Evening star., 1945-08-21

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Days on 50, SOC, 900
South Capitol Project
The end of the war is clearing
the way for a huge District bridge
and road building program, which
probably will be led off by con-
struction of the s4,500,O00 South
Capitol Street Bridge over the Ana
costa River.
Other important projects in the
program include the Highway Bridge
over the Potomac, the K street ele-
waited highway from Key Bridge to
Twenty-seventh street NV; the
Dupont Circle underpass, the Klingle
Road Bridge over Rock Creek, and
many road improvements.
The program, in which the big
postwar Federal aid road program
of more than $17,OO0,00O of matched
Federal and local funds will be
amplifled by local projects paid for
by local taxes only. was disclosed
by Col. Joseph D. Arthur, jr., As
siStant Engineer Commissioner. He
made public the latest revised list
of projects. 1t shows their priority
of construction, whether they are
to be started in the first, second or
third year under the Federal High
way Act of 1914 .-
$500, 100000 Yearly.
The highway act authorizes the
Federal Government, through the
Public Roads Administration, to
advance $500 900, 900 year for three
years to the States and the Dis
trict. The National Capital share
of the Federal money is s2,974,602 a
year for three years, or a total
of S8,923,8 When the District
matches this there will be $l7,847,-
612 available over the three years
for designated Federal aid projects.
But there are also many projects
of purely local nature here which
are to be financed solely by the
District. Congress is expected to
provide the necessary legislation
officially opening the way for ad-
vance of Federal aid.
The South Capitol Street Bridge
is a purely local project, and is
expected to get under way as soon
as the War Production Board pro-
vides a clearance" SO that es-
sential materials can be obtained.
WPB officials have promised the
District that an answer on this
clearance may be forthcoming ''in
a few days." said Col Arthur, who
added, that answer is expected to
be favorable"
Seek Wage Schedules.
Congress already has appropriated
S1,750,0O0 for the South Capitol
street bridge, and authorized a total
outlay of s4,500,O00. District officials
have asked the Labor Department
for wage schedules on the job, which
are necessary before bids can be
asked.
This structure, which the District
long has been planning to relieve
congestion over other Anacostia
bridges, will connect the foot of
South Capitol street with Anacostia
Park where it will carry motor
travel to and from the new Suitland
Parkway into Southern Maryland
and the proposed Baltimore park
way.
Col. Arthur, pointing to the tre-
mendously increased motor traffic
of the past week end since gasoline
rationing was lifted, emphasized
that the new roadway and bridge
developments in this city were sorely
needed to meet traffic expected to
become still more congested as new
automobiles are thrown onto the
market.
Unless some such roadway i'm
provement program is carried, OUT
he said, traffic here will be very
bad indeed"
Underpass Cost $2,000,000.
The Dupont Circle underpass, for
which plans are virtually complete,
is estimated to cost $4,000 900, of
which half is expected to come from
Federal aid. 1t will take about three
years to build, carrying Connecticut
avenue under the circle Some re-
study is being made OF the bus
routings and entrances around the
circle. The plan probably will pro-
vide for all bus stops on side streets
instead of on the circle, Col. Arthur
said.
The Klingle road bridge, which
will replace the present one over
Rock Creek is to cost $500,000, of
which half will come from Federal
aid. 1t will probably take two years
to built. /
An important development in
Georgetown listed for a three-year
construction job under Federal aid
Is that part of K street, between
Key Bridge and Twenty-seventhI
street where an elevated steel struc-
ture is to be built to help relieve
congestion on M street through
Georgetown. The new elevated
highway will carry traffic to and
llOlll Gllc QOWIltOWu S6CGlOIl uIlQeT
Key Bridge, with an exit on Canal
road on the upstream side of the
bridge.
S2,275,000 Project.
This section of the K street de-
velopment is estimated to cost
$2,275,000, of which $500,00O would
be spent the first year, 81 000, 900 the
second year and $775,000 the third
year. Federal aid will total 81, ,137 500.
Scheduled for development some
time beyond the third year" are
two other parts of the K street prof.
ect further eastward-a depressed
highway between Twenty-fir street
and Rock Creek, to cost $25O0, 900,
and truck highway" in the ma
ture Of depressed highway with
grade separation under Mount Yer
non Square, from Tenth street NV.
to North Capitol street, costing an
estimated $5,800,ooO.
The Highway Bridge project, overI
which there still is controversy. isl
scheduled for early construction, asI