Evening star., 1940-08-03
Plan Approved
To Save Trees
In Widening
Whitehurst to Add
d Feet When Paving
Massachusetts Ave.

The traffic -jammed section OF
Massachusetts, avenue NV. between
California street and Wisconsin ave-
nue.. is to be widened approximately
4 feet at the same time 1t is re-
paved. The widening will necessi-
tate removal of street trees on the
part of the avenue which rounds
Observatory Circle.
The National Capital Park and
Planning Commission, which ended
it's midsummer meeting yesterday,
approved at its closing session plans
drawn up by Capt H. c. Whitehurst,
District director of highways, for the
repaving of this section of Massa-
chusetts avenue.
Funds were appropriated in the
194l District Appropriation Act for
the repaving of Massachusetts, ave-
nue. in this congested section, but
nothing was written into law as to
widening it. For years this section
of the avenue, which bears rush.
hour traffic load far out of propor-
ton to it's width, has remained an
old high-crown roadway. rough and
easily cracked and damaged by the
heavy traffic.
Extra Width at Circle.
Where the avenue rounds OBJ
servatory Circle it probably will be
widened more than 4 feet, as the
curves at this point create grave
danger of autos sideswiping Other
than at this point no trees will have
to be removed to gain the extra
feet in width.
Thomas S. Settle, commission sec
retary, pointed out after the meeting
that the avenue eventually may
have to be made much wider. The
new pavement, therefore. is to be
constructed so that additions can
easily be made, he said.
The commission, which devoted its
entire day yesterday to major Dis
trict highway improvements and the
George Washington Memorial Park
way, came to no final decision as to
plans for the proposed Fourteenth
street and Maine avenue S.W. grade
separation. The planners asked
Capt. Whitehurst, who presented re-
vised plans for their consideration,
to proceed. however, in making
budget request for money needed to
construct the S500.000 project and
let final approval on plant wait until
the next meeting of the commission
in September.
So complicated is the grade sep
eration, Mr.. Settle said. that agree
ment has proved hard to attain.
To Ease Parkway Curve.
The commission approved plans
presented by the Office of National
Capital Parks for easing the curve
in the Rock Creek Potomac Park
way as it underpasses Massachusetts,
avenue NV. Mr.. Settle said that
the plan does not call for moving
the emergency pumphouse immedi-
ately below Massachusetts, avenue in
the park. 1t was thought at one
time, he said, that the pumphouse
would have to be reconstructed.
Jay Downer, former highway ex-
pert for the Westchester County
IN. " Park Commission and now
employed by the National Capital
Park and Planning Commission to
advise on plans for Fort Drive. pre-
sented a report to the commission
yesterday which recommended,
among other things, that the road
way of the drive; which is to ring
the city via its Civil War fortifica-
tions, should have center parking.
Mr.. Settle said that Capt. White
hurst and Engineer Commissioner
David McCoach, both of whom at
tended the meeting, favored early
construction of at least some parts
Of the drive.
Right -of-Way Tracts Purchased.
The commission announced that
1t had purchased an additional
$60,OO0 worth of property for the
right of way of the George WASH
ington Memorial Parkway in Mont
gomery County, Md, between the
District line and Great Falls and
an additional $4,000 worth in Ar
lington County, Va, above Key
Bridge.
The planners also approved pre-
Iiminary. plans for extending the
parkway from Fort Foote, Md, to
Fort Washington, its southeastern
terminus, and plan to streamline
the traffic circle at the north en-
trance to Alexandria on the Mount
Vernon Memorial highway. The
circle, Mr.. Settle said, would be
provided with inner roadways, max
ing it eliptical on the axis of the
highway. He gave Ward Circle on
Massachusetts avenue as an ex-
ample of this type of streamlining
The commission. in addition, ap-
proved layout plans for the District
Alley Dwelling Authority's project