Evening star., 1941-07-17
Prince Georges
Roads Proposed
To Ease Traffic
Alternate Routes
Into D. c. Urged by
Advisory Engineer

Advisory Engineer
A broad plan proposing an alter
nate road system to relieve traffic
on the Washington Baltimore boule-
ward, Defense highway and Central
avenue-the three main highways
leading from the Metropolitan Area
OF Prince Georges County into the
District-was placed before the
County Advisory Committee at its
meeting in Hyattsville, Md, yes
terday.
The program was presented by
Milton A. Pyle, newly appointed en-
gineer for the committee which is
drawing up a list of proposed i'm
provements for the county's Metro
polltan Area to be financed from
the proceeds of an 100000 bond
issue. The committee members de-
cided to give this latest project
further study before recommending
1t to the county commissioners.
Financing Presents Problem.
One OF the problems confronting
the committee in connection with
the new plan is that part of the
roads included in it are beyond the
boundaries of the Metropolitan
Area and would require road funds
from both the county government
and State Roads Commission to
complete it.
For diversion of traffic from the
Washington boulevard to Riggs road
and New Hampshire avenue. three
separate routes were proposed in
the order of their importance.
/. From point at Muirkirk i'm
prove an existing dirt road which
leads to Powder Mill road: travel
via Powder Mill road to Riggs road
and New Hampshire avenue.
2. improvement of an existing
road from Beltsville to Powder Mill
road which leads to Riggs road and
New Hampshire avenue.
8. Construction of a new road two
miles south of BeltSville, leading
west to Riggs road and New Hamp-
shire avenue.
The second part of the program
provides for relief of Defense high
way traffic and is also divided into
three phases.
l. Leaving Defense highway at a
point miles west of Priests
Bridge, utilize and improve the ex-
listing Glenn Dale -Branchville road
leading to New Hampshire avenue.
2. Develop partly improved road
beginning mile east of Lanhdm to
Good Luck road, then to New
Hampshire avenue and Riggs road
via Good Luck road, Edmonston
road, Calvert avenue and University
lane.
8. Improve Firms lane southeast
of Lanham to connect with a route
via Jefferson avenue. Madison ave-
nue., University drive to Queens
Chapel road.
Central Avenue Alternate.
The third part of the program de-
signed to alleviate traffic on Central
avenue would consist of a parallel
route system, all of the alternate
roads being nearly the same distance
as Central avenue. Main points are:
l. improvement of Sheriff road
from a point in Fairmont Heights
east to Eastern avenue.
2. Utilization and improvement of
the Marlboro pike from the District
line to a point south of Marlboro to
handle beach traffic.
Mr.. Pyle said the first item in
each of the three parts of the pro-
gram is an immediate need, all three
main phases of the project being of
equal Importance in any traffic-di-
version program.
Traffic Figures Cited.
He cited figures showing the traf-
f1c loads carried by the Washington-
Baltimore boulevard and Defense
highway and contrasted them with
figures for traffic on New Hampshire
avenue and Riggs road at the points
where they enter the District. An
average of 26,600 automobiles passed
over the Washington Baltimore
boulevard at Cottage City each
weekday and 1880 through its in
tersection with University lane. A
total of 1850 passed over Defense
highway at the Bladensburg Peace
Cross each weekday, Mr.. Pyle said.
Weekend and holiday traffic is
much heavier, he added.
On the other hand, only 2863
vehicles passed over New Hampshire
avenue at the District line: 1864 at
Riggs road and 2726 at Michigan
avenue.
The latter roads are not carving
their share of the burden, Mr.. PYLE
contended, adding, however, that if
they are to do so the routes connect
ing them with the WASHINGTON
Baltimore boulevard must be equip
pea with an adequate surface.
More Signs Held Needed.
Mr.. Pyle also stressed the need
for additional direction signs in the
Metropolitan Area road system. He
also suggested making intersections
more attractive to lure travellers over
other roads than the main highways.
The committee also heard Charles
Luebner, member of the Edmonston
Town Council, make plea that the
committee recommend construc-
ton of a proper drainage system in
the town. He claimed that one of
the streets in the town was covered
with 2 feet of water as a result of
the recent storm.
Mr.. Luebner pointed out that he
was speaking for himself, as MAJOR
L i. l..