Evening star., 1944-04-20

"A. 2. Wlr
eligible for sharing in Federal road
funds, that is naturally a factor
influencing the Districts decision.
The cost of building two four
lane bridges is admittedly 10 to so
per cent more than would be the
cost of q single-lane span. The
Districts claim is that the cost of
building any bridge that proved
wholly inadequate to future traf1ic
needs would be expensive at any
price.
The two-bridge plan provides for
northbound traffic on the site Of
the present Highway Bridge and for
southbound traffic over a span about
400 feet downstream and about the
same distance from the railroad
bridge. The single six-lane bridge
would utilize the site of the present
structure.
The two-bridge plan is based solely
on the viewpoint of meeting future
increased traffic across the river
from Fourteenth street and U. S.
Route No. in Virginia.
Traffic Analysis.
Analysis of probable traffic, the
proponents contend, leads to the
conclusion that the river crossing
should be designed for q peak load
of 5000 vehicles per hour In each
direction for a period in excess OF
one hour, and that about Is per
cent of the traffic will be trucks.
District officials say 1t would be
short-sighted, to build a bridge. oa
doubtfu capacityswith the hope thai
such action would compel building
another bridge at Alexandria, in
view of all the uncertainties in
volved in the latter proposal. 81
The two-bridge plan, itsAsRAs
claimed, utilizes existing structures
on both approaches, whereas the
single span contemplates destruc-
ton of the stone-faced bridge carry
ing U. s. No. trafilc over the Mount
Vernon boulevard, the refiIling Of q
corner Of the Pentagon lagoon, and
construction Of q new bridge under
the railroad on the District shore
while abandoning the existing bridge
nearby. The destruction Of existing
facilities is justified, 1t was claimed,
but the Federal Roads Administra-
ton does not approve it in the face
of the other plan, which utilizes
practically all existing facilities.
Gen. Grants Stand.
Gen. U. S. Grant, Sd, chairman
of the Park and Planning Commits
sion, is thoroughly in accord with
the studies made by that group and
by it's consultant, Frederic Law Ohm
stead, favoring the single bridge.
Aside from the additional cost of
two bridges, he sees no justification
for eight lanes of traffic feeding into
the six lanes oh the Fourteenth
street overpass at Maine avenue.
The funnel Of southbound traffic
actually becomes smaller as 1t en-
ters Fourteenth street, he claimed,
by reason Of the streetcar tracks.
Gen. Grant contended also that
aside from the additional cost OF
two bridges, the public would be
paying also a real loss in the harm
that would follow to the appearance
and background of the new Jeffer-
son Memorial
Gen. Grant and other planning
officials declare they see no reason
why more passenger traffic can't be
diverted to the Memorial Bridge and
dispute the contention that the lat
ter has reached its peak capacity
Contention of Planners.
The chief contention of the Park
and Planning officials, with whom
Secretary Ickes concurs, is that the
single, six-lane plan is based on
sound city and regional planning
principles. John Nolen, director OF
planning for the Planning Commis-
sion, has made extensive traffic
studies of the central area and the
whole Metropolitan Area. MIR. Ohm.
stead and park officials have fol-
lowed his guidance in such matters
in relation to the bridge planning
They claim the volume of traffic
which six lanes could handle with.
out difficulty is double the maxi
mum prewar estimate of 1,84s
vehicles per hour. That load, they
contend, is all that is desirable tc
concentrate feeding into the heart
of the central business district.
If and when the cross-river traffic
should reach the maximum capacity
of a six-lane bridge, but preferably
before, it was pointed out, othe,
cross-river bridges should be con.
structed at locations which woulo
disperse traffic entering and leaving
the Metropolitan Area, rather thar
concentrate it. A bridge at Alex.
andria connecting with Shepherds
Landing has been suggested as 9
means Of distributing traffic nor.
mally bound to the eastern section
of the District.
Area Traffic Problem.
The central area of the city. they
contended, cannot absorb double ths
prewar peak load of traffic without
an elaborate system of grade separa.
tions. Because Of the existing con.
gestion, to which the concentration
of Federal Office buildings has con.
tributed, the Planning Commission
is an advocate of spreading Fedora,
facilities out into the eastern
section.
Plans for the development of the
East Capitol street area contemplate
new Federal structures for 2500t
employees. When the East Capito
street plan Is carried out there will