Evening star., 1941-09-19
Planners Study
Tunnel 10 Ease
Bridge Traffic
Changes in Highway
Span Also Considered
Survey Is Approved

The National Capital Park and
Planning Commission today ap-
proved for submission to the Army
and the Public Roads Administra-
ton a report on traffic conditions on
the three major Potomac River
bridges. The report was in connec-
ton with the plans for $4,000 work.
ers in the projected War Depart
ment Building and the new Navy
Building in nearby Arlington. The
report showed that even with bridge
approach improvement there Will be
a reserve capacity of only 582 We
hicles on the spans two years hence
when both buildings will be in use.
Thomas S. Settle, secretary, said
the commission had not yet COM
pleted its conclusions in connection
with the reports significance, put
indicated the body felt that drastic
steps will have to be taken to prevent
serious congestion on the brloees.
He said the commission was con-
sidering recommending construction
of a tunnel beneath the river and
revamping Highway Bridge as the
answer. He also said it was hoped
that the Army could finance what
ever work is necessary with defense
highway funds.
The bridge approach improve
ments mentioned were not specified
in the report, but it is assumed they
are the extension of Independence
avenue to Lincoln Memorial plaza,
construction of viaduct along the
line of K street from Rock Greek
to Key Bridge and the widening and
extension of Twenty third street
NV. from Washington Circle to the
Lincoln Memorial.
The commission previously has
stressed the importance of these
three projects.
Court Building Approved.
The report, submitted by John
Nolen, jr., director of planning, was
based on the assumption that within
two years 80 per cent of employees
at the two buildings would live in
tIlC DlStIl dlld ltldb oJ pei SCtlb
of that number would travel to work
by auto or bus.
The Commission also approved to-
day bill providing for construction
of new District Court building on
the site of the Old Pension Office in
Judiciary Square at cost of s5.-
100000. The measure, HR-5460
would entail Federal appropriation
for the structure.
The Commission indorSed in prin-
ciple a bill authored by Capt. H. C.
Whitehurst. District director of
highways, to provide a series of
fringe parking lots
Details of the bill are to be studied
further by a special committee of
the Commission, composed of Fred
eric A. Delano. chairman; A. E.
Demaray and Brig. Gen. Charles w.
Kutz.
Boundary Bill Favored.
The Commission reaffirmed its
approval of the so-called Randolph
boundary bill to settle the line be-
tween the District and Virginia.
Although the Army has yet to
make public its structural plans for
the new War Department building,
1t is known that the ediflce will be
erected on a site between the south
ern border of the old experimental
farm tract and Columbia pike. The
site is about midway between Me-
mortal and Highway Bridges. At
President Roosevelt's direction, the
building is being designed for tenn
porary Army use during the emer-
gency, after which it will be con-
verted into repository for Govern
ment records. The Army, in turn,
then will move into permanent quar-
ters as yet to be erected within the
District.
Meanwhile, members of the COM
mission expressed qualification over
Yesterdays trip by horse drawn
barge along the c. & o. Canal from
Great Falls to Carderock. Md. Those
who went included Frederic A
Delano. chairman; Brig. Gen. Eu-
gene Reybold, acting chief of Army
engineers; William A. Delano and
Col Beverley C. Snow. Assistant Dis
trict Engineer Commissioner
They were accompanied by mem
bers of the Maryland-National Cap
ital Park and Planning Commission,
including Irwin l. Main, chairman:
Lacy Shaw. Richard Green, Robert
M. Watkins and Dwight Gait.