Evening star., 1946-04-07
Montgomery Owners
Promised Details on
Northwest Freeway

A clear-cut definition of the
right-of-way for the proposed
Northwest FreeWay has not yet
been established, but Montgomery
County property owners will be
given adequate information when
an exact route is determined, Fred
w. Tuemmler, chief engineer of the
Maryland National Capital Park
and Planning Commission, said yes
terday.
Until now, the closest approxima-
ton of the route to be followed by
the dual-lane, high-speed, limited
access artery is preliminary sur
vey by the State Roads Commits
sion. This tentative study covers
an 80ofoot wide strip leading from
Macarthur boulevard west of Del
carlia Reservoir, and passing
through Bradley Hills and west of
Bethesda, Rockville and Gathers
burg to join Route 240 three miles
north of the latter town.
Most of the right-of- prob
ably will lie somewhere within thic
strip, Mr.. Tuemmler said. How
ever. after discussing problems re-
lating to some of the thickly-de-
veloped communities with Wilson
T. Ballard, chief engineer of the
Roads Commission, the latter as
serted there's nothing sacred about
that strip" and conceded that some
revisions may have to be made in
the general plan. according to Mr..
Tuemmler.
To Seek Bond Issue.
When the Board of County Com
missioners meets Tuesday, it will
study a request by Park Commits
sioner E. Brooke Lee that early ac-
ton be taken to authorize bond
issue to raise funds-later to be
repaid-for acquisition of rights
of-way. Mr.. Lee said:
1T is my considered opinion that
the owners of development property
located across this proposed right
of-way or which is Immediately af-
fected as to subdivision plan by the
proximity of the right-of-way, are
entitled to an early, prompt and,
in fact, almost an immediate ad-
justment of their property values to
enable them to proceed with the de-
velopment on the approaching
building market =" and that these
property owners are further entitled
to prompt payment for the portions
of their respective ownerships that
will be acquired either by purchase
or condemnation"
At the same meeting, the commits
sioners also will have before them
request that no action be taken on
the planning commissioners re-
quest until property owners in the
Bradley Hills community have an
opportunity to state their objections.
No Definite Route Implied.
This latter request was made in a
letter to the board by Louis A. Gra-
velle, chairman of the Roads Com
mittee of the Bradley Boulevard
Citizens Association.
Mr.. Tuemmler declared the request
that funds be made available i'm
mediately does not carry with it !
the implication that definite route
has been determined. AS to the BOO
foot strip passing through Bradley
Hills, he said:
A part of the commissions pre-
liminary study involved series of
aerial maps on which Typographical
features were drawn. The 800-foot
strip was laid out on the series of
air photographs which covered ter
ritory about mile wide. When
Bradley Hills residents discovered
the strip passed through their COM
munity he discussed the matter
with Mr.. Ballard, pointing out that
the planning commission had rec
ommended a route through more un-
developed property in that area.
The State official then indicated
mat revisions may be necessary to
'he tentative program.
No Conflict in Decision.
MI. Iuemmler said that while the
.oaos commission, which will build
me freeway with Federal aid, wirlI
nave final authority to approve the
quite, ne did not anticipate any
conflict between its final decision
ma recommendations of the local
planning agency.
The tentative strip does not mean
nat the right of way to be ac-
luired will be 800 feet wide, Mr..
!uemmler said. He estimated that
{ would vary between 300 and 400
eet in width, depending upon to-
ography. community development
nd other engineering factors.
In line with the park commits
toner's request for early action,
DR.. Tuemmler said the planning