Evening star., 1944-06-23
Federal Board
Kill Plan
For 7 Bridges
Commission Defers
Approval Of Spons
Across Potomac

planning OncldIS TO the D1Strlct S
program for the replacement of
Highway Bridge, it developed to-
day, may offer a serious obstacle to
the construction of two four-lane
traffic bridges across the Potomac
at that point.
Before the District Commission
ers can build bridge abutments on
park lands, they will have to OBJ
tain authority from Congress" Sec
retary Thomas S. Settle of the Ma
tional Capital Park and Planning
Commission reminded.
The District Government, the Bu-
reau of Public Roads and the Fine
Arts Commission favor the dual
system of bridges, while the Plan
ming Commission. Interior Secretary
Ickes and the National Park Serv-
ice continue in opposition.
Plans Approval withheld.
The Planning Commission yes
terday also withheld approval of
plans submitted for the replace
ment of the Klingle Street Bridge in
Rock Creek Park. Officials desired
to study the question further before
taking final action.
District Highway Director H. C..
Whitehurst submitted model for
six-lane bridge for cross park
traffic and buses that would permit
the underpassage of park drive
ways extending north and south.
The @ Street and Massachusetts
Avenue Bridges across Rock Creek
are typical examples.
Previously, he had suggested a
two level bridge for the replacement
of the Klingle street structure,
affording a third level for traffic
north and south. That plan had
been disapproved as too compli-
Gated
Members Of the COMMISSIONS
number of them engineers-visited
the Klingle Bridge site in the park
this afternoon to inspect the pro-
posed bridge abutments and the
layout of approach roads.
Other matters before the commits
sion today include actions for ap-
proval of the newly-chosen site of
the proposed Naval Ordnance lab
oratory on. a 100-acre tract east
of Beltsville, Md. Before closing the
monthly session the commission also
will consider plans for a new Dis
trict refuse station on q site some
where in the southeast section. The
present station is located at New
Jersey avenue and x streets Sc.
Five Drawings Submitted.
In considering the Highway
Bridge plans yesterday, the COM
mission was unconcerned with the
general appearance of the bridge
drawings Five sets of drawings
had been submitted as result of
recent competitions
Maj. Gen. U. S. Grant III, chair
man, announced that the commits
sion had not changed its attitude
with regard to the need for two
bridges and saw no reason to take
any action at the meeting. AS to the
appearance of the bridges, he indi-
Gated that was a concern for the
Fine Arts Commission and the Dis
trict Commissioners.
Capt. WhitehHst had funds at
his disposal for defraying the archi-
tectural expenses in planning for
the replacement of Highway Bridge
and one-half of the cost of con-
struction is expected to come from
the Federal road funds of the Bu-
reau of Public Roads. The District
| is entitled to such funds on the
same basis as States.
Entirely Up to Him. .
Whether he is still of a mind to
60 ahead with plans for the con-
struction of two new bridges is
entirely up to him, planning officials
said.
In advocating a single span, the
Planning Commission had in mind
at some future time the possibility
of another bridge connecting Alex
.andria, Va, with Shepherds Land
ing on the Maryland side. This
would be a natural traffic feeder to
Anacostia and Baltimore routes, it
was felt.
The Planning Commission late
yesterday approved the sale of land
In the Fort Reno neighborhood ac-
quired years ago for a public school
site. 1t comprises about one square
block in the vicinity of the Alice
Deal School in the northwest Sec