Evening star., 1936-08-10
SA,0OO ALLOTTED
PARK UNIT TO ADD
KEY BRIDGE ARCH
Permits Carrying Out Me-
mortal Parkway Plans on
Virginia Shore.
ROCK CREEK PARKWAY
WILL GET NEW SPAN
SIS, 900 Turned Over to Finnan
for Replacement by Roads
Bureau.

Supt C. Marshall Finnan an
nounced today that Secretary Of In
terror Ickes had approved an alloca.
ton of S334,000 to the Office of Ma
tional Capital Parks for the addi-
ton of an arch to Key Bridge in car
rying out plans for the extension Of
the George Washington Memorial
Parkway on the Virginia shore.
Another allotment of s75,000s he
also announced, actually has been
turned over to him for the replace
ment of the old military bridge in
Rock Creek Parkway at the bottom
of the approach to the Shoreham
Hotel entrance.
Funds for both projects are COM
ing from the ALLEGATION made to the
National Parks Service for roads and
trails by the Bureau Of Public Roads.
First Aid From Source.
This is the first time. Finnan said,
the National Capital Parks have bene-
fitted from this source of revenue for
needed Improvements in Washing
ton.
The old military bridge in Rock
Creek parkway is a two-way steel
span which has become inadequate
for the increase in traffic since the
driveway was opened under P and
@ Street Bridges, connecting the park
way with West Potomac Park. The
new bridge will be of masonry and
reinforced concrete, with sufficient
width to provide for all future needs.
Since the money is now available,
Finnan said, his Office is ready to go
ahead with working plans
The important thing about the
plans for the additional arch on the
Virginia side of Key Bridge is the ap-
proval by Ickes Of the s3340OO allot.
ment. He previously had approved
the studies and plans made in con-
nection with the extension Of the
George Washington Memorial Park.
way. but had to wait until the Blu.
reau of Roads had actually turned
over funds to his National Park Serv.
ice.
AdhS EHIC FAuJuSkCus
Original plans for both the Key
Bridge archway and the bridge in
Rock Creek Park had called for an
expenditure of nearly S500.0o0. but
Finnan explained adjustments had cut
down the necessary expense.
The new arch will fulfill the i'm.
portant purpose of balancing Key
Bridge. At present there are only
two arches on the Virginia side Of
the center arch. but there are three
arches on the District side. with a
smaller one accommodating the Ches-
apeake & Ohio Canal
Studies for the extension OF the
parkway above Key Bridge had in
cluded plans for building a tunnel
through the fill on the Virginia side.
This would have cost slightly less,
but it was felt that construction of a
new arch. balancing the architectural
scheme of the bridge, was a more
desirable solution of the problem.
The Memorial Parkway has been
extended about mile south of the
bridge at point identified by Hume
avenue. Under the new plan the
driveway will pass under the pro-
posed arch and extend a short dis
tance up the river. with spur run
ming back into RoSslyn connecting with
the main highways.
Finnan explained he expected the
funds for this work to be turned
over in a short while. Since all the
plans have been approved, he said,
there need be 10 delay in starting
construction of the bridge arch, which
will be the first step.