Evening star., 1943-12-17
SM-lane Traffic Span
To Replace Highway
Bridge Recommended

Park Planners Project
Would Utilize the Some
Approaches on Potomac
The old four-lane Highway Bridge
across the Potomac River will be
replaced after the war by a single
six-lane traffic span utilizing the
present approaches on both sides OF
the river, If a recommendation by
the National Capital Park and Plan
ming Commission is approved
This new plan for accommodating
increased north and South traffic. it
was explained yesterday is sup
posed TO tie in with another heavy
duty bridge to connect Alexandria,
Va, with Shepherds Landing, D, C.
With respect to the proposed Fort
Totten reservoir, the Commission
recommended that it be located
elsewhere than in the grounds Of
the old Civil War fort. A study
showed there are number of avail
able privately owned tracts that
would be just as suitable for a 10
acre reservoir and it was pointed
out that land could be condemned
at any time the Government de-
sired. The reservoir was suggested
to serve the high-level areas north
of Soldiers Home.
Funds Available for Plans.
Approximately $4,000 of Federal
aid funds are available to draw
working plans for the new Highway
Bridge. but it was pointed out that
the recommendation of the Plan
ming Commission is not binding. II
is an advisory body only.
The engineering problem had been
considered for months and several
alternate plans were rejected yes
terday afternoon in favor Of the
single span. Members of the COM
mission believed a single 6-lans
bridge would be adequate for years
to come in view of the possibility of
new bridge being built at Alex
andria.
The District Highway Department
and Bureau of Public Roads NAV
change the plan for some other they
deem more advisable, or even Con-
gress may have another suggestion.
However the views of the Planning
Commission bear considerable
weight
There is no real assurance that
the Alexandria bridge will be built,
although 1t was held to be advis-
able in order to reroute heavy traf-
nc on the Baltimore Richmond
route. The route would enable
trucks to bypass Washington. 1t
would also provide easier access to
the Army and Navy airfields from
the south.
Approaches Could Be Used.
Oficials said the present Four
teenth street approach to Highway
Bridge could be utilized under their
plan with very little disturbance
to the approaches in Potomac Park
near the rivers edge 1t was re-
gretted, however. that one of the
beautiful rose gardens would be
affected slightly by the necessity
of building an access road.
1t was proposed to build the new
bridge as close upstream of the
present structure as working con-
ditions would permit In that way.
OF course, the present Virginia and
District approaches could be utilized
to the best advantage.
| Frederick Law Olmstead. National
Park Service consultant, had made
an extensive study of all approaches.
| The plan which now has been
recommended was worked out with
careful attention to tieing in with
the Thomas Jefferson Memorial and
the present structures on Fourteenth
street and Virginia avenue.
Capt. H. c. Whitehurst. District
highway director as we'll as the
Bureau of Public Roads had CO.
operated in making extended studies
of all problems involved.
Pentagon Roads Named.
Easy OF solution for the commits
sion was the naming of four prin-
clpal highways and two subsidiaries
bordering and extending through
the area of the Pentagon in nearby
Virginia, Nothing was done about
ending the anonymity of the little
network of passenger roads leading
directly to the building.
! The four main highways will bear
the names of Lee boulevard. WASH
ington boulevard, Shirley Memorial
highway and the jefferson Davis
highway. The names, however. are
not new except for the stretches
within the Pentagon grounds. All
four highways existed before the
Pentagon was laid out and when
that was done they were merely
extended through the property.
The two subsidiaries, however.
bear the new names of Boundary
drive and Army and Navy drive.
Boundary drive extends from the
south approach OF Highway Bridge
and parallels the Boundary Chan
mel. which is the lagoon and stream
along the front of the Pentagon.
Army and Navy drive will serve as
heavy duty road from the Shirley
Memorial highway to the Davis
highway
State-Named Highway.
Shirley highway was so named by
the State of Virginia in memory Of
Henry G. Shirley. who had served
for score of years as public roads
administrator. 1t branches off from
the Richmond road and was ex-
tended from Fort Belvoir to run into
Highway Bridge.
The Davis highway. commonly
known as route No. l, ran from
Alexandria to the neighborhood of
Highway Bridge. 1t was extended
as heavy-duty road to connect
with Arlington Ridge road a little
above the Lee boulevard
| Washington boulevard. running