Evening star., 1941-07-27
War Building
Spurs Plan
For Tunnel
Representative Smith
Warns of DepIoroble
Traffic Conditions

Immediate action on his pending
bill for a bridge or tunnel crossing
of the Potomac River will be sought
by Representative Smith, Democrat,
of Virginia, he said last night. in
view of the proposed construction
of a S35,OO0,00O War Department
building in Arlington County.
Since hearings were held several
weeks ago by the House Public
Building and Grounds Committee.
no action has been taken on the
measure which provides for a spe-
cial commission to determine the
type, location and method of fnanc-
ing an additional crossing.
Unless adequate plans are made
IN advance" Mr.. Smith said, I'VE
will have building that no one can
reach because of the traffic con-
gestion"
An additional crossing by bridge
or tunnel has been advocated by
Federal, Virginia, Arlington County
and Alexandria officials and civic
groups for more than two years be-
cause of the increasing traffic losG
on the Key, Chain, Memorial and
Highway bridges, especially at rush
hours, he pointed out.
"Deplorable" Conditions Feared.
Construction of the War Depart
ment building to house 10000 en-
ployes within a year and eventual
10000, Mr.. Smith declared, woul
make traffic conditions "deplorabl-
unless provision is made for brid:
or tunnel crossing.
The commission provided for
the Smith bill would consist of
representative of the Public Ros
Administration. the Governor
Virginia, the city manager of Ale
andria and representatives of t
Arlington County manager, the D
trict Commissioners and the n
tional Capital Park and Planni,
Commission
A proposal for tunnel under T.
river in the vicinity of Alexand'
was included in the highway 81
vey submitted to the District Co:
missioners last April by Capt. H.
Whitehurst. director of highwa.
The project was estimated to &C.,
about S9.500000.
A tWo-lane tunnel such as he pre-
posed would cost about twice as
much as four-lane bridge. he re-
ported. However, a high level bridge
might prove a barrier TO air traffic
at the National Airport. Naval Air
Station and Boiling Field. and low
level bridge would interfere with
automobile traffic because Of the
frequent necessity for opening the
draw for river traffic.
Bridge Plan Pushed.
A proposal for bridge from the
foot of New Hampshire avenue TO
Roosevelt Island and thence to the
Virginia side between Lee boulevard
and Lee highway has been pushed
by Arlington County officials and
the Arlington County Civic Fedora
ton.
While neither the Alexandria tun-
mel nor the Roosevelt Island bridge
would lead directly to the site Of the
new War Department building and
several other structures planned bv
the War Department in that area.
they would relieve present bridges
OF much of the traffic load they are
now carrying. it was pointed out.
The latest check of vehicular traf-
fic on the four spans across the
Potomac, contained in the White
hurst report, showed that from
10000 to 1850 cars were crossing
daily year ago, a figure which is
probably being exceeded today. The
survey showed that the four-lane
Highway Bridge was carrying more
traffic than the SiX-lane Memorial
Bridge. and that neither Key Bridge
nor Chain Bridge were carving their
maximum load, probably due to in
adequate approaches.
No figure was available on the
additional load which would be
placed on the present crossings bv
the new War Department structure.
but parking space for 10000 cars is
included in the plans. What proper
ton of these cars would be owned
by War Department employees living
on the Virginia side of the river
would be difficult to estimate.
A temporary solution to the prob
lem suggested last March by the Ar
llngton Ridge (VaD Civic Associa-
tion was that the War Department
throw pontoon bridge across the
river at Roosevelt Island to relieve
traffic congestion No action has
been taken on the suggestion.