Evening star., 1943-09-17
Camp Springs
Highway Work
To Start Soon
Nine-MiIe Dual Road
From Boiling Field to
Be Open to Public
BY NELSON M. SHEPARD.

Work Is to start soon on the new
military highway between Boiling
Field and the Camp Springs (Md.)
Air Base, following the route of the
proposed Suitland parkway, as a
result of approval given yesterday
by the National Capital Park and
Planning Commission.
Omcials characterized as "a lucky
break" the War Departments
eagerness to complete the new high
way as quickly as possible. Grading
Of the 9-mile dual highway, under
a $500 900 contract, will be followed
by paving next spring.
at means that the Suitland park
way which we have been planning
on paper during the past year or SO
will be completed far ahead of time"
Secretary Thomas s. Settle said.
Housing Units Approved.
The commission also approved
plans Of the National Capital Hous-
ing Authority to build $50 colored
housing units in an undisclosed Sec
ton east Of the Anacostia River.
A committee will study other avail
able sites involved in q general COLI
ored housing program of 5000 units
before final action Is taken. --
The Camp Springs highway will
be built for the Army by the Public
Roads Administration under the
supervision Of Army engineers. Col.
Clarence Renshaw, District en-
gineer, explained the construction
plans and obtained speedy approval.
"The project proves the value of
advanced planning" Mr.. Settle said.
Without the study of the Suitland
route already made by the Planning
Commission, he pointed out, the
War Department would have en-
countered considerable delay.
Two 24-Foot Lanes.
Mr.. Settle said the military hiph-
way will have two traffic lanes. each
"a feet wide. Enough right of way
has been condemned to provide a
parkway similar to that of the
Mount Vernon highway. While in
tended primarily for military use
during the war, the highway is to
be opened to the public.
Col. Renshaw said plans call for
six different grade separations so
that other traffic may either UNDER
pass or overpass the military road.
Three Of these will be In the District
and three III Maryland. 1t will also
be necessary to close some small
suburban roads entering the route to
Suitland from South Capitol Street
Bridge.
The suitland Parkway was orig
haliy planned to serve the new Fed.
eral buildings In the Maryland sub
urb, now accommodating several
thousand employees. The route fol-
lows an attractive ravine. Although
II had been laid out on paper, not q
single acre Of ground had been ac-
qutred by the Planning Commission.
Reviews Housing Program.
In connection with the war hous-
Ing program, Max Wehrly, the COM
missions housing planner, reviewed
the general situation as it affects
the needs of colored workers. B.
Loshbough, administrative assistant
Of the local Housing Authority, pre-
sented number of new site propos-
ais.
In general. public housing agen-
cies are supposed to build about 1000
colored units, leaving the other 1000
units for private construction. While
there is no certainty of the latter,
John Nolen, director of planning,
expressed belief that it would be
done.
The Federal Housing Agency,
which advances the funds, has al
located 750 units to the local Hous-
ing Authority. In approving the To-
cation of a project for $50 of these
units, the Planning Commission was
persuaded by the fact that the site
involved trouble area" That is,
officials explained, private ownership
| tied it up so tight that only a pub
lie agency could acquire the site
through condemnation.
The Planning Commission will
bring its two-day meeting to close
late today. Various street closing
deals and matters connected with
the George Washington Memorial
nN Ill l. i