ties. Fortunately, it was we'll designed
and built, in striking contrast with the
bridge at Calvert street, and it served
well to relieve the congestion on the old
structure, which, however, bearing as it
did the heavy service of street car trans
port, was taxed to it's limit of safety and
accommodation.
Recent changes in public transporta-
tion facilities have virtually coincided
with the completion of the new bridge
at Calvert street. Though it has been
only partially opened for service, it has
demonstrated its value in permitting
division of traffic at point of conges-
ton. The removal of the car tracks
from Connecticut avenue has further
relieved the congestion from the double
bridgehead outward.
With this new bridge about to be fully
opened to use and suitably dedicated, the
hope is felt that there will be no such
further long delay in completing the
program of necessary viaduct construc-
tions in the District. There is urgent
need of new structures across the Ana
costa River, the present bridges there
being too small for their immediate uses
and certain in the very near future to
become scenes of traffic blocks, if not of
actual danger. There is also the structure
across the Potomac above Georgetown
which bears the name of its ancient
predecessor, Chain Bridge. Plans for
its replacement with a modern, COM
modious and permanently substantial
viaduct have been prepared, but owing
to differences of judgment as to the
location and type no action has been
had and there is no present prospect OF
decision and construction. Meanwhile,
one of the old decrepit and inadequate
structures Of long service has been re-
placed with a new bridge across Rock
Greek at P street. which was opened with
ceremony of public approval and appre-
citation, even as the Calvert Street Bridge
is about to be formally installed on
Thursday.
These bridge needs have been a per-
ennial cause of complaint and anxiety.
They have evoked persistent and devoted
efforts by the community, and now, as
one more unit of public accommodation
has been added to the Capitals equip
ment, there should be determined CO.
operation on the part of the authorities
to proceed promptly to finish the pro-
gram that has Jagged so long.