Evening star., 1938-01-09
Suggested as Alternative to
Costly High-LeveI Rock
Creek Bridge.
MODELS ARE PREPARED
TO FACILITATE STUDY
Fear Elimination of Last Major
Grade Crossing May Be De.
layed Is Voiced.
BY DON S. WARREN,

CONSTRUCTION OF several grace sep
aration bridges at important inter-
sections in Rock Greek Park-as an
alternative to the building of costly
high-leVel span-has been proposed
to District officials to meet cross-town
traffic needs. 1t was revealed yesterday.
Congress at the past session ordered
a report on studies of the high-level
span proposal These have not been
completed, but some experts yesterday
said the cost would run to more than
$4,000 900 and possibly as high as
$4,000 900.
The substitute plan proposes con-
struction Of grade separation bridges
at the intersection of Military road,
Beech and Morrow drives: at the in
tersection of Tilden street and Beech
drive, near Pierce Mill, and at the
intersection Of Klingle road and Beech
drive along the north line Of the Zoo.
Activity at District Building.
There has been a veritable fever
Of activity at the District Building In
the last several weeks since Repre-.
sentative Collins, Democrat, of Mis-
sippi, who is in charge of the prep
aration of the 1889 District supply BILL
made tour of inspection OF the sites
OF proposed major highway develop
ments in company with District en-
gineers.
1t was Mr.. Collins who fathered
the suggestion at the last session of
Congress. that a high-level bridge
should be built over Rock Creek Park
The suggestion was that this be built
somewhere north of Klingle road and
south OF Military road, perhaps at or
near the line of Tilden street.
Since the inspection trip District
officials have had prepared q scale,
relief model Of the terrain of the
park area involved in the high-level
bridge study. They also have had
prepared models Of the proposed sub
way for Dupont Circle and the grade
separation bridge for the intersection
of K street and Rock Creek and Po-
tomac parkway N. w. in connection
with 4 new bridge over Rock Greek.
~e, Meanwhile, 1T w4s discioSed. that
District plans for the elimination of
the last Of the major railroad grade
crossings in the District must be post.
poned II Congress approves the pro-
posal Of President Roosevelt for econ
omy in 1899 in Federal road aid grants,
For 1888 the District has been al
lotted $250,000 for grade crossing
elimination and similar projects and
like sum will be received for 1899
unless the economy plans prevail.
Plans Will Be Rushed.
Capt. H. G. Whitehurst, director of
highways. announced yesterday that If
these two grants are received the Dis
trict will proceed with the elimina-
ton Of the Bates road grade crossing.
If Congress follows the Presidents
economy program this must be post
poned. Detailed plans for this project,
however, will be rushed to completion
so that the District will be ready to
proceed as soon as the money is made
available.
OF the 1888 Federal grant the Dis
trict has set aside $125,000 for the
widening Of the underpass at Bladens-
burg road NE. at its intersection with
the tracks Of the Pennsylvania Rail-
road. This bottleneck is to be widened
from 40 to 60 feet, the width of the
highway. The remainder, $l25, 200,
was to be held to start the construc-
ton of the Bates road grade-crossing
project, which would be built on the
line Of Taylor street NE. It was to
be completed with $125,000 out Of the
1899 ALLEGATION.
With the remainder of the proposed
1889 grant, or $125,000, District engi.
neers have planned tentatively to
widen the Queens Chapel road via
duct from 20 to 40 feet over the B. e.,
O. tracks to provide better connec-
ton between Rhode Island avenue and
Bladensburg road NE.