Evening star., 1941-02-23
Report Urges Bridge
Between Arlington
And Key Structures
Modernizution Advised
For Approaches to Other
Potomac Crossings

Construction Of new bridge be-
tween the Arlington Memorial and
Key Bridges and modernization of
the approaches to other Potomac
River crossings is urged in a re-
port which has been submitted to
District authorities by special
committee of the Council of Engi-
neering and Architectural Sciences.
The committee, headed by Maj. R.
S. Buck, reviewed in its report the
entire District bridge problem, con-
Guiding that the present Potomac
River bridge capacity is inadequate"
The. bridge needed most urgently,
the committee stated, would con-
meet Washington with the suburban
area of Arlington, Va. This struc-
ture, it was suggested, could be built
from the foot of New Hampshire
avenue. across the river at Theo-
dore Roosevelt Island and connect
with Lee boulevard. ;,
1t was suggested that the rail-
road and Highway bridges at the
Fourteenth street crossing be COM
bined and that another bridge be
built without delay at Great Falls.
Plans have been made by private
interests to construct a toll bridge
at this point.
Rail Tunnel Opposed.
The plan to build a tunnel under
E i1rnoIc dnnc mt
seem economically sound, the COM
mittee said suggesting that if an
other railroad crossing is needed for
defense purposes it should be built
from Alexandria to Marbury Point.
The committee pointed out that
final conclusions on all the prob
lens related to the bridge situation
were not possible until after the re-
suits of the current traffic survey
are known. 1t suggested that plans
for new bridge approaches be de-
layed for that reason.
Discussing plans which have been
proposed for relieving congestion,
particularly railroad bridges, the
committee pointed out that defense
considerations were important.
Plans have been discussed for
bridges from Congress Heights to
Alexandria; from Marbury Point to
point near Alexandria; on the
site of the present Highway Bridge;
on the New Hampshire avenue site
above the Memorial Bridge and
above the present Chain Bridge.
The committee suggested that the
Congress Heights-Alexandrla bridge
did not appear as desirable as some
of the others. 1t declared, however,
that bridge from the District side
of the river at Marbury Point
where the Blue Plains Home for
the Aged is located-to point near
Alexandria could be built.
Cost Estimated at S4,500,O0O.
If this structure were built for
both railroad and automobile traffic,
it would cost about S4,500,000. This
would furnish a secondary route for
coStal trains, it was pointed out.
The Fourteenth street Highway
Bridge and the railroad bridge near
| it could be combined into one Struc-
ture, much larger than the bridge
now used, it was said. To rebuild
this structure, with 60foot road
way on an upper deck and a two
track railroad on a lower deck,
would cost about $5,000,000.
The bridge most urgently needed,
| the committee said, is the one above
the Memorial Bridge, to open new
traffic lane to Arlington, Va. This
would cost about $5,000,000.
Approaches to the Highway Bridge
and the Key Bridge must be mod
ernized, if traffic congestion at these
points is to be lessened, the COM
mittee concluded.
Members who signed the report
include Maj. Buck, Maj. ]. P. Halli-
han, John c. Hoyt, Maj. Gen. Mason
M. Patrick and Allen B. Mcdaniel.