Evening star., 1944-09-13
Central Area Survey
OF Traffic 10 Be Given
Public for Criticism
One Comprehensive Study
Aim Of Commissioners,
Says Copt. Whitehurst

Says Cupt. WhItehurst
The transportation survey for the
central area of Washington. expected
to be completed sometime next
Is characterized by Capt. H
C. Whitehurst, District highway di-
rector. as a comprehensive endeavor
to link into one study 'the needs
of free wheel and rail transportation
as we'll as the question bf terminal
facilities"
The objective Of the survey and
study" he said in a radio interview
last night" is to coordinate the
needs for all types Of transportation
system that will relieve congestion
in the central area, provide greater
safety and insure a plan for future
development in keeping with the
needs of our Capital City"
Will Seek Criticism.
The District Commissioners, he
said, intend to release the report fol-
publication, and furnish copies tc
interested agencies and organiza-
tions, requesting comments and
criticism of its conclusions and
recommendations.
Capt. Whitehurst reviewed the
postwar program for Improvement
Of the city's entire highway system.
He said this was largely a continual
ton of the construction program
started in 194l, but formulated and
late In 1943.
The controversial proposal for two
bridges OF four lanes each over the
Potomac River to replace the pres
ent Highway Bridge was defended
by Capt. Whitehurst. He said the
project was approved by the Dis
trict Commissioners. the Public
Roads Administration and the Fine
Arts Commission. On the other
hand the National Capital Park and
Planning Commission and the Ma
tional Park Service have opposed
the two-bridge plan, and insisted on
a single span of six lanes.
Calls Need Obvious.
Pointing out that the new struc-
ture would be a link in United
States Highway No. /. the heaviest
travelled route into and out of the
District, Capt. Whitehurst said lit
is obvious that eight lanes will be
required-four in each direction
Replying to criticism that eight
lanes would congest Fourteenth
street at Pennsylvania and Consti.
tuition avenues, Capt. Whitehurst
said that limiting bridge capacity
will not control the amount of traf-
fic that will use Fourteenth street
1t is surprising, he added, how lit
tie of the highway bridge traffic
reached Pennsylvania avenue OF
even Constitution avenue. Four.
teenth street has wonderful posi-.
bilities for the dispersion of traffic
starting with Maine avenue"
Turning to other projects, Capt
Whitehurst said plans for the new
South Capitol street bridge are
ready to be advertised for bids when
permission is received to proceed
with the work. Plans are substan-
TALLY complete for the Dupont Cir
Gle underpass and plans are under
way for a new bridge across Rock
Creek in line with Klingle road.
Plans also are substantially COM
plete for that part of the K street
trunk highway, elevated to con-
meet Key Bridge and Canal road
with K street east of Rock Creek
and the proposed depressed high
way between Twenty-first and
Twenty-seventh streets NV.
The eastern sector of the K street
trunk highway already has been
the subject of a preliminary report,
and soon plans and working draw
ings will be authorized. This in
cludes tunnel under Mount Ver-
non Square, a depressed highway to
Sixth street NE, along K street,
where it will connect with Sixth
street and Brentwood Parkway to
cross the new terminal yard bridge
1t also will connect with West Vir-
ginia avenue and ultimately be ex-
tended to Fifteenth street and Ben
ming road NE. where a grade sepa-
ration structure with interchange
facilities is planned.
Capt. Whitehurst spoke in the
Capital Motoring Program" spon-
sored by the District Division OF
the American Automobile Associa-
ton over station WINK.