Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1945-12-11
Twin Bridge
p an Denounced
JAS Too Costly
Gront and NoIen
Foresee BottIeneck
On Fourteenth Street
BY DON S. WARREN.

BY DON s. WARREN.
A House subcommittee today
heard officials of the National
Capital Park and Planning Com
mission testify that the proposal to
build twin spans OF four lanes each
over the Potomac River would be
"unduly costly" and would do vio-
lence" to the Jefferson Memorial
and other esthetic features in the
Mall area.
A mass of trafic estimates and
other data were put into the record
by Maj. Gen. U. S. Grant III, chair
man, and John Nolen, jr., director
OF planning Of the planning body.
as they contested proposals cham
pioned by the Commissioners, Public
Roads Administration and the Fine
Arts Commission.
Secretary of Interior Ickes, a
leading opponent of the twin bridge
plan, had been scheduled as todays
first witness but found he could not
attend. He may appear tomorrow
as the subcommittee strives to con-
clude the hearings which began
months ago.
Confidential Report Used.
The hearings are being con-
Quoted by the Chapman subcom-
mittee of the House Interstate and
Foreign Commerce Committee.
Gen. Grant turned to a "conflden.
tlar' report made by consulting
engineers to the War Department
IN 194l, relating to plans for the
Pentagon Building, to support his
arguments for a single, six-lans
bridge. While this report was con-
f1dential, he said, it appeared there
was no reason why the committee
should not have the advantage of it.
The essential points, he reported,
may be summarized as follows:
The very thorough study of
highway traffic in the Washington
area presented in the special report
by the director of highways for the
District. indicates a vehicular cross
ing at Alexandria to relieve the con-
gestlon on the Fourteenth Street
Bridge and, more particularly, the
city streets leading to it is a present
necessity, and, that reconstruction
OF the Fourteenth Street Bridge
and revision of the approach
roads, to increase traffic capacity,
may become necessity in the rea-
sonably near future"
Costs Compared.
The director OF highways is Capt.
H. c. Whitehurst, who has played
a leading role in defending plans
for the twin-span project as
against a single six-lane span.
Gen. Grant said the l94I report
placed the estimated cost of a six
lane new Highway Bridge and its
approaches at $4,694,00o and for q
four-lane bridge at Alexandria at
$3.50. 900. This would make a total
i'cost for the bridges Of $500, 900,
Whereas the estimated cost of the
twin-spana project Is $1,000, 900.
Gen. Grant and Mr.. Nolen coll
Elaborated in contending that sup
porters OF the twin-span project had
violated" principles of estimating
tramc requirements in data they
used to show the need for four
instead of three Washington-bound
bridge lanes.
Gen. Grant argued it would be
impossible" to care for as many
as $500 cars per hour which would
be poured into the Fourteenth
street bottleneck" under the twin
bridge plan. He argued there would
be no solution" to this bottleneck
because of the impracticability of
removing or replacing the Maine
avenue overpaSS.
Unable to Compromise.
Gen. Grant said this was the first
time, to his knowledge, I'VE have
been unable to effect a reconcilia-
ton or compromise in the public
issue on any important question, or
have had to appear before Congress
IN opposition either to the Public
Roads Administration or the District
Commissioners.
But. unfortunately, they are rec
ommending to you what past expe-
rience and sound planning show
will inevitably prove an unduly
costly and harmful project, to the
city. as well as to the Federal Gov
eminent, which will pay half of
this cost and presumably half of
that Of the future, more expensive
remedial measures
Because of the dire effects" of
the twin-bridge proposal on the
central area park system, Gen. Grant
said he wondered at the advocacy
OF the Public Roads Administration
to "deluge the Jefferson Memorial
with a congestion of trucks and
business traffic"