Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1945-05-11
Double Bridge
House
Group Is Told
Expected Increase
In ruffic Cited by
Randolph at HEARING

In Traffic Cited by
Randolph at Hearing
Proponents of the Randolph bill
10 authorize postwar construction
OF twin bridges over the Potomac
River to replace the old Highway
Bridge today told House subcorn-
mlttee that the two separate struc-
lures were necessary to carry a
heavy, increased flow of traffic in
the future.
The witnesses before the Bridge
subcommittee of the House Inter-
state and Foreign Commerce Com
mlttee, did not complete the areu-
ments before the committee ad.
Journed and Chairman Chapman Of
the subcommittee announced more
witnesses for the bill would be heard
at 10 am. Thursday. The COMMITTEES
wants to hear all witnesses in favor
OF the two-bridge plan before listen
ing to those who have proposed
either single bridge of six lanes
or tunnel to replace Highway
Bridge.
Randolph, Commissioners Testify.
Chairman Randolph of the House
District Committee, author of the
measure opened the testimony for
the two-bridge proposal and was
followed by District officials. They
included Commissioner j. Russell
Young, Corporation Counsel Rich
mond B. Keech and Director of
Highways H. c. Whitehurst.
We must take care expeditiouslv
OF the business of the Federal Gov.
eminent and the movement of citi-
zens and materials" Representative
Randolph told the committee, this
is Nationwide problem, not lust
municipal problem"
Stresslng that present facilities
were inadequate, Mr.. Randolph said
IL was necessary to make plans now
10 improve transportation facilities
at that point for the VERY heavy
load OF traffic in the postwar period 81
One factor which will tremen.
oously increase that traffic load. he
SAID, was the Washington National
airport. After the war he predicted
tnat motor traffic between the air.
port and the city would be MANY
times what it now is.
Young Testifies.
Mr.. Young told the committee
that District officials were strongly
IN favor of" the twin-bridee nro.
posal. He pointed out that careful
studies had been made of the nroh,
lem Tor more than a year and that
the two-bridge plan had been for
manly approved, not only by the
District authorities, but also by Pub
nc Roads Administration and the
Fine Arts Commission.
The Commissioner said that Dis
trlct officials were cognizant of the
position of the Interior Department
ana the National Capital Park and
Planning Commission which favor
single bridge of six lanes. Bit
ne said the District Commissioners
were prepared to take full resnon.
slbllity for the results If the twin
bridges are erected.
He told the committee. I'VE feel
that We have accepted the best pos
sible advice"
A plan for two bridges, he said.
mad been approved by the Washing
ton Board of Trade, the Federation
OF Citizens Associations, the Amer
lean Automobile Association. the
keystone Automobile Club, Airing
ton County officials and MANY civic
organizations on both sides of the
river.
Feeder Route 1.
Mr.. keech told the committee the
present bridge is a feeder for U, S.
Route l. the most heavily travelled
route through the District from
the North and South.
The old bridge of four lanes,
he said, was erected in 1903 and
while it is physically safe" it is
not capable of carrying the present
traffic volume without congestion
and delay which sometimes backs
up traffic for mile in both direc-
tlons. In the future, he added,
the bridge traffic VIII total 10000
vehicles day.
"The bridge is nos! in the best
physical condition" he declared,
"Two-thirds of the flooring sys-
tenn is of Eliminated wood construc.
ton, which is in the process of
decay. Two or more of the piers
are badly secured, with the pile
foundation partially exposed.
The proposed bridges are designed
so as to provide not only for antici-
pated postwar flow, but adequately
to serve traffic demands for a rea-
sonable period thereafter"
Many Miss Planes.
The witness told the committee
that there were numerous reports"
of people who had missed their
planes at National Airport because
OF congestion on the bridge.
Capt. Whitehurst presented to the
committee several sketches of the
proposed two-bridge plan and the
scheme of landscaping. Motorists
driving into the District over the
northbound one-way bridge, he said,
would have much more attractive
view of the Jefferson Memorial than
If they entered the city over the
single bridge proposed by other
agencies.
Col. Joseph D. Arthur, jr., Assist
ant Engineer Commissioner. briefly
supported the two-bridge plan, de-
claring it solved the basic question
Of moving traffic. Eight laAes were