Evening star., 1939-01-27
Underposs Excavation Work
To Start Next Week
S530,000 Thomas Circle Project Designed
To Relieve Traffic Congestion

\ Next week when a giant steam
shovel takes a deep bite into the
hard gravel under Massachusetts
avenue near Thirteenth street NV
the first actual excavation work
for the Thomas Circle underpass
will be under way.
A $530,000 project, 1t is intended
to relieve one of the worst traffic
congestion points in the city Some
time ago. before the project was
authorized and the undertaking was
just an engineers dream, survey
was made of traffic density at this
multiple street intersection - the
point where Massachusetts, and Ver-
mont avenues and Fourteenth and
M streets meet.
The survey revealed that in "a
hours $4,000 vehicles entered the
circle, some going to or coming
from Massachusetts, and some ira
versing the other streets. That's at
an average rate of about 1000 cars
an hour. more than 80 a minute
During the morning rush hours and
again at night the circle was gorged
with more traffic than it could
handle adequately.
Three Segments to Be Left.
When the underpass is completed,
it is estimated, approximately 10000
vehicles can be smoothly handled
in 24-hour period. Some will use
the underpass and others will go, as
they do now, along the heavily
travelled Fourteenth street, only
there will be one major difference.
The wide loop is now necessary to
make because of the circle will be
almost entirely gone. The circle it.
self, as circle, will be gone, too.
Only three segments will be left.
Gen. Thomas statue will adorn a
large one in the center. On either
side of this center segment Four
teenth street traffic will swirl in
almost straightaway up and down
the street. Traffic lights at both
the north and south ends of the
entrance to what is now the circle
will control the flow of traffic on
Fourteenth street, and other lights
will direct that from the less heavily
travelled M street and Vermont
avenue. On either side of the center
and beyond the main arteries of
traffic will be the remaining pieces
Of circle, two rather small segments.
AS much as the circle will lose,
the fine old trees which have adorned
it, along with the majestic bronze
figure of Gen. Thomas, will not be
entirely gone. The Capitol Parks
department has arranged to replant
these and now, as the work pro-
crosses, one large spreading tree
stands boxed and packed, safe
guarded from the weather, for re-
planting.
The underpass itself will be on
Massachusetts, avenue. beginning
just west of Thirteenth street with
declining approaches for 300 feet.
The tunnel will dip under the circle
for Ais feet, at its deepest point
being more than 20 feet under
ground. Then, on the opposite side
toward Fifteenth street, there will
be similar approaches extending to
a position almost in front OF the
German Embassy.
As described by William j. Meyer,
superintendent Of James Stewart q
Co., the contracting firm, the under
pass-Washington's first subter-
ranean traffic way-will have sew
eral interesting features. There will
be two 21-foot lanes through the
underpass and a 19-foot surface
lane on either side Of the approaches.
Approaches Of Granite.
The approaches will be constructed
Of granite and the tunnel itself, Mr..
Meyer explained, will be lined with
glazed tile, the accepted material
for work of this kind. The under
pass will also have a sump pump Tor
drainage and an automatic car
bon monoxide control room for safe
guarding motorists from fumes.
The carbon monoxide room Will
register carbon monoxide In excess
of 02 per cent and start ventilating
fans-there will be eight OF them
each capable of expelling 10000
cubic feet Of air per minute.
Work that haS hAAn 00inQ on since