Evening star., 1943-09-17
.kIingIe Street
Bridge Plans
New Structure to Aid
In Speeding Troffic
Through Park
BY NELSON M. SHEPARD.

by NELSON M. SHEPARD.
Replacement Of the Klingle Street
Bridge to provide for more adequate
cross-town travel through Rock
Creek Park, was expedited today by
Federal planners who are working
in cooperation with Capt. H. c.
Whitehurst, District highway d.
rector.
Three studies Of the location and
design were approved "in principle"
by the National Capital Planning
Commission and turned over to Capt.
Whitehurst, who already has funds
from Congress to make work draw
ings.
In general, the new bridge will be
OF higher elevation and will be A
feet wide instead of its present 18-
foot width. It will probably be Of
stone construction and underpassed
by the Beach drive.
Present Bridge Inadequate.
Planning officers said Congress Is
sympathetic with the plan to pro-
vide larger bridge at this intersec-
ton, since the present 18-foot width
makes it dangerous for pedestrian
traf{1c. The Capital Transit Co. now
can route only small buses over the
bridge.
The planning group later met with
the Fine Arts Commission to ois-
cuss alternate plans for the reloca-
tion Of the Highway Bridge across
the Potomac. Capt. Whitehurst and
Joseph Barnett, principal highway
designer for the Public Roads Ad-
ministration, attended the joint
session.
Mr.. Barnett has made various stu
dies Of the Highway Bridge and
these were being taken up in detail.
Congress also has appropriated
funds to make working plans for
the new highway bridge, but there
Is little likelihood that construction
viii start until after the war.
Would Reclaim Slums.
In cooperation with Alfred Bet
man, Cincinnati (Ohio) expert. the
commission is drafting an urban re-
development bill for submission at
next months meeting.
The proposed legislation would tie
in the District with the National
program to reclaim slum areas after
the war.
Senator Thomas of Utah and SEN
ator Wagner Of New York nave each
introduced bills to lend money to
municipalities for the acquisition Of
slum areas.
The Wagner bill would provide
that the reclamation work be done
through the National Housing
| Agency. The Thomas bill would set
up new urban .redevelopment
agency under its own administrator.
Approve Military Highway.
J Since Washington has a municipal
setup different from any other city
IN It's relationship with Congress,
the Park and Planning Commission
4 is drafting a bill to flt its peculiar
needs.
The commission yesterday ap-
proved the new military highway
between Boiling Field and the Camp
Springs (Md) Air Base, following
the route of the proposed Suitland
| parkway.
Oficials characterized as "a lucky
break" the War Departments
eagerness to complete the new high
way as quickly as possible. Grading
of the emile dual highway, under
a 100000 contract, will be followed
by paving next spring.
"It 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
tion east of the Anacostia River.
A committee will study other avail
able sites involved in general COL
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.
Two 24-Foot Lanes.
Mr.. Settle said the military high
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 in Maryland. 1t will also
be necessary to close some small
suburban roads entering the route to
Suitland from South Capitol Street
Bridge.
| ArI;.