Evening star., 1938-08-31
V|ADUCT SOUGHT
TOEASE HIGHWAY
BRIDGE TRAFFIC
Funds to Study Project at
Fourteenth and Water
Streets Asked.
DEPARTMENTS TOTAL
REQUEST IS $4,132,180
Proposed Program Contemplates
Use of Federal Aid Cash-Many
Improvements Listed.

Plans for construction of grade
separation viaduct at Fourteenth and
Water streets to relieve the present
bottle neck there which throttles Vir-
ginia and East Potomac Park trafiic
are revealed in the 1910 estimates of
the District Highway Department, re-
leased today by the Commissioners.
To permit detailed engineering
studies to be made of this problem.
Capt. H. C. Whitehurst, director of
highways, has requested $4,000, an
ticipating that working funds would
be sought for the fiscal year 194l.
A variety of new projects are con-
tanned in appropriation requests for
the next fiscal year. but the total
of proposed expenditures in 1910,
amounting to s4,132,180. would be
$740,420 less than the sum granted
for the present fiscal year. One reason
advanced for this decline is that funds
from the new motor vehicle weight
tax, which went into operation in the
1888 fiscal year, were not appropri-
ated for that year and this swelled
the highway appropriations for the
present year to new peak. The 1910
estimates are normal" under the new
highway revenue plan. Capt. White
hurst said.
Federal Aid Anticipated.
One new item in the list calls for
an appropriation of s560000 for street
Improvements to be performed under
the Federal aid highway program, to
match sums expected to be granted
the District by the United States, in
keeping with the program which has
operated to the benefit of the States
for some years. The District was
brought into the Federal aid plan by
an act of the past session of Congress.
The list of work under this item, yet
to be announced. is subject to agree
ments with the United States Bureau
Of Public Roads.
Tentative plans for the grade sepa-
ration structure at Fourteenth and
Water streets call for span about 400
feet long, to carry north and south
traffic over Water street and over the
traffic coming out of East Potomac
Park. The project also calls for the
widening of the Tidal Basin outlet
bridge over Fourteenth street.
The project. which may cost some
100000 or more, is intended to tie in
with plans for widening of Water
street between Thirteenth and Four
teenth streets and a revamping of the
railroad bridge over Water street to
al sc
from supports for the present railroad
span.
Street Cars Under Span.
Street cars would continue down
Fourteenth street. as at present, and
swing east under the proposed grade
separation structure, under the tenta-
tive plans.
BY widening Fourteenth street at
the Tidal Basin outlet bridge, it is
planned to permit traffic coming from
East Potomac Park to turn north on
Fourteenth street alongside of the pro-
posed viaduct in Fourteenth street
For its regular staff. the Highway
Department seeks salary appropria-
ton for next year of $246680, or a
decrease of s4,32o from this year. For
street and bridge improvements of all
kinds the department asks $685., 500,
decrease of s716,l00 from this years
total.
Among the maj jor construction items
are the following:
For continuing construction of the
new s2,000,000 Pennsylvania Avenue
Bridge over the Anacostia River, $780,
600 A sum of S62O,0O0 was appro-
priated for this year for beginning
construction, and the contract was
awarded recently.
For completing the widening of the
trafflc-way culvert under the Massa-
chusetts Avenue Bridge over Rock
Greek and Potomac parkway, $l75,0
A sum of sl25,000 was appropriated
for this year to begin this work but
engineering plans have not yet been
completed for this 100000 project.
Two Widening Projects.
For street widening, sl37,500, for
two projects. The total is $245, 200
less than the S382,7O0 appropriation
for this purpose for the present fiscal
year. One of the two items is to widen
Seventh street between Constitution
avenue NV. and Independence avenue
S.W. from so to IS feet, at cost of
$4,000. Capt Whitehurst said the
caosing of Sixth street, within this
area, in connection with construction
OF the Mellon Art Gallery. would make
widening of Seventh street essential.
The other widening plan would
Affect Eleventh street NV, between
Rhode Island and Vermont avenues.
where the roadway would be widened
from IS to so feet. Capt. Whitehurst
said the street, which carries double
car tracks, now is totally inadequate
Tor the traffic it carries. This would
be an extension of the widening of
Eleventh street, already started. The
cost would be S49,500.
Five major street paying projects,
costing $228,000, were included in the
proposed budget They are:
Montana avenue NE, from Seven
teenth street to Rhode Island avenue
to cost s45,000. Capt. Whitehurst ex-
planned that this would provide direct
route from Fourteenth street and
Rhode Island avenue NE. to the new
underpass beneath the terminal yard
tracks, with connection into West Vir-
ginia and New York avenues He said
II would do much to relieve Rhode
Island avenue traffic congestion and
provide direct connection between
areas north and south of the terminal
yards
: Would Widen Cross Town Route.