Evening star., 1943-11-20
Planning Officials Fail
To Agree on Site
For Highway Bridge
; Alternative Proposals
Referred to ConsuItunts
For Further Study

Unable to agree on any one OF
three alternative plans for the sub.
stitution OF the old Highway Bridge
to provide more adequate means OF
handling an increasing flow OF traf-
f1c over the Potomac River, plan
ming officials late yesterday referred
the problem back again to a COM
mittee Of consultants.
Involved in the proposals were:
Two four-lane bridges, one fol-
northbound and the other for south
bound traffic. The present High
way Bridge has four traffic lanes.
A single bridge for eight lanes OF
traffic, wider by two lanes than the
Lincoln Memorial Bridge.
Another single bridge of six lanes
tied in with long considered plans
to build four-lane highway bridge
connecting Alexandria, Va, with
Shepherds Landing, D. c.
Further Study to Be Made.
The consultants will make a fur
ther study of the sets OF plans
with relation to approaches on both
sides of the river, reporting back
to the December 18 meeting of the
National Capital Park and Plan
ming Commission.
Officials said each of the three
plans under study would tie in
with the jefferson Memorial and
the Fourteenth street overpass at
Maine avenue. 1t was also con-
sidered essential to fit the Virginia
approaches into the heavy flows of
traffic over the new Shirley high
way and the Lee and Washington
boulevards in the hope that much
traffic would be diverted from Lin
coin Memorial Bridge.
Various objections to the bridge
plans were voiced at the meeting.
The principal objection to building
two bridges, aside from the possible
cost, was the fact that they would
necessitate just that many more
draws to permit the passage of water
traffic. Counting the railroad bridge,
which has draw, the number would
be three. Because of the low sea-
level it would be impossible to build
any new bridge higher than the
present Highway span.
Alexandria Span Possible.
Capt. H. c. Whitehurst, District
highway director, and Frederick
Law Olmstead, National Park Serv-
ice consultant. were of the opinion
that a single bridge would make it
desirable to span the Potomac with
another highway bridge at Alexan-
relocation plans over long period
to replace the Highway span. it was
believed, might possibly obviate the
need for the Alexandria bridge.
Other consultants on the commit
tee who have made a study of the
relocation plans over long peroid
include Thomas Macdonald, COM
mission of public roads, and Maj.
Gilmore D. Clarke. chairman of the
Fine Arts Commission. who has had
much experience with bridge en-
gineering.
Before adjournment to next
menth. the planning commission
approved a general plan to accom-
modate Coast Guard WAVES in
temporary dormitories on the south
side of independence avenue between
Seventh and Eleventh streets SW. !
Plans were submitted by the Public
Building Administra ton.
This would provide a solution of
an old problem. Long ago the area
was cleared of residences to make
way for housing project that never
materialized 1t is one of the oldest
sections of the city.
The dormitories for the SPARS
would be similar to those that have
been erected for WAVES in West
Potomac Park