Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1939-07-27
Road Study Planned
By Rockville Pike
Citizens Assn.
Committee Named To Con-
slider Possible Result Of
Extension Of Sixteenth
Street

The Rockville Pike Citizens Asso-
citation entered the current contro-
versy over the proposed extension of
18th Street in Woodside and its ulti-
mate extension through the north
eastern county to Gettysburg, by
voting at its monthly meeting Tues
day night in the Rockville fire engine
house to make a thorough investiga-
ton of the entire subject matter.
A special committee consisting of
Mrs. Franklin Getzendanner, Mrs.
Philander Johnson and Frank Emmett
was appointed to make the study and
was directed to report back to the as
ISOLATION within 80 days.
Earlier Tuesday the board of coun-
ty commissioners had placed some
what of a damper on the 18th street
extension enthusiasm by informing
the State Roads Commission that
there are at least three other county
road projects that should be taken
care Of before 18th street is extended.
In letter to the State Roads Com
mission, the county board through its
president, Thomas Earle Hampton,
urged the Connecticut avenue in
Chevy Chase and the Old Georgetown
road in Bethesda be improved before
10Th street is extended.
A similar request was made by
State Senator Robert Peter of Rock
vile who wrote the state board the
same day. Likewise asked by the
county commissioners was hearing
on all county road projects in the near
future.
The Rockville Pike Citizens Asso-
cations deliberations took the form
of lengthy consideration of whether
the members desire the Rockville pike
to assume the proportions of a ma
tional through highway, or whether
they desire to see it relieved of heavy
interstate traffic.
It was pointed out by Mrs. johnson
that when the proposal to extend 10th
street to Gettysburg was first made
some ten years ago, the Rockville pike
was very narrow and in poor state
of repair. For that reason, the local
citizens and business men had OPP
posed any extension of 18th street
until the Rockville pike was properly
improved.
Since that time the pike has been
widened, Strengthened and resurfaced,
and is well-travelled highway carry
ing more than double the daily traffic
it carried ten years ago.
For that reason Mrs. johnson and a
number of her neighbors are inclined
to feel, the Sentinel has learned, that
the best interests of the county might
be served if another road is construct
ed to absorb portion of the heavy
Interstate traffic.
This proposal is understood to be
finding wide favor with residential
property owners along the Rockville
pike from Bethesda to the county
seat, but is arousing considerable op-
position among business property
owners and persons owning both resi-
Dental and business property on the
pike beyond Rockville.
1t was pointed out at the citizens
association meeting Tuesday night
that when the Gettysburg plan was
evolved originally an alternate route
was suggested in lieu of 10th street
The alternate route recommended
would follow the Potomac river north
ward beyond Chain Bridge and then
bend to the right through the Monoc-
acy river valley and proceed thence to
Gettysburg in route roughly par
alleling the Rockville-Frederick route
now used.
The alternate route was strongly
supported by Frederick county and
northwestern Montgomery county
property owners. The 10Th street route
which would go due north through
the Sandy Spring Brinklow Sun
shine territory, was equally as vigor-
ously backed in the, northeastern
county.
What the new committee will be
called upon to determine is the rela.
tive need for a new through highway
and, if that need is found to be
sufficiently acute to justify a remedy
which of the two routes would BIZ
most advantageous.
Back of the entire problem is thi
question of finally determining
whether the Rockville pike between
Bethesda and Rockville is to be g
residential or a commercial thorough.
fare. The extension of 18th street oil
the alternate Monocacy route woulC
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