Evening star., 1941-08-29
Georgia Avenue
Underpass
Work Begins
Soundines Taken
For Wooden Detour
Of B. & O. Tracks

Preliminary work on the $400 900
Baltimore e. Ohio Railroad under
pass at Georgia avenue in Silver
Spring is under way, it was learned
today as workmen began taking
soundings for a wooden "detour" for
the railroad tracks.
Engineers of the Maryland State
Roads Commission, the railroad and
the Bureau of Public Roads have
agreed on plans for the project,
which has been urged by civic and
community groups in the Silver
Spring area for several years to
eliminate the traffic hazard caused
by the three-lane bottleneck on the
heavily travelled route between the
District and nearby Maryland.
The only problems remaining to
be settled concern traffic control
and the placing of traffic lights at
the north and south ends of the
structure, according to County Com
missioner Odorion w. Roby of Silver
Spring.
Detours Cause Problem.
One aspect Of the project causing
county officials some concern. it
was learned, was the prospect of
having vehicular traffic at the
underpass detoured for the period
of construction. estimated at about
eight months. In that event, north
bound traffic would be directed over
the Falkland Drive Bridge and Phil
adelphia avenue back to Georgia
avenue. Southbound cars would be
detoured through the underpass on
the Colesville pike. following the
East-West highway back to Georgia
avenue or continuing on to meet
Sixteenth street at the District line.
During the construction period
the main line of B. g. o. tracks will
pass over Georgia avenue on a tenn
porary wooden bridge to be erected
south of the present steel span.
The soundings being taken now
are in preparation for driving the
piles for the wooden bypass made
necessary by the width of the new
structure. The new overpass will
consist of two 42-foot steel spans
for carrying the tracks over two
36-foot roadways separated by
cement island in the center and
Will be the widest vehicular entrance
to the Capital on the Maryland side
OF the District line.
Will Widen Georgia Avenue.
The entire project will be paid for
with Federal and State funds. of
which it is estimated that the Fed
eral share will be about rs per cent.
taken from grade crossing elimina-
ton appropriations. The States
share will come from gasoline reve-
nues. -
The underpaSS widening also will
mean widening of Georgia avenue
on both sides of the underpass.
which will bring the curbs on the
north and south sides into line.
Still under discussion is the oues-
tion OF whether left turns will be
permitted southbound traffic into
Sligo avenue on the north side of
the underpasS, and for northbound
traffic into Blair Mill road on the
south side of the project. Studies of
the problem will be completed be-
fore time for installation of traffic
lights arrives, Commissioner Roby
said.
A new passenger station at Silver
Spring probably will be built when
the overpass is finished. 1t was re-
ported that the railroad will dispose
of sc
its freight yard adjoining the pres
ent station for construction of
row of stores. The proceeds will be
used for erecting new building for
its growing suburban passenger
traffic. Plans for erecting a new
station have been discussed for sew
eral years.